Photos show trash piling up in Philadelphia amid city worker strike
While a lot has changed over the 249 years since those men emerged from their sweaty seclusion, one thing hasn't: Philadelphia is still hot and steamy at the height of summer. And this year, with temperatures in the high 80s and low 90s, that's made worse as piles of trash accumulate three days into a strike by the city's blue-collar workers.
City residents — and the thousands of visitors who come to see historic sites like the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall and take part in a weeklong celebration including fireworks, a concert with LL Cool J and Jazmine Sullivan, and free admission to several museums — are dealing with smelly, ever-growing piles of refuse on city streets.
AFSCME District Council 33, which represents more than 9,000 city workers, went on strike at midnight June 30, impacting city services including trash and recycling collections, street and water repairs and maintenance, libraries and public pools, airport custodial services, licenses and inspections and public health services.
Some on social media have dubbed the trash "Parker piles," referencing Mayor Cherelle Parker.
The city designated several sites all over the city for residents to take their trash on designated days with curbside trash and recycling collection suspended, but piles of trash are popping up on streets and vacant lots. The city also set up a webpage with live updates for residents who have questions or concerns about the strike's impact.
Parker, inaugurated in 2024 as the first woman to lead the city, has made cleaning Philadelphia a top priority for her administration, touting efforts aimed at "making Philadelphia the safest, cleanest, and greenest big city in the nation, with economic opportunity for all."
In a July 1 post on X, Parker wrote that she wants "nothing more than for DC 33 to return to the table — because Philadelphia needs your expertise now more than ever."
"You are the subject matter experts who keep our city moving," the post continued. "The people who maintain our infrastructure, keep our public spaces and neighborhoods clean, and serve our communities with pride. This city works because you do. And I am committed to getting back to the table to negotiate in good faith and reach a fair and fiscally responsible deal. Let's get this done — together."
District Council 33 President Greg Boulware, speaking to reporters on Wednesday, said, "Hopefully the city understands how pivotal our people are and comes through with a deal that makes sense for all of us.
"Unfortunately, we've been undervalued for years," he said. "The cost of living goes up, the cost of commodities goes through the roof on a regular basis... and our paychecks do not meet that need. That has to change."
Multiple outlets have reported that pay raises are the main sticking point in negotiations.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Hoping to cast a ballot in the special election? Here's how to register in Delaware
Just when you thought you were out, a special election pulls you back in. Residents living in the Milton and Lewes areas will have their pick between Democrat and community leader Alonna Berry and Republican and longtime educator Nikki Miller in the Aug. 5 special election to succeed former Rep. Stell Parker Selby in the Delaware House of Representatives. Many of those same voters are still rebounding from last year's election season, where the First State saw record-breaking numbers for early voting during the 2024 presidential election. An in-depth look: Who's on the ballot? Meet the special election candidates running for Parker Selby's seat This isn't even the first special election held this year. Two special elections were held earlier this year to help fill the state Senate district seats left vacant by now-U.S. Congresswoman Sarah McBride and now-Lt. Gov. Kyle Evans Gay. You must be a registered voter to participate in First State general, primary and special elections. But how does one actually register to vote in Delaware? Requirements to register to vote in Delaware To register, you must be 18 years of age or older 'on or before the date of the next General Election,' a U.S. citizen and a resident of Delaware, according to the state Department of Elections. For a special election in particular, you must be 18 years of age or older on the day of or before the election, registered to vote at least 10 days before and must reside in the representative district in which the vacancy took place. Where to register to vote in Delaware Delawareans can register online via the state Voter Portal, in person at any