Anna Orso

1 week ago | inquirer.com | Anna Orso

With fewer than three weeks until election day, a new political group funded by Philadelphia unions and building industry leaders is running television and radio advertising to oppose District Attorney Larry Krasner, the progressive prosecutor seeking his third term in office. The independent expenditure organization, called the Concerned Citizens of Philadelphia, will begin running negative advertising about Krasner starting Friday, according to the media tracking firm AdImpact.

1 week ago | inquirer.com | Anna Orso |Sean Walsh |Fallon Roth

A Philadelphia lawmaker who represents the Kensington neighborhood, the site of the city’s largest open-air drug market, unloaded on critics of her tough-on-crime approach during an impassioned speech in City Council chambers Thursday, saying those who see her efforts as heartless are operating in bad faith. At issue was a bill authored by Councilmember Quetcy Lozada that would restrict how some medical providers and volunteer groups serve people in addiction in Kensington.

1 week ago | inquirer.com | Anna Orso

Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner is airing his first television advertisement with less than three weeks until election day, doubling down on his effort to portray himself as the city’s chief opponent of President Donald Trump. The commercial, which is set to begin airing this week on cable networks and streaming services across the city, both touts the city’s decreasing homicide rate and aims to nationalize the local race.

2 weeks ago | inquirer.com | Sean Walsh |Anna Orso |Fallon Roth

Many Philadelphia homeowners could see a property tax break of up to $139.98 next year under a new City Council bill to increase the homestead exemption. Under the proposed bill, the exemption, which lowers the assessed value of owner-occupied homes, would increase from $100,000 to $110,000. The owner of a house valued at $500,000, for instance, would only have to pay taxes on $390,000. Homeowners whose properties are worth less than $110,000 would pay nothing.

4 weeks ago | inquirer.com | Anna Orso

For the first time in two decades, Philadelphia will embark on a citywide assessment of dozens of facilities, including its many aging libraries and recreation centers, to identify needed repairs and develop a plan to address them. Officials from Mayor Cherelle L. Parker’s administration outlined the plan to members of City Council during a budget hearing Wednesday, saying the facilities assessment would help agencies prioritize infrastructure needs.