The Philadelphia Hall Monitor

How much maintenance do Philly's historic school buildings need? Preservation Alliance of Philadelphia executive director Paul Steinke has an answer:

To demolish or not to demolish; that is the question.

According to the Preservation Alliance of Philadelphia, retrofitting existing historic school structures isn't just better for local culture — it's also more cost effective:

Does a national historic building designation protect structures more than a local one in Philly?

The answer might surprise you:

Here's an update on the historic — and once-endangered — John Coltrane house.

Philadelphia Preservation Alliance executive director Paul Steinke has the latest:

Why can't we create buildings like the historic schools and municipal complexes around the city of Philadelphia?

Paul Steinke, executive director of the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia, explains:

This quote from Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. felt prescient for this Philly pastor who spoke to the press about cuts to SNAP benefits across the country:

Here's who's really on SNAP in Pennsylvania — and who is most likely to suffer as a result of historic cuts to the program:

Here's how long Pennsylvania residents on SNAP have to appeal denials under new Trump administration policies:

Confused about how to reapply for SNAP benefits? Philadelphia's Community Legal Services is one way to get help:

For many religious leaders in Philly, SNAP cuts aren't just a governmental failure — they feel like a spiritual failure, too. Here's what one pastor had to say about it at a recent press conference:

Tue Ho, an attorney with Community Legal Services, shared his personal experience as a refugee child on SNAP — and how he feels knowing those benefits are being taken away from kids like him — at a press conference last week. Here's what he had to say:

Republicans talk about America as a Christian nation, but do they put their money where their mouths are? Host Lawrence McGlynn looks at recent SNAP cuts and has this to say:

Despite the Trump administration's attempts to alter the historical record, America has never been solely for white people, Avenging the Ancestors Coalition member Mijuel K. Johnson says.

Here's what he told the show last week.

Philly's memorial to the slaves who built America's first White House was a historic achievement when it was first established.

Avenging the Ancestors Coalition member Mijuel K. Johnson told some of its story on last week's show:

When the Trump administration removed Philadelphia's memorial to the slaves who built the first White House, Black residents and visitors created their own.

Here's what Avenging The Ancestors Coalition member Mijuel K. Johnson had to say about it:

Here's how Philly's Avenging the Ancestors Coalition member Mijuel K. Johnson says other organizers can protect threatened Black history in their communities from the Trump administration:

Autistic students will be hit particularly hard by school closures and mergers in Philly.

Education correspondent @lisamhaver.bsky.social of @apps4philly.bsky.social recounts one story from a parent:

If you have a child in a Philadelphia school, here's what @lisamhaver.bsky.social of @apps4philly.bsky.social says you can do to protect your neighborhood educational hub:

Philadelphia's City Council is finally taking threats to local schools seriously, @lisamhaver.bsky.social of @apps4philly.bsky.social says.

Here's what she's heard:

Smaller schools in Philly seem to be the main ones on the chopping block in this spring's round of closures and mergers.

Here's what education correspondent @lisamhaver.bsky.social of @apps4philly.bsky.social had to say about it on this week's show:

*How* much will it cost to carry out the Philadelphia School District's closures plan?

Education correspondent @lisamhaver.bsky.social of @apps4philly.bsky.social has thoughts:

Whose Needs Is the Philly School Board Really Serving? – Philadelphia Hall Monitor The Philadelphia school board claims its new facilities plan — with 20 schools slated for closure — will benefit everyone. But education reporter Lisa Haver doesn't buy it. This is about a land grab, ...

Whose needs do Philly's school board members really look out for? Hosts @lmcglynn.bsky.social and @denisethewriter.bsky.social want to know: hallmonitor.org/whose-needs-...

E-L-G-S-E-S for the win

We could make that happen! Maybe a hyperlocal news pack?

What role does Mayor Cherelle Parker have in Philly school closures? Education correspondent @lisamhaver.bsky.social of @appsphilly.bsky.social believes Parker's financial supporters had more say in the process than meets the eye:

It's true 😇

Host @denisethewriter.bsky.social watched the State of the Union this week. Here's what she had to say about it:

Are Philly's planned school closures and mergers really about what's best for the children — or is there another motive at play?

Education correspondent @lisamhaver.bsky.social of @apps4philly.bsky.social says some are beginning to suspect that developers are playing a role:

Bias at CBS isn't just what stories producers cut — it's also what questions journalists aren't asking.

Consumer reporter Lance Haver says a 60 Minutes interview with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. exemplifies this:

How does a city's operating budget work? Philly's budget director explains: