mayor ravenstahl: Philadelphia Metropolis

Taxing College Students to Help Public Students

  If the leaders of this city have the political courage it will take to do it, there is a way to raise millions to help the Philadelphia public schools from an untapped source of wealth. It will not cover the... (Comments)

Sugar Tax for Pittsburgh?

Facing a big hole in his budget caused by pension payments due, Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl has added a "Me, too!" to the Nutter administration's idea of imposing a two-cent-an-ounce tax on sugary drinks.  The mayor says he is willing... (Comments)

Special Report: Pennsylvania's Pension Crisis II

By William Ecenbarger There's a new version of the three R's coming to Pennsylvania schools-readin', writin' and retirement. As the first phase of the pension crisis arrives, school districts will see their retirement costs zoom up by more than 70... (Comments)

More Pension Fund Woes

But not in Philadelphia. While the Nutter administration is grappling with city unions to lower the cost of its pension obligations, Pittsburgh is in crisis. That city's pension fund has a huge shortfall and Mayor Luke Ravenstahl is trying to... (Comments)