P-com News City http://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/city RSS Feed for P-com News City en-us Tue, 10 Nov 2009 20:55:29 GMT SEPTA strike over, but fare hikes loom http://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/city/20091110_SEPTA_strike_over__but_fare_hikes_loom.html Now that buses, subways, and trolleys are running again after a six-day transit strike, SEPTA riders can brace for the next unpleasantness: a fare hike. City unions emboldened by SEPTA settlement http://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/city/20091110_City_unions_emboldened_by_SEPTA_settlement.html For all the political drama and commuter inconvenience it caused, the SEPTA strike may have been just a curtain-raiser to a bigger act of labor strife, featuring the City of Philadelphia and 22,000 unionized city workers now laboring under expired contracts. City "not as deep" in fiscal woods as last year http://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/city/20091110_City__quot_not_as_deep_quot__in_fiscal_woods_as_last_year.html One year after Mayor Nutter announced the closure of fire companies, pools, and libraries to fight a financial crisis of "incredible proportions," his administration announced yesterday that Philadelphia will face a $31 million deficit unless further reductions are made next year. SEPTA commuters "thrilled" strike is over http://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/city/20091110_SEPTA_commuters__quot_thrilled_quot__strike_is_over.html Evening commuters at Suburban Station were no longer plagued by the snaking queues of riders who had been forced during the six-day SEPTA strike to switch from idled buses, trolleys, and subways to Regional Rail lines. Karen Heller: The lesson from the streets: Big money is not the answer http://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/city/20091110_Karen_Heller__The_lesson_from_the_streets__Big_money_is_not_the_answer.html Friends, what have we learned this past week? Plenty. Pundits will tell you that Chris Christie won New Jersey's gubernatorial race and Jon Corzine lost it because there's a backlash against President Obama's agenda. BRT vote clouded by Sunshine Act http://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/city/20091109_BRT_vote_clouded_by_Sunshine_Act.html The Board of Revision of Taxes appears to be taking its time to fix a little problem with the state Sunshine Act. Strike: A risk worth taking? http://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/city/20091108_Strike__A_risk_worth_taking_.html When 62 pipe and steel workers at Precision Tube Co. in North Wales walked off the job Aug. 7, the economy had just dropped 274,000 jobs. Unemployment was nearing 10 percent, and almost 14.5 million people were out of work. Karen Heller: A lot of nerve for a guy who drives to work http://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/city/20091107_Karen_Heller__A_lot_of_nerve_for_a_guy_who_drives_to_work.html You have to admire the massive brakes of SEPTA union boss Willie Brown. He authorized TWU Local 234's World Series surprise 3 a.m. strike Tuesday, which put the city in one perpetual traffic jam, stranding the very sort of workers (and their children) he represents. Progress seen in SEPTA strike talks http://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/city/20091106_Progress_seen_in_SEPTA_strike_talks.html SEPTA and its striking workers seemed to edge closer to a settlement yesterday, as Gov. Rendell and U.S. Rep. Bob Brady worked to broker a deal that would get buses, subways, and trolleys running again. Williams outlines his plans for D.A. office http://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/city/20091106_Williams_outlines_his_plans_for_D_A__office.html For a glimpse into Seth Williams' vision for the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office, look west. In his first detailed interview since winning election Tuesday, Williams said he would not immediately make wholesale changes in the operation - 300 assistant prosecutors, 250 support staff - that he will inherit Jan. 5. But he does want to quickly replicate the "best practices" he observed on recent visits to the prosecutors' offices in San Francisco and San Diego.