Helen Gym
Pew: Philly Gives Out $200 Million in Business Tax Breaks Every Year
In order to counteract what many see as an overly expensive and intricate business tax structure, Philadelphia has turned to tax credits and special incentives […]
Q&A: Helen Gym
My name is … Helen Gym. My middle name is Hae-Liun. I am a … mom, wife and Councilperson, and always trying to figure out […]
How Jim Kenney’s Big Soda Tax Victory Is Upending City Hall
For years, Philadelphians saw government dysfunction everywhere they looked. In City Hall, former Mayor Michael Nutter was so impotent that he couldn’t persuade a single Council […]
Activists: Uber and Lyft Tax Should Fund Philly Schools, Not the PPA
Public school advocates packed the Philadelphia Parking Authority’s monthly board meeting on Tuesday to question a change in a state bill that would allow ride-sharing […]
“Tax” on Uber and Lyft Would Actually Be a $4 Million Windfall to the PPA
First it looked like it was for the kids, and now it looks like it’s for the Parking Authority. A bill in the state Senate […]
Helen Gym Calls for Investigation of School Police Use of Force
Councilwoman Helen Gym sent a letter on Tuesday to the School District and the School Reform Commission calling for an investigation of an incident at […]
Council: Why Did $1.3 Million for School Nurses Go Unspent?
The Philadelphia School District has a modest fund balance this year, meaning for the first time in recent memory it spent less money than it budgeted. But […]
Councilwomen Slam DA Williams Over Porngate Prosecutors
It was a pretty weak showing, said Councilwoman Cindy Bass, when District Attorney Seth Williams announced late on the Friday afternoon before Labor Day weekend that […]
Officials: Philly’s Water Is Safe
Philadelphia’s water is safe, city officials said Monday at a Council committee hearing on lead poisoning. Water Department Commissioner Debra McCarty said that Philadelphia is not experiencing, […]
Lawmakers Fight for Muslim Holidays to Be Recognized in Philly
A group of activists erupted in applause at City Hall Thursday when lawmakers unanimously approved a resolution calling on the city and school district to recognize two Muslim holidays: Eid […]
Helen Gym Draws National Attention in New Role
Helen Gym, the longtime education activist, is drawing national attention this week: She joined City Council as an at-large member on Monday, the first Asian-American […]
Does “Bullet Voting” Really Work?
If you want to shake up City Council, many political insiders will tell you to vote for one at-large candidate and one at-large candidate only. This […]
Op-Ed: Philly’s Charter School System is Falling Apart
(Editor’s note: This is an opinion column from City Council candidate Helen Gym.) “As long as the music is playing, you’ve got to get up […]
David Oh Fights for His Political Life
It’s been a bad year for politicians in Pennsylvania, especially those with a “D” next to their names: Kathleen Kane, Chaka Fattah, Rob McCord. The list goes on and on. On Monday, Republican Councilman David Oh reminded the public that […]
Philly Teachers Union Fined Over Campaign Finance Violation
The Philadelphia Federation of Teachers has been hit with a $1,500 fine for making an excess campaign donation to education firebrand and Democratic City Council […]