A Family Project: Walking 19130's Abandoned Cars
On a spur of the moment decision, my family and I decided to do our part to help identify abandoned cars in the open 311 tickets. A story of 3 miles, 90 minutes a 19 month old, and 15 abandoned cars
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The 2026 Thanksgiving Inflation Report
Using the sane 11-item basket the Philly Controller has tracked since 1974, I find Thanksgiving dinner costs $77.00 in Philly ($67.39 if you buy store-brand stuff). Turkey costs are up 12% YoY, but everything else is down, netting to basically 0 change overall.
Oct 17, 2026The Steps and the Rodin
I run with my son to the Art Museum steps in the stroller most days that it isn't raining. The Rodin Museum is on the way home, with the original Gates of Hell out front — one of only two pieces of fine art I have ever liked.
Oct 10, 2026The Wading Pool at Sister Cities Park
The wading pool at Sister Cities Park in Philadelphia: a square, a stream, and a toddler in a shark swimsuit who won't share.
Aug 8, 2026What Philadelphia Should Do About 311
The eight articles above make the case. This one makes the ask — five policy moves, each anchored in a number the city itself generated.
Jun 14, 2026The Commission That Was Abolished and Empowered in the Same Code
This is Part 9 of Philadelphia Code: Accidental Anthropology. Philadelphia Code § 15-101 calls the Fairmount Park Commission "former." Then § 15-202, about 225 lines later, says the Commission is "hereby empowered." Voters abolished the Commission in 2008. The Code never quite agreed with itself.
Sep 19, 2026Philly Schools Roster Now Lists One Position for Every Nine Students — Up From One in Fourteen Eleven Years Ago
SDP's roster grew 40% while enrollment fell 13%. The District roster now lists 1 position for every 9 students, up from 1 in 14.
Jan 30, 2026You Pay More if You're Poor
Philadelphia charges its poorest zip codes 3.6 times the fee rate per dollar of tax debt that it charges its wealthiest ones.
Who writes this
Just a regular jawn living in Philly. Harvard MBA who runs an AI company during the day, is Mr. Mom of a 2 y/o in the evenings, does cool Philly research at 10pm and plays poker at 2am. Go Birds!