Big Tech Victorious Over Mayor Parker, Bike Lanes Back in Court & Pride Controversies
Matt Katz and Abby Fritz are looking back at the week that was on today’s Friday News Roundup. Mayor Parker’s plan to raise taxes on Amazon, Airbnb, and Uber appears to have failed. Why? The plan to protect bike lanes on Spruce and Pine Streets in Center City is back in court. The Pride march and festival this weekend won’t be centered in the gayborhood, and people aren’t happy about that. Plus in our members-only City Cast Philly Neighbors segment, we give you the scoop on jury duty in the city.
Our Friday news roundups are powered by great local journalism:
- Philly City Council rejected Mayor Parker’s proposed taxes on Uber and Airbnb while advancing a $7.1 billion city budget
- Mayor Parker’s proposals to tax tech companies falter as city budget deadline looms
- With Philly budget vote looming, Airbnb launches ad campaign against proposed tax hike on short-term rentals
- City asks court to let it strengthen bike lanes on Pine and Spruce Streets
- Meredith Elementary in South Philadelphia amends Pride celebration after conservative backlash
- Philly Pride365 March and Festival
- Gayborhood bars brace for fallout from Philly Pride move
Our newsletter has Philly news & events in your inbox every weekday morning.
Call or text us: 215-259-8170
Instagram: @citycastphilly
Support our show and get great perks as a City Cast Philly Neighbor: membership.citycast.fm
Advertise on the podcast or in the newsletter: citycast.fm/advertise
Learn more about the sponsors of this episode:
Subscribe To Our Newsletter
Stay connected to City Cast Philly and get ready to join the local conversation.
Latest Episodes
July Fourth Flop? PECO Strike! And LOVE Park Saucer Gets Revamp
Did the Fourth of July semiquincentennial celebrations fall flat, given the too-hot and then too-wet weather, a cancelled parade, and pri...
Do The Sounds of Your Philly Neighborhood Annoy You?
While all fireworks shows have ended, Philly is still a noisy place. Just listen to the El train rolling by, neighbors yelling at each ot...
'Your City Could Be Better': The Ultimate USA Trivia Battle. How Much Do You Know? — Presented By City Cast Philly
See if your Philly knowledge serves you well! In the first-ever Your City Could Be Better trivia episode, City Cast CEO David Plotz goes...
Philly-Made Cocktails Worth Celebrating With
Every celebration needs a beverage to pair with it. This weekend, as the city marks the semiquincentennial with fireworks, block parties,...
Your Guide to July 2026 in Philly
As America rings in its 250th anniversary on July 4, Philadelphia celebrates with free museum admission, concerts, and special events for...
Can a Free July 4 Concert Keep You in Philly? Plus, Pension Loophole & SEPTA Housing
Are you sticking around for the semiquincentennial celebrations this weekend? Host Trenae Nuri, senior producer Abby Fritz, and Fae Ehsan...
Is 2026 the Safest Year in Philly’s History?
Is 2026 the safest year in Philly’s history? If you look at homicide rates, it just might be. In 2025, we saw the fewest number of homici...
'Your City Could Be Better': How Denver Is Fixing Its Sidewalks — Presented By City Cast Philly
Just how good are the sidewalks in Philadelphia? The state of a city’s sidewalks can be a good indicator of how healthy that city is — an...
FCC Targets 6abc, Philly Grades Our Politicians & Broad Street Goes Green
For today’s Friday News Roundup, we’re talking about our city’s most popular and least popular politicians, why it seems like President T...
Philly’s Best Sunrise & Sunset Views
Catching the sunrise in the morning or the sunset in the evening can be a magical Philly experience. Because the city is relatively flat,...