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Philly police should adopt this ethics program that reformed NOLA force

Larry Platt

June 04, 2020 |

The Philadelphia Citizen |

Text |

800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, New Orleans, Louisiana

Eight years after the New Orleans Police Department served as a model of how not to police, its Ethical Policing Is Courageous (EPIC) program has done more to dismantle the “blue wall of silence” than any other reforms. Citizen complaints and horrific examples of brutality have gone down while citizen satisfaction has risen. Now the training of officers in “peer intervention” is spreading nationwide, empowering street officers schooled in the use of peer pressure to stand up to misconduct without fear of retaliation.

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Local banks step up in the fight to keep Covid-19 economic calamity at bay

Larry Platt

April 03, 2020 |

The Philadelphia Citizen |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Throughout the economic crash of 2008, banks were "vilified" for their response, but as the economy again teeters on crashing during the coronavirus pandemic, regulators have been able to be proactive in their approach. While several banks are making financial contributions to philanthropies, and public health efforts or creating relief funds, others have agreed to temporary forbearance on certain types of loans which enables "local business owners and workers to defer payments without penalty to the end of their loan terms."

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This handy browser plug-in combats fake news with ratings of thousands of news websites

Larry Platt

December 27, 2019 |

The Philadelphia Citizen |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, New York, New York

Allowing news consumers to more carefully vet media outlets can help stem the proliferation of fake news. NewsGuard, a web browser plug-in gives users a “nutrition label” for news websites by ranking them on a scale of trustworthiness. The service employs trained journalists and is working to make its plug-in available in libraries, as well.

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Can basketball reduce gun violence? It did in Richmond, Virginia.

Larry Platt

December 06, 2019 |

The Philadelphia Citizen |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Richmond, Virginia

RVA League For Safer Streets uses a basketball league as "bait" to change young men's lives by teaching critical thinking and better ways to resolve conflicts. The Richmond, Virginia, program was co-founded in prison by a former drug dealer convicted of murder who learned the methods of cognitive behavioral therapy behind bars. Paroled after 23 years, he began counseling youth with an approach that police say contributed to a significant drop in Richmond's gang violence and other crime.

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The Hang Out Cure: Former Massachusetts Governor William Weld Has An Idea Local Politicians Need To Hear

Larry Platt

July 18, 2017 |

The Philadelphia Citizen |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Washington, District of Columbia

Rare are the days of cordiality towards opposing party politicians within American government. Specifically, a shift has occurred in which politicians no longer know each other, which can have detrimental effects on governing and deal-making. To this end, former Massachusetts Governor William Weld has recently promoted the importance of spending time with fellow politicians, in order to increase bipartisanship and function better in government. This is exemplified by his proposal and seven year old practice of “hangout sessions,” weekly meetings in which politicians with opposing viewpoints come together.

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Taking On Recidivism: Larry Platt speaks with Attorney General Josh Shapiro

Larry Platt

June 26, 2017 |

The Philadelphia Citizen |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania's attorney general may sound more like a defense attorney as he lays out plans to focus more resources on helping people returning from incarceration integrate into society. But Josh Shapiro insists his approach is pragmatic and he helped launch a statewide re-entry council that coordinates efforts among 21 local coalitions and also brings in services providers and state agencies. The effort is using a comprehensive approach to address crime, including addiction treatment, housing and education.

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Zero-Based Budgeting

Larry Platt

January 16, 2016 |

The Philadelphia Citizen |

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Under 800 Words

Response Location: United States, Montgomery, Alabama

Josh Shapiro has reimagined how suburban public dollars are spent and reinvented government in the process: Beginning at zero. In doing so, he has stripped the budget of non-core line items.

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The Cuban Literacy Campaign

Larry Platt

June 02, 2015 |

The Philadelphia Citizen |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: Cuba, La Habana, Artemisa

More than fifty years ago, Cuba eradicated widespread illiteracy in one calendar year, and its literacy rate still leads the world. They achieved it by sending "brigades" of teachers and students to teach adults and children for two weeks.

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