How much top Philadelphia officials made through side gigs
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Some of Mayor Cherelle Parker's top administrators and aides hauled in six figures from side gigs, campaign work and rental income last year, per an Axios analysis of financial disclosure filings.
The big picture: Philadelphia allows city workers to hold second jobs as long as there's no conflict of interest and it doesn't affect their job performance.
- Many members of Parker's team held different city roles or were employed elsewhere before the mayor was sworn in earlier this year.
Catch up quick: In late 2022, Parker gave up her six-figure salary as a council member to run for mayor.
- Less than two weeks later, she became a lobbyist at Harrisburg-based firm Rooney Novak Isenhour Group, where she worked while campaigning last year.
State of play: Parker made about $34,000 in that role in 2023, per the filings.
- Parker — who also reported receiving $3,800 in gifts, including $3,000 for an award from a local labor union — had pledged to resign from her role as a lobbyist if she was elected mayor.
- A city spokesperson told Axios that Parker no longer works for the firm.
Meanwhile, Philadelphia managing director Adam Thiel — who's now one of the highest-paid municipal employees and a key member of Parker's administration — was working as the city's emergency management director last year under then-Mayor Jim Kenney.
- But he earned most of his income in 2023 from consultancy businesses, including Pantheon Global Strategies, a firm that he runs out of a second home in Delaware.
- Thiel reported earning more than $586,000 last year.
Zoom in: Thiel made over $21,000 from part-time teaching gigs at George Mason and Georgetown universities.
- Plus: $14,000 in gifts, mostly for travel, meals and lodging to speak or attend several conferences, per the records.
By the numbers: Current deputy mayors Aren Platt and Sinceré Harris, formerly Parker's top campaign aides, both outearned their boss last year.
- Harris made over $168,000 working for Parker's campaign, transition team and inaugural committee.
- Platt topped $250,000, including $112,000 from Cycle Strategy, a city government relations firm.
- He earned another $7,800 from a rental property in Butler, and reported receiving about $2,700 in gifts, including Sixers and Eagles tickets.
Here's how much others earned last year:
Police commissioner Kevin Bethel: $195,000 as safety chief for Philadelphia public schools.
Tiffany Thurman, the mayor's chief of staff: $218,000 as vice president at the Greater Philadelphia YMCA.
- Plus, $35,000 from Impact Community Development Corporation.
Carlton Williams, now Parker's head of Clean and Green Initiatives: $205,000 as streets commissioner.
- Plus, $17,100 from two city rental properties.
Council president Kenyatta Johnson: $130,000 from his council role, and $22,000 from a rental property.
You can search for other city public officials here.
Editor's note: This story has been updated to clarify that Kenyatta Johnson made $130,000 as a council member last year.