💡 PECO wants to raise rates (again)

Your Utility Bills Could Go up Again

PECO filed a request to raise its rates, despite implementing a hike just a year ago. If approved, standard electric customers could see a $20 increase to their monthly bill, while natural gas customers could pay $14.52 more starting Jan. 1, 2027. [🔒 Philadelphia Business Journal]

Paying Philly’s Pothole Patrol

Mayor Parker is proposing a 25-cent tax on retail deliveries to help fund the Department of Streets’ road maintenance budget. Necessities such as food, medicine, and diapers would be exempt, but other orders fulfilled by e-commerce companies would be taxed. The move is one of several proposed taxes stirring controversy. [Billy Penn, 🎧 City Cast Philly]

• Related: Can you balance our budget better than our city officials? Make a budget for the city (and try to keep your approval ratings high) in this interactive game. [🔒 The Inquirer]

Senior Ride-Share Program Expands

Uber’s initiative providing free rides to older residents has expanded to Northeast Philly after initially piloting in West and Northwest Philly. The collaboration between the rideshare company and local nonprofits was formed in response to last year’s service cuts to SEPTA, and has continued due to its success. [NBC10]

• Related: Seniors over the age of 65 can also ride public transit for free with SEPTA's senior fare card. [SEPTA]

Safe Healthy Homes Act to Return for Vote

City Council advanced two bills to reduce landlord retaliation by expanding “good cause” protections to all renters and establishing a rental inspections program. The bills were sent back to committee after landlords sued the city. The final vote is expected to happen on April 16. [WHYY, 🎧 City Cast Philly]

New Tour Celebrates Black Women’s History in Philly

The Legacy Line Trolley Tour will explore historically significant stops in Center City and Germantown. Leading up to the semiquincentennial, tours will run on Saturdays starting April 25 through June. [FOX29]

• Related: Learn about women’s history on these tours. [📝 City Cast Philly]

It’s officially April! It’s not just the plants and animals waking from their slumber — Philly’s coming alive this month with outdoor festivals, arts celebrations, and opportunities to give back to our planet.

File Those Taxes (Quickly)

This may not be the most exciting announcement to start with, but it is the most important. The deadline to file your taxes is April 15. Several organizations in Philly can help you file your taxes for free.

Keep Philly Green

Philly has been celebrating Earth Day since 1970, and this year you can keep that legacy going strong. Aside from starting small by planting native flowers in your spring garden, there are several communal opportunities throughout April. Protect the Belmont Wetlands, plant trees at the Awbury Arboretum, and celebrate Cobbs Creek’s trails.

Listen to Live Music

Philly Jazz Month is back for a second year. Attend live shows all over the city, from a cityscape jam session at the Rail Park to a jazz crawl in East Passyunk. Once the month-long celebration is over, keep up with Philly’s jazz scene at one of these venues.

Visit the Big Top

The Philadelphia School of Circus Arts is hosting free shows and workshops as part of World Circus Week from April 10 to April 18. If you’re interested in taking a class, intro courses will only cost $5.20 from April 11 through April 17.

Join a Club

Head over to the Philadelphia Ethical Society on April 12 for the Philadelphia Activities Fair! City Cast Philly is working with Join Philly to host this day-long meetup with over 40 local organizations. Join a bike club, book club, or choir. The options are endless.

Meet Your (Local) Maker

The Philly Maker Faire is an opportunity for local creatives, from hackers to potters, to show off what they’ve been working on. The DIY celebration of science, arts, and technology takes place on April 19 at Cherry Street Pier.

Support more local artists at the Fairmount Arts Crawl and West Craft Fest.

Pay-What-You-Can at These Live Performances

Tickets are now on sale for Philly Theatre Week. The annual celebration of the stage features over 50 performances and workshops throughout the Philadelphia region between April 23 and May 3. See shows from classics such as William Shakespeare’s “Richard III” to a lecture/punk-rock concert with “Fascist Groove.”

Celebrate One Book, One Philadelphia

City Cast Philly host Trenae Nuri will be interviewing "Our Missing Hearts" author Celeste Ng for the Free Library's One Book, One Philadelphia kick-off celebration on April 7. The event is sold out, but there are other events celebrating Philly’s favorite annual reading tradition throughout this month and next.