City Council Archives

The Reparations Trap

City Council’s task force faces a daunting task: How do you close our opportunity and wealth gaps without alienating key parts of a fragile coalition? Devin Cotten's Cleveland pilot might have an answer

By Larry Platt

The New Urban Order

Should City Workers Work in the Office?

Mayor Parker is mandating all city employees work in person starting next month. City Council is pushing back. Is government ever going to be ready to return to office?

By Diana Lind

Ideas We Should Steal

Streetery Regulations That Actually Work

Unlike Philly — where only 13 restaurants have legal curbside dining — both New York City and Pittsburgh have made it easier to erect streeteries. Here’s what Philadelphia officials are — and can be — doing to bring back the fun

By Courtney DuChene

Did Voters Make Neighborhood Development Better?

The ballot measure Philadelphians passed last month could be the start of needed reforms to the role community groups play in creating more housing for more people

By Malcolm Burnley

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

Mark Squilla Loves The Process

The fate of the 76ers arena rests on one person’s shoulders (hint: it’s not our new mayor). Is this any way to run a city?

By Malcolm Burnley

Who is Nicolas O’Rourke?

The freshman At-Large member of Philadelphia City Council is a member of the progressive Working Families Party — and a minister by trade. He’s giving the progressive response to President Biden’s State of the Union on March 7

By The Philadelphia Citizen Staff