Mind Cruncher

Delaware Central Station

Just east of Fishtown, a 500,000 square foot industrial monument overlooks the Delaware River. Delaware Central Station, completed in 1923, was designed to look like a Roman temple—complete with classical columns, ornate entablature, and Beaux-Arts grandeur. But why would an electric power plant need to be beautiful? In this episode, we explore how Philadelphia Electric Company used architecture as public relations during an era when electricity was new, invisible, and terrifying. We'll trace the building's journey from the Progressive Era through decades of abandonment to its recent rebirth as The Battery—a story of industrial decline, historic preservation, and the question facing every American city: what do we do with our industrial past? Sound credits: barge anchors on river 1215 PM 240729_0855 by klankbeeld -- https://freesound.org/s/768962/ -- License: Attribution 4.0 Street_Car.wav by dggrunzweig -- https://freesound.org/s/341569/ -- License: Creative Commons 0 Jingle bells.wav by juskiddink -- https://freesound.org/s/110158/ -- License: Attribution 4.0

Unlicensed & Uninspected

Only the very beginning of my investigation, I discuss my finding that over 20 percent of PhillyMag's 50 best restaurants in Philly have improper or nonexistent food preparation and serving licenses. Sources: https://www.phillymag.com/foobooz/50-best-restaurants/ [https://www.phillymag.com/foobooz/50-best-restaurants/] https://li.phila.gov/property-history [https://li.phila.gov/property-history]

Philadelphia's Beverage Tax

I discuss the structure, implementation, and impact of the Philadelphia Beverage Tax since 2017. Case studies on soda taxes in Mexico and Berkely, CA supplement the conclusions I draw about the future of the soda tax and it's ability to fund pre-k and community schools in Philly. Sources: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/13-ways-sugary-soda-is-bad-for-you#TOC_TITLE_HDR_2 [https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/13-ways-sugary-soda-is-bad-for-you#TOC_TITLE_HDR_2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7068482/ [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7068482/] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2804646/ [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2804646/] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5442881/ [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5442881/] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5024386/ [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5024386/] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5395172/ [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5395172/] https://www.phila.gov/media/20190227105051/chart-v4e1.pdf [https://www.phila.gov/media/20190227105051/chart-v4e1.pdf] https://controller.phila.gov/philadelphia-audits/data-release-beverage-tax/ [https://controller.phila.gov/philadelphia-audits/data-release-beverage-tax/] https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2733208 [https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2733208] https://drexel.edu/news/archive/2020/february/soda-tax-and-beverage-consumption [https://drexel.edu/news/archive/2020/february/soda-tax-and-beverage-consumption] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0167629618309494 [https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0167629618309494] https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/4/1336 [https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/4/1336] https://anderson-review.ucla.edu/soda-tax/ [https://anderson-review.ucla.edu/soda-tax/] https://thephiladelphiacitizen.org/soda-tax-controversial/ [https://thephiladelphiacitizen.org/soda-tax-controversial/] https://www.cnbc.com/2019/05/14/sugary-drink-sales-fall-38percent-after-philadelphia-levied-soda-tax-study.html [https://www.cnbc.com/2019/05/14/sugary-drink-sales-fall-38percent-after-philadelphia-levied-soda-tax-study.html] https://www.urban.org/policy-centers/cross-center-initiatives/state-and-local-finance-initiative/state-and-local-backgrounders/soda-taxes [https://www.urban.org/policy-centers/cross-center-initiatives/state-and-local-finance-initiative/state-and-local-backgrounders/soda-taxes] https://taxfoundation.org/philadelphia-soda-tax-failing/ [https://taxfoundation.org/philadelphia-soda-tax-failing/] https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/articles/2016/10/05/pew-poll-shows-philadelphians-feeling-good-about-their-city [https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/articles/2016/10/05/pew-poll-shows-philadelphians-feeling-good-about-their-city] https://www.researchgate.net/publication/335459874_Philadelphia%27s_taxing_decision_pros_and_cons_of_a_soda_tax [https://www.researchgate.net/publication/335459874_Philadelphia%27s_taxing_decision_pros_and_cons_of_a_soda_tax]

PICA & the municipal bond market

I discuss the role of the Pennsylvania Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority (PICA) in the City of Philadelphia's finances and provide a brief look at the municipal bond market and credit rating agencies in general. Enjoy!

Campaign Finance in Philadelphia

I provide a brief discussion of campaign finance law basics and an overview of some interesting data from the May 2023 primary in Philadelphia. Enjoy! Interactive dashboard: https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/7444617509954375adc64e7355b98581/ [https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/7444617509954375adc64e7355b98581/] Sources: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/philadelphia/latest/philadelphia_pa/0-0-0-263975 [https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/philadelphia/latest/philadelphia_pa/0-0-0-263975] http://files.amlegal.com/pdffiles/Philadelphia/030562.pdf [http://files.amlegal.com/pdffiles/Philadelphia/030562.pdf] https://www.phila.gov/media/20221004102031/BOE-regulation-1.pdf [https://www.phila.gov/media/20221004102031/BOE-regulation-1.pdf] https://www.phila.gov/2023-05-05-board-of-ethics-advisory-alert-doubling-of-campaign-finance-contribution-limits-for-city-council-at-large-race/ [https://www.phila.gov/2023-05-05-board-of-ethics-advisory-alert-doubling-of-campaign-finance-contribution-limits-for-city-council-at-large-race/] https://www.phila.gov/2023-01-20-board-of-ethics-advisory-alert-doubling-of-campaign-finance-contribution-limits-for-city-controllers-race/ [https://www.phila.gov/2023-01-20-board-of-ethics-advisory-alert-doubling-of-campaign-finance-contribution-limits-for-city-controllers-race/] https://www.phila.gov/2023-03-08-board-of-ethics-advisory-alert-doubling-of-campaign-finance-contribution-limits-for-sheriffs-race/ [https://www.phila.gov/2023-03-08-board-of-ethics-advisory-alert-doubling-of-campaign-finance-contribution-limits-for-sheriffs-race/] https://www.phila.gov/media/20210606193730/campaign-finance-guide-2021.pdf [https://www.phila.gov/media/20210606193730/campaign-finance-guide-2021.pdf] https://www.phila.gov/2023-01-31-what-you-need-to-know-about-the-new-campaign-finance-dashboard/ [https://www.phila.gov/2023-01-31-what-you-need-to-know-about-the-new-campaign-finance-dashboard/]