The Philadelphia Hall Monitor
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In 2021, an up-and-coming journalist named Lawrence McGlynn teamed up with respected city hall reporter Denise Clay-Murray and longtime consumer advocate Lance Haver to launch The Philadelphia Hall Monitor.
Two years and several surprisingly prestigious award nominations later, we’d like to think we’ve become your trusted source for local government news and consumer survival tips that you won’t find anywhere else.
Our reporters regularly sit through hours and hours of city council meetings, dig through piles of documents, and ask tough questions other media overlook. Why? Because we’re committed to addressing Philadelphia’s poverty epidemic — and challenging those who sustain it. Source
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Media Outlet details
| Scope | Local |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Country | United States of America |
| Media Market | Philadelphia |
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Recent Articles
Search ArticlesHow Big Tech and AI Are Used Against Consumers
On April 17, 2026, Aislelabs published the story, “How Grocery Stores Are Using Guest WIFI to Build Shopper Loyalty and Drive More Revenue.” The company urges retailers to use “free WIFI” spots to collect information that most would consider private.
Philly Wants To Make Food More Affordable
As more and more Philadelphians struggle to put food on the table, city council president Kenyatta Johnson says it’s time for our local government to step in and help. Johnson is introducing legislation to recognize the importance of food security and access to nutrition for all residents, and to find ways to make food more affordable. He plans to look at food pricing and consumer protection, and the possibility of establishing a city-supported grocery store.
Landau Examines SEPTA Passes for All Students; City-Owned Grocery Store Hearing Upcoming
The Committee on Transportation and Public Utilities held a hearing “examining the status of transit mobility and access for Philadelphia’s students and the expansion of the SEPTA Student Fare Program.” Councilmember Rue Landau, the author of the resolution, said the city was missing the mark when it came to giving students opportunities to use the public transit system.
Affordability Comes Center Stage; Strange Inconsistency in Public Comment Policy
Before we do our usual discussion of City Council legislation, we must address a troubling situation that occurred at Thursday’s Stated Meeting, the Mayor of Downington, Erica Deuso, who is the first transgender mayor in Pennsylvania history, attended the meeting as a guest of Council.
The Problem With Jalen Hurts’ Donation To Philly High School
Tonight on the Hall Monitor, the team tackles the problem with Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts helping Philly’s Northeast High School with a generous $600,000 donation for air conditioning. Larry and Denise also talk to councilmember Nicolas O’Rourke about his plan to make life more affordable for Philadelphians. If you value our independent reporting, please support our work.
Should Quarterbacks Call Plays for Public Schools?
Three days before Thursday’s Board of Education action meeting, district parent Anthony Hurts had his phone charged and ready. He wanted to make sure he was able to sign up to speak as soon as the online window opened at 4 PM. If he wasn’t one of the first 30 people to sign up, he probably wouldn’t be on the list. Mr Hurts wanted to tell the board why the students at his daughter’s school in North Philadelphia needed air-conditioning.
Council Continues Fight Against Nuisance Businesses; Recognizes Labor
Councilmember Cindy Bass introduced a resolution “authorizing the Committee on Licenses and Inspections to hold a hearing to examine the implementation and enforcement of laws and regulations governing nuisance businesses, including Stop and Go establishments, signage, and window coverings, and to assess how enforcement practices can improve public safety, strengthen community trust, ensure due process, and reduce neighborhood conflict.” Long a topic of concern for Councilmember Bass, who has...
Will O’Rourke’s Plan Make Philly More Affordable?
Philly councilmember Nicolas O’Rourke has introduced a new plan to make life more affordable in our city. Will it work? The Hall Monitor team takes a deep dive into his proposals and whether they go far enough.
Water Rates Rise Again with Little Explanation
If you have opened September’s water bill, you might be thinking Yogi Berra was right: “It’s Déjà vu all over again.” For the eighth year in a row, the Philadelphia Water Department (PWD) has raised our bills. This time it’s been raised 7.5%, more than twice the increase in labor costs and 2.5% more than the inflation rate. In 2020, the average bill was $66.73. Bills have risen 44% since then.
Keep Data Centers Out Of Philly, Protesters Say
Big Tech is targeting Philly with data centers and it has to stop, residents say. “We need a moratorium now,” members of the No Data Centers in Philly coalition said at a rally on Sept. 14. No more big data centers without strict guardrails — and stop fuelling the AI surveillance systems like Flock that over-police us, protesters told city officials.