South Philly District Updates

Rep. Elizabeth Fiedler July 11, 2025 | 9:50 AM

PA Representative Elizabeth Fiedler banner image

Statement on the AFSCME DC 33 strike
Last week, AFSCME District Council 33 went on strike in response to their contract negotiations. I have stood in full support of these workers and their right to strike, and I was proud to join them on the picket lines. This week, the union and the City announced that they had reached a tentative agreement in negotiations, which the union members will now vote on before the contract is ratified.

I know we all felt the weight of how essential these workers are to our city this past week with libraries closed, pools drained, and trash piling up. Please note that workers are returning to work, and daily trash pick-up resumes Monday, July 14th. Please do not use the temporary trash drop-off sites as they are being removed.

Fun at the Bok Party last week
Last week, my staff and I joined the “B(l)ok” party at the Bok Building, which featured food trucks, games, and artist vendors. Our table received a lot of visitors interested in learning about state services and happy to take a “Save SEPTA” window sign to show their support for transit funding (more signs are available at my office at any time for pick up!). Summer in Philly can be tough, but events like these make it better!

Upcoming Events

Free health screenings: Jefferson Collaborative for Health Equity will be providing free health screenings for any community members who visit the South Philly Resource Hub at Mt. Enon Church (500 Snyder Ave.) on Monday, July 14th from 12pm-3pm. Participants can expect to be screened for blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes. No insurance or ID are required. Call 215-685-5488 with questions.
School facilities meetings: The School District of Philadelphia will host a number of community engagement sessions. At these sessions, students, families, school-based staff, school leaders, and school communities can learn about how facilities decisions and recommendations will be made, participate in a facilities decision-making exercise, and tell the District about their neighborhood or school. See the full schedule of meetings here.

Read about current and upcoming legislation I support!

Protecting maternal health: coverage for blood pressure monitors

Last week, I voted for HB1234, a bill in the Momnibus to improve maternal health outcomes, especially for Black mothers who face disproportionately higher maternal mortality rates. This bill expands our Medical Assistance and CHIP programs to cover blood pressure monitors as a pregnancy-related service. Blood pressure monitoring has proven to be an effective strategy in improving blood pressure control and averting dangerous and costly complications.

Investing in childcare staff

The House recently passed HB506 that supports PA's childcare workforce, who care for our young children at their most vulnerable stages of development. This bill would offer bonuses for licensed childcare providers participating in the Child Care Works program. These bonuses would provide a meaningful resource to help childcare providers raise wages, recruit qualified candidates, and stabilize this critical workforce.

Updating PA’s Medical Release program

I am proud to co-sponsor my colleague Rep. Krajewski’s bipartisan bill HB150 to improve and update medical release in our prison system. Since 2016, 11 people have died in our Commonwealth’s prisons waiting for a judge to hear their petition for medical-based release, and it’s heartbreaking to think they could have survived with more immediate care. At the same time, medical care for incarcerated people costs the state more than $400 million in annual taxpayer funding. It’s compassionate and common sense to make this process more efficient so that sick people get necessary medical care.

PA House Democrats respond to the “Big Beautiful Bill”

This week, I joined my colleagues at the Capitol to speak about the various ways that the recent federal budget bill will affect Pennsylvanians. As chair of the House Energy Committee, I used this time to discuss how the cuts to green energy will increase household utility bills and threaten jobs and economic growth. You can hear my full remarks in this video and learn about the rest of the event here. If you’d like to learn about the work we’ve been doing to bring green energy jobs to PA, head here.

Young people can get free legal help with the Youth Justice Project

Through the Youth Justice Project, young people ages 16-25 can get connected to lawyers for free counsel. This can include support with record expungement, child custody, public benefits like SNAP, debt and loans, and housing issues. Call 484-267-5740 or email YJPHotline@clsphila.org to learn more about intake and eligibility.

Request a free smoke detector
Use this form from the PA Emergency Management Agency to request a free smoke detector from the fire department.

Make sure Emergency Alerts are turned “on”

As we see more frequent and intense weather events, the PA Emergency Management Agency is reminding residents to check that their phones are prepared for emergency alerts. Wireless Emergency Alerts, aka WEAs, are the loud alerts that come to your phone in an emergency. These alerts could accidentally be turned off on your personal device, so use the graphic below to see how to check this in your Notifications settings. Taking a minute right now to make sure they are on could be a lifesaving decision.

Resources about Unemployment Compensation from Philly Legal Assistance
If you need help navigating the unemployment application process, have been denied, or are waiting for payment, Philly Legal Assistance has resources to help. July 6th was the start of a new quarter for eligibility, so if you’d been previously denied, you can try applying again to see if you qualify. Head to PLA's webpage here to learn more.

Job Opportunities

Mighty Writers is hiring a part-time food distribution coordinator. This role will be located at 1025 S. 9th St. Ideal candidates have a valid driver’s license and car, are English/Spanish bilingual, and can maintain distribution of packed lunches, produce, other materials. Learn more and apply here.
Philly BOLT is hiring a youth program educator. Philly BOLT is a non-profit leadership development program. The youth program educator is responsible for delivering powerful, consistent programming to high school youth during the school year and summer. Learn more and apply here.

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

Read in The Inquirer

Read in The Center Square

Waiting for your rebate payment? Checks and payments for the 2024 Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program began getting sent out on July 1st. The Department of Revenue is working on getting these payments distributed to everyone who applied prior to July 1st. If you are waiting for a paper check, this can take 4-6 weeks to arrive in the mail. You can still apply for the program until Dec. 31st, 2025, see below for more information!

The 2024 Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program deadline has been extended to the end of the year! 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 9th & Ritner for help with your application.