The current American housing landscape was built over the last century. Understanding its history is essential to address the root causes of the most complex housing problems we face today. The history of housing policy in the United States includes great achievements that helped millions find affordable housing and improve their dwellings, but it also… Continue reading
You’re not alone if you don’t know who to vote for in the upcoming primary election for Philadelphia’s City Council At-Large race on May 21. There are 34 Democratic At-Large candidates competing for five of the seven seats (two seats are guaranteed to non-majority party candidates). As communications professionals, we realized that with such a… Continue reading
The 2018 midterm elections are nearly a week away, and like many of you I have been refreshing the latest polls from FiveThirtyEight, eagerly waiting for the site to tell me who will win in November (it won’t). My interest in the upcoming election made me want to dive a little deeper into the local… Continue reading
After mass shootings we often ask: Could this have been prevented? Yes. We can prevent gun violence. “The public health approach emphasizes prevention and focuses not only on the gun user but also the instrument of violence and the environment.” https://t.co/jz6kC9tvjS 1/13 — Justin Gero 🦅 (@JustinGero) February 18, 2018 The public health approach to… Continue reading
This past weekend, white supremacists, Neo-Nazis, and Klansmen marched in the streets of Charlottesville, Virginia to protest the removal of a statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee. The images of young white men wielding torches and weapons, attacking peaceful protesters, and chanting their racist, anti-Semitic rhetoric shocked and disgusted the world (with one notable… Continue reading
Philadelphia’s City Council is one of the best opportunities for independent political candidates to win a seat in an important office. The 1951 City Charter established a 17-member Council consisting of 10 District and seven At-Large Council Members. Democrats could easily win all seven At-Large seats, but parties are only allowed to nominate five candidates…. Continue reading
“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” It is a beautifully simple, insightful, and now famous piece of wisdom from George Santayana, an American philosopher and poet, in 1905. With those words Santayana was explaining that the first step in progress was making sure you don’t regress. His argument was simple:… Continue reading
When someone dies unexpectedly in Pennsylvania, authorities launch a death investigation. A quality investigation is important; it can be an effective tool to protect public safety and health. In Pennsylvania, the person in charge of determining the cause of death and issuing a death certificate is either the county coroner or medical examiner. A 2003… Continue reading