February 19: Next Great City platform | Council power grab | State TOD districts bill

The Next Great City platform is now live, featuring six cheap or budget-neutral ways that the city can continue its progress on sustainability, livability, and economic growth over the next four years.

PACDC also released their Equitable Development Platform, with recommendations for advancing equitable outcomes for the residents least likely to share in the benefits of Philadelphia’s ongoing housing boom. 

At-Large Councilman Ed Neilson, who was appointed as Democratic nominee by the Democratic City Committee to fill Bill Green’s vacated seat in the special election last spring, wants all Mayoral appointees to be confirmed by City Council. 

Petition season is upon us and Adam Bonin is here to explain the ins and outs for you. If you like city politics and policy enough to read PlanPhilly’s morning news, consider circulating petitions for a candidate you like. It’s a great way to meet some new neighbors and get a little exercise this winter.

Senator Dominic Pileggi’s bill reforming the state’s Transit Revitalization Investment District program, meant to encourage ridership-supporting private development around transit stations, passed the state senate this week. Here’s an old Anthony Campisi jawn about why the TRID program hasn’t worked. 

Emily Badger looks at the problems caused by too much local government fragmentation within regions. David Rusk’s “Little Boxes, Limited Horizons” paper for Brookings remains the definitive introduction to this problem in Pennsylvania.

Hank Grezlak counts the ways in which the race for PA Supreme Court is going to get insane this year. With three seats up, the parties are battling for control of the state’s top court.