Nutter, Bicycle Coalition Unveil ‘The Circuit’
Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter and others, including the Bicycle Coalition of Philadelphia today launched a campaign to celebrate the greater Philadelphia region’s bicycle trails and trip-planning website, which they are calling The Circuit. The Circuit is a series of bicycle and walking trails in places like Philadelphia, Camden, Downingtown, Doylestown,...
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DAILY GRINDER: Closing Arguments in Priest Abuse Case Today
Today will begin the closing arguments in the Philadelphia priest abuse case. If convicted, Monsignor William Lynn would become the first Catholic church member to be found guilty for allowing abuse to happen in the church—even though he never took part in that abuse. Many priests who were called to testify admitted to abusing children in the church and are...
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Another Liquor Privatization Plan Mashed Together in Harrisburg
Remember liquor privatization? It was this thing in the Pennsylvania State House that was supposed to get the government out of the liquor business. But instead, when all was said and done, it looked more like a blueprint to complicate the system a bit more, if that were possible. But complication is complicated. And creating a coalition in the House and Senate...
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Philadelphia Increasingly Unpopular in Pennsyltucky
So, here’s something: With Public Policy Polling getting all over Pennsylvania lately, what with Attorney General polls, presidential polls, Biden polls, black and white polls, one that may have gotten lost in the shuffle is a city poll. People are moving back to cities, apparently, but Pennsylvania doesn’t necessarily approve of all the cities to which people...
Continue ReadingPennsylvania Rep. Introduces Bill to Defund Planned Parenthood
Earlier today, State Rep. Daryl Metcalfe (R-Butler) introduced what he’s calling the Whole Woman’s Health Funding Priorities Act. The bill would essentially defund Planned Parenthood in Pennsylvania. Even though tax money that goes to Planned Parenthood goes toward cancer screenings and other services, not abortion, Metcalfe insists this not true. He notes...
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DAILY GRINDER: PPA Aide to Collect $522 Thousand DROP Payment
Fer Gregory / Shutterstock Philadelphia Parking Authority Aide Carl Ciglar will retire from his position next year with a six-figure pension and $522,183 in DROP cash. Hey, remember DROP? Defense has begun in the Philadelphia sexual abuse case, and the first witness, Msgr. Joseph Garvin, said Lynn recommended an abusive priest be transferred, but that the cardinal...
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DAILY GRINDER: Taxpayer Dollars Going Toward Tastykake Parties
It tastes better when it's on the taxpayers' dime. The Pocono Record is not happy about State Sen. Shirley Kitchen’s fancy parties on the taxpayer dime—like the $5,100 she spent on a dinner for the Philadelphia Community Service Award, or the $3,600 she spent on a Mothers and Daughters Day Celebration in November 2010. Or, say, State Sen. Christine...
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Philadelphia Delegation Slams Nutter’s AVI Plan, Calls it ‘Back Door Tax Increase’
Photo: Nutter sticker seen around town. Last week, state Rep. Mike O’Brien (D-Phila) held a news conference in Harrisburg suggesting diverting Pennsylvania gaming revenues to the Philadelphia School District was a better idea than Mayor Nutter’s Actual Value Initiative plan, which would re-assess property taxes in the city. Today, State Sen. Larry Farnese,...
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Community Action Groups Shut Down Center City, Protest Gov. Corbett
When Governor Corbett comes to Philly, he does so with good reason. Like, say, he speaks with the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, the one group in Southeastern Pennsylvania that may still support his budget priorities. That’s what happened yesterday at the Prince Music Theater—and protesters from several community action groups were ready for his...
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Should Pennsylvania Judges Be ‘Elected’ or ‘Selected’?
"This judge is gonna deliver the most badass rulings." Quick. Who was the last judge you voted for? If your answer was, “How the hell should I know?” then congratulations, you are the crowd the co-sponsors of Pennsylvania House Bills 1815 and 1816 are catering to. Those bills, recently gaining steam in Harrisburg, would get rid of the current system...
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