Mayor Parker’s administration is off to an uneven start with welcome eviction reforms, and concerning signs for the city’s school system.
If you think you know what’s going on at City Hall because you read the Inquirer or watch a lot of news, we have one word for you: ha!
No shade on local journalism – it’s tough enough out there, and we need every trustworthy news source we can get. But with news rooms stretched so thin these days, bigger and bigger stories slip through the cracks.
Grassroots news to the rescue! The Philadelphia Hall Monitor is a small, independent outfit like we are here at The Local, but instead of community-level focus, they’re right up there in the thick of Big City politics, where critical decisions are being made about crime, transit, development, public health, and more.
Hall Monitor journalists recap real meetings, reporting on what they see and hear with their own eyes and ears. As longtime residents of the city, they also provide informed commentary and helpful context often missing from “both sides” coverage. Can’t think of any other news source that provides this service, and we’re proud to be sharing their excellent articles in our newspaper.
And we’d like to do more! In that spirit, we’ve summarized their shared content from February’s Local paper for you here, where you can click through to more info – including, of course, the original Hall Monitor articles we found so compelling to print.
Cheers for local news, and informed readers. 🙌📰🧠🎉
EVICTION ACCOUNTABILITY: City Council Pushes for Landlord Requirements (Denise Clay, January 26, 2024)
In a significant move aimed at reforming eviction practices, Philadelphia’s City Council has introduced the Angel Davis Eviction Accountability Act, a bill inspired by the harrowing experiences of individuals facing eviction under distressing circumstances.
Named after Angel Davis, a Philadelphia woman was shot in the head during her eviction, this legislation seeks to address the urgent need for accountability and safety in eviction procedures. The bill mandates that those conducting evictions possess liability insurance, undergo firearms training, and receive education in conflict resolution, crisis intervention, and cultural diversity to obtain a license for eviction operations.
This legislation comes in response to several alarming incidents, including three in four months alone, where individuals found themselves at gunpoint during evictions, highlighting a pressing issue of excessive force in these situations. The proposed law aims to prevent such traumatic experiences by ensuring that eviction processes are carried out with the utmost care and respect for all parties involved.
The Angel Davis Eviction Accountability Act represents a crucial step forward in protecting the rights and safety of tenants and communities, emphasizing understanding and compassion over force. As the bill progresses through the City Council’s Committee on Housing, Neighborhood Development, and the Homeless, it reflects Philadelphia’s commitment to setting a new standard for eviction practices, with hopes of inspiring change nationwide.
LEARN MORE about this pivotal piece of legislation and its potential impact on the city and its residents in Hall Monitor’s original article.
PRIVATE INTERESTS: Scrutinizing Mayor Parker’s Education Committee (Op-Ed, January 2, 2024)
One of the first items of Mayor Cherelle Parker’s new administration this year focused on the city’s school system. Unfortunately, her selections for a new Sub-Committee on Education immediately sparked concerns due to a surprising lack of educators: of 61 members, there’s only one teacher and one principal included, and a complete absence of parents or students.
Instead, the lineup leans heavily towards business and nonprofit representatives, charter school administrators, and investors. Among them, Dawn Chavous, a charter school lobbyist and consultant, serves as one of the vice chairs, raising eyebrows over the influence of charter schools, especially those with poor performance records and questionable practices.
The sub-committee’s composition has ignited debate over the direction of education spending and policy-making under Parker’s administration. Critics argue that the heavy representation of charter interests, particularly those with histories of academic underperformance and financial irregularities, contradicts Parker’s campaign promise to bridge the divide between district schools and charters without adequately addressing charter accountability.
Highlighted cases include representatives from Aspira and String Theory Charters, organizations that have faced significant scrutiny for their management of schools, and Universal Companies, known for its troubled stewardship of several neighborhood schools. These examples underscore concerns about prioritizing special interests over the needs of public education and its stakeholders.
If this isn’t a wakeup call, what is? Educators, parents, students, and community members need to mobilize and advocate for a seat at the table, when our city’s education policies are being shaped. Public schools must do better for all students, regardless of pressure from special interests. Especially now, with more worrisome signs that the Parker administration may be taking steps that could profoundly alter the city’s Board of Education, away from the public eye.
Earlier this month, the Mayor’s Educational Nominating Panel convened in near secrecy, with details of its meeting scant and public participation seemingly an afterthought. This move has sparked outrage and concern among advocates for public education, who see it as part of a trend away from transparency and community input in shaping the city’s education policies. What happened to Parker’s campaign promises of openness and inclusivity?
READ MORE in Lisa Haver’s comprehensive breakdown and her alarming follow-up for the Hall Monitor, where she details a comedy of errors trying to find a “public” meeting that would be funny if it weren’t so disturbing.
Big thanks to the Hall Monitor for great reporting! Thoughts? Questions? Please leave them in the Comments below or email editor@nwlocalpaper.com.
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