DAILY GRINDER: City Passes Budget; State Getting There
Philadelphia City Council passed the city’s budget yesterday. It’s $3.6 billion, raises property taxes 3.6 percent and gives the school district $40 million in new cash. The number falls way short of the $94 million Mayor Michael Nutter had hoped to funnel to the district and even shorter or the $218 million gap they face. Average property taxes are going...
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DAILY GRINDER: City Still Wants Swap Money Back—If They Can Get It
We. Are. The 99 Percent! Right, guys? Councilman Jim Kenney wants to be able to file a lawsuit against the big banks that took a ton of the city’s money through the swap deals you’ve been hearing so much about lately. At a press conference yesterday, alongside the Transit Workers Union Local 234 and Fight for Philly, he said, “we’re hoping that the...
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Nutter, Other PA Mayors Send Open Letter to Mitt Romney
In light of a Washington Post report published on Friday detailing Mitt Romney’s tenure at Bain Capital — specifically, its role in outsourcing American jobs overseas — five Pennsylvania mayors are lashing out. Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, Allentown Mayor Ed Pawloski, Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, Erie Mayor Joe Sinnott and Reading Mayor...
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At Philly COPS Grant Announcement, Support For Attorney General Holder
Several area political leaders were on hand in the Mayor’s Reception Room in City Hall yesterday afternoon to unveil a federal COPS grant to the City of Philadelphia worth $3.125 million, which will partially fund 25 police officers—specifically, post-9/11 military veterans-turned-police—for three years. Those officials, Rep. Bob Brady; Mayor Michael Nutter;...
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Rendell is Character Witness in ‘Bonusgate’ Prosecution
In the ongoing game of Decade-long Horrible that is the Bonusgate case, it’s now being reported that former Gov. Ed Rendell testified as a character witness for former House Legislator and Department of Revenue Secretary Rep. Steve Stetler. Stetler is being charged with—and pleaded not guilty to—theft, conspiracy and conflict of interest in actions related...
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DAILY GRINDER: Stocks Drop on Philly Report
Fer Gregory / Shutterstock The Dow had its second worst day of the year yesterday, and it had a lot to do with Philadelphia. Apparently, a Goldman Sachs analyst told clients to bet against the stock market after two main problems: 1) reports of slumping manufacturing in China and 2) a report from the Philadelphia Federal Reserve bank. The Philly branch reported...
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DAILY GRINDER: Police Cameras Not Working?
Philadelphia controller Alan Butkovitz says less than half the surveillance cameras that’re supposed to be in use by Philadelphia police are working—or, in some cases, even hooked up. The city has spent $17 million on the system. Meanwhile, Deputy Mayor Everett Gillison says those numbers are actually old and the city is actually up to 70 percent working....
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Free Library Feels Pain of State Cuts, Asks For Help
With all the cuts to welfare, health and schools in Pennsylvania, the library drain has gone mostly under the radar. But under the proposed state budget, the libraries may have lost as much as $330,000 in funds—and here, that’s on top of big city budget cuts. And today, the library sent out an urgent email message noting those cuts and asking the public for...
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Liquor Bill Dead–For Now
Don’t say you didn’t see this coming: State Rep. Mike Turzai said this morning that the liquor privatization bill is dead—for now. “It’s clear that people are supportive of privatization. it’s common sense,” Turzai said, according to this Morning Call report. “Consumers are expecting it. But to get to the sweet spot to be able...
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DAILY GRINDER: Marcellus Shale Set To Bring Jobs…Any Day Now
A new study on the Marcellus Shale—funded by America’s Natural Gas Alliance, so you know it’s got to be true!—found that natural gas-supported employment in Pennsylvania will grow 14 percent each year to 2015. A previous study found the Shale industry will fund 216,000 jobs by that year. A Pennsylvania State House bill was passed recently that would...
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