Author: Marc Stier

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Mark Alan Hughes, The Decoupling Strategy, and The Nutter Administration

  By Economic Development, Philadelphia, Social Justice

I have had really high hopes for Michael Nutter as Mayor since the primary in May 2007. But along with those hopes, I’ve had a nagging worry since October 2007. That’s when Mark Alan Hughes, who once served as a policy advisor to the Nutter campaign and is now the sustainability director, published two deeply disturbing columns about his vision for the future of the city. You can read them here and here. At the time he published those columns Hughes did not work for Michael Nutter. And I had heard Nutter speak enough during the campaign to feel confident that the then future Mayor did not share the ideas found in those columns. But, in the last few weeks, I’ve started to worry that maybe what Hughes wrote reflects the policy of this administration. I’ll explain why in a moment. First I have to present Hughes’s vision for the… Continue reading

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Save the branches

  By Libraries, Philadelphia

Mayor Nutter recently announced that eleven branch libraries will be closed, not temporary but permanently, due to the budget crisis. Thirty six branch library staff members will be laid off as will 25 staff members of the central library. The library is taking, as a percentage of its budget, a larger reduction (of about 20%) than any other city agency. I believe this reduction is a serious mistake and am working with the Friends of the Free Library to build opposition to these cutbacks. Why are these library reductions so unconscionable? 1. Library branches are critical to education in Philadelphia. We live in a city in which elementary schools do not have libraries. Indeed, only one high school library, at Central, meets the states minimum requirements. 2. Library branches are one of the most important places our kids go after school. Our kids find not only books and magazines and… Continue reading

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A transformative moment in politics: health care and the neighborhood networks town hall

  By Health Care

This is, many of us keep saying, the moment we have been waiting for, the transformative moment in our politics when dramatic change is possible, when we will finally guarantee quality affordable health care for all. As we keep saying it, we hear the other voices tell us that, no, we have to wait, that the economic crisis we face is too severe, requires too much attention, and will be too costly. But a close look at history, at our present crisis and our politics, should teach all of us, including President-elect Obama that the pessimistic voices are wrong. This is the moment for health care reform. And that is one reason you should come to the Neighborhood Networks Town Hall meeting tomorrow. For whether we actually we take advantage of this moment for health care reform is, in large part, up to us. Continue reading

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The Election and the Future of Progressive Politics

  By Health Care, Labor, US

Soon after the clock ticks 8:00 in California we will see a solid, and perhaps extraordinary, victory for Democrats from top to bottom, from the Presidency to Senate to the House and maybe even down to the State House in Pennsylvania. Those of us who have worked long and hard and hoped for a revival of progressive politics in America will celebrate this victory tonight and for weeks to come. But while this election victory is critical, what we do with our that victory will most determine what kind of future there is for progressive politics and our country. Continue reading

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Another outrageous McCain robo-call–and what it shows about the campaign

  By Politics, US

I just this moment got a call from the McCain campaign. (I once signed up with the Bush campaign in 2000 so I can see what they were saying. I’ve been paying for that ever since.) So the new word is that Obama’s share the wealth tax plans “threaten your social security and medicare” beause Obama wants to use tax money meant for social security and medicare for other purposes. Not only is this a out and out lie, Obama has, at least in the past, called for increasing the upper limit on social security taxes as a way of strengthing the system. I have to say I’m tired of “objective journalists” who conclude that the two campaigns are both stretching the truth. Obama has gone a bit far once or twice in picking on something McCain said and running with it. But the McCain campaign has simply lied, again… Continue reading

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How you and the Obama campaign can turn the PA House of Representatives bluer

  By Pennsylvania, Politics, US

I’ve been following the Pennsylvania polling quite closely, but not primarily because I’m concerned about the Presidential election. If we all keep doing our jobs, Obama is going to win Pennsylvania. What’s really intriguing me however is how well Obama is doing in the suburban counties around Philadelphia. According to the Quinnipiac poll released at the beginning of the week, Obama is up 57-39 in Montgomery, Delaware, Chester, and Bucks counties. That is putting us into the realm in which Obama could have long coattail for candidates down ballot, including those running for State Representative. Continue reading

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My cousin got married!

  By Sexual and gender equality

My first cousin Ira got married last week. So why post it here? Because his marriage would not be legal in Pennsylvania. And it may not be legal in California soon. I don’t generally cry at weddings. But I teared up at this picture. I hope it won’t be long before my cousin could get married in Pennsylvania. In the meantime, if you want to help preserve marriage equality in California go to http://www.noonprop8.com Continue reading