As a long-time advocate for open government, I applaud the Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s decision in Alekseev v. City Council of the City of Philadelphia. As a former school board president, however, I see why some might find it a bit naive. Read More…

Who knew that all that "We the people" stuff could be so easily forgotten just a few blocks from where it started? Thanks to a recent court ruling, Philadelphia's commoners will now have an opportunity to speak at regular meetings of the City Council. But it took nothing less than the highest court in the Commonwealth - overruling more than a half-century of backward practice, two lower courts, and a dissent by three of its seven justices (including the court's two Philadelphians, Chief Justice Ronald D. Castille and Justice Seamus P. McCaffery) - to bring this revolutionary concept into our own house of lords. Read More…

Let the people speak! So ruled the Pennsylvania Supreme Court on Thursday, outlawing City Council's ban on public comments at regular Council meetings. The court ruled, 4-3, that Council was in violation of the state's 1993 Sunshine Act, which requires "a reasonable opportunity" for residents and taxpayers at meetings "to comment on matters of concern, official action or deliberation which are or may be before the board or council prior to taking official action." Read More…

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — The Philadelphia City Council must allow direct public comment on matters under its consideration and may not simply divert those comments to committee meetings, a divided Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled. Read More…

The owner of a Philadelphia historical walking tour company has been sued by the offices of the Pennsylvania governor and Philadelphia mayor in attempts to block the release of records requested under Pennsylvania’s Right-to-Know Law. Read More…

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) ― The Philadelphia Daily News won a court decision Friday in its quest to obtain copies of police grievance arbitration awards from the city. A Commonwealth Court panel reversed a Philadelphia judge's injunction that has prevented city officials from turning over the records to reporter Wendy Ruderman. The judges said the union did not show a clear right to relief and a reasonable likelihood it would prevail on the merits.
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