Councilman Curtis Jones

Philadelphia’s AVI Architect Takes Heat At Budget Hearings

Philadelphia’s Chief Assessment Officer, Ritchie McKeithen, was on the hot seat Tuesday during the second day of budget hearings in City Council chambers.

2013/03/26

File Photo (credit: Win McNamee/Getty Images)

As Deadline Approaches, Philadelphia Officials Work To Get Folks Registered To Vote

Today is the deadline to register to vote in Pennsylvania. The campaigns are out in force, signing up procrastinators.

2012/10/09

A Warning To Rowdy Revelers At The Big Race, Bike Court Is Back

Race Court is in place where a judge will be ready to issue those arrested for drunken behavior with fines and possible community service.

2012/06/02

Debate Over Property Tax Overhaul And School District Funding Rages On

The rhetoric is rising in City Council in the debate over whether to overhaul Philadelphia’s property tax structure in a way that gives the School District an extra $94 million.

2012/05/06

(SRC chair Pedro Ramos. Credit: City of Phila. TV)

School District Pleads With City Council For Extra Funding

School District leaders met with City Council members yesterday, to try to persuade them to support Mayor Nutter’s Actual Value tax plan and the extra $94-million it would provide for the district.

2012/05/04

$20K Reward Offered For Arrest Of Criminals Dressed As Muslim Women

Members of Philadelphia’s Muslim community are offering a $20,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of criminals who are dressing as Muslim women to carry out the crimes.

2012/04/24

(Rob Dubow, during testimony to City Council on Monday. Photo from City of Phila. TV)

Philadelphia Lawmakers Grill City’s Finance Chief On Planned Property Tax Changes

One day after the head of Philadelphia’s School Reform Commission admitted to financial mismanagement under the SRC’s previous leadership, City Council members voiced misgivings about raising an extra $90 million to help bail out the school district.

2012/03/28

City Council Begins Hearings On Mayor Nutter’s Budget, Today

Today brings the start of two months of Philadelphia City Council hearings on Mayor Nutter’s new budget, and the process could get heated over Nutter’s plan to overhaul property assessments, while bringing in $90-million extra to the Philadelphia School District.

2012/03/26

Philadelphia City Council Takes Close Look At Troubled Bail System

Philadelphia City Council took a close look at the city’s troubled bail system on Wednesday, but key players in that system were no-shows.

2012/03/07

(Philadelphia schools superintendent Arlene Ackerman. Photo by Mike DeNardo)

Judge Temporarily Halts Philadelphia School District Layoff Plan

A Philadelphia Common Pleas Court judge has granted a union request to force schools superintendent Arlene Ackerman to rescind 1,500 teacher layoffs for the time being.

2011/06/06

(Joseph Lozito, a week after his New York City ordeal, still showed some of the facial injuries he got in the struggle. File photo)

Philadelphia City Council Honors Man Who Fought Crazed NYC Slasher

Councilman Curtis Jones read the proclamation honoring Joseph Lozito, 40, who last February subdued a knife-wielding man on a subway near Times Square, after the man had allegedly fatally stabbed three others.

2011/05/12

Richie McKeithen (right) and staff address Philadelphia City Council in April, 2011. (Credit: Steve Tawa)

New Assessment Chief Promises More Checks Of Tax-Exempt Properties

Philadelphia City Hall’s new top property assessor tells City Council members that his evaluators will make sure tax-exempt properties are checked more frequently, to make sure they are what they advertise.

2011/04/19

City Council Holds Hearing On School Bullying

A Philadelphia City Council committee received some startling stats while holding a hearing on bullying and violence in the city’s schools.

2011/02/26

Council Not Looking To Drop DROP, But Cut Costs

City Council leaders say they’ll finally schedule a hearing on the controversial DROP pension perk in April but in the meantime they’re looking for ways to keep the program alive, with a smaller price tag.

2011/02/23

City Council Asks If Retail Medical Clinics Favor Suburbs Over City

Philadelphia City Council members say they will continue to watch local retail chains following a hearing which asked why some chains have retail medical clinics in the suburbs but not in city locations.

2010/12/07