South Philly District Updates 5-16-25

Rep. Elizabeth Fiedler May 16, 2025 | 1:01 PM

PA Representative Elizabeth Fiedler banner image

ANNOUNCEMENT: Our office will be closed on Tuesday, May 20th for the Primary Elections. Please be aware of other upcoming holiday closures including Memorial Day, Juneteenth, and Independence Day.

Success at our Shredding Event Last Saturday!
We had a busy shredding event as always last weekend! My office worked with Rep. Young and Sen. Saval to host a free paper shredding event at South Philadelphia High School. Neighbors and residents from all over came in by car, bike, and foot to drop off their bags of old documents. Stay tuned for more events from my office in the future!

SPOAC Mother’s Day Breakfast
Last Thursday, my staff were happy to join the South Philadelphia Older Adult Center at their 3rd Annual Mother’s Day Breakfast. Along with our usual pamphlets and resources to share, we also brought a special gift of donuts from Frangelli’s Bakery. I hope everyone who attended had a happy (and satisfying!) Mother’s Day.

Navy Yard receives new $30 million state grant
Last week, Governor Shapiro hosted a press conference at Navy Yard to celebrate their recent $30 million grant through the new PA SITES initiative. This new funding will be used for roadway and utilities, soil excavation, grading, and stormwater management, continuing Navy Yard’s LEED-recognized innovations in green development. The project will target expanding space for scientific research and manufacturing on Navy Yard’s campus, which we are hopeful will bring in further revenue and jobs to the district. I'm glad that Navy Yard is bringing economic activity to South Philly responsibly, and I'm eager to see this new neighborhood bloom.

Upcoming Events

Love Your Park Week 2025 continues through the end of this week. This is an opportunity to support local parks with clean-up, landscaping, repairs, and more. Head to the Love Your Park website here to see which parks are hosting events.
The Italian Market Festival is coming up on May 17th and 18th. Just outside of my district between Federal and Christian Streets, this annual festival on S 9th Street celebrates the colorful and vibrant culture of this historic area.
The St. Maron Church Lebanese Festival will be held from Friday, May 30 to Sunday, June 1, 2025, rain or shine. Just outside of my district at Ellsworth and 10th Street, you can join for live music and dancing, Lebanese food and drinks, and other fun.

The 2nd Annual Navy Yard Family Fest will be held on Saturday, June 7th from 1-6pm. This free event welcomes all ages and will feature music, kid-friendly games and activities, food trucks, and arts and crafts vendors. Learn more and register at their website here.

Read about current and upcoming legislation I support!

HB1364 Transit Funding Bill

Last week, a bill to fund public transit, HB1364, passed out of the House Transportation Committee and now heads to the House floor for a vote. This bill would NOT increase taxes on Pennsylvanians, but instead would allocate more existing revenue from sales tax toward public transit — from 4.4% to 6.15%. While a couple percentage points might not seem like much, this small change would mean an estimated $292.5 million is invested into mass transit across Pennsylvania next year. As a constant advocate for public transit, I will proudly vote YES on HB1364 to keep SEPTA and other state transit running effectively.

HB721 Strengthening the Construction Workplace Misclassification Act

This week, I voted yes on Rep. Donahue’s bill to prevent the misclassification of construction workers as “independent contractors.” The bill would strengthen existing misclassification laws and make it easier for workers to speak up without fear of retaliation. Worker misclassification is a harmful practice that cheats workers out of their salaries, benefits, and – alarmingly – their necessary workplace rights like sick leave and OSHA protections. I’m glad to take a step in preventing this deceitful and often dangerous practice.

HB818 First-Time Homebuyers Savings Account
This week, I voted yes on Rep. Bizzarro’s HB818, which allows first-time homebuyers to deposit money into a designated savings account, making it easier for Pennsylvanians to save up for a home. This type of savings account program, already rolled out in states like Maryland, Virginia, and New Jersey, could result in an annual increase of up to 4,000 home purchases throughout Pennsylvania, which would bring millions in economic activity and other benefits to the state.

New enforcements around phones and handheld devices in cars. Starting on June 5, 2025, there will be increased enforcement around the use of phones and other handheld devices while driving. This is because of a recent law, known as the Paul Miller Law, that prohibits holding a cell phone for any reason while operating a vehicle. There will be a one-year grace period where police will issue warnings ahead of implementation of fines in 2026. You can learn more about this law here.

Concerned about potential SEPTA cuts? You can share your testimony at upcoming SEPTA Operational Budget Hearings. Public comment can be given online or in-person on May 19th at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m., May 20th at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., and May 21st at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. More info on these meetings is at www.septa.org/about/meetings. On Monday, May 19th at 10 a.m., you can join Sen. Saval, Rep. Cephas and advocacy groups for a press conference and rally to kick off the public hearings. The press conference will be in front of SEPTA’s headquarters at 1234 Market, Philadelphia, PA 19107.

Report scams to the Pennsylvania consumer protection hotline. Pennsylvania has a new consumer protection hotline and website to protect Pennsylvanians from financial, insurance, and consumer scams. If you have been scammed, this resource may be able to help you or help prevent others from becoming victims. Call 1-866-PA-COMPLAINT or visit pa.gov/consumer.

Job opportunities:

The Philadelphia Housing Authority is hosting a Job Fair in Northwest Philly on Tuesday, May 13th at the PHA Workforce Center, 2300 W Master St, Philadelphia, PA 19121 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Career Connected Learning PHL has job opportunities for youth this summer. Residents ages 12-24 are likely eligible to apply. Learn more at the C2L-PHL website here.
Applications are now open for the next Green Residential Immersive Training (GRIT) program hosted by the Philadelphia Energy Authority. From June through October, participants in this paid 18-week course will get hands-on experience, job-readiness training, life skills, and five industry certifications in preparation for a career in the green building trades. Apply at this link.

Here are some articles you may be interested in, from the district and from Harrisburg.

Read in Billy Penn

Read in The Inquirer

Read in City & State PA

Read in WHYY

Know before you go: REAL ID. On May 7th, TSA began enforcing REAL ID requirements at US airports. We are hearing that there are still long lines at PennDOT locations for anyone trying to get a REAL ID. If you plan to fly and need a REAL ID, plan ahead and get your documents ready. We also recommend visiting a Driver’s License Center or REAL ID Center early in the morning and on a weekday if possible. My office can assist you in applying for a copy of your birth certificate.

The 2024 Property Tax/Rent Rebate program is open until June 30th! This program provides a rebate ranging from $380 to $1,000 to eligible older adults and people with disabilities age 18 and older. You can apply online or visit my office at 9^th & Ritner for help with your application. Remember to bring your income information along with a rent certificate signed by your landlord or proof of property taxes paid.