Philadelphia needs a budget that reflects our increasingly grim reality

We are in a moment of deep crisis, both across the country and here in Philadelphia, and the city desperately needs a municipal budget that reflects that reality.

For the last year, our city has been under attack from the federal government. Medicaid cuts could leave 300,000 Philadelphians without healthcare. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is operating without any restrictions in our immigrant communities, kidnapping neighbors and tearing families apart. Federal regulations that protect our environment and our health have all but dissolved.

The cost of living for everyday people has gotten out of control, while the richest people in our nation receive more and more tax breaks. On top of the Trump administration bearing down on our city, the school district is planning to close 18 public schools, some of which are the only schools in their neighborhoods that survived the district’s last mass closure in 2013.

With all of these issues defining our current reality, Mayor Cherelle L. Parker had the responsibility to present a bold plan for our city in the face of a growing crisis. Yet, the mayor presented another status quo, insufficient budget plan. Since she took office, Mayor Parker’s priorities have mirrored what’s happening at the federal level: tax giveaways for the rich and pushing through unpopular legislation, while rolling out the red carpet for big business and people who profit from caging and disappearing our neighbors, whether in ICE detention or Kensington sweeps.

Parker’s budget proposal does not meet the moment. It fails to address the looming Medicaid cuts that will hurt working-class Black and brown Philadelphians the most. The budget does not include robust funding for immigrant resources, leaving families behind when they need a lawyer to rescue their loved ones from ICE.

The budget continues to have a bloated police budget while cutting funding for reproductive healthcare and keeping our public services like libraries, recreation centers, and mental health services severely underfunded.

There are some bright spots in the budget for low-income renters and SEPTA riders. We are thrilled to see, after years of advocacy from impacted Philadelphians, that the mayor has finally listened and acted. Yet, it is not enough. The moment calls for bold leadership.

While we appreciate the attempts to increase revenue, including the proposed taxes on ride-shares and retail delivery services, Parker needs to make sure these added costs are not disproportionately paid by working Philadelphians.

And while the mayor did not mention the introduction of the 20-year property tax abatement in her budget address, we know it’s coming, and we are bracing for it.

The budget must be a bold, anti-Trump, pro-community representation of our strong city.

Once again, predatory developers are prioritized over the funding of our schools and public services. The poorest neighborhoods in Philadelphia are being targeted, while the city wants to turn school buildings into land grabs for developers.

All of this comes just one year after massive cuts to the business tax were passed through the fiscal year 2026 budget, a tax giveaway that benefits big corporations on the backs of mom-and-pop shops.

The Alliance for a Just Philadelphia is fighting to address the federal threats and the long-term divestment from our communities. The budget needs to include an emergency healthcare fund that would help gap Medicaid losses for low-income residents.

We need funding for immigration legal assistance, combined with strong legislation to keep ICE out of our city. The budget must be a bold, anti-Trump, pro-community representation of our strong city.

Our neighbors who are impacted by federal threats and divestment have stepped up to protect our communities. We need Mayor Parker to do the same.

People across Philadelphia have been advocating for strong immigrant protections, accessible healthcare, workers’ rights, safe housing, clean air to breathe, and to keep every one of our invaluable public schools open.

We are proud to be Philadelphians. Philly is a city of everyday people who care for their families, work in their neighborhoods, and create the beautiful, diverse communities that we struggle to protect together.

We expect the leader of our city to stand up and fight for us, too.

Vivian Chang is the executive director of Asian Americans United. Nikki Grant is the co-executive director of Amistad Law Project.