On June 23, the Daily News editorial "We want the bad news too" requested details from the Nutter administration regarding its infamous "Plan B" budget that would take effect if the State failed to okay the City's proposed sales tax increase.

Fifteen days later, Harrisburg has yet to act, and the "Plan B" option -- described by sources in and out of City Hall as "apocalyptic" -- looms ever closer to reality. And still we know nothing more about the apparently services-blasting details.

Worse: unless I missed it, during the intervening days, there's been no echoing call from City Council, or anywhere else in government, to make Plan B public.

Well, it's time to make the Daily News' original request a demand.

As Ben Waxman's column rightly states, "It's Our Money" too, so we demand that Mayor Nutter lets us know how it's going to be spent, or not spent.

We demand to see Plan B.

You want an independent view of the city budget and ideas on going forward from one of City Hall's newest and most vocal Councilpeople?

You want to hear about the year's hottest political race from the candidates themselves?

You want to hear about bridging the digital divide from one of the top organizers on the issue?

You want to talk about the latest in the casinos saga and brainstorm about the Daily News?

You want a shot and a PBR for $3? (You may need it.)

Then do what Bill Green, Seth Williams, Dan McElhatton, Dan McCaffery (confirmed thus far), Todd Wolfson, and I, among others, are doing.

Come on down to Philly For Change Meetup @ Tritone, 1508 South Street (wheelchair accessible) tonight at 7:00.

Amid the calls for cuts and tax hikes, as Philly grapples with the latest budget monster, one story less reported is the plight of dedicated city employees who came into work this week and found out that another 10%, 20%, or even 30% may be excised from their already depleted budgets.

Workers who barely dodged a budget axe two months ago now face an even grimmer reaper with a scythe shaped liked a question mark, as their fates are argued in public at city budget forums. City managers have to figure out how to operate necessary programs for a city of a million and half, on a fraction of what their operating budgets were just three months ago, programs that may have been under-funded before the crisis hit.

Which leads to a relevant question: is beauty necessary?

A friend who works for Fairmount Park -- still the largest green city park in the U.S. -- forwarded the following handout that was circulated to staff, and which he assures me is a public document.

The Coalition to Save the Libraries, Neighborhood Networks, and a growing coalition of community groups and labor unions are coming together to demand no cuts to essential services.

We believe that by creating a tax system where everyone pays their fare share we can avoid cuts to libraries, rec centers, fire stations, and other essential services.

The attached flyer has our demands and a menu of options to raise revenue without putting the burden on the backs of poor and working Philadelphians or small businesses.

We are encouraging labor unions and community groups to sign on and individuals to call their city council people.

This is an opportunity for all of us to come together and influence how this financial crisis gets addressed. One option is to slash crucial services. Another option is create temporary tax increases for those who can afford to pay more.

Bad news, good news, friends.

Bad: Councilman Bill Green has had to reschedule his budget talk until March Philly For Change Meetup.

Good: In its place, PFC is pleased to host

A DEBATE ON PHILLY'S BUDGET & TAXES

One Philadelphia's (and YPP's) Stan Shapiro and Philadelphia Forward's Brett Mandel have graciously agreed to debate and answer questions about the best methods for dealing with the city's budget crisis.

Bring your good questions, your good ideas, and (seriously, people) your good behavior, but otherwise:

Let's Heat Up a February Night!

Also on the bill: Lauren Townsend on unlocking condoms and Judge Angeles Roca on our criminal justice system.

PHILLY FOR CHANGE FEBRUARY MEETUP is Wednesday February 4 at 7:00 at Tritone, 1508 South Street (wheelchair accessible).

PS: Don't forget to crush your empty PBR if you want another Special.

With President-elect Obama in town to figure out how to solve the nation’s budget crisis, here’s one suggestion: stop state-sponsored gambling.

There’s no question that this industry - whose proponents once crowed had a "license to print money" - has lost its lustre. With the economy in a tailspin, casinos don’t just drag their own industry down, they bring city budgets and people with them:

Consider:

• The City of New Haven has to fix a $500,000 budget hole after overly rosy gambling revenue projections didn’t meet their mark this year.

• In July, the Natl. Conference of State Legislatures reported that specific conditions have dramatically impacted state budgets, noting that Nevada is particularly worried about gambling and its impact on state revenues.

