The start of 2024 brought big changes to Philadelphia’s leadership. Cherelle Parker, the city’s 100th mayor and the first woman to hold the office, was sworn in on Jan. 2, along with Kenyatta Johnson, the new city council president. That same day, four new members joined a 17-seat city council on which two-thirds of the members have served less than four years.

Good data, when thoughtfully collected and analyzed, can help governments at all levels set more effective policies and give officials the tools to gauge whether programs are meeting their objectives.

Voters in Philadelphia this fall will decide on a proposed change to the city’s Home Rule Charter that would make it easier for hiring managers to select the best available people for civil service positions.

This report examines the Philadelphia legislative practice known as “councilmanic prerogative,” through which individual City Council members make nearly all of the land use decisions in their jurisdictions. The study is based on extensive analysis of city records as well as interviews with dozens of individuals who have been involved in the process, including officials, developers, academics, and community advocates. It is the first independent examination of the practice in the city.