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City Council Committee on Law and Government

Seventy has become increasingly concerned about the proliferation of Charter amendments over the past 20 years. The process by which this proposed amendment was passed by City Council adds to these concerns.

The Committee of Seventy expressed concern about a proposal to create a special carve out from the civil service system for staff of the Citizens Police Oversight Commission and urged lawmakers to instead focus on the systemic and underlying issues in recruitment, hiring, retention and promotion that plague the city workforce.

Philadelphia, Pa. – Philadelphia 3.0, the Committee of Seventy and several candidates for elected office today filed a lawsuit asking the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to direct the President Judge of the Court of Common Pleas to replace Philadelphia’s City Commissioners with interim election officials for the May 2017 primary. The plaintiffs are represented by attorneys from the Public Interest Law Center and private counsel.

The public will have to wait for a final outcome in Councilmember Kenyatta Johnson's trial. In the meantime, there is work to be done to bolster Philadelphians’ trust in City Hall.

Philadelphia, PA (April 1, 2019) --- The Committee of Seventy (C70) announced today that it has negotiated rights to acquire the "Coffee Can of Destiny" (CCoD) from the Office of the Philadelphia City Commissioners and plans to donate it to a new Philadelphia Coffee Museum to be built on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.

What is the amendment about? City voters will decide on May 15 whether the so-called Educational Supplement to the Home Rule Charter dealing with the public school system will be amended in various parts. These changes would impact the nomination, appointment and removal process for Board of Education members and create a Parent and Community Advisory Council charged with “consult[ing] on issues pertaining to educational policy and family and community engagement in schools.”

Join C70’s Program Director, Tanisha Bezue, and VP of External Affairs, Andrew McGinley, on Thursday, July 10 at 5:30 PM for the final session in our three-part webinar series on Philadelphia’s city budget. Together, they’ll break down the final FY26 budget, discuss the political dynamics behind key decisions, and reflect on the ways community voices influenced the process.

Philadelphia’s city budget shapes everything from housing and public safety to education, transit, and neighborhood services. Understanding how it works is key to making your voice heard on the priorities that matter most to you. Join us on Thursday, April 16 at 6 p.m. for a webinar breaking down Mayor Cherelle Parker’s fiscal year2027 Budget Address, which was delivered on March 12. We’ll walk through the major proposals, priorities, and investments outlined in the address and provide context on how the budget process moves forward and how residents can engage in it.

Titled 20 by Seventy, the monthly digital product will advance Seventy’s mission to make Philadelphia a more efficient, effective, and ethical city