• Last year's PICA report warned that the city put itself at "financial risk" by not calculating the cost of casinos. They referred to sources which showed a range of costs of up to $200 million annually from gambling and the potential for net job losses based on employment studies from different states with gambling.

Faced with these concerns, what’s been the solution in other states?

More gambling of course – and don’t forget the booze and girls.

• Twin River, RI is begging for table games to save the bankrupt slots house.

• Foxwoods itself is seeking 24-hour alcohol service at its Connecticut casino to remain competitive. "You gotta be kidding me," said one local official in outrage.

• But my favorite story is outta A.C.:
  

  "On Dec. 13, the casino will host the Running of The Santas, part of a nationwide bar tour in which participants don Santa hats, beards and suits, and do their own version of Pamplona's running of the bulls. Only at the head of this race will be Hooters girls."

  Yep. The running of the bulls only with creepy old men chasing down Hooter girls. Because it sounds fun. And oh yeah, it makes the casino money.

  "The holidays tend to have many businesses competing for customer attention," said Mark Giannantonio, president of the Tropicana Casino and Resort. "The light show, in addition to our decor, shopping, entertainment and focus on our guests throughout the season ... ultimately will give people a reason to choose Tropicana."

There’s always a sucker a minute when it comes to easy cash.

Just listen to Fishtown’s Maggie O’Brien, who commented about the recent inking of a $1.5 million deal between Sugarhouse and a group that formed ad hoc to negotiate a community benefits agreement (since no other established neighborhood association would):

And - be still, fibrillating hearts - up to $1.5 million a year to fund stuff that the community decides could use the dough.

Like a library, maybe? Or a swimming pool? Fire services? All are Fishtown amenities slated for closure.

"With $1.5 million, we could buy the library and run it ourselves," says Maggie O'Brien, president of Fishtown Action (FACT), a pro-casino neighborhood group that has co-signed the CBA (along with the New Kensington CDC). "We could keep the pool and firehouse."

She exhales angrily.

"It didn't have to come to this. If the casino was up and running, we might not be losing anything right now."

Fishtown deserves every bit of concern with all the closures in their community while a slots house tries to open up down the street. But beyond that, there’s nothing in O’Brien’s comments that are backed by economic or historical reality. In fact, an increasing number of studies show that just the opposite may be true – that gambling is a net loser for society rather than a win.

Mike Nutter is one cool guy, right? I mean who else has ?uestlove spinning at their inauguration, Ed Rendell? John Street? Me thinks not.

But alas, it is not his great taste in DJ's or ability to rock the mic that is the essence of Mayor Nutter's cool. It is the fact that he gets it: he gets that government is supposed to work for the people (sounds like such a novel idea in this day and age, eh?). In the spirit of continuing to give power to the people the new administration, Great Expectations and Young Involved Philadelphia are partnering to provide young Philadelphians with a forum to share their ideas, ask tough questions, and demand excellence from their government. The administration will use the input from this forum to directly inform the performance standards and expectations set up for city departments.

A City That Works
An interactive forum on the relationship between our city's budget and the commitments of the new administration

The $4 billion budget is approved, but it will take more than money to set our city straight. Where does the money go and when can we expect to see results?

FACILITATED BY:
* Steve Agostini, Philadelphia's new Budget Director
* Chris Satullo, former editoral page editor of The Philadelphia Inquirer & founder of the paper's Citizen Voices program
* Claire Robertson-Kraft, YIP Board Member & Civic Education Committee chair

WHEN: This Thursday, May 29th at 6PM
WHERE: Philadelphia Inquirer Office, 400 N. Broad St.
WHO: Free and open to the public, email YIPCivicEd@gmail.com to learn more

City Council deliberates on the Mayor's proposed budget every year in a tedious, but important, hearing process that stretches out over two months. This year's hearings begin on Tuesday, February 26 with a look at the proposed Five Year Plan. On Wednesday, Council will take up the tax bills that have been introduced, including the proposed changes in the BPT and the wage tax. The following week there will be a hearing on the capital budget. After that, each week for the following six weeks (with a one week break) all the City Departments will appear, one after the other, to make their cases for whatever it is that the Mayor wants for these Departments. The last of the scheduled hearings is to take place April 15. Two weeks later it will be the turn of the School District, whose leaders will testify on April 28 and 29.