Newsroom
Workers at Philadelphia Museum of Art ramp up pressure for fair contract
Nearly two years ago, workers at the Philadelphia Museum of Art (PMA) made history by voting 89% in favor of forming the country’s first wall-to-wall museum union. A relatively new phenomenon in the cultural sector, a wall-to-wall union allows for all eligible...
It’s Time for Pennsylvania to Act on Environmental Justice
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has an open public comment period on proposed revisions to the DEP’s Environmental Justice Policy guidance (EJ Policy). The deadline for written comments is May 11 and the last of four public hearings is May 4 at...
A city initiative and a State Senate bill show promise for retrofitting homes, but not without big challenges
Philadelphia’s built environment is responsible for about 70% of its carbon footprint, making it a key sector to tackle in order to meet climate goals. Building new, efficient buildings is part of the solution, but experts say there’s a practical need to work with...
Pennsylvania nursing home buyers would face more scrutiny under state health proposal
In the most complete revision of its nursing home rules in at least 25 years, the Pennsylvania Department of Health last month proposed new regulations that would require more scrutiny of homes’ prospective owners. For the first time, regulators would analyze the...
William Way receives $2.5 million from Gov. Wolf to assist with renovations
Gov. Wolf recently awarded $32.85 million in Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) funding to support 13 community economic development and revitalization projects in Pennsylvania, including $2.5 million for William Way LGBT Community Center to assist with...
Rep. Dwight Evans unveils $51 billion proposal to fight gun violence in Philadelphia
Adressing gun violence in Philadelphia and other communities across the country requires an "all-hands" approach, Congressman Dwight Evans said on Thursday. Evans unveiled his $51 billion proposal to address the gun violence crisis in a press conference held at Temple...
Pennsylvania needs rental assistance and eviction diversion programs, activists and lawmakers say
Several state lawmakers, researchers and activists gathered in the state capital to call for an inclusive, permanent fund to help renters in the commonwealth. The action last week was fueled by a new study by the left-of-center Keystone Research Center and PA Budget...
Senators Collett & Saval Unveil Legislation to Improve Nursing Home Transparency & Protections
Harrisburg, Pa. − April 19, 2022 − A new package of legislation proposed by State Senators Maria Collett (D-12 Montgomery/Bucks) and Nikil Saval (D-1 Philadelphia) will bring greater transparency, accountability, and support for residents and...
How Repairing and Modernizing Aging Homes Can Contribute to Housing Affordability
“The nation’s affordable housing crisis has gotten some semblance of attention — with journalists writing stories on the rising cost of rent, the scarce supply of new housing, the looming threat of eviction — but one aspect of the crisis has gone consistently...
How to fight the affordable housing and climate crises at once
Alicia Cruz was homeless before she and her four daughters moved into a newly vacant apartment in Lancaster City, Pennsylvania, about three years ago. As she stood in the kitchen and watched dirty water clog up the sink, the landlord promised he’d have it fixed before...
Report: Pandemic worsened Pennsylvania’s affordable rental housing crisis
A new report from the Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center has found that the affordable rental housing problem Pennsylvania faced prior to the pandemic is only worse now. The report looked at who Pennsylvania renters are, who was burdened by housing costs prior to...
Senator Saval Calls for Statewide Eviction Diversion and Expanded Emergency Rental Assistance
Senator Saval Joins Renters, Advocates, Legislators to Call for Expanded Eviction Diversion and Rental Assistance
Senator Nikil Saval Hopes to Secure Funding for the Whole-Home Repairs Act
State Senator Nikil Saval, D-Philadelphia, launched the beginning of campaign week for the Whole-Home Repairs Act on Monday morning at Hawthorne Park in Philadelphia. The Whole-Home Repairs Act (Senate Bill 1135) is a bipartisan bill that creates a one-stop-shop for...
Senator Saval at Bipartisan Urban Affairs & Housing Committee Hearing on Widespread Need for Home Repairs
Experts examine Philadelphia’s Black-white homeownership gap
A group of experts and policymakers delved into ways to address racial disparities in homeownership during a virtual event held by the Pew Charitable Trusts and the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia. “For decades Philadelphia has had a reputation as an affordable...
Councilmembers Gilmore Richardson and Parker introduce resolution in support of home repairs legislation
Councilmember Katherine Gilmore Richardson (D-At-Large) and Councilmember Cherelle L. Parker (D-9th Dist.) introduced a resolution last week calling on the Pennsylvania General Assembly to adopt the “Whole Home Repairs Act,” sponsored by State Senator Nikil Saval...
Bill to ban spot appeals would eliminate the Pennsylvania ‘newcomer tax’
(The Center Square) – The practice of spot appeals to reassess property taxes after a sale may be coming to an end in Pennsylvania. While the state’s uniformity clause prevents individual properties from being singled out, that has not stopped some school districts in...
Legisladores proponen crear fondo estatal para reparaciones de viviendas de bajos ingresos
FILADELFIA, PA- Algunos propietarios de viviendas que se enfrentan a costosas reparaciones en el hogar podrían obtener algo de alivio en virtud de la Ley de reparaciones integrales del hogar, un esfuerzo bipartidista encabezado por el senador estatal Nikil Saval, que...
Pennsylvania lawmakers want to create a state fund for low-income home repairs
Some homeowners grappling with costly home repairs could get some relief under the Whole-Home Repairs Act, a bipartisan effort led by state Sen. Nikil Saval, who represents portions of Philadelphia. The bill would establish a state fund, which would distribute funding...