October 24, 2024 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – Mayors from across the country gathered in Philadelphia this week for a housing summit hosted by the US Conference of Mayors (USCM). The summit was led by Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker, with the attendance of USCM President, Columbus, Ohio Mayor Andy Ginther; USCM Vice President, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Mayor David Holt; USCM Advisory Board Member, Scranton, Pennsylvania Mayor Paige Cognetti; USCM Advisory Board Member, Allentown, Pennsylvania Mayor Matt Tuerk; Philadelphia City Councilman for the Fourth District, Curtis Jones; and USCM CEO and Executive Director Tom Cochran. Mayor Parker shared Philadelphia’s progress in addressing its housing crisis.
Mayor Parker emphasized the city’s commitment to building and preserving 30,000 housing units, highlighting several key initiatives, including “Turn the Key,” which helps working Philadelphians who are income-qualified buy homes; and “Restore, Repair, Renew,” which provides funding for qualified homeowners to repair their homes. She also mentioned the “Philly First Home Program,” which offers down payment and closing cost assistance to first-time homebuyers in the city.
Mayor Parker specifically emphasized the “Tangled Title Crisis” initiative, providing free legal assistance to homeowners living in inherited homes but lacking legal ownership. She said the project will help those homeowners obtain legal ownership, making them eligible for more housing programs.
Mayor Parker expressed pride in Philadelphia’s progress in tackling housing issues, highlighting the importance of collaboration among government, nonprofits, and the private sector.
USCM President, Columbus, Ohio Mayor Andy Ginther, pointed out that housing is the primary challenge facing American cities. He stressed that housing is not just a quality-of-life issue, but a key factor in economic development and addressing homelessness.
Mayor Ginther called for increased federal investment in housing programs, stating that the USCM will continue advocating for new federal housing legislation after the upcoming presidential and congressional elections to provide more affordable housing for low- and middle-income families.
He also emphasized that, regardless of who wins in the upcoming elections, housing should be a top priority for the new government and Congress.
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Mayor David Holt, serving as USCM Vice President, also expressed concern over housing issues and highlighted the importance of bipartisan collaboration. He stated that Republican mayors and communities care just as much about housing and will work together with Democrat mayors in Washington to address the issue.
Scranton, Pennsylvania Mayor Paige Cognetti shared the challenges faced by Scranton in housing construction and stressed the need for flexible funding from the federal government due to the diverse needs of different cities.
Allentown, Pennsylvania Mayor Matt Tuerk also emphasized the crucial role of housing in economic development and said Allentown is actively adjusting city planning and tax policies to encourage the construction of more housing units.
Philadelphia City Councilman for the Fourth District, Curtis Jones, expressed gratitude to Mayor Parker for her commitment to addressing housing issues and shared the story of the “Bris Shalom” apartment project. This project, once dilapidated due to a lack of funding, was eventually taken over by a team led by Mayor Parker, who partnered with the Philadelphia Housing Authority to restore the project and provide safe housing for seniors in need.
During the Q&A session, mayors also discussed election security. Mayor Parker stated that Philadelphia elections will be conducted in an open and transparent manner, emphasizing that all Philadelphians have the right to exercise their right to vote. She also specifically thanked Philadelphia Election Commissioners Chair Omar Sabir, Vice Chair Lisa M Deeley, and Election Commissioner Seth Bluestein for their work in ensuring fair and transparent elections.
Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk stated that Allentown has partnered with the FBI and Homeland Security to ensure election security and has conducted election security drills with the county government to ensure that all polling locations are protected by law enforcement.
Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti noted that Scranton has always maintained a tradition of using paper ballots in elections, which has helped them avoid some of the lawsuits and problems that have occurred in other areas.
Mayors agreed that ensuring election security is essential for maintaining democracy and they will collaborate with relevant agencies to ensure fair, transparent, and secure elections.
In addition, mayors discussed the construction of a new stadium in Philadelphia.
Discussion about Philadelphia’s New Stadium Construction:
Mayor Parker announced that Philadelphia will invest $1.3 billion in a new stadium for the Philadelphia 76ers, promising that the project will not require any city funds. She also stated that the project will bring new tax revenue to the city and stimulate economic development in surrounding communities.
Mayor Holt shared his experience in Oklahoma City’s stadium construction and pointed out that Philadelphia’s ability to attract private investment for the new stadium is a great accomplishment.
Mayor Parker and Mayor Holt both emphasized the economic benefits and community development opportunities that the new stadium will bring and said they will continue engaging with the community and listening to everyone’s perspectives.
This Philadelphia housing summit is another action by the USCM focusing on housing issues. Mayors agreed that the issue requires attention and effort from the entire society and needs collaboration between government, nonprofits, and the private sector to find solutions.
