Political speech, timestamped and in context

Cherelle Parker: “The city's not prepared [for the upcoming events].”

Featuring: Cherelle Parker, Democratic | Mayor of Philadelphia | Pennsylvania

Philly Mayor Parker reflects on 1,000 days in office

Published October 2, 2026

And I looked in the budget and I remember calling the council president. I'm saying, Mr. President, they're saying The city's not prepared [for the upcoming events]. And I asked, what's in the budget? And it's zilch. Well, you were on council. Didn't you know that? Well, this is what we didn't know. (35:09–35:12)

STATEMENT

Asserts that the city is unprepared for future events.

This is an excerpt from a raw transcript. The assertions have not been audited or verified. Tap the video to view the source footage and understand the context.

See the main statements from Cherelle Parker in this video

“We are at a record 60 year low in violent crime and homicides in the city of Philadelphia.”
Asserts that Philadelphia is experiencing a 60-year low in violent crime and homicides.02:48-02:58
“We have made historic investments. Our $2 billion HOME program to create and preserve 30,000 units of housing.”
Asserts that a $2 billion HOME program aims to create and preserve 30,000 housing units.23:03-23:14
“Over 175,000 streets cleaned here in the city of Philadelphia.”
Asserts that over 175,000 streets have been cleaned in Philadelphia.30:01-30:08
“Highest number of summer jobs ever available in the city of Philadelphia for our young people, over 9,000.”
Asserts that over 9,000 summer jobs are available for young people in Philadelphia, the highest number ever.33:06-33:14
“We're the number one tourist destination, you know, in the nation.”
Asserts that the city is the top tourist destination in the nation.37:04-37:09
“Philadelphia's rate of reduction in violence has been much more significant than we've seen in other cities.”
Asserts that Philadelphia's reduction in violence is more significant compared to other cities.03:05-03:13
“Commissioner Bethel, who is the most sought after and best police commissioner in the nation, I'm grateful for him.”
Asserts that Commissioner Bethel is the most sought-after and best police commissioner in the nation.04:26-04:34
“A significant investment to the tune of $25 million in those grassroots community based organizations.”
Asserts that there has been a $25 million investment in grassroots community-based organizations.05:18-05:28
“We would find a vacant city-owned building, a nursing home in northeast Philadelphia, and say, why can't we put an asset that we own in use and have a way to treat the people who are in need of help right now?”
Asserts a plan to use vacant city-owned buildings for long-term care, treatment, and housing.08:03-08:22
“We were announcing a 21.7 million dollar investment in McPherson Library, the park, the rec.”
Asserts a $21.7 million investment in McPherson Library and related facilities.09:20-09:28
“I disagree very firmly, Lauren, with the premise of your question as it relates to the behavior or the response that an industry would give in response to a government action.”
Asserts disagreement with the idea that industries will necessarily pass on taxes to consumers.11:30-11:47
“They pay a local share in taxes. In municipalities across the country where many of those firms are headquartered, they pay a local tax.”
Asserts that ride-share companies pay local taxes in other municipalities.12:18-12:30
“I don't apologize for taking on business billionaire corporations to tell them they benefit from doing business in the city of Philadelphia.”
Asserts a stance on holding corporations accountable for benefiting from doing business in Philadelphia.12:43-12:54
“We defined predatory lending in the nation and I was a victim of it.”
Asserts involvement in defining predatory lending in the U.S.13:21-13:28
“I won't propose an increase in any kind of property tax or anything of that nature on Philadelphians.”
Asserts that Cherelle Parker will not propose property tax increases for Philadelphians.15:22-15:30
“We need recurring revenue for the school district.”
Asserts the need for recurring revenue for the Philadelphia school district.15:29-15:33
“We need it to address street homelessness in the city of Philadelphia.”
Asserts the need for revenue to address street homelessness in Philadelphia.15:32-15:39
“We also need it to help us address quality of life issues.”
Asserts the need for revenue to address quality of life issues in Philadelphia.15:38-15:43
“Big billionaire corporations that benefit from these are tech companies. These are not, you know, transportation corporations.”
Asserts that the targeted corporations for revenue are tech companies, not transportation corporations.15:59-16:10
