Broke in Philly

Philly is asking neighborhoods how it can lift 100k people out of poverty

A new committee will look for three to five solid policies that lead to impactful change — fast.

Respect for time? City Council sessions start an hour late — and it gets worse every year

Weekly sessions are supposed to begin at 10 a.m. This year's average gavel time is 11.

Election 2019

Ballot question: Should Philly hire unarmed traffic cops?

Public safety enforcement officers would patrol city streets.

Meet the 35 live tilapia swimming around a Fishtown classroom

Kids at Adaire love the 300-lb. aquaponics tank — and teachers think all schools should have one.

Philly could get a fleet of traffic cops to cut gridlock and boost safety

They wouldn't carry guns or be able to make arrests.

PennDOT is in a turf war with Philly over its new WiFi kiosks — which could violate rules about advertising on state-run roads

Fifth District council candidate Omar Woodward could present a serious primary challenge if Council President Darrell Clarke runs for re-election

Former NFL linebacker Shawn Bullard got a major assist from taxpayers and Council President Darrell Clarke when he bought four vacant lots to redevelop near Temple

A North Philly public housing resident is taking on the City Council President

Sheila Armstrong filed paperwork to run for the District 5 seat.

The ‘soft corruption’ of City Hall’s secret $2 million grant fund

Council's Philadelphia Activities Fund is one of the least-watched pots of money in the city — despite years of abuses.

Election 2019

Council President Darrell Clarke convened a meeting with North Philly state reps — and Sheriff Jewell Williams, who has multiple harassment lawsuits pending against him

To curb questionable deals and flipping for profit, Mayor Kenney issued a directive adding deed restrictions to public land sales

Tweet from @billy_penn

After two years, this North Philly elementary school finally scored a new playground

Tweet from @Darrell_Clarke

After another scandal, City Council is considering a bill that creates new safeguards against corrupt land dealing

The Council President introducing the new Met Philadelphia

Tweet from @Darrell_Clarke

Inside City Council’s love affair with task forces — which sound important but have zero accountability

We looked more than a dozen of these boards to see if they got anything done.

City Council preview: Everything Philly government is (and isn’t) fighting about this fall

The construction tax debate is just the start.

City Council pronunciation guide: How to say your elected officials’ names

The city's legislative body is about to be back in session. Make sure you know how to talk about it.

After colleague’s murder, City Council staffers turn attention to domestic violence in Philly

Linda Rios’ death was the 21st domestic killing of the year.

Billy Penn in Harrisburg

A bill to kill the soda tax could divide Philly’s state lawmakers

The split does not follow party lines.