AARP Philadelphia Applauds City Council, Mayor, for Supporting Affordable Housing, Safe Streets, and Vital Services

AARP Pennsylvania State Director Bill Johnston-Walsh issued the following statement on June 12, 2025, in response to news that Mayor Parker and the City Council have come to an agreement on Philadelphia’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget:

“On behalf of our nearly 300,000 members across Philadelphia and all those 50-plus who call Philadelphia ‘home,’ we applaud the Mayor and members of City Council for agreeing on a budget that advances affordable housing and safe streets initiatives, along with programs and services that will help every Philadelphian live and age well in their homes and communities. As the local advocate in Philadelphia, our AARP Philadelphia Age-Friendly and Livable Communities Action Plan supports the efforts of our neighborhoods, towns, and cities to be great places for people of all ages.

Following the 2023 release of an AARP survey of Philadelphians 50-plus which found that 90 percent of survey respondents said it was “very important” or “somewhat important” that the mayoral candidates focus on making housing more affordable for all income levels, increasing pedestrian safety, and focusing on jobs and the economy, we began engaging every conversation possible to urge the city’s elected leaders to take action on these issues. Today, with the budget approval achieved, we are pleased to see the influence the voices of the 50-plus has had on making Philadelphia more livable and age-friendly by providing safe, walkable streets, age-friendly housing and transportation options, access to needed services, and opportunities for residents of all ages, ability levels, incomes, races, ethnicities, and other backgrounds to participate in community life.

Our volunteers and staff have testified in front of City Council and engaged in robust dialogue with the city’s elected and appointed officials on these important issues. We look forward to continuing to fulfill our mission to empower people to choose how they live as they age, and an important part of this is being able to choose where we live as we age. We are pleased that the new budget includes provisions that are critical factors in helping Philadelphians to make these choices.”