Philadelphia Magazine

Holly Otterbein

Senior writer

@HollyOtterbein
Citified

How Johnny Doc Almost Took Out Maria Quiñones-Sánchez

His union appears to have funded a get-out-the-vote operation for her no-name opponent.

Citified

Is Bad Data Costing Philly Millions?

Mayor Nutter talks a good game about data, but problems lurk behind the city’s spreadsheets.

Citified

5 Questions About the Future of Philly’s Schools

City Council voted to give the schools (some) extra money today. But the budget crisis is far from over.

City Life

Philly Is Getting an Airbnb Tax

City Council passed the new bill today. Mayor Michael Nutter is expected to sign it into law.

City Life

No New Prison for Philly (for Now)

Bobby Henon is icing a bill that would have paved the way for a new jail.

Citified

Millennials Don’t Vote for the Same Reason Your Generation Didn’t

They don’t have kids or homes yet.

Citified

Philly’s Maternal Mortality Rate Is Worse Than Libya’s

“So many of these tragic deaths were related to social-economic status.”

City Life

Should More Kids Be Tried As Adults?

A new Penn study found that prosecuting some juveniles as adults can actually reduce their recidivism rates.

Citified

You’re Not Imagining It: Water Main Breaks Are On the Rise in Philly

941 have burst in the last year.

Citified

130-Year-Old Water Main Bursts in West Philly, Eats Cars

Is it time for the federal government to get involved in fixing our aging infrastructure?

City Life

Relax, Everyone: Millennials Are Getting Plenty

Otterbein: What hand-wringing over new studies about millennial sexual activity misses.

Citified

How the Beverage Lobby Quietly Killed the Soda Tax in Philly, Again

The City Hall fight you haven’t heard about.

City Life

Philly Lawmakers Put Off Vote to Spend $7M on Land for New Prison

It’s a win for anti-prison groups.

Citified

Millennials Didn’t Vote This Year, Like At All

Only 12 percent of registered millennials cast a ballot in the mayor’s race.

Citified

School District Says Council’s Funding Plan Falls Short

District officials asked lawmakers for $103M. They say they’re only getting $45M.