The Philadelphia Hall Monitor

SEPTA is hiding major cuts to city bus lines, consumer reporter Lance Haver says. Here's how:

A recent University of Pennsylvania report on Black Philadelphians' political beliefs found that the group tends to lean towards more moderate candidates. Host @denisethewriter.bsky.social has a theory about itz;

How much did income impact voter turnout in Philly's primary elections this year? Consumer reporter Lance Haver discusses Sharif Street and Chris Rabb's campaigns as examples:

Got a short term rental on your block?

Will Mayor Cherelle Parker's new tax on short term rentals like AirBnB hold up in court? Host Larry McGlynn discussed it on this week's show:

Here's how SEPTA bus route changes are supposed to work — before this year, that is. Consumer reporter Lance Haver has the story:

Philadelphia's Water Rate Board does little to cover up the collusion between its public advocate and voting board members, consumer reporter Lance Haver says. Here's why it's a problem:

Here's the story behind D.A. Larry Krasner's "I was just here to get some macaroni and cheese" quote from election day, with @denisethewriter.bsky.social:

Accountability journalists used to pay attention to things like utilities, and call out public corruption. But, as traditional newsrooms crumble, who's left to hold officials accountable?

Last week's elections showed that Philly politicians can't just run on their family name any more, @denisethewriter.bsky.social says. Here's what they have to do instead:

Here's who decides your water rates, Philly:

Did Philly City Council members know what they were voting for when they unanimously reappointed a member of the water rate board? We're not too sure. Watch the full segment at the link in bio:

The Democratic City Committee's endorsed candidate in last week's Congressional race saw a double-digit loss to his progressive competitor. Host @denisethewriter.bsky.social wants to know if leaders are reconsidering their strategy following the defeat:

After Chris Rabb trounced party-backed Sharif Street this week, is Philly's Democratic Party machine reconsidering its stance on progressives? Consumer reporter Lance Haver wants to know:

Those with more resources are more likely to vote in primary elections — including this week's primary, when only 20% of eligible voters made it to the polls. Consumer reporter Lance Haver wants to know how that fact will impact Congressman-elect Chris Rabb's time in the legislature:

The race for Philly's open seat in Congress had more to do with the West Bank than West Philly, @denisethewriter.bsky.social says. It's a problem:

Consumer reporter Lance Haver asked SEPTA how they're changing their marketing to bring riders back onto its buses, trains and trolleys. Here's how board members answered:

Following the anniversary of the MOVE bombing, host @denisethewriter.bsky.social wants to know this:

SEPTA no longer has to share how much money is in its stabilization fund. Here's why it matters:

For many Philadelphians with physical impairments or disabilities, catching the subway is a mountainous task. So, consumer reporter Lance Haver wants to know, why SEPTA is trying to force them to do it anyway?

Hot take: Philly has a nepotism problem.

Here's one election most people aren't paying attention to in Philly — and why it matters — with Marco Cerino of @phillytrib.bsky.social:

We're hearing a lot about electric grids and rising costs. What's the deal in Philly? Consumer reporter Lance Haver examines the questions that don't get asked:

Dr. Ala Stanford's key advantage in Philly's upcoming congressional race is her strong TV advertising presence, Marco Cerino of @phillytrib.bsky.social says. Will it change election outcomes?

Here's why Marco Cerino of @phillytrib.bsky.social sees congressional hopeful Sharif Street as having an advantage in Philly's upcoming elections:

Debates over which candidates get to call themselves progressive have dominated the discussion about Philly's congressional candidates this election season. Here's what Marco Cerino of @phillytrib.bsky.social has to say about it:

Which parts of Philly are going to decide the city's upcoming primary election? We asked Philadelphia Tribune reporter Marco Cerino:

Philadelphia's City Council reappointed one of the members of the Water Rate Board this week, without questioning their decisions to raise rates on residents who are less and less able to afford it. Host @lmcglynn.bsky.social wants to know why:

Are you happy with how City Council addressed school closures? Education correspondent @lisamhaver.bsky.social has thoughts:

Reporter @newsjawn.bsky.social spoke with @reprabb.bsky.social about why he attended Philly's May Day march this year. Here's what he had to say:

