Planners can have the greatest ideas in the world, but without politicians to enact them into policy or set aside money in a budget to implement them, the plans will wind up sitting on a shelf. That’s why elections matter to planning.
In Philadelphia, Mayor Nutter’s second term will be up at the end of 2015. All 17 seats on City Council will also be on the ballot, as well as Sheriff, Register of Wills, three slots on the City Commission, and a number of state and municipal judgeships. But in a predominantly one-party city like Philadelphia, sometimes it’s the primary that’s more important than the general election. This year’s primary is coming up on Tuesday, May 19, 2015. Several organizations are organizing events to help you learn more about the candidates and where they stand on the issues–particularly related to planning.