tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-100872262024-03-23T13:59:47.108-04:00A Smoke-Filled RoomJottings about local politics in southeastern PAACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.comBlogger1569125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-34163144394837984202018-01-31T13:17:00.002-05:002018-01-31T13:17:47.064-05:00And again with the unexpected news!Bob Brady not to seek re-election! His opponents have been getting more serious, the machine less powerful, and himself older, but still, didn't expect him to leave without a fight. Crazy times!
The linked article is a good overview of his activities over recent years, for those not aware of the invisible lines of power in this city...ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-59317200980650005812017-11-02T10:06:00.000-04:002017-11-02T10:06:33.963-04:00Wasn't sure I'd ever see this!School reform commission to give control of Philadelphia's schools back to the city? dissolve itself?On Nov. 16, the five-member SRC will consider a vote to dissolve itself, and Kenney is confident that it will be approved. The state Secretary of Education would certify the dissolution by Dec. 31, a move that seems a given with Gov. Wolf on record supporting local control for Philadelphia schoolsACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-11030858534740723732015-10-30T09:11:00.002-04:002015-10-30T09:12:06.259-04:00Philly's changing skylineThe text here is a little breathless, but it's neat to move the sliders and see how a few large developments can really change the feel of whole sections of town.
10 Before-and-Afters Show a Transformed Philadelphia @RentCafe
Have a happy Halloween tomorrow, and don't forget to vote on Tuesday, in the PA Supreme Court race if nothing else!ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-74146394588653776302015-05-18T08:49:00.002-04:002015-05-18T09:19:18.677-04:00Guide to the May, 2015 primariesMayor and City Council, plus a heap of judges from Supreme Court (a historical number of openings) to Municipal Court. I've been meaning to do a full write-up here, but it just got bumped by a bunch of other brushfires over the last week or two, so I will direct you to the carefully annotated recommendations that are spelled out at the website of this Center City division -- your local District ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-84123815664468100932015-05-08T10:04:00.000-04:002015-05-13T13:33:28.622-04:00Mayoral infoReaders of this blog probably realize that the mayoral race in Philadelphia takes place mostly in the Democratic primary on May 19. There are six contenders in this race, and several sources have attempted to make information about them and their views available. For those tuning in just now, having missed the deluge of mayoral forums and debates, these might be helpful in making up your mind:
ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-82579693417365370972012-09-20T12:04:00.001-04:002012-09-20T12:04:29.044-04:00Republicans hate PennsylvaniansAt least, they're writing off anybody who can't get a Voter ID as not worth the effort:As Mitt Romney said, 47% of the people that are living off the public dole, living off their neighbors’ hard work, and we have a lot of people out there that are too lazy to get up and get out there and get the ID they need. If individuals are too lazy, the state can’t fix that.Maybe the voters can fix this ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-78610768712935617952012-06-07T09:22:00.000-04:002012-06-07T09:22:17.482-04:00Latest on Tracey Gordon... and attempts to hold the Philadelphia Democratic City Committee accountable:
First, an update, in which Gordon's Ward attempts to entrap her by putting her in violation of city rules (while undermining her court case).
Then, another summary of that which also points out the real goals of the Philadelphia Democratic Progressive Caucus, which are largely getting the city's activists involved ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-66337302363596743112012-04-24T14:33:00.000-04:002012-04-24T14:35:44.720-04:00Don't forget to vote todayI imagine many will, but at minimum, Dems should want some say on Attorney General and State Rep. races, and Republicans should want to get to help pick their US Senate candidate. Turnout so far indicates slim interest in general, but all the more reason for you to speak up.
Also, take this opportunity to be sure that you have valid identification. You will be asked for it today, but not ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-51724501726045693002012-01-04T10:31:00.002-05:002012-01-04T10:33:26.992-05:00In case you wondered whose interests they protectBob Brady makes clear where his priorities lie -- personal survival over party, state, city... Doesn't make you that excited to have him pulling the regional strings, does it?ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-64937020052575067432011-12-13T09:42:00.000-05:002011-12-13T09:43:10.797-05:00Let the gasses run wild!More bad news on the frakking front: municipalities to be denied any say over how gas is extracted, companies to be granted emininent domain, little people to be screwed in every possible way.ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-57347774418575326532011-11-07T12:43:00.002-05:002011-11-07T13:03:55.892-05:00ACM's general election guide for November, 2011This is a bit of a sleeper election, with lots of uncontested elections and judicial retentions -- however, there are three races where a smattering of votes can really make a difference, and surprisingly, two of those involve Republican candidates.At the top of the ballot are two state-wide judicial races that are likely to be close. Especially important is the Commonwealth court, which is ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-80700442455318775992011-09-13T16:45:00.002-04:002011-09-13T16:48:21.922-04:00Pennsylvania to split its electoral votes in Presidential elections?I don't mind the idea of going to a popular election, rather than the arcane electoral system we have now, but I'm not sure I want Pennsylvania to go it alone in that direction, leaving the electoral tussles to everybody else (and empowering the minority party in the state). Um, can we nip this in the bud??ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-57669196391399547142011-06-06T09:00:00.001-04:002011-06-06T09:01:25.924-04:00We know him bestShouldn't residents of his one-time home state get a veto on a Santorum Presidential run? Talk about chilling! (Then again, maybe popularity at the polls doesn't pick Presidents anyway, heh.)ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-601605180465341612011-05-17T06:00:00.000-04:002011-05-17T06:00:11.147-04:00Don't forget -- It's time to pick City Council!ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-24057610317542776652011-05-16T12:11:00.008-04:002011-05-16T14:04:37.957-04:00ACM's Voter Guide for May 17 Democratic primaryYes, there's an election tomorrow! Which, if nothing else, may reshape City Council for the next decade. With all the government functions being pushed down from federal to state and local levels, this means a lot of important decisions may fall upon the shoulders of the people we elect this year. Nevertheless, low turnout is expected, so anybody who cares needs to get their vote logged! I ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-2264614442739345972011-03-16T09:11:00.002-04:002011-03-16T09:13:21.650-04:00Tech envyMan, this article on San Francisco's efforts to understand and regulate the availability of parking is amazing. A smartphone app that indicates the level of parking space availability on a Google Map? What I'd give to just know when/whether a bus is coming at one of my local stops... Sigh.(via Atrios)ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-22389683393258125412011-03-03T08:55:00.003-05:002011-03-03T09:20:20.140-05:00Watching WisconsinThe current high-profile battle over union rights in Wisconsin is sort of the canary in the coalmine for union prospects all over the country, as the Koch brothers widen their anti-union efforts to other states. There are many signs that Pennsylvania will be getting this movement soon, including some news reports about their announced strategy. I can tell that regional activists are gearing up ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-30842588150811410852011-02-16T14:32:00.001-05:002011-02-16T14:33:19.342-05:00CheerleadingJust thought I'd pop up again to post a link to this heartening essay: Want a safe place to raise kids? Look to the cities. A lot of things we urban parents think about, but others that tend to get overlooked. Go, city life!ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-90315076329310432162011-02-07T11:39:00.002-05:002011-02-07T12:02:41.956-05:00New blood for the 1st City Council District?Had an opportunity to meet one of the flurry of challengers to Frank DiCicco for Philly's 1st District (runs along the riverfront) City Council seat, Jeff Hornstein. He seems like a smart guy with a history of progressive activism (organizing for SIEU and public transit) and lot of good ideas, who thinks the time is ripe for a reform wave in Philly's City Council. Certainly, the retirement of 4ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-33314067512284042622010-07-19T12:40:00.002-04:002010-07-19T12:42:30.852-04:00Democracy writ smallI just love this slide show of polling places around Philadelphia, which showcases many offbeat locations and small details of how these places are run. I love that such a patched-together system works, not only here but probably all around the country (although urban solutions are inherently more constrained and thus often more wacky)...ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-62711676702672829422010-05-19T09:26:00.001-04:002010-05-19T09:27:55.542-04:00What *he* saidThis seems about right to me, as a summary of yesterday's results:There are a lot of reasons Arlen [Specter] managed to work his fake moderate game for so long, but I'm glad that era is over. I hope (and am mildly optimistic) that Joe Sestak will be a better senator than one might expect, but in any case getting rid of Arlen was a worthy goal in and of itself.-AtriosOnward to the general!ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-71749730460596905682010-05-17T18:31:00.002-04:002010-05-17T19:35:08.968-04:00ACM's Democratic Primary Voters' Guide (May '10)This feels like a low-profile election, despite the presence of at least two pretty important primaries. Maybe it's the lack of enthusiasm that many voters feel about the Senate race, plus the feeling of inevitability that has come to be attached to the gubernatorial race; combine that with the crappy weather forecast, and the prospects of low Philadelphia turnout mean that every voter is reallyACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-33770338455848009932010-04-29T08:53:00.003-04:002010-04-30T12:13:12.525-04:00Another new era for the Philly papersHard to know yet what all this will mean. Tierney was no great gift to the city, especially since he took on so much debt to buy the papers that he bankrupted the place, even though the newspapers themselves continue to show a small profit every year. The return of a longtime local publisher seems good, but being run by hedge funds could mean a lot of decisions that favor profit issues over newsACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-74242468687108845212010-03-09T12:41:00.002-05:002010-03-09T12:46:30.105-05:00Like vampire batsSome people seem confused about the resistance to casinos -- other than traffic, what's the problem? I think that the answer is right here"Yes," Jonas confirmed, most of his players fit that profile. In fact, because Parx players tend to live within 20 miles of Street Road, many go even more frequently [than 3-4 times per week]."We have customers," Jonas boasted, "who give us $25, $30 five times ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10087226.post-27792608944531846522010-02-02T19:43:00.001-05:002010-02-02T19:46:59.029-05:00Get a grip on the gubernatorial outlookA coalition of local civic groups, headed by Neighborhood Networks and the Coalition for Essential Services, is hosting a forum at which folks can hear from (and possibly ask questions of) the whole heap of folks running for Pennsylvania Governor this year. Get a jump on your primary decisions, or just get a look at the competition...When: Thursday, Feb 18, 7-9 PMWhere: Arch Street United ACMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05150889888692992746noreply@blogger.com0