Our PA chapter started the year off strong with local policy wins, networking events and advocacy in Harrisburg! Across the state, from county to school board – members are connecting and sharing great ideas. New and existing members attended our second LPPA Collaborative Governance Academy training and are ready to use their leadership and partnerships to fight for racial, economic and gender justice in their localities! We have more events coming up and ways you can get involved!
This download includes some highlights but so much more is happening and possible. Schedule a meeting with me or email me. I’m looking forward to hearing from you and incorporating your feedback into our statewide plans, while supporting your individual work!
🏠 Safe Healthy Homes Act passed in Philadelphia
On April 23, Local Progress Organizing Committee member and Philadelphia City Councilmember Nicolas O’Rourke introduced the Safe Healthy Homes Act, a package of bills collaboratively written with LPPA Partner One PA, which was passed by the City Council by a vote of 15-2, a veto-proof majority! The city is now authorized to conduct proactive inspections of rental units on a “regular cycle”. Councilmember O’Rourke’s legislation aims to further reduce instances of landlord retaliation by expanding “good cause” protections to every renter, a central provision of the legislative package.
Additionally, the legislation expressly bars landlords from ending or modifying a tenant’s lease simply because that tenant is cooperating with a city investigation, has discussed their living conditions with a council member or reporter, or has joined a tenant association.
📜 Allegheny County Anti-Retaliation Bill
On March 27, County Executive Sara Innamorato signed Allegheny County’s Residential Tenant Protections for Retaliation! The bill, which was co-sponsored by LPPA member and Allegheny County Councilmember Alex Rose, requires landlords to show evidence that an eviction is not retaliatory, which means landlords may still evict a tenant who fails to make rent, causes damage to the unit or property, or any other legitimate reasons for eviction.
🧊 Working to Keep People Safe And Passing Legislation to Limit Collaboration with ICE!
Allegheny County passed legislation, introduced by LPPA Member Bethany Hallam and co-sponsored by members Dan Gryzbek, Lissa Geiger-Shulman, and Kathleen Madonna Emmerling, which restricts county employees from cooperating with ICE and prohibits the detention of anyone solely based on a federal immigration detention request.
Montgomery County commissioners including LPPA member Neil Makhija, passed legislation that codifies the commissioners commitment to not enter the county into a 287g agreement with ICE and restricts the use of county property or resources from being used to assist ICE.
Erie City passed welcoming city legislation which restricts the city’s collaboration with ICE. LPPA Organizing Committee member and Erie City council president, Tyler Titus introduced the ordinance.
Pittsburgh passed legislation introduced by councilmembers Barbara Warwick and Deb Gross which prevents city police and all other employees from gathering or sharing information about residents’ immigration status. It includes a sweep of prohibitions against other forms of targeting based on people’s perceived nationalities and outlaws cooperation with federal agents to identify or apprehend their targets. Two additional bills have been introduced, which ban immigration enforcement in city-run property and establish protected community spaces where federal officers must show a judicial warrant to enter.
Philadelphia passed ICE Out Legislation on April 23 led by LPPA members and Philadelphia Minority Leader Kendra Brooks and City Councilmember Rue Landau! This landmark package of protections for immigrant communities requires all law enforcement to identify themselves openly. They bar city agencies, including police, from cooperating with ICE without a judicial warrant, and permanently codify Philadelphia’s refusal to participate in federal deportation programs. Employers, housing providers, and city agencies cannot discriminate based on citizenship or immigration status. ICE is banned from city-owned spaces like libraries, health centers, shelters, and rec centers without a warrant.
Like what you read and ready to take action but need to know where to start… Check out our No Secret Police Toolkit!
🤝 Building Collaborative Governance in Philly and across PA!
From May 2–3, 12 members from Western PA, Lehigh, Lancaster, Harrisburg and the Philly area gathered in Philly for our second Pennsylvania Collaborative Governance Academy. The training was led by our partners at re:power Fund and co-hosted by partners Lead PA, Working Families Power and One PA. Members dug deep in breakout discussions on housing, schools, progressive revenue and federal advocacy and community defense. They shared their questions, inspiration, support and experience guided by trainers Nashville Councilmember At-Large Delishia Porterfield and Florence School Board Member Sherri Jones. Training modules included agenda setting, power mapping, collaborative governance, self-care and more. Members left the training feeling energized and connected to each other, Local Progress and our partners!
💸 Tax Billionaires, Fund Pennsylvanians!
