Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter told the crowd last Thursday night that after seven previous meetings he has got the message that people don’t want him to make the budget cuts. But the mayor said, they will happen. Facing a $108 million dollar shortfall between now and June 30th the city, he said, has to make [...]

In the latest It’s Our City TV interview, we get an update on reforms underway in Philadelphia’s Department of Health and Human Services. The overhaul was ordered by our guest Anne Marie Ambrose following the indictment of two DHS social workers and others related to the death of Danieal Kelly.  This interview was recorded on [...]

The 8th and final town hall meeting on Philadelphia’s emergency budget cuts tapped into the uneasy relationship some neighborhoods have with police. While most of the anti-police comments were coming from Uhuru Movement members, who believe government oppresses all African-Americans, some of their comments drew applause and cheers. Perhaps the most striking came when one [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter held the 6th public forum on his budget cuts on Wednesday, Dec 10th at Benjamin Franklin High School at N. Broad St. and Spring Garden St. It attracted about 200 people. It had the largest African-American turnout of the town hall meetings with blacks making up a third of the audience. [...]

Last night’s town hall meeting was North Philly’s chance to weigh in on Mayor Michael Nutter’s budget cuts. The event was at Benjamin Franklin High School on N. Broad St. and Spring Garden St. (see map), and residents took advantage of having the mayor’s ear to chronicle the bleak living conditions in North Philadelphia. People described [...]

City Paper’s blog says that library supporters may file a lawsuit this week or next to try to block the City of Philadelhia from moving ahead with its plan to close 11 branch libraries. The planned closings are part of a city plan to reduce its spending by $108 million dollars over the next seven [...]