City Hall
Controller: City Demolitions Still Unsafe
The Philadelphia Department of Licenses and Inspections’ demolition oversight procedures are still unsafe, City Controller Alan Butkovitz reported Thursday, a year after the deadly Salvation […]
Committee of Seventy Asks for Public Hearing on PGW Sale
A press release from the Committee of Seventy just hit our inbox: SEVENTY URGES PUBLIC HEARING ON PGW SALE Says Council Shouldn’t Wait for Consultant’s […]
3 Quotes That Tell You Everything You Need to Know About the City Council Election
When Bill Green became the School Reform Commission chairman earlier this year, he left an open seat on City Council that will be filled during […]
The Three City Charter Questions on Tuesday’s Ballot, in Plain English
There are three questions up for vote in Tuesday’s primary election, but they’ll be awfully difficult to understand if you’re seeing them for the first […]
Council Bill Would Extend 1-Cent Sales Tax
The Inquirer reports that City Council has introduced a bill to extend a temporary 1-cent sales tax, this time to shore up underfunded schools and […]
Is Maria Quiñones-Sánchez the Newest Power Broker in Philly?
Newsworks reports Councilwoman Maria Quiñones-Sánchez stands to become the city’s newest power broker; she’s endorsing a slate of four candidates — all former staffers from her […]
City Hall Is About to Slap Advertising on Everything
The Inquirer reports today that City Hall is soliciting bids to place advertising on city buildings and vehicles, with 12 “major players” in the ad […]
Ballot Question: Why “Resign to Run” Should Be Killed
Councilman David Oh is the man behind a measure on your primary ballot May 20th; Philadelphia voters will be asked whether to revise the city’s […]
How About a Nutter Executive Order Decriminalizing Marijuana in Philadelphia?
Philadelphia is a city of big personalities and big egos. And, the biggest personality, both in style and substance, is His Honor the Mayor. According […]
Nutter May Order Hike in Minimum Wage
Mayor Nutter is expected to sign an executive order today, the Inquirer reports, that would raise the minimum wage for private company employees working on city […]
Wilson Goode, Former Mayor, Favors PGW Sale
Former Mayor Wilson Goode Sr. has come out in favor of the sale of Philadelphia Gas Works to a private corporation, penning an op-ed supporting […]
Kenney Tries New Bill to Decriminalize Marijuana
The Daily News reports that Councilman Jim Kenney is making another attempt to decriminalize small amounts of marijuana — he’ll introduce a new bill today […]
How to Recall a Philadelphia Politician: You Can’t
Most states and major U.S. cities have a recall process through which voters can remove an elected official from office. And this happens not infrequently: […]
Abandoned Sting Case One Giant Grudge Match Between Kathleen Kane and Frank Fina?
Things have gone from bad to ugly in the bizarre microcosm that is the abandoned sting. Kathleen Kane’s epic “double-dog-dare” to Seth Williams (in which […]
UIL Explains Why It Wants to Purchase Philadelphia Gas Works — and What it Intends to Do With It
The hot topic before the City Council this spring and summer is whether it will accept an offer from Connecticut-based UIL Holdings — which already […]