Culture
Happy Columbus Day. Yes, I said it.. Men of controversy: Christopher Columbus (left); Frank Rizzo Mayor Jim Kenney acted outside his authority by killing Columbus Day and declaring it Indigenous People’s Day. Contracts with city unions make Columbus Day a paid holiday, so it is “official,” while Indigenous People’
Elections
There seems to be a hole, plus unanswered questions, in Gov. Josh Shapiro’s much ballyhooed Automatic Voter Registration (AVR) policy, an updated version of what’s been called motor voter. City Commissioner Lisa Deeley couldn’t come to the phone The policy states that any eligible person obtaining a
Culture
To celebrate his 55th — the Double Nickel — Henri David, Philadelphia’s Mister Halloween — is going upscale and moving his Oct. 31 ball into the — flourish of trumpets — Kimmel Center, Broad and Spruce. Mister Halloween, Henri David. (Photo: Mike Lynch) And since it is, as he says, on a “school night,
Uncategorized
I come to praise Josh Kruger, not to bury him. I can tell you how our friendship began, and where it ended. It began about 15 years ago when I started seeing the work of a new, young, radical freelancer in pubs like the City Paper, Philadelphia Weekly and the
Immigration
Over in the comments section of my website, Tom A. has posted a lengthy and detailed — as always — response to one of my posts, in which I blamed the current border crisis entirely on President Joe Biden, and speculated he deliberately created an Open Border policy. Tom did a lot
Crime
There’s no explaining why some stories hit you where you live even if you're as crusty as me and have “consumed” a million stories in your lifetime. Claudia Silmeas, fearful of showing her face, in front of her ruined store. (Photo: Stu Bykofsky) When I saw Claudia
Immigration
I hate to say it, and I have long resisted saying it, but facts don’t lie and I have to conclude that the explosion of illegal and faux migrants pouring across our southern border is the deliberate, political policy of President Joe Biden. Caught, and ready for release, at
Politics
Will Rogers famously remarked, “I am not a member of any organized political party. I am a Democrat.” Perhaps said in jest, but perhaps true today. NonDemocrat Kendra Brooks (left) got Democrat Gov. Josh Shapiro’s endorsement One sign of an organized political party is its ability to maintain discipline
Politics
Here’s a small lesson in massaging the press and the public. Democratic candidate Cherelle Parker tries to pull a fast one. (Photo: Billy Penn) I gave credit yesterday to the Inquirer for smoking out Cherelle Parker, the Democratic candidate for mayor who had been ducking demands that she debate
Politics
I have to give credit to Philadelphia’s favorite only broadsheet, the Philadelphia Inquirer, for calling in a Tuesday editorial for Democratic mayoral candidate Cherelle Parker to debate Republican David Oh. David Oh will get to debate Cherelle Parker. (Photo: Billy Penn) Within hours, Parker, who had been dodging demands
Crime
This is a sick and sad story about a crime victim, but it has an unexpected ending. U.S. Rep Mary Gay Scanlon has misplaced sympathy. (Photo: People) The victim was U.S. Rep Mary Gay Scanlon, who represents most of Delaware County, a Philadelphia suburb ranging from blue collar
Politics
Here’s where I give a former colleague credit for joining me in asking hard, appropriate questions about Democratic Mayoral candidate Cherelle Parker. In the Philadelphia Inquirer, columnist Helen Ubinas, a traditional liberal, bravely writes that Parker has a history of opaqueness — not transparency — and a habit of ducking questions