Philadelphia Weekly devotes this week’s cover story to rabble-rousing blogger and Southwest Philly resident Brendan Skwire, proprietor of Brendan Calling.  No one has been more unapologetically flame throwing than Skwire when it comes to the online critique of the Nutter administration’s budget cutting plans.  In fact, the Weekly’s portrayal of Skwire makes him seem like [...]

The Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia points out that the ZCC is soliciting people to take a brief survey to see “what works, what doesn’t, and how the Code can be made easier to understand and use.”
Like BCGP, we encourage you to take a few minutes and check out the survey.  In fact, take any [...]

Our nation’s economy is in the toilet. Philadelphia’s libraries and swimming pools are closing. We get it. Times are tough. On the personal level, folks are saving and spending less. Goodness knows, the bag lunch from home is gaining popularity. But once in a while, wouldn’t it be nice to treat yourself to a Philly Cutback Sandwich? You might be wondering, what’s that? [...]

Mayor Nutter defends 10-year property tax abatement program:
I’m way behind on my reading of the Sunday Inquirer, but I finally got around to the piece by Patrick Kerkstra that Alan says was so prominently discussed at last night’s town hall meeting.  Clearly there are some vast differences of opinion between the backers and opponents of [...]

Greg, who happens to be a friend of mine and someone I met while I was working in the mayoral race in 2003 and he was lobbying to save Love Park’s iconic status as a skateboarding mecca, has taken the view that the recent denial by a judge of Fox Chase Cancer Center’s proposed expansion [...]

In the latest round of “kick the mayor” Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter and his Library Director Siobhan Reardon had to play defense for nearly three-hours at last night’s town hall meeting.  Around 275 residents from the Kingsessing section of the city hammered the two for their plan to close the Kingsessing Library which sits on [...]

Residents of South West Philadelphia blasted the city’s plan to close the Kingsessing Library. This was the 7th public meeting held by the city to discuss Mayor Michael Nutter’s budget cuts.  About 275 people braved the sleet and cold rain to fill the Kingsessing Recreation Center.  It was by far the rowdiest crowd with people [...]

Mayor Michael Nutter’s $108 million budget cut plan includes a reduced economic development contract with the Schuylkill River Development Corporation (SRDC). This public-private partnership is the same one responsible for creating and maintaining the Schuylkill Banks trail from Locust Street up to the Waterworks area around the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The trail, which is home to popular outdoor summer movie nights, remains Center City’s jumping-off point [...]

Editor’s note: I originally posted this on Nov 6th shortly after Mayor Michael Nutter announced his specific budget cuts. These include closing libraries, fire engine companies and swimming pools. But there are many other service reductions most of us don’t realize. Because as most city departments have been told to shrink their budgets, all kinds [...]

Town hall #4 was held last week on Monday, Dec 8th at the John Perzel Community Center at 2990 St. Vincent St from 7:00pm-9:00pm. Technical problems during the meeting required additional editing and delayed the release of this video.
Philadelphia’s fourth town hall meeting on the budget cuts was a feisty event with Mayor Michael Nutter [...]