What We're Reading: Week of March 20, 2023

Here's what we're reading this week about the projects, people and policies driving local development:

Billy Penn explains this spring’s ballot measure to revise how the City of Philadelphia funds its Rainy Day Fund and what change it represents

by Jordan Levy, Mar 27, 2023

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📷: Phaucet iStock

Pew Philadelphia Research and Policy Initiative released its latest report: The Local Tax Impact on Philadelphia Households, providing a depth of research as the city begins its annual budget process

by Philadelphia Research and Policy, Mar 22, 2023

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Serving as proxy, retired City Councilmember Marian Tasco walks up to draw a ballot position number for her protege, former Councilmember and mayoral candidate Cherelle Parker (not shown) at City Hall Wednesday, Mar. 15, 2023. Following city tradition, all the candidates (or their proxies) for the Philadelphia primary election pick a numbered balls from an old Horn & Hardart coffee can. Parker started her political career as an intern with Tasco. Helping her is Sinceré Harris, the former executive director of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party, now running Parker’s campaign. 📷: Tom Gralish / Staff Photographer

🗳️ The venerated Horn & Hardart coffee can was the vehicle for candidates to find out their ballot position for the May primary, once again raising questions around why Philadelphia does not level the playing field by having randomized ballots which the voting machines are capable of producing

by Max Marin and Chris Brennan for the Inquirer, Updated Mar 15, 2023

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🌱The March Land Bank Board meeting saw a large backlash against restrictions the Land Bank administration is imposing on non-profit community gardens using public land, including those who have long established community managed gardens

by Sophia Schmidt for WHYY’s PlanPhilly, Mar 14, 2023

Gov. Shapiro’s first budget includes increased funding for Pennsylvania’s school districts, but in the wake of the Commonwealth Court’s ruling on school funding many are calling for increased and more targeted school funding as Harrisburg enters budget negotiations

by Marley Parish and Cassie Miller for the Pennsylvania Capital-Star, Mar 14, 2023

🧰 The Pennsylvania State Planning Board issued a toolkit for Affordable Housing and Inclusionary Zoning, co-authored by the Development Workshop Executive Director

An Accelerator fund has its first project with a minority contractor developing affordable housing in West Parkside

by Aaron Moselle for WHYY’s PlanPhilly, Mar 15, 2023

The Inquirer appreciated the depth and breadth of questions posed to the mayoral candidates at the Build Philly forum that the Development Workshop co-sponsored and was an integral part of planning and development of questions

by Jake Blumgart, Mar 14, 2023