A public opinion poll reveals that Philadelphians think the city is heading in the right direction compared to two years ago. The change reflects the city’s new leadership under Mayor Michael Nutter, who took office in January 2008. Nutter comes off the poll with a 71% approval rating. In terms of his performance, 46% of the 1600 residents polled gave the Mayor [...]

 
In case you missed it, the Philadelphia Bulletin has run several stories about how Brian Tierney, owner of the Inquirer and Daily News, had been in talks with Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell about possible state aid to bolster the two newspapers. 
After some play in the local media, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) picked up the story and published an op-ed today [...]

Mayor Michael Nutter has pledged to not permanently shut down any libraries for the time being, even if the state appeals court grants the city authority to do so. The City of Philadelphia is currently appealing a December 2008 Common Pleas Court decision, which halted the permanent closure of 11 libraries and ordered the Mayor to [...]

Antique store owners on Pine Street from 7th to 11th Streets are worried that a Philadelphia Water Department proposal to replace outdated and undersized sewer lines may leave them high and dry.  According to the Center City Weekly Press, the shop owners are worried that the block-by-block closures to vehicle traffic, as well as the [...]

In case you didn’t hear, Mayor Michael Nutter has commissioned a Private Sector Outreach Board to figure out how to make city government more effective, cost-efficient, and quality-driven. He announced the formation of the seven-member board during his January 15th address on the city’s latest budget woes.
In his speech, Nutter said he assembled the board to “look for [...]

By Tom Ferrick
(part 1 of 5)
The city’s budget woes are beginning to sound like an ad for an oriental rug store: Save 10! 20! 30 percent or more!
Only in this case it is cut 10, 20, 30 percent! At least that was the directive of Mayor Nutter to his department heads the other in [...]

A new year, a new budget gap.
The welts from its last round of budget encounters with the people of Philadelphia still sting, but the Nutter Administration still must deliver some more bad fiscal news. As Mayor Michael Nutter announced a week ago, continued weakness in the local economy and city tax receipts will force a new round of [...]

Like it or not, you’re stuck with the wage tax if you live in Philadelphia, or live outside the city but work here. Yeah, it’s a raw deal. But it’s part of the price we pay to live and/or work here. Back in October, we asked you why you choose to stay in Philadelphia, why [...]

by Susan Phillips, WHYY News
Today’s Inauguration of Barack Obama has Philadelphians hoping for better economic times.  The city faces a growing deficit, library closings and possible tax increases.  So what can the new administration do for Philadelphia?
Wynnewood resident Will Archer: “More than anything else i think it breaks the glass ceiling for what people of [...]

Lots of news today, what with planes landing in the frigid waters at the end of La Guardia airport of the Hudson and the Philadelphia government facing another billion dollar budget deficit over the next five years.  So the news that Mark Schweiker is leaving his post as President of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of [...]