City Council
Helen Gym’s Hypocritical Return to the Union League Isn’t Her First Misstep
If there’s one thing this crowded mayoral primary is revealing to us, it’s that some candidates are learning the difference between running for City Council […]
Shakeup on Council Is Good, But These Former Councilmembers Leave Big Shoes to Fill
We knew this day would come. I called it a few weeks ago. The mass exodus of City Councilmembers resigning before this Thursday’s return to […]
Philly Today: Merriam-Webster’s New Word List Is an Insult to Philadelphians Everywhere
Merriam-Webster’s New Jawn-Free Word List Is an Insult to Philadelphia Every year, Merriam-Webster introduces its list of new words. And every year, we sit here […]
Ya Fav Trashman Wants to Become Ya Fav City Councilman
Lawyers, businesspeople, doctors — these are the professions that tend to produce politicians. Trashmen? Not so much. But it does have its advantages: The slogans […]
Philly’s 2023 Mayoral Election Season Starts Now
The final days of summer are here, and we’re now off to the races: Philly’s mayoral election season has officially begun. Many of us have […]
Philadelphia Has a Real Chance to Improve Gun Control. Our Leaders Must Fight for It Like They Fought for the Soda Tax
A typical weekend in Philadelphia has now become one that, sadly, ends with a recap of fatal shootings. This past weekend was no exception, as […]
Philly Councilmembers Unveil Proposal to Tax Philly’s “Ultra-Rich”
When it comes to Philadelphia and wealth, the statistic that first comes to mind probably doesn’t have to do with having money, but rather with […]
Councilmember Cherelle Parker’s Plan to Fund the Police Is Wasteful and Regressive
As we get closer to next year’s open mayoral primary, it’s no surprise to see some Democratic hopefuls jockeying for position ahead of the city’s […]
This Is the Real Reason I’m So Excited About Next Year’s Mayor’s Race
As we embark on 2022, I’m just going to come out and say it: I’m over the current batch of politicians running our city. Either […]
Now That Larry Krasner’s Apologized, Will the Pols Who Flogged Him Do Something About Gun Violence?
There was ignorance, backlash, backpedaling, and finally, shame. Last week during a press conference, District Attorney Larry Krasner made the ignorant decision to try to […]
5 Ways the Johnny Doc/Bobby Henon Verdict Will Shake Up Philly Politics
Philadelphia’s political world was rocked on Monday when a federal jury convicted union leader John Dougherty and City Councilmember Bobby Henon on bribery and conspiracy […]
Mayor Jim Kenney Doesn’t Care About Black People
In 2005, during the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, rapper Kanye West declared on national television that “George Bush doesn’t care about Black people.” It was […]
Helen Gym and Kenyatta Johnson, Grandstand Less and Legislate More
Having grown up in the South, I’ve never forgotten a piece of wisdom from my elders: “Know your role, play your part.” In a democracy, […]
Kenney Must Do More Than “Acknowledge” Philly’s Gun-Violence Emergency
A lot was made of Mayor Jim Kenney’s meeting with anti-gun-violence hunger striker Jamal Johnson this past Friday, and I’m still wondering why. The scene […]
Philadelphia’s Homicide Rate Hit a Record High. Now Can We Get Serious About Defunding Police?
At the start of a new year in Philly, I’ve come to expect two initial headaches: the Mummers doing something stupid, and another disappointing annual […]