Elections Department office in Delaware or at a voter registration event held by a state Organized Voter Registration Program group with trained registrars. In other legislative news: This new bill would legalize wine shipments to Delawareans. What to know about HB 187 You can also contact the Elections Department and have them send an application directly to you to fill out and submit. Or, if you're short on time, you can instead download, print, fill out and turn in an application back either via email, mail, fax or in person. Aside from the Elections Department, you also have the option to register to vote or update your information at a wide range of state government or other state-based offices. These include: The state Division of Motor Vehicles. You can do so when you are applying for, renewing or modifying your driver's license or state ID. State Department of Health and Social Services service centers when applying for resources. Higher education institutions when registering for classes. What documents do you need to register to vote in Delaware? You have to present one of the following documents along with your completed application: Your state driver's license or ID card. A copy of a government or related document that shows both your name and place of residence. This can include a recent bank statement, paycheck or utility bill. What's the latest you can register to vote in Delaware before an election? It depends on the election. For general and primary elections, you must be registered to vote by 'the [fourth] Saturday' before the election takes place. For the upcoming special election, residents must be registered by Saturday, July 26 at 11:59 p.m. to be eligible. Can I update my voter registration? Yes, you can update your voter record any time before an election or at your designated polling location on Election Day. Related: Delaware lawmakers push for felon voting rights, early voting rules with these bills How to change your political affiliation in Delaware? You can pick a political party affiliation when you register to vote. If you do not choose one, you will be registered as 'no party.' (For primary elections, you must be registered as a Democrat or a Republican.) You can change your affiliation online or complete and submit a form in person or download, fill out and submit a registration form to the Department with your new affiliation listed. You can also call your county Department office and have an application mailed to you to fill out and present with your new affiliation, or you can do so in person at a department office. Voters can also update their information in the event of a name change or a new place of residency. What else do I need to do? Once you've registered, you are responsible for keeping your voter information up to date. To cancel your voter registration, you can fill out a request online or print and send the form back to the department office for your county. For more information on registration and updates, please visit the Elections Department website. How we got here: Special election for Rep. Parker Selby's seat is set. Who's on the ballot and what's next? When is the special election? The special election to fill Parker-Selby's seat will take place on Aug. 5. Early voting will take place on the following dates: July 24-26 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. July 28-29 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. July 30 to Aug. 3 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. No early voting will take place on July 27. Early voters can cast their ballots at Mariner Middle School in Milton. Like in a general election, registered voters in Representative District 20 can vote via absentee ballot or in person, either at an early polling site or on the day of the election. Olivia Montes covers state government and community impact for Delaware Online/The News Journal. If you have a tip or a story idea, reach out to her at omontes@ This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: How to register to vote, update voter information in Delaware Solve the daily Crossword
Bloomberg
16 hours ago
- Bloomberg
Harvard Faculty Who Fear School's Destruction Urge Trump Deal
Kit Parker is used to being an anomaly on Harvard University 's campus. The physicist — an Army Reserve colonel who served in Afghanistan — is a long-time critic of the school's hiring practices and what he sees as liberal biases. For months, he's urged the university to address criticisms from the White House, even as the vast majority of his colleagues applauded Harvard's decision to resist President Donald Trump's efforts to reshape higher education.
