May 13, 2026 6:00 am
School climate staff are why my kid comes to school every day – we can’t afford to lose them
When my son was in kindergarten at Anna L. Lingelbach School in Germantown last year, I asked him how many teacher gifts we needed to gather for the holidays. I was expecting him to name his homeroom teacher and maybe a classroom aide. Instead, he listed over twelve names. He was naming the climate staff. […]
Apr. 22, 2026 8:00 am
Philadelphia’s New Rideshare Tax Sparks Backlash Over Who Really Pays
Image above used under license from robert at stock.adobe.com. The definition of insanity is trying the same thing over and over, expecting different results. The introduction of Philadelphia’s new rideshare tax exemplifies this definition almost exactly. In an effort to bolster support for the School District of Philadelphia’s teachers and staff, Philadelphia’s mayor, Cherelle Parker, […]
Feb. 25, 2026 8:00 am
Community-led programs fill gaps for Philadelphia students
About three years ago, Mekia Elizabeth Matthews was gifted a community space by a neighbor. She decided to turn it into an afterschool space for the children in her neighborhood. She lives in Harmony Hill, the neighborhood surrounding Fernhill park in Southwest Germantown and the after school program is called the Harmony Home Team. The […]
Aug. 20, 2025 9:00 am
The Impact of SEPTA Cuts on Commuters with Disabilities
A service alert for the Route 12 bus line warns commuters of impending cuts. Photo courtesy of SEPTA Faced with a $213M budget crisis, SEPTA announced on August 14 that they would move forward with service cuts after the deadline passed to secure crucial funding from Pennsylvania leaders. Pennsylvania’s Democratic House committee said no to […]
Aug. 7, 2024 8:00 am
Cultivating Peace of Mind for a Peaceful Community
What is a healthy and safe community without peace of mind? And how does one find it when you’re unhoused and underserved? It’s Monday morning in Norristown. A young woman sits at the bus stop with her bags filled with her belongings, searching anxiously for a bathroom to no avail. Across the street, the […]
purpose
Jul. 2, 2020 10:00 am
Opinion: Costs of the pandemic to local, state governments must be covered by the federal government
Unless the federal government provides funding to make up the losses, there will be a catastrophic retreat from progress, says guest columnist Robert Brand.
purpose
Jun. 25, 2020 7:54 am
Opinion: Let’s take these immediate steps to move from policing to community safety
"From a good government point of view it is important to establish a zero-based budgeting approach to the Police Department," says guest columnist Robert Brand.
purpose
May 21, 2020 10:19 am
Controller Rebecca Rhynhart releases analysis of proposed 2021 budget, and offers an alternative
As budget hearings begin, Philly’s financial watchdog proposes changes she says could save some City offices.
purpose
May 20, 2020 12:03 pm
Opinion: Adult education isn’t a priority in the FY21 budget — but it should be
Even though adults are often forgotten in the talk about education programming and funding in Philadelphia, these learning communities are robust and growing, say guest columnists Amy Ballard and Bryce Bayer.
purpose
May 15, 2020 9:33 am
Restoring this $200K to the budget for FY21 could literally save lives, say nonprofit leaders
The City's funding for PAIFUP — Philadelphia's successful public defender program for immigrants facing deportation — has quietly been zeroed out of the mayor's revised proposed budget.