This has been a busy week for the Parker Administration – from celebrating Juneteenth to signing bills into law that will help improve public safety for residents. Check out a few key moments below!
Sunday, June 16: Philadelphia Juneteenth Parade and Festival
On Sunday, Mayor Parker had the pleasure of serving as Grand Marshal for the Philadelphia Juneteenth Parade and Festival, one of the largest annual celebrations in the nation, started by the Pennsylvania Juneteenth Initiative. Thousands joined together for a day of fun, to embrace history, and to continue the tradition of Kujichagulia (self-determination) in a peaceful setting.
Monday, June 17: Philadelphia Police Recruit Class #402 Graduation Ceremony
On Monday morning, The Philadelphia Police Department welcomed 79 new recruits during a graduation ceremony held at Temple University. Mayor Parker was on site to celebrate Police Recruit Class #402 for their hard work and dedication throughout the program.
Monday, June 17: Public Safety Bills Signed Into Law
Immediately following the Police Recruit Ceremony, it was right back to City Hall for Mayor Parker. She took another important step in her continued effort to strive for a Safer, Cleaner, Greener Philadelphia, with the signing of not one, not two, but three Public Safety bills!
The first bill creates a ban on all rate-of-fire acceleration devices, including switches, to combat gun violence in our city. This work was led by Chief Public Safety Director, Adam Geer and Councilmember Curtis Jones Jr.
Traffic Safety is public safety too. To make Philadelphia’s streets safer, a second bill was signed to install automated speed cameras on Broad Street. This intergovernmental effort was made possible, thanks to the Mayor’s partners at PennDOT, the Philadelphia Parking Authority, Philadelphia Police Department and several advocate groups, including the Bicycle Coalition of Philadelphia and the Families for Safe Streets.
Last, answering the public’s calls for accountability, a third bill was signed to adequately train individuals or entities carrying out evictions. The legislation ensures the completion of 189 hours of proper training!
Thursday, June 20 – Friday, June 21: US Conference of Mayors
To close out the week, Mayor Parker took part in the 92nd Annual United States Conference of Mayors.. There, she served as a primary panelist in the discussion, “Supporting Microbusinesses as a Driver of Economic Growth,” giving her the platform to highlight efforts of promoting small business and entrepreneurship efforts in Philadelphia.
Mayor Parker took the chance to further highlight the city’s Power Up Your Business initiative with the Community College of Philadelphia, which is now considered the #1 feeder into the national Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business Program. The Mayor also spoke about PHL Open for Business, her new initiative with the Commerce Department to streamline city government and make it more accessible for small businesses.
