Thanks to Alex and the trusty Walter King, we have a couple updates/new features on YPP. We will be rolling out four or five new features on the blog over the next couple days to improve the site's functionality, and hopefully, to better serve the progressive community of Philly and SE PA. When that is done, we might have a contest (with some kind of prize, cash, or something involved) to redesign the look of YPP, as well.

The first two things we are rolling out today are 1) A "Quick Hits" Section and 2) a Job Bank.

1) Quick Hits: The basic idea with quick hits is that there needs to be a place for people to share links, news stories, blogs from around the net, etc, without having to write a full blog entry. So, if you come across something that you think the YPP community should be aware of, just post it and the link in the quick hits section. I know, for example, there are times I would like to share links without having to write a whole blog entry.

Most people will be able to create links. Basically, I just went through and gave a bunch of people the ability to post them- if you want to do so and you don't see the option when you hit "create content," send me an email: danielua *at* gmail.com. In the future, we may just let any registered user do so, but let's see how it goes.

2)The Philly Job Bank: The second thing is a job bank. Basically, I know a bunch of people get sent emails about job openings, but, I never really know what to do with them. So, for that, if you look to your right, you will see the new YPP job bank. Posting a job is pretty easy to do- hit create content, then job posting, then voila. In fact, to get us started, there is a job posting up from the Center for Progressive Leadership.

The job bank is one of those things that will work if it turns out there is a need for it, and people use it. I suspect it could be useful, if nothing else, to get the word out about job openings you have heard of to an additional few thousand eye balls.

Check out the new stuff, and let us know what you think. More is coming soon.

And thanks again to Walter and Alex.

The summer is kind of slow, eh? I guess when Pizza and the sweet syringe free beaches of the Jersey Shore beckon, it is understandable.

1) AJ Thomson had a column in the Daily News yesterday, pointing out that the Eagles, the beneficiary of millions upon millions of taxpayer dollars, continue to stiff the City out of 8 million dollars they owe. E-A-G-L-E-S, Eagles!

2) In the budget that was just agreed to in Harrisburg, City schools saw a significant increase in funding. (When all is said and done, about 85 million.) Of course, 85 million doesn't come close to the one billion dollars the State has already identified that Philly schools need. But, it also is theoretically just the start of a 6 year plan to continually increase education funding.

But, what are the chances we actually see those increases every year? Rendell has something like 2 budgets left. Even if he fights tooth and nail the next two years, we have no idea how powerful the next Governor will be, and whether he will even care about school funding. That is the obvious downfall of trying to change policy through the budget process: until there are lasting laws that say schools should be funded at levels to provide a quality education, this battle will be fought every single year.

3) Doron asks if there is a problem that Nutter hasn't told the public anything about his negotiations with the municipal unions (whose contracts expired yesterday), and expected them to do the same...

I don't have a problem with Nutter not negotiating in the press and behind closed doors, because in 2008 union negotiations are enough of an adversarial process that we don't have to worry about cozy backroom deals. That said, despite the candy canes and lemonade being passed out, the era of good feelings might be coming to an end:

Yesterday morning, Mayor Nutter was positive about the process.

"We're going to stay in our talks as long as it takes," Nutter said. "I expect everyone will be at work tomorrow because talks are ongoing."

But Kathy Scott, president of DC 47, struck a combative tone in a news release last night, saying that the city had not responded to many of the union's proposals.

"Not on a single issue, even the non-economic issues that don't cost the city any money, have we received a substantive response," she said in the statement. "It is our hope that the city will take the next two weeks to earnestly address the substantive issues we raised two months ago."

What are those issues? Well, we don't know, 'cause it is all behind closed doors.

Ah, summer.