recession: Philadelphia Metropolis

Mayor Muddle

By Tom Ferrick Jr. For any group willing to try it out, I think I have found a method to get money and support from the Nutter administration.  Here is my plan: Arrange for a meeting with the mayor and... (Comments)

Run Away! Run Away!

By Tom Ferrick Jr. The big news about the state budget this year was that it wasn't big news. Unlike last year, when we went 101 days before it finally, mercifully passed, this year the legislature met the June 30th... (Comments)

City Blocks: How East Passyunk Ave. Got Hot

By Tom Ferrick Jr. The revival of East Passyunk Avenue in South Philadelphia has come at warp speed, as measured in standard urban time.  In just five years, the five-block stretch of shops has gone from being a charming... (Comments)

City Blocks: South Street Blues

Where do all the hippies meet? Not on South Street. Not anymore. The famous commercial strip is going through tough times, suffering from the bad mojo associated with the term "flash mobs" and an economic downturn that has left the street dotted with empty storefronts. (Comments)

Still in a Slump

Economic recovery? What economic recovery?  Pennsylvania is still suffering from the effects of the recession, if you take state tax collections as a barometer.  The Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Committee reports that collections are down $720 million this year from official... (Comments)