Mayor doubles down on starting Rebuild

Mayor Jim Kenney is doubling down on his expectation that the beverage tax will survive a court challenge by proceeding with a scaled-down version of the city’s massive infrastructure project in the face of City Council opposition.

Mayor Kenney, labor leader Dougherty clash with Council over union diversity  

Kenney and the trades’ leader, John “Johnny Doc” Dougherty, are clashing with City Council over the terms of an agreement to boost minority participation among the construction unions. Dougherty said he won’t negotiate further with Council after having struck an accord with the mayor.

FIRST REBUILD CONTRACT GOES TO PHILLY-BASED FIRM   

The city will pay up to $424,000 to a Philadelphia-based construction-monitoring and consulIng firm to help ensure minority participation in the rebuilding of parks and recreaIon centers. 

NEW CITY PROCUREMENT MEASURE AMONG TOOLS FOR REBUILD DIVERSITY 

Philadelphia’s vote to update city government procurement procedures from selection of the lowest responsible bidder to selection of a contractor exhibiting “best value,” came just in time for Rebuild, the city’s $500 million initiative to improve dilapidated parks, recreation centers and libraries. 

WITH REBUILD COMING, CITY UNVEILS DIVERSITY PARTNERSHIP WITH BUILDING TRADES

The historically narrow pipeline for minorities into Philadelphia’s building trades just got a little wider.

FIXING PHILLY: BRINGING MORE MINORITIES INTO TRADE UNIONS 

City Council has new programs aimed at diversifying the union workforce, but that goal is easier said than done, workers say. 

COUNCIL ADDS AMENDMENTS TO REBUILD LEGISLATION

The amendments were made to legislate diversity requirements into Rebuild hiring beyond the memorandum of understanding currently being negotiated between the Kenney administration leadership and the Trades, Council President Clarke said Monday.

COUNCIL MEMBERS VOW TO PULL OUT 'HAMMER' OVER REBUILD JOB DIVERSITY 

In a firm display of unity, four City Council members pledged to push for diversity and inclusion in the city’s $500 million Rebuild initiative. 

TRADES TRAINING MODELS SEEN AS GAME-CHANGERS FOR DIVERSITY

New efforts are underway to boost the numbers of women and minorities in the city’s construction trades.

During a press conference held this week at City Hall, elected officials joined business and labor leaders in touting new initiatives as models for minorities and women to gain access to the building trades.