As Philadelphia grapples with a trash strike now in its eighth day, with garbage piling up across the city, local rapper and social media personality Dxhtty (stylized as “DOHTTY” on social media) has emerged as a prominent critic of Mayor Cherelle Parker’s response.
Through his Instagram account @dxhttyy, Dxhtty has launched the “#FuckCherelleParkerChallenge,” a campaign encouraging followers to share content blasting the mayor’s handling of the labor dispute that has disrupted essential city services and left streets buried under mounds of trash.
In a video, Dxhtty is seen climbing onto the roof of a moving delivery van, throwing large black trash bags onto the street, and raising his arms triumphantly while holding trash bags. The video, which has includes text overlays like “Fuck Cheryl Parker” (likely a typo for Mayor Cherelle Parker) and “Throw it on,” signaling his frustration with the city’s waste management during the strike.
The strike kicked off on July 1, 2025, when nearly 10,000 AFSCME District Council 33 members walked off the job after contract talks with the city broke down. At the heart of the dispute: wages. The union, representing workers from sanitation crews to librarians, is pushing for 5% annual salary increases, arguing that the rising cost of living in Philadelphia demands it. The city, however, has offered 2.75% in the first year and 3% in the second and third years, calling the union’s demands financially unfeasible. The average DC 33 member earns about $46,000 annually, though some entry-level positions pay less.
The fallout has been chaotic. Trash collection has halted citywide, leaving residents to contend with overflowing garbage at 60 temporary drop-off sites—many of which can’t keep up with the volume. Libraries, pools, and recreation centers have shuttered, and city events like programming at The 2025 Oval have been scrapped.
911 dispatch services faltered early, though a court order forced workers back to those posts to protect public safety. Water department disruptions have also hit, with some reporting problems with pressure and quality. The trash heaps, dubbed “Parker piles” by frustrated Philadelphians, have become a glaring symbol of the standoff.
Enter Dxhtty, a Philadelphia native whose sharp lyrics and bold online presence have made him a voice for the city’s fed-up residents. His”#FuckCherelleParkerChallenge” has taken off on Instagram, where followers post photos and videos of the garbage mountains alongside biting critiques of the mayor. It’s a provocative move, but not without precedent—San Francisco rapper Chino Yang made waves with his diss track “San Francisco Our Home,” targeting Mayor London Breed over crime and business break-ins.
One local bar owner said, “I do believe that the mayor has made a gross mistake… Forty thousand dollars cannot cut it in Philadelphia.” (While the average DC 33 salary is $46,000, lower-paid workers and the city’s soaring living costs fuel the sentiment.) The “Parker piles” aren’t just an eyesore—they’re a rallying cry for residents who feel the city’s dropping the ball on basic services.
Mayor Cherelle Parker, who made history in 2024 as Philadelphia’s first female mayor, swept into office vowing to make the city “the safest, cleanest, and greenest major city in the nation.” Eight days into the strike, that promise is under siege. The administration has scrambled to respond, setting up the drop-off sites and boosting police patrols to curb illegal dumping near the worst trash zones. Parker has met with union leaders repeatedly, and both sides say they want a deal—but with the union digging in and the city citing budget limits, no end is in sight.
The strike has morphed into a political and social flashpoint, testing Parker’s leadership and amplifying voices like Dxhtty’s. For now, Philadelphia remains a city choked by garbage and frustration, waiting for a resolution that feels further away with each passing day.