Day: December 11, 2007

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Inclusionary housing update

  By Housing, Philadelphia

Not long ago, we held an interesting debate here about Inclusionary Housing with some of us (including me) seeking a bill that directs most of the money to those with the lowest incomes in the city and others (including Ray) worried about the difficulties for those in the middle of the income scale. The wonderful world of Philadelphia politics has brought us a compromise to please everyone. The Philadelphia Coalition for Housing Justice has reached an agreement with Councilman Clarke on a an IH bill. We were concerned that Clarke’s bill would mainly serve middle class Philadelphians, rather than providing affordable housing for those who needed it most. But now Clarke has amended his bill require that half of the on-site units would sold or rented to families earning between 0 – 80% of AMI Clarke agreed that 50% of all on-site units should serve people between 0 – 80%… Continue reading

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Neighborhood Networks holiday party

  By Philadelphia, Progressive Politics

A year and a half ago, a small group of people, chastened but activated by the result of the 2004 election and by our frustration with politics in Philadelphia, called a meeting to start a new group, Neighborhood Networks. To our surprise, over two hundred and thirty people attended our inaugural event. Since then, we have played a critical role in enacting ethics reform charter changes and in pushing for gun control. We helped lead the fight to raise the minimum wage and we supported a slate of progressive candidates in the 2007 Democratic primary. We have been a mainstay of the Philadelphia Campaign for Housing Justice and we have called for an end to the war in Iraq. We have fought against casinos and for the Cohen wage tax rebate. We have, in other words, won some battles and lost some battles. But we have made a difference in… Continue reading