How to Really Run A City

“You Can’t Nice Your Way To Victory”

In a post-election special of our podcast, former Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter and former Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed break down what the hell just happened — and where cities go from here

By J.P. Romney

And What Does a State Treasurer Do?

Pennsylvania’s elected CFO manages the sixth largest economy in the U.S — and a few other things. See who's on the ballot this election season. The next in our Your City (and Commonwealth) Defined series.

By J.P. Romney
LISTEN

A Master Class in Levelheaded Politics with Baltimore’s “DEI” Mayor

In the new episode of How to Really Run a City, former Mayors Kasim Reed of Atlanta and Michael Nutter of Philadelphia talk with Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott

By J.P. Romney

What Even Is an Auditor General?

The state’s chief fiscal watchdog is on the ballot in November. Here’s why that matters, the next in our Your City (Commonwealth) Defined series

By J.P. Romney
Listen / Watch

How to Really … Run Against Donald Trump

In the latest episode of How To Really Run a City, former Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed and former Philly Mayor Michael Nutter talk with bestselling author and public intellectual Michael Eric Dyson, who has some advice for President Biden

By J.P. Romney
Your City Defined

The City Budget

Mayor Parker kicked off budget season with her $6 billion budget proposal to City Council. Here’s what that means, and what happens now

By J.P. Romney
Your City Defined

Sunshine Act

The 1957 state law requires elected bodies to hold all meetings in public, so the public knows what their government is doing. That is … a nice idea, isn’t it?

By J.P. Romney

The Night Mayor Will Take Your Call Now

Eighteen months after Philly’s first Nighttime Economy Director took up his post, the industry that generates $2.5 billion in wages is still waiting for help. Will Cherelle Parker hear their pleas?

By J.P. Romney
Your City Defined

The Mummers Parade

A history lesson, including some scholarly conjecture, about Philadelphia’s New Year’s Day … phenomenon

By J.P. Romney
Your City Defined

Register of Wills

What a RoW does, what Orphans’ Court is, and what Tracey Gordon, currently in the role, may have done to help herself out of a job

By J.P. Romney