TheBurg Podcast

This week’s episode of the Burg Podcast takes a deep dive into the recent tumult in the Harrisburg School District, including back-and-forth votes over the superintendent and a burgeoning funding crisis. Lizzy and Larry also discuss the city’s new project to improve road safety and the latest challenge facing an embattled Midtown bar.

Read more about this week’s topics on TheBurgNews.com:

Full-day kindergarten on the chopping block, tax hikes loom, as Harrisburg District struggles to balance its books.

School Board can’t un-do action on superintendent contract, solicitor says.

Burg View: Harrisburg’s School Daze (Editorial)

Burg View: End the Road Carnage Now (Editorial)

To Zero: “Vision Zero” aims for no auto-related deaths in Harrisburg. 

Another Round: Third Street Cafe back in court, this time to defend liquor license

TheBurg Podcast is released semi-monthly by TheBurg Magazine. It is recorded in the offices of Startup Harrisburg and produced by Lizzy Hardison. Special thanks to Paul Cooley, who wrote our theme music.

On this week’s episode of TheBurg Podcast, Larry and Lizzy cover three topics that, for better or worse, just won’t die: DBE participation in city contracts, affordable housing in downtown Harrisburg, and shakeups in the city’s comprehensive planning process. Stay tuned until the end to hear about new, encouraging research on violent crime in cities. 

Read about the topics in this podcast on TheBurgNews.com:

Does Harrisburg need to increase minority participation in public contracts? Council says ‘yes.’

Open for Business: As Harrisburg prepares to spend millions on capital projects, it seeks to re-engage 
with minority and women-owned business.

Apartments OK’d: Harrisburg council approves Harristown, other projects.

Planning Commission “has not served citizens well” and needs to be replaced, Mayor says.

TheBurg Podcast is released semi-monthly by TheBurg Magazine. It is recorded in the offices of Startup Harrisburg and produced by Lizzy Hardison. Special thanks to Paul Cooley, who wrote our theme music.

This week’s episode of TheBurg podcast comes at you from the Broad Street Market, where Larry and Lizzy embedded themselves to recap the last two weeks in Harrisburg news. They discuss the latest developments in the school board’s search for a superintendent, the calls for the city to contribute to a small business loan fund, and the dawn of a new era of free evening parking in downtown Harrisburg.

Read more about the topics discussed in this week’s podcast:

Harrisburg School Board votes to consider a new superintendent.

Ante Up? Harrisburg debates chipping in for new revolving loan fund.

Harrisburg Freezes Over: Free downtown parking to begin next week.

Free Parking? No, it’s not Monopoly. It’s Harrisburg.

TheBurg Podcast is released semi-monthly by TheBurg Magazine. It is (usually) recorded in the offices of Startup Harrisburg and produced by Lizzy Hardison. Special thanks to Paul Cooley, who wrote our theme music.

On this week’s Burg Podcast, Larry and Lizzy outline the next steps in the city’s Act 47 process, consider the fortunes of a new small-business loan fund, and parse recent studies on the Harrisburg Train Station and Paxton Creek reclamation project.

Read more about the news discussed in this week’s episode:

City council approves free evening parking downtown, but only for one year.

Need a Loan? Harrisburg Business Opportunity Fund set to launch next week.

Capital Ambition: State outlines major improvement plan for Paxton Creek, Market Street, Harrisburg station.

TheBurg Podcast is released semi-monthly by TheBurg Magazine. It is recorded in the offices of Startup Harrisburg and produced by Lizzy Hardison. Special thanks to Paul Coolley, who wrote our theme music.

On this week’s Burg Podcast, Larry Binda and Lizzy Hardison discuss developments in the city’s never-ending parking saga, new efforts to bring more minorities and women into city contracts, and the administration’s quest to hire a financial advisor.

Read more about the topics discussed in this show here:

Harrisburg parking system meeting projections, but negotiations on 2018 rates still ongoing.

Harrisburg Council confirms CRW appointments, delays action on financial advisor, downtown parking

No Charge: Could free parking be coming to downtown Harrisburg?

Open for Business: As Harrisburg prepares to spend millions on capital projects, it seeks to re-engage 
with minority and women-owned business.

TheBurg Podcast is recorded twice monthly in the offices of Startup Harrisburg. It is produced by Lizzy Hardison, and our theme music is by Paul Cooley.

We cover all things infrastructure and development on this week’s episode of TheBurg Podcast. First, why is Capital Region Water going to spend more than $300 million updating Harrisburg’s sewer system, and what will it mean for ratepayers? Then we dip back into the debate playing out in city council about affordable housing downtown. We wrap up with (yet another) update on the city’s comprehensive plan — is there an end in sight?

Read more about this week’s topics at TheBurgNews.com, and look for our new magazine when it hits newsstands next Wednesday:

Move In Day: First MulDer Square house sold, ready for new owners.

Moving Ahead: Despite criticism, HBG Planning Commission sticks with comprehensive plan draft.

