Spring has sprung — and that means Phillies spring training is underway, Rita’s offered free water ice this week to celebrate the season, and the NFL Draft is coming.

In other words, it’s a big season here in Philadelphia!

With all that going on, #PhillyMayorThisWeek recaps five moments from the past seven days you might’ve missed. Take a couple of minutes to get updated!

1. Mayor Kenney highlighted the upcoming NFL Draft!

The NFL Draft is coming to Philly April 27-29 this year. The event includes an immersive, three-day football festival, the NFL Draft Experience, taking place along a half-mile stretch of the Parkway; the festival spans nearly 25 football field lengths! Participating in the NFL Draft Experience is free. It’s a popular attraction, too: Fan interest for the festival in Philly has increased 225 percent over last year’s in Chicago. You can learn more by going to DraftinPHL.com.

Looking forward to the NFL Draft here in Philly, April 27 – 29! Get more info at DraftinPHL.com

Posted by Mayor Jim Kenney on Wednesday, March 22, 2017

2. The Mayor visited Happy Hollow Rec Center with Councilwoman Cindy Bass.

Funded by the Philadelphia Beverage Tax and generous support from the William Penn Foundation, Rebuild is the City’s initiative to revitalize neighborhood parks, rec centers, playgrounds, and libraries. At $500 million, it’s the largest investment in neighborhood infrastructure in Philadelphia history. This week, Mayor Kenney visited Happy Hollow Rec Center with Councilwoman Cindy Bass. To get involved with Rebuild or learn about the site selection process, visit the initiative’s website at rebuild.phila.gov.

3. The City announced that revenues from the Philadelphia Beverage Tax slightly exceeded expectations for February — and sales of smaller bottles were up.

City officials announced that, in February, revenues from the Philadelphia Beverage Tax exceeded expectations, bringing in a total of $6.4 million and beating projections. In addition, total sales of smaller bottles of soda were up across the city. Since January, the Philadelphia Beverage Tax has raised $12.3 million for PHLpreK, Community Schools, and Rebuild. The projection for a full year of the tax is more than $91 million — and this month’s news puts the City on target to meet projections.

Smaller sized coke product sales (which are more profitable for soda companies) are up in Philly. That's better for…

Posted by Mayor Jim Kenney on Wednesday, March 22, 2017

4. Mayor Kenney asked Philadelphians to volunteer for the Philly Spring Cleanup on April 8.

In a message sent to his email list (you can sign up for this list online), Mayor Kenney urged residents to take part in the Philly Spring Cleanup, now in its tenth year, on April 8. “Neighbors, community groups, and friends all across the city work together to spruce up their neighborhood,” he explained. “The Philly Spring Cleanup is one way you can give back.” Register as a volunteer today!

5. The Mayor joined residents and City officials urging Philadelphians to protect the Affordable Care Act, calling on Congress to reject the Trump Administration’s replacement bill.

This week, Mayor Kenney joined residents who obtain healthcare under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), City officials, and medical experts to call on Philadelphians to protect the ACA. The Congressional Budget Office estimates the Trump Administration’s proposed replacement bill, the American Health Care Act, would “increase the number of people who are uninsured by 24 million in 2026.” Here in Philadelphia, over 220,000 Philadelphians have obtained healthcare through the ACA; since the ACA has been around, 20,000 healthcare and education jobs have been created, too. “My question for Washington: Do you REALLY want to take healthcare away from the poor, elderly, and disabled,” the Mayor said, “just to give a tax cut to the rich?” You can protect the ACA by using the City’s Action Guide.

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