Fun Things to Do in Philly this Week and Weekend

This week in Philly we have a street food fest in Manayunk, a sci-fi convention, PHS tree planting, the Kun-Yang Lin dancers, a maker's faire, and much more

By Lauren McCutcheon and Christina Griffith

Ideas We Should Steal: Letting Citizens Shape Philly’s Budget

South Bend, Indiana proactively boosted resident feedback in its budget season through its 311 line and by meeting citizens where they are. Could the same efforts in Philly create a budget that reflects residents’ priorities?

By Malcolm Burnley

Investment? What Investment?

Philly is blowing its chance to use its federal rescue funds to directly address intractable problems. Will Mayor Parker’s new budget follow Governor Shapiro’s blueprint and propose an “invest and grow” plan?

By Larry Platt

Guest Commentary: We’re Already Defunding the Philly Police

Bloating pension payments contribute to our staff shortage. Here, ways to solve the issue

By Jordan McGillis

Can Cities Defy Fiscal Gravity?

As urban transit systems like SEPTA face a crisis since Covid, Drexel’s Metro Finance head looks to the innovators who are rethinking how we get around

By Bruce Katz

Building a Better Budget

Mayor Kenney has been an inveterate spender. So why doesn’t his newest budget proposal invest more in working class growth, like mayors are doing in cities from Newark to Dayton?

By Larry Platt

How Else To Spend $1.4 Billion

City Controller Rebecca Rhynhart offered an alternative spending plan for the city’s federal recovery funds with real, measurable goals. Philly 3.0’s engagement director lays out what that could mean for Philly

By Jon Geeting

What is Jim Kenney’s Goal For Tax Reform?

Is it more than “three cups of coffee” for every citizen? Philly 3.0’s engagement editor considers the consequences of being too cautious—or not—with business tax reform in Philly

By Jon Geeting