2 for 2: Council considers, approves development projects in Harrisburg.

Water, Sewer Plan: Massive improvements, major rate hikes proposed over next 2 decades.

TheBurg Podcast is released twice a month by TheBurg Magazine. It is recorded in the offices of StartUp Harrisburg and produced by Lizzy Hardison. Special thanks to Paul Cooley, who wrote our theme music.

TheBurg's editor-in-chief Larry Binda and city reporter Lizzy Hardison consider recent building projects downtown that have some people crying “gentrification.” They also dig into two statewide news developments and their effects on Harrisburg: the supreme court ruling against gerrymandering, and the approval of a new statewide education plan.

If you enjoyed this episode, consider subscribing to TheBurg Podcast in the Apple or Android podcast apps. You can also stream it on Soundcloud.

Read more about this week’s topics in TheBurg:

Yes, But: Council OKs apartment plan, but approval comes with a warning.

Wide-Ranging Discussion: Harrisburg officials tackle multitude of issues at community forum.

A new state system puts less emphasis on standardized tests. How will Harrisburg schools fare?

Capital Redistrict: What will the gerrymander ruling mean for Harrisburg?

TheBurg Podcast is released biweekly by TheBurg Magazine. It is recorded in the offices of StartUp Harrisburg and produced by Lizzy Hardison. Special thanks to Paul Cooley, who wrote our theme music.

We're devoting this week's discussion to one topic: Harrisburg's comprehensive plan. Burg editor in chief Larry Binda and city reporter Lizzy Hardison follow the years-long project from its auspicious beginning to acrimonious end. What caused the project to sour? Who shares blame for the breakdown between the city and its contractor?  And what does the plan even say, anyway? They cover all these questions and more in this week's episode of TheBurg Podcast.

Read our coverage of the comprehensive plan on TheBurgNews.com:

Harrisburg Architect To Steer City’s Comprehensive Plan

What’s the Plan? After scores of meetings and tons of input, Harrisburg’s comprehensive plan process enters the final stretch.

After much delay, city officials lay out timeline to complete comprehensive plan

Plan of Action: Progress finally made on Harrisburg’s comprehensive plan.

It’s Here: Harrisburg’s draft comprehensive plan released

Harrisburg’s comprehensive plan is “unworkable,” say mayor, business leaders.

Comprehensive Jam: Harrisburg spent $200k on a planning project that the Mayor now recommends trashing. What went wrong, and what could the plan mean for the city?

Special thanks to Paul Cooley, who wrote our theme music. TheBurg Podcast is recorded in the offices of StartUp Harrisburg and produced by Lizzy Hardison. 

As the year comes to a close and holiday indulgences beckon, Burg editor Larry Binda and city reporter Lizzy Hardison recap the week in news and look ahead to 2018. In this episode, they discuss the city's finalized budget, which will make some exciting project possible in the new year. They also examine the debate surrounding Harrisburg City Schools superintendent Sybil Knight-Burney, whose contract is up for renewal in 2018. The School Board isn't sure she deserves another term. Lizzy describes a showdown that took place at last week's board meeting and explains why Knight-Burney drew fire for supporting a school voucher program in 2011. Plus, Lizzy and Larry round out the year's top news stories. 

Be sure to ring in the new year with the next issue of theBurg, which comes out Friday, Dec. 29.

Read reporting mentioned in this episode: 

In the Books: Harrisburg Council makes a few tweaks, passes 2018 budget.

All Heat No Fire: Divided Harrisburg school board delays vote on superintendent’s future.

To Re-hire or Not? Pro-voucher video surfaces as Harrisburg school board considers Knight-Burney’s future.

Citing low manpower, police dial back plans for Allison Hill substation.

As Harrisburg finalizes its 2018 budget, officials hear a forecast for Act 47.

Exit Strategy: Harrisburg seeks assistance as it eyes leaving Act 47.

A lot happened at City Council this week, and it's all covered all in TheBurg's newest podcast. Burg editor in chief Larry Binda and city reporter Lizzy Hardison offer a preview of the 2018 budget, consider the city's options for exiting from Act 47 next year, and sit in slack-jawed wonder at the Harrisburg's peace treaty with National Civil War Museum. They end with a discussion about community policing techniques, which Lizzy writes about in this month's issue of TheBurg.

Stream this week's episode on SoundCloud, or download it in the iTunes or Android podcast apps.

Read coverage of the issues we discuss in this podcast at TheBurgNews.com:

HBG Budget: 2018 plan shows growing revenues, no new tax hikes.

Exit Strategy: Harrisburg seeks assistance as it eyes leaving Act 47.

Peace in Our Time: City, Civil War Museum finalize accord over artifacts, rent.

New Cops on the Block: How one police department built public trust with a community-centered approach.

Special thanks to Paul Cooley, who wrote our theme music. Check out his podcast, the PRC Show on iTunes.