On March 23, 13 LPPA members and alumni attended a webinar by our partners at Tax Billionaires Fund PA. Content of the training included an overview of the effect the federal budget is having and will have on PA revenue including cuts to SNAP and Medicaid. Members noted that their localities are also experiencing cuts to housing support funds, initiatives and grants for mental health, and FEMA funded grants for storm water management. Information shared by partners included a history of PA’s uniformity clause which requires the state to use a flat tax, resulting in PA having the 4th most regressive tax system in the country. Partners also shared an overview of the coalition’s campaign, goals and timeline. They explained their support of 3 bills to close the corporate tax loophole, tax digital ads and reform the passive income tax. The revenue created by the 3 bills would equal the 6 billion state gap created by the federal budget. Sign on to our letter in support of 3 bills in Harrisburg!
Want to learn more? On Monday, May 18, the Local Progress Impact Lab is joining the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy to release Tax the Rich, Fund Our Communities: Local Options For Progressive Revenue. This new policy toolkit surveys progressive local tax options, includes case studies of local successes, and provides advice on policy design and managing common challenges. Local Progress Impact Lab and ITEP will host a launch call for Tax the Rich, Fund Our Communities: Local Options For Progressive Revenue on Monday, May 18 at 3:00 PM ET / 2:00 PM CT / 1:00 PM MT/ 12:00 PM PT. You’ll hear from partners and members who are on the frontlines to ensure the wealthy pay their fair share — register for the webinar here!
🏫 LPPA School Board Networking Event
On February 19, 23 school board members from 15 school districts across Pennsylvania came together for LPPA’s first quarterly networking event of the year. The room was full of energy, curiosity, and shared commitment, with leaders including Ariel Zych (Fox Chapel), Dan Wiser (Phoenixville), Devon Taliaferro (Pittsburgh), Amanda Barber (Wilkinsburg) sharing their experience. Members shared timely updates and raised critical questions shaping school board work across the state. The event featured three 30 minute breakouts tailored to member needs: (1) on protecting immigrant students, led by LP Deputy Legal Director Hannah Alexander who shared resources and answered questions, (2) on protecting Transgender Students led by Vivian Topping from LP partner Equality Federation, and (3) Q+A for new school board directors led by LP School Board Program Manager Kathleen Pointer.
🗺️ We Got IN THE ZONE on Zoning
On April 1, members met to discuss PA zoning questions. Conversation topics included zoning for affordable housing, Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC), and how large nonprofits impact municipalities. We also talked about the segregationist roots of zoning and how that shows up today. Thanks to LPPA members Jeremy Zimmerman (Manheim Township) and Michael Gaudini (Narberth Borough) for sharing resources and their expertise!
❤️ Digging in Deep On Anti-Discrimination Ordinances
On April 6, LPPA members learned about anti-discrimination ordinances from our partners at Keystone Equality. In the past 6 months anti-discrimination ordinances have passed in Delaware, Chester, and Northampton counties that will expand protections for LGBTQIA residents. The ordinances also expand protections to cover education and healthcare institutions, which are not currently included in the state’s anti-discrimination law. Keystone Equality Board Chair also shared her expertise on setting up a Human Relations Commission. Members who attended found the event very informative and used their new insight to shape anti-discrimination ordinances being drafted in their municipalities!
✨ Mixing It Up Together
On April 15, LPPA members from Allegheny and Lehigh counties met to connect and strategize together. Topics of discussion included housing production funds, early childhood education, health departments, jail oversight and county level revenue streams. A follow up meeting will be scheduled for late July or August and all county level LPPA members will be invited to join!
🏘️ Affordable Homes, Stable Communities: Our 2026 Housing Convening in Seattle
At the end of March, we held our first Housing Convening in four years: Affordable Homes, Stable Communities! More than 70 elected officials and staff gathered in Seattle for two days to talk about how to fund and preserve affordable housing, organize alongside tenant unions, and explore publicly-owned options! We also had the chance to explore the city, talking with El Centro de la Raza and Seattle Chinatown Int’l. Dist. Preservation and Development Authority about their efforts to preserve affordable housing for their communities. The strength of Local Progress is when our members can come together to learn from one another and build relationships with each other.
📣 Comms Cohort 2026
That’s a wrap on another comms cohort! In April, we brought 15 LP members to Washington D.C. as the grand finale to our second-ever communications cohort. Since January of this year, this amazing group of members has come together almost every week on Zoom to learn from LP’s comms team how to become better communicators. From learning how to develop better press relationships to best practices for short-form video content, we did a deep dive for our membership on everything they need to know to be successful communicators in 2026. In D.C., we took all the lessons learned virtually and saw real-life professional communicators put them into practice. From visiting with local NPR journalists to meeting communications staffers on the Hill, the threads of our lessons were interwoven into every sit visit and important moment during our time in the nation’s capital.