Hamilton Spectator
2 days ago
- Hamilton Spectator
With gavel in hand, Trump chisels away at the power of a compliant Congress
WASHINGTON (AP) — 'Mr. President, this is the gavel used to enact the 'big, beautiful bill,'' House Speaker Mike Johnson said at a White House signing ceremony on the Fourth of July. 'I want you to have it,' he said. Handing over the gavel delighted President Donald Trump who, seated behind a desk outdoors, immediately tested it out with a few quick thumps. The moment left a memorable mark on a historic day . The gesture reflected a traditional nod of honor, from one leader to another, a milestone of the Republican Party's priority legislation becoming law . But the imagery also underscored a symbolic transfer of political power , from Capitol Hill to the White House as a compliant Congress is ceding more and more of its prerogative to the presidency. Congress gives Trump what he wants Since Trump's return to the White House in January, and particularly in the past few weeks, Republicans in control of the House and Senate have shown an unusual willingness to give the president of their party what he wants, regardless of the potential risk to themselves, their constituents and Congress itself. Republicans raced to put the big package of tax breaks and spending cuts on Trump's desk by his Independence Day deadline. Senators had quickly confirmed almost all of Trump's outsider Cabinet nominees despite grave reservations over Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as health secretary, Pete Hegseth as the Pentagon chief and others. House Republicans pursued Trump's interest in investigating his perceived foes, including investigating Democratic President Joe Biden's use of the autopen . But at the same time, Congress hit the brakes on one of its own priorities, legislation imposing steep sanctions on Russia over its war on Ukraine, after Trump announced he was allowing President Vladimir Putin an additional 50 days to negotiate a peace deal, dashing hopes for a swifter end to the conflict. This past week, Congress was tested anew, delivering on Trump's request to rescind some $9 billion that lawmakers had approved but that the administration wanted to eliminate, including money for public broadcasting and overseas aid. It was a rare presidential request, a challenge to the legislative branch's power of the purse, that has not been used in decades. The pressure on Republicans is taking its toll 'We're lawmakers. We should be legislating,' said a defiant Sen. Lisa Murkowksi, R-Alaska, as she refused to support the White House's demand to rescind money for National Public Radio and others. 'What we're getting now is a direction from the White House and being told, 'This is the priority. We want you to execute on it. We'll be back with you with another round,'' she said. 'I don't accept that.' Congress, the branch of government the Founding Fathers placed first in the Constitution, is at a familiar crossroads. During the first Trump administration, Republicans frightened by Trump's angry tweets of disapproval would keep their criticisms private. Those who did speak up — Liz Cheney of Wyoming in the House and Mitt Romney of Utah in the Senate, among others — are gone from Capitol Hill. One former GOP senator, Jeff Flake of Arizona , who announced in 2017 during Trump's first term that he would not seek reelection the next year, is imploring Republicans to find a better way. 'The fever still hasn't broken,' he wrote recently in The New York Times. 'In today's Republican Party, voting your conscience is essentially disqualifying.' Seeking a 'normal' Congress But this time, the halls of Congress are filled with many Republicans who came of political age with Trump's 'Make America Great Again' movement and owe their ascent to the president himself. Many are emulating his brand and style as they shape their own. A new generation of GOP leaders, Johnson in the House and Senate Majority Leader John Thune , have pulled closer to Trump . They are utilizing the power of the presidency in ways large and small — to broker deals, encourage wayward lawmakers to fall in line, even to set schedules. Johnson, R-La., has openly pined for what he calls a 'normal Congress.' But short of that, the speaker relies on Trump to help stay on track. When Republicans hit an impasse on cryptocurrency legislation , a Trump priority, it was the president who met with holdouts in the Oval Office late Tuesday night as Johnson called in by phone. The result is a perceptible imbalance of power as the executive exerts greater authority while the legislative branch dims. The judicial branch has been left to do the heavy lift of checks and balances with the courts processing hundreds of lawsuits over the administration's actions. 'The genius of our Constitution is the separation of power,' said Democratic Rep. Nancy Pelosi of California, the former speaker, in an interview on SiriusXM's 'Mornings with Zerlina.' 'That the Republicans in Congress would be so ignoring of the institution that they represent, and that have just melted the power of the incredibly shrinking speakership' and Senate leadership positions, 'to do all of these things, to cater to the executive branch,' she said. Confronting Trump comes with costs Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., endured Trump's criticism over his opposition to the tax and spending cuts bill. The senator raised concerns about steep cuts to hospitals, but the president threatened to campaign against him. Tillis announced he would not seek reelection in 2026. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, voted against that bill and the rescissions package despite Trump's threat to campaign against any dissenters. One Republican, Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky , appears to be pressing on , unphased. He recently proposed legislation to force the administration to release the Jeffrey Epstein files , something the president had been reluctant to do. 'Nowhere in the Constitution does it say that if the president wants something, you must do it,' said Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, in a Senate speech. 'We don't have to do this. We don't have to operate under the assumption that this man is uniquely so powerful.' Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
