This morning’s Daily News included a new angle to the corruption trial of State Senator Vince Fumo.  According to Fumo’s lawyer, Dave Shapiro, the coverage of the case is “so pervasive” so as to influence the jury.  He’s asking the judge in the case to specifically question the jury to see if they may have [...]

The Daily New’s Dan Geringer put together this helpful guide to what government services and other amenities will be open and functioning tomorrow.  Of course, 3-1-1 will be available because it would be shame to tout something as 24/7/365 and then take the first day off.
If you’re planning on coming to town for that little [...]

By Bill Hangley, WHYY News
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City controller Alan Butkovitz says he has a plan to save the city almost half a billion dollars.  City officials called his report more of a publicity stunt than [...]

Reposted from 12/29…
Need a pothole filled? Need to know when to put out recycling? Need help with a barking dog?  If you live in Philadelphia, soon you’ll be dialing 3-1-1.  Philadelphia’s new system will provide one-stop-shopping for information on city services and is set to launch this Wednesday.  But in a city that has a [...]

In just one hour, Philadelphia’s 311 system will go from beta testing stage to full fledged operation.  A media advisory sent by the city yesterday gives a taste of what to expect:
The City of Philadelphia will begin operation of the 311 system on December 31, 2008.  Starting then, 311 will be the only number necessary [...]

By Elizabeth Fiedler, WHYY News
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Violent crime is down citywide.  That’s according to statistics released by city officials yesterday, which show a 15% drop in homicides in 2008.  The city’s top cop says the numbers [...]

Not too many leftover since I’ve actually had a pretty productive blogging day but here goes:
Philebrity has video of a report by CBS 3 about a roving gang of teen girls that has been jumping young women - college students and young professionals - and robbing them.   The latest occured at 15th and Bainbridge, an [...]

Just got the following statement from the Nutter Administration regarding today’s decision to halt the library closures pending City Council approval:

Mayor’s Statement on Today’s Court Ruling on Library Closures
Philadelphia, December 30, 2008- Mayor Nutter has released the following statement:
“We emphatically disagree with today’s decision by Judge Fox.
The decision flies in the face of the Home [...]

(This all may be temporarily moot given the court decision from a couple hours ago but it’s worth discussing anyway.)
I realize that title assumes that privatization is considered to be bad and goes from that position to trying to figure out if it can be good.  That concedes a little to the framing of this [...]

By Elizabeth Fiedler, WHYY News
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Despite a difficult year, Philadelphia police have delivered on Mayor Michael Nutter’s promise to cut homicides.  Although the year also had a force mourning the deaths of four officers, the Police Department managed [...]