📣 NEWLY UPDATED: Immigrant Justice Messaging & Narrative Guide
Since taking office, Trump and his billionaire allies have waged war on all of us – militarizing our cities, abducting our neighbors, and stripping us of our freedoms – but no one has been more targeted and scapegoated than our immigrant family members and neighbors. To win the narrative, we all need to document the Trump Administration’s horrific actions, counter their lies and misinformation, AND collectively demand our vision for a better future. Check out our newly updated Immigrant Justice Messaging & Narrative Guide for situational messaging guidance, best practices, tough Q&A, and more!
🛒 How to Start a Municipal Grocery Store: First Steps Local Leaders Can Take
As grocery prices rise, municipal grocery stores may be one solution to stabilizing the cost of putting food on the table. Our new policy bulletin breaks down the grocery affordability crisis and how localities can explore municipal grocery programs with existing and emerging models, as well as practical steps to begin introducing them in your own neighborhoods. Check out (pun intended) our new resource today!
🏫 School Board Networking Event
We had an incredible meeting in February and we can’t wait to see you all again! Join LPPA School Board members on May 20 at 8:30 pm for our quarterly networking zoom! Our quarterly meetup is a space led by Local Progress PA School Board members. The majority of every meeting is dedicated to networking and learning about what other Board directors are facing in their districts. School board members share ideas and resources to ensure no one is siloed in our collective efforts for strong, healthy and fully funded public education in Pennsylvania. This month’s meeting will include a breakout on communicating with your community.
💰 TAKE ACTION TODAY! Tax Billionaires, Fund PA
Statewide action is requested to support three bills in Harrisburg that could bring in over 6 BILLION in progressive revenue! This is a big moment where we can first close corporate tax loopholes with HB1610 & SB1208. Right now, huge corporations dodge Pennsylvania taxes by setting up shell companies out of state and shifting their profits there on paper. Our state also has the opportunity to make Big Tech pay for the digital ads cluttering our screens with HB 1678 & SB1199. Companies like Google, Amazon, Meta, and TikTok make billions by flooding our screens with ads and selling our personal information. A digital ad tax will ensure powerful corporations pay a fair tax on the ads driving their profits. And finally, Tax Pennsylvania billionaires’ unearned income with HB 141 & PA1314), Our state’s richest residents make millions every day from money that’s just sitting in stocks, real estate, and trusts. A modest tax on this unearned income would raise billions of dollars to fund schools, healthcare, and housing for everyone else.
💬 Contact our LPPA Organizing Committee!
Our PA Chapter is led by six members from across the state who adopted our initial Statement of Values meets monthly to discuss our state organizing and meet with our partners to learn about their campaigns. Do you have ideas about our Chapter or questions about how to get more involved? Contact our LPPA Organizing Committee by emailing them.
🏡 Your One Stop for Caucuses
Trying to remember when the next Pride Caucus General meeting is? Want to join the Black Caucus signal group chat? Or find your caucus playlist? Look no further! Your one-stop shop for all things caucus is right here!
⚡ 2026 National Convening: Fearless Leadership * Joyful Liberation
Registration closes on May 20 for the National Convening this summer in Baltimore! Join us July 9-11 to strategize with a community of values-aligned peers and partners. Our three days together will include welcome and keynote plenaries, welcome orientations for new members, site visits, strategy sessions, receptions, and more! Most importantly, the Convening is a chance to be in and build community with each other. See what Local Progress members had to say about why they enjoy the National Convening, and check your email for your personalized registration link!
Meet Montgomery County Commissioner Neil Makhija!
Commissioner Makhija grew up in rural Pennsylvania, where communities were left behind with the loss of coal and steel industries and saw devastating impacts like the opioid crisis. As a lawyer he worked to sue the opioid companies for the crisis. Now, as commissioner, he has the chance to invest those settlement funds, including in Montgomery County’s first ever 24/7 emergency mental health center.
He also ran for commissioner because the office administers elections and engages in public health. He taught election law for seven years at the University of Pennsylvania Law School, during a time when the 2020 election was challenged in Pennsylvania. Today, he’s able to protect the right to vote as Chair of the Board of Elections, implementing policies like expanding drop boxes, earlier mail in voting, PA’s first voter van, and more!
urrently he is working with Montgomery County Community College to help develop a curriculum that anticipates the massive economic transition that will occur with the rise of AI. Saying “We need to guide our residents into professions that are unlikely to be displaced by AI (nursing, physical therapy, healthcare, among other areas).”
Commissioner Makhija joined Local Progress at the recommendation of a neighboring colleague and is so excited to learn from other local elected officials and share ideas.
Fun fact about Montgomery County: It has 100 miles of county owned trails that are a beautiful and fun place to get out during this summer!