Planned school closures and mergers in Philly are set to cost billions, @lisamhaver.bsky.social says. School board members say they don't know where those funds are going to come from — but the majority voted to go ahead with the plan anyway:

"We have so much potential" Reporter @newsjawn.bsky.social spoke with @reprabb.bsky.social at Philly's May Day march about the meaning of the holiday:

Missed Philly's May Day march? Reporter @newsjawn.bsky.social caught footage of the crowds:

The deadline to get your mail-in ballot in is coming up, Philly! Here's what to know, with @newsjawn.bsky.social:

Lisa Haver has this to say about the Philadelphia School Board's promises about additional listening sessions following its decision to close 17 city schools:

Host @denisethewriter.bsky.social spent two years researching the correlation between school closures and gun violence in Philly. What she found is a dire warning after the city school board's vote to shutter and merge a number of local educational institutions:

When elected officials do something blatantly against the public interest, they can be voted out. The same is not true for Philly's school board — so holding them accountable is that much harder, @lisamhaver.bsky.social says:

Mayor Cherelle Parker is set to face an uphill battle to get her budget passed following cascading school board scandals, @denisethewriter.bsky.social says. It didn't have to be this way, either:

Condescending comments from this Philadelphia School Board member as she voted to close over a dozen public schools got this reaction out of @lisamhaver.bsky.social:

Could Mayor Cherelle Parker's HOME Initiative cause further gentrification in Kensington? This councilmember thinks so:

Philly's Turn the Key program is at the center of Mayor Cherelle Parker's effort to build thousands of new homes for Philadelphians. Here's how it works:

So, what's the plan for the millions Philly invested in Mayor Parker's HOME Initiative? Department staff lacked answers for City Council members during their budget hearing last week:

Host Larry McGlynn found out why he couldn't see the Sheriff's Department's proposed budget for this year's budget process... It wasn't his computer. The documents didn't exist:

The Parker administration and the Philadelphia School District pressured City Council to pass their proposed rideshare tax. It backfired:

This summer, Philly will be celebrating America's 250th birthday. But, many of its residents will also be in mourning, education correspondent Lisa Haver says:

Is Philly's city council *really* against planned closures of nearly 20 public schools? Education correspondent Lisa Haver has questions:

Do you speak any languages other than English? You can get paid same-day as an interpreter for Philly's primary elections. Here's how, with @phillyvotes.bsky.social commissioner Omar Sabir:

Here's what Philadelphians will be voting on during the primary election on May 19:

Here's what @phillyvotes.bsky.social's Omar Sabir wants you to know about early voting this year:

There's a major voting deadline coming up this Monday, Philly! Here's what you need to know, with @denisethewriter.bsky.social:

This Sunday, join @newsjawn.bsky.social in conversation with Amy Goodman of @democracynow.org. Here's how to get tickets:

Increasing amounts of taxpayer money are being shifted to healthcare costs for an aging prison population. This podcast wants to bring the prisoners' stories to light:

Buses critical to many Philadelphians are set to be cut back — some going from a 15 minute wait to a full hour. But, SEPTA officials haven't publicized that fact, Lance Haver reports. In fact, they're saying the opposite:

Here's how Mayor Cherelle Parker is justifying a proposed tax on Lyft and Uber rides in Philly:

The Parker administration misled the public about what tripling the proposed rideshare tax — and admitted it at last week's budget hearing, host Lawrence McGlynn reports:

Mayor Cherelle Parker wants to institute a new tax on Uber and Lyft rides to cover a budget deficit — one that she created, consumer reporter Lance Haver says:

Host @denisethewriter.bsky.social has long been against Philly having an elected school board. Recent events might change that.