“The results of the investments that are, quite frankly, a product of that beverage tax, the return on investment is so significant in improving quality of life across the board in our city that it was worth it.”
Asserts that the beverage tax has significantly improved quality of life in Philadelphia.17:03-17:22
“In the current proposal that is before the City Council of Philadelphia right now we use a standard holistic approach to get to this moment, that is the environmental impacts of our decision making while making sure that we had the best subject matter experts available.”
Asserts that the current waste proposal considers environmental impacts and involves expert consultation.18:39-19:01
“We now have a comprehensive, you know, fair and fiscally responsible proposal on the table that diversifies how the City of Philadelphia disposes of its waste.”
Asserts that the waste disposal proposal is comprehensive, fair, and fiscally responsible.19:12-19:30
“I bring the best data and subject matter experts together so that I have all of the facts on the table so I can make the most informed decision possible.”
Asserts that decisions are made based on comprehensive data and expert consultation.19:47-19:58
“We are making the most informed decisions with our environmental health and that of not just the city of Philadelphia, but our region in mind with the best subject matter experts we could bring to the table.”
Asserts that environmental health decisions consider both Philadelphia and the region, with expert input.20:41-20:58
“We made a values-based, data-driven decision for a very complex issue.”
Asserts that a decision was made based on values and data.21:06-21:26
“The Sheriff's office and what they do with sheriff sales significantly impact the City of Philadelphia's ability to address our housing affordability crisis.”
Asserts that the Sheriff's office's actions affect Philadelphia's housing affordability efforts.22:42-22:56
“A 20,000 unit plan to create and preserve 20,000 of deeply affordable units.”
Asserts that there is a plan to create and preserve 20,000 deeply affordable housing units.23:20-23:28
“The Sheriff's office plays a significant role in making sure that tax lien properties...can be put back to their best and highest use.”
Asserts that the Sheriff's office is crucial in repurposing tax lien properties.23:30-23:45
“Ensuring that the properties that are involved in the tax lien sales...I am committed to putting those properties back to their highest and best use.”
Asserts commitment to repurposing tax lien properties for optimal use.24:06-24:20
“Twice a week pickup alligator squad, cleaning alleyways, addressing public safety and cleanliness.”
Asserts that there is a twice-a-week pickup service addressing public safety and cleanliness in Philadelphia.30:07-30:17
“Future track thinking about workforce development.”
Asserts that there is a focus on workforce development in Philadelphia.30:18-30:22
“More Fortune 500 companies like Burlington say we're choosing Philadelphia because they're moving in the right direction.”
Asserts that more Fortune 500 companies are choosing Philadelphia due to positive developments.30:33-30:42
“47 schools and over 14,000 children in our city have access...to before after school care, during winter sports, spring and summer breaks.”
Asserts that 47 schools and over 14,000 children in Philadelphia have access to extended care programs.32:47-33:00
“We're shooting for over 10,000, hopefully 11,000 this year.”
Asserts a goal of providing over 10,000 to 11,000 summer jobs in Philadelphia this year.33:13-33:18
“Philadelphia not being prepared to meet this historic milestone in our nation's history, which would be 2026 in our semiquincentennial 250th anniversary of America.”
Asserts concerns about Philadelphia's preparedness for the 250th anniversary of America in 2026.34:37-34:54
“It's the executive branch's responsibility to sound the alarm in the city that we have to be prepared for this moment.”
Asserts that the executive branch should alert the city to prepare for significant events.35:28-35:46
“Mayor Jim Kinney...decided...we don't want [the Roots] organizing this activity for us anymore.”
Asserts that Mayor Jim Kinney removed the Roots from organizing city activities.36:35-36:41
“We invested this revenue, $120 million...to support 2026 activities.”
Asserts that $120 million was allocated for activities in 2026.38:09-38:14
“A plane would crash on Cotman Avenue...in the heart of a commercial district and right in the middle of a residential neighborhood.”
Asserts that a plane crash occurred on Cotman Avenue in a commercial and residential area.40:50-41:01