Government
I’m jumping the gun a wee bit here, hanging the garland of praise around the neck of Gov. Josh Shapiro before his announced noon Friday opening of I-95 in Northeast Philly. Gov. Josh Shapiro: Portrait of a man in charge. (Photo: The Business Journals) That is under his original
Racism
District Attorney Larry Krasner, my least favorite elected official, piggybacking on Juneteenth, issued a report saying that Philadelphia’s justice system has a disproportionate impact on Black people, and that impact is negative. The report, “Racial Injustice Report: Disparities in Philadelphia’s Courts from 2015 to 2022,” studied more than
Nostalgia
When Thomas Wolfe wrote “You can never go home again,” that was a metaphor, meaning that nostalgia sprays golden dust over our memories, causing us to remember things with a much brighter hue than they actually enjoyed. Going home could be cruel, a rude awakening. The first place I ever
Culture
Did you read the news today? Oh, boy. I feel fine because arguably the world’s most influential band — disbanded since 1970 — will release a record later this year, complete with the voice of John Lennon, deceased since 1980. You say you want a revolution? This is according to a
Culture
I had a special interest in Sunday night’s Tony awards -- saluting the best on Broadway -- for two reasons. First, I was the Philadelphia Daily News’ theater critic for two years, in the late ‘70s, and also because I have tickets for the much-nominated “Some Like it Hot”
Politics
Republican Presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy is the only one -- so far -- to promise, if he is elected, to pardon Donald J. Trump. Should Joe Biden (left) pardon Donald J. Trump? He’s lost my support on that one, but that notion sparked an idea. But first -- if
Culture
Another day, another Philadelphia museum controversy. This time, it is fewer than half of the employees of the Museum of the American Revolution complaining that the museum has agreed to rent space to the Moms for Liberty for an event. The Museum of the American Revolution A few days earlier,
Crime
[Editor’s note: This column is remarkably brave, because it is contrary to Inquirer columnist Helen Ubinas’ usual narrative -- that “we” are all to blame for every one of society’s ills. I also salute one mother’s courage in accepting her own responsibility as a bad role model,
Political Correctness
As a reporter, you learn that there are two sides to a story. At a minimum. Usually more. Visitors at the Mutter Museum (Photo: Visit Philly) Few stories or events are open and shut, but this one is tantalizing to me because of its many tendrils. It defies -- for
Homelessness
Update: A few days after this appeared, Thomas Lepera denied he had any intention of busing homeless people to Villanova. To me, it sounds like he caved to pressure. This is what used to be called a hot ghetto mess before some people decided “ghetto” was racist. It is not,
Crime
Being as I did not grow up in Philadelphia, I don’t have any warm, childhood memories of the Shore, such as those memorialized by my friend Bobby Rydell in his hit “Wildwood Days.” For me, “the Shore” was the beach, first Orchard Beach on Long Island when I lived
Race Relations
By Prof. John Banzhaf WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Several members of Congress have introduced a "Reparations NOW" resolution calling for $14 trillion in reparations for Black Americans, claiming that "The United States has a moral and legal obligation to provide reparations for the enslavement of Africans and