stop giving away critical tax dollars to big corporations while everyday Philadelphians struggle
November 4, 2025
Congregations across Philadelphia are holding multiple press events to issue a clarion call about the city’s growing affordability crisis.
Property taxes are rising – especially in Black and working-class neighborhoods – while City Council has voted to phase out the Business Income and Receipts Tax (BIRT). Based on calculations by Pennsylvania Policy Center, cutting business taxes is estimated to cost the city $2.8 billion over 12 years, removing significant dollars from the city budget and forcing residents to shoulder more of the burden. Faith leaders say a moral city budget must care for its people, not corporations. Every tax dollar given away to big business is one less dollar for housing, schools, and the safety net families depend on.
“As families go hungry because of the federal shutdown, and our children are feeling the impacts of a state budget impasse, our city leaders are handing out tax breaks to corporations. It’s unconscionable. Philadelphia City Council is accelerating a crisis that’s already pushing poor and working people to the brink,” says Rev. Dr. Gregory Edwards, Executive Director of POWER Interfaith. “We need them to act now – not for big business, but for the families that struggle to survive.”
14 press conferences, organized by 24 congregations, will highlight what communities could do with the hundreds of millions in lost revenue, from fixing vacant lots to expanding affordable housing.
WHAT: Press conferences on Philadelphia’s affordability crisis and the harm of business tax cuts
WHO: Faith leaders, community members, and POWER Interfaith congregations across Philadelphia
WHEN & WHERE:
- November 10, 10am, 123 E. Price Street (Congregations: Saint Vincent DePaul Catholic Parish, Faith Chapel, Face to Face Germantown)
- November 10, 11am, 428 N. 41st Street (Mt. Pisgah African Methodist Episcopal Church)
- November 12, 8am, 3259 N. Broad Street (Congregations: Mother African Zoar United Methodist Church, Arch Street United Methodist Church, Tindley Temple United Methodist Church, Midtown Parish)
- November 12, 5pm, 5736 Chester Avenue (Congregation: Salt and Light Church)
- November 10, 12:30 pm, Mayfair Diner, 7373 Frankford Avenue (St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church)
- November 11, 12pm, 5918 N. 5th Street (Saint Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church, Saint Timothy Evangelical Lutheran Church)
- November 11, 1pm, Drexel Square Park (30th and Market) (Welcome Church, Olivet Presbyterian Church)
- November 12, 11am, 5300 Whitby Avenue (Kol Tzedek Synagogue)
- November 12, 3:30pm, 6001 Germantown Ave (Mishkan Shalom, First United Methodist Church of Germantown)
- November 12, 3pm, 2125 Chestnut Street (First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia)
- November 14, 12pm, 48th and Locust (West Philly Neighbors)
- November 15, 8:30am, 322 Race Street (Old First Reformed United Church of Christ)
- November 15th at 10am at, 1700 Lindley Ave 19141 (Provision of Grace World Mission Baptist Church)
- November 15, 11am, 6459 Germantown Ave. (Second Baptist Church of Germantown)
- November 15, 2pm, 5901 Germantown Ave: (Germantown Friends Meeting, Greene Street Friends Meeting)
This coordinated week of action will culminate in a Citywide Affordability Summit on February 1, 2026, where hundreds of people of faith are expected to gather to present their vision for an affordable Philadelphia and call on elected officials to join them in crafting long-term solutions.
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POWER Interfaith is Pennsylvania’s largest multiracial, multifaith, multigenerational organizing entity. More than 4,700 Pennsylvanians of faith and moral courage are part of this growing movement, coming together across differences to fight for racial and economic justice, a healthy planet, and a stronger democracy. From Philadelphia to Montgomery, Chester to Lancaster, Bucks to Lehigh, and Delaware Counties, we believe that every person has inherent worth and dignity, and that our faith traditions call us to act with boldness and hope. Through faith-rooted organizing, public action, and community-building, we’re working towards a Pennsylvania where everyone has what they need to live and thrive. Learn more at www.powerinterfaith.org.
