FY2026 Budget Speech The One Philly 2.0 Budget Good morning to my friend, Council President Kenyatta Johnson, to Council's Leadership team, Majority Leader Katherine Gilmore Richardson, Majority Whip Isaiah Thomas, Deputy Majority Whip Cindy Bass, Minority Leader Kendra Brooks, Minority Whip Nicolas O'Rourke, and every Member of City Council,Members of the Philadelphia Delegation and all statewide leaders here with us today, Faith Leaders, Men and Women of Organized Labor, Community Leaders, the Business and Philanthropic community,Members of my Cabinet and our City Workers, Everyone watching online, listening to WURD, and tuning in on TV. Good morning and thank you for welcoming me back home into the Chambers of Philadelphia City Council today. Last year, I told a story about how my journey to public service began in this Chamber. I gave a Black History Month speech here, as a 17-year-old high school student. I later came to work here, and I learned from Giants - my mentors, Counci...

FY2026 Budget Speech The One Philly 2.0 Budget Good morning to my friend, Council President Kenyatta Johnson, to Council’s Leadership team, Majority Leader Katherine Gilmore Richardson, Majority Whip Isaiah Thomas, Deputy Majority Whip Cindy Bass, Minority Leader Kendra Brooks, Minority Whip Nicolas O’Rourke, and every Member of City Council,Members of the Philadelphia Delegation and all statewide leaders here with us today, Faith Leaders, Men and Women of Organized Labor, Community Leaders, the Business and Philanthropic community,Members of my Cabinet and our City Workers, Everyone watching online, listening to WURD, and tuning in on TV. Good morning and thank you for welcoming me back home into the Chambers of Philadelphia City Council today. Last year, I told a story about how my journey to public service began in this Chamber. I gave a Black History Month speech here, as a 17-year-old high school student. I later came to work here, and I learned from Giants - my mentors, Councilmember Marian Tasco and Augusta “Gussie” Clark. Role models like Anna Verna, Joan Krajewski, and Jannie Blackwell. These Leaders taught me many things. But none more important than this. If you SHOW up and DO the WORK every day for the People of Philadelphia, GOOD THINGS WILL FOLLOW ! I am proud to return today, as the 100 th Mayor of our Great City of Philadelphia, having submitted my Proposed Fiscal Year 2026 Budget, Five-Year Plan and Recommended Capital Budget and Program to City Council for i…