Mayoral Misdiagnosis?

Cherelle Parker’s budget boiled down to jobs versus housing. Did she and City Council make the right bet?

By Larry Platt

Revenge of the Nerds?

Political reform is bubbling up in other cities. Here? Maybe not so much. An election post-mortem

By Larry Platt

What’s Behind the Attacks on John Fetterman?

The U.S. Senator has come under fire by his own staffers and media alike, despite Republican Senator Dave McCormick’s call to lay off. What’s really going on?

By Larry Platt

Mayor Parker, Put that “One City” Rhetoric into Action

Jew hate in a Center City bar. A cop shot during a brawl outside Overbrook High. An assassination attempt on our Governor. Maybe it’s time for a rally that reminds us to refocus on shared values and seeing ourselves in one another?

By Larry Platt

Why Did I Send a Book to the Mayor and City Council?

Because, as this budget season reminds us, Democrats had better stop celebrating what they spend — and instead focus on what they actually build and deliver for real people

By Larry Platt

Josh Shapiro and Moral Clarity

Wouldn’t the Governor’s principled call for it in the New York Times and elsewhere best be served by retiring the phrase “antisemitism?"

By Larry Platt
The Fix

For Sale — Your State Legislature

Democratic Rep. Solomon, Republican Rep. Rigby and activist Rabbi Michael Pollock are all pushing for a ban on egregious gifts to legislators — as in most other states. It is the 38th attempt at a gift ban in the last quarter century

By Larry Platt

John Fry’s Call to Arms

While others cower, the new Temple prez doubled down last week on Enlightenment values — and just may be modeling a new course for would-be leaders in the age of autocracy

By Larry Platt

Krasner Versus … Trump?

The DA says he’s a “Democracy Advocate” and his real opponent is Donald Trump. Is there something to that, or is it just campaign spin?

By Larry Platt
The Citizen Recommends

Peter Wolf at The Free Library

The legendary rock and roll frontman’s memoir, Waiting On The Moon: Artists, Poets, Drifters, Grifters and Goddesses, is a Zelig-like ride through 50 years of American creative genius. He’ll be in conversation with Citizen Co-founder Larry Platt next week.

By Larry Platt