Calling on the City of Philadelphia to explore ways to assist residents in maintaining the infrastructure of their property.

WHEREAS, In November of 2021, Congress passed the $1 trillion Infrastructure and Jobs Act, which, according to the White House, is a “once-in-a-generation investment in our nation’s infrastructure and competitiveness”; and

WHEREAS, The Act is intended to rebuild roads and bridges, expand broadband access, ensure Americans have access to clean drinking water, confront climate change, and improve our country’s rail systems; and

WHEREAS, Billions of dollars will become available to the City of Philadelphia through competitive grant processes. We should take advantage of this historic funding opportunity and procure capital to usher outdated, dilapidated aspects of our City into the twenty-first century; and

WHEREAS, When procuring those funds, the City of Philadelphia must be intentional about using that capital to invest in the success of historically neglected and disenfranchised neighborhoods across the City; and

WHEREAS, In addition to securing funding on the macro-level for critical infrastructures like broadband access and roads and bridges, the City should find ways to support residents in repairing their driveways, sidewalks, and retaining walls; and

WHEREAS, While funding critical infrastructure is important, the City should not leave behind Philadelphians who struggle to maintain their property and who cannot afford repairs; and

WHEREAS, The only way to end historic injustices is to stop overlooking the needs of the disenfranchised. A step toward this would be to aggressively seek funding from all available sources to assist Philadelphians who cannot afford repairs to their retaining walls, sidewalks, and driveways; and

WHEREAS, The most prudent use of City funding, from any source, should elevate communities, large and small, and the City as a whole; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, THAT THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, Urges the City of Philadelphia to explore ways to assist residents in maintaining the infrastructure of their property.

End