Philadelphia School Board officials literally had the book thrown at them during this week's budget hearings. Here's what happened:

SEPTA is planning on cutting bus service to shift more resources to Philly's Navy Yard. Here's how it's set to impact the everyday rider:

Host @denisethewriter.bsky.social still has questions about the Philadelphia Police Department's use of drones and data following its budget hearing:

Here's what happened when our own Lance Haver reported live from a SEPTA board hearing last week:

Here's what one of Philly's strongest unions has planned for May Day:

Here's how ICE raids are impacting Philly workers, with Robert Harris of @afscmedc47.bsky.social:

Here's why @afscmedc47.bsky.social VP Robert Harris says his union is showing up to support Philly's "ICE Out" legislation:

"ICE Out" legislation is up for vote Monday. Here's how one @maketheroadpa.bsky.social student says it would impact her family:

Mery, a child of immigrants and student with @maketheroadpa.bsky.social, wants Philly's elected officials voting on "ICE Out" legislation to know this:

"Our communities are not asking for privilege." Here's what Dr. Bunia Pilet of Reclaim Hayti had to say about Philly's proposed ICE Out legislation:

Philly Elmo has entered the chat in support of City Council's "ICE Out" bills, which will be up for vote on Monday, April 20. Watch @newsjawn.bsky.social's full segment at the link in bio!

Here's what to know about Philly's trash incinerator in Chester:

Here's how activists protested Philly's continued commitment to burning trash in Chester during one City Council meeting — and what Council President Kenyatta Johnson did about it:

The trash incinerator Philly uses in Chester would never have been built in a white community. Here's how environmental racism is impacting residents:

How long do you think it takes for the city of Philadelphia to fill a pothole? Here's the official response:

Here's how much PECO — Philly's electric utility — is profiting by raising costs for consumers:

PECO is telling the public that they need to charge higher rates to pay for infrastructure. That's not what their documents say:

Should everyday homeowners and renters have to foot the bill for data centers' increased water use? It could be the new reality if Philly's utility company gets its way:

We've been hearing a lot about the 25th Amendment since President Trump's expletive-laden posts about Iran hit the algorithm. But, how does implementing that amendment actually work? Reporter @newsjawn.bsky.social explains:

So... what are data centers *actually* for? Reporter @newsjawn.bsky.social explains how they're used for AI, social media, crypto and much more:

Here at the Hall Monitor, we're 100% human.

Some of the Philly schools on the chopping block this year have unique programs that help kids who used to struggle. Here's why that matters:

School staff and advocates have called out deceptive data in the Philadelphia School Board's closure and merger plan. Guest @lisamhaver.bsky.social of @apps4philly.bsky.social explains:

The Philadelphia school closures plan is based on imaginary funding, @lisamhaver.bsky.social of @apps4philly.bsky.social says. Here's why:

Closures aren't the only changes members of the Philadelphia School Board are considering in the coming months. Here's what else may be coming, with @lisamhaver.bsky.social of @apps4philly.bsky.social:

Here's how much the proposed Philadelphia school closures will cost the district:

What statistics is the Philadelphia School Board using to determine which public schools to close? The answer isn't clear, @lisamhaver.bsky.social of @apps4philly.bsky.social says:

Here's how the Philadelphia School Board responded to over 50 testimonies from students, teachers and parents who may lose their communities under the board's closure and merger plan:

Here's who's advocating for Philly to stop burning its trash in Chester:

Here's how Mayor Cherelle Parker wants the city to invest in economic opportunities through Philly's annual budget:

Last week, Councilmember Jamie Gauthier called out Mayor Parker for her changing stance on burning Philly's trash in neighboring Chester. Host @denisethewriter.bsky.social writer explains the issue — and why it matters:

A rideshare tax proposed by Mayor Cherelle Parker has jumped 400%. A multi-million hole in the Philadelphia School District's budget is to blame, host @denisethewriter.bsky.social reports:

Philly can no longer claim the title of poorest big city in America, but there's a catch, host @lmcglynn.bsky.social says:

This Monday at noon, City Council will hear from Philadelphians about major housing legislation. Here's what to know — and how to get involved:

Here's the latest on Philly's decision to axe its minority business certification program, from @denisethewriter.bsky.social:

Here's how Philly's anti-violence grants are playing out in this year's budget process:

Here's how much funding Mayor Cherelle Parker's proposed city budget would put towards extended school programming. Watch the full show at the link in bio.

Potholes are one of Philadelphians' united complaints. Here's how Mayor Cherelle Parker aims to address them:

Philadelphians are set to face yet another water rate increase, Lance Haver reports:

What is TAP, Philly's water bill assistance program for low-income residents? Consumer reporter Lance Haver explains: