Opinion

The upcoming 250th anniversary of the United States' Independence Day in 2026 holds historical significance, yet many Americans appear less enthusiastic than one might expect. Several factors contribute to this subdued sentiment, reflecting a complex societal landscape that intertwines historical legacy, contemporary challenges, and differing perspectives on national identity. Disconnection from Historical Significance Many citizens feel a disconnection from the historical ev

January 14, 2025/Brian Mazelis What happens when an entire metropolitan area’s public transportation system shuts down? Luckily, Philadelphia didn’t have to find out in November when two strikes by SEPTA workers were narrowly avoided. Within weeks, Transportation Workers’ Union 234 (TWU 234), SEPTA’s largest union, and SMART 1594, which represents regional rail workers, both authorized strikes if the company did not meet their demands as their contracts expired. Winning 5% ra

January 31, 2025/Brian Mazelis In the hours and days following his inauguration, President Donald Trump issued a series of executive orders on a range of topics, with a predicted focus on immigration. In less than a week’s time, the Trump administration has attacked asylum protections for refugees and moved to end birthright citizenship for children born to undocumented immigrants in the US. He has also given Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) free rein to conduct raid

May 5, 2025/Brian Mazelis Southwest Philadelphia is widely known as a tight-knit immigrant hub – as it should be – but this wasn’t always the case. In the 1980’s, Southwest neighborhoods were dealing with decades of institutional neglect, leading to low housing costs and a general lack of interest in the blighted area. Some of the only people who saw potential in the neighborhood were students of African descent with few affordable options in the city. Decades later, Southwes

The ongoing federal government shutdown is causing devastating results for working people in this country. As the shutdown surpasses the one-month mark, nearly 2 million Pennsylvanians and tens of millions of Americans in other states are at risk of losing their SNAP benefits starting November 1. While Republicans typically force a shutdown in an effort to gut social spending, this time it was the Democrats who forced the shutdown, citing Republicans’ refusal to reinstate Med

There is a cost of living crisis in Philadelphia, and PGW wants to add fuel to that fire. Earlier this year, the city-owned gas company submitted a proposal for a rate increase of approximately 16%, a $105 million annual revenue boost for the utility company. PGW, the largest municipally owned utility company in the United States, is regulated by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PAPUC) and must submit proposals to the commission for rate increases before they are i