Writing

Blog & Insights

Harry Hayman on Philadelphia hospitality, jazz, food security and the people building the city.

381 posts, newest first.

Sustainability November 16, 2026

Gotham Greens Turns Fifteen, and Nobody Wrote the Failure Story

A Philadelphia food systems observer looks at how one greenhouse company grew from a single Brooklyn rooftop to nine states without a bankruptcy headline.

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Fresh from the notebook

Food Systems November 15, 2026

After Kroger Left, Southeast Raleigh Broke Ground on a Grocery Store It Owns

Southeast Raleigh is building a grocery store its neighbors own. I look at what Philadelphia can learn, including why ownership still needs sales.

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Food Systems November 15, 2026

Kansas City's 248 free orchards and the stewards who keep them alive

I want Philadelphia to look at how Kansas City's free orchards keep producing, and put support for the people caring for trees into the budget.

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Community November 15, 2026

Portland Spent $724 Million While Its Homeless Count Rose

Portland spent $724 million while its homeless count rose. I want Philadelphia to ask what that spending buys and whose housing lasts.

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Community November 14, 2026

What Pennsylvania's Own SNAP Count Cannot Explain

Writing from Philadelphia, I look at Pennsylvania's SNAP enrollment drop and the government's own admission that less than half traces to the new law.

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Jazz November 13, 2026

COLTRANE 100 and The Offering Table, Ars Nova Workshop at Honeysuckle

Ars Nova Workshop gathered Philadelphia's jazz community at Honeysuckle for COLTRANE 100. A Philadelphia perspective on what the city could build next.

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Business November 13, 2026

Philadelphia's Economy Is Growing. Who Is It Growing For?

Philadelphia's poverty rate slipped below 20% in 2024, then rose to 20.4% in 2025. The question I am bringing to the Center City Business Association.

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374 more posts

Blog & Insights

Gotham Greens Turns Fifteen, and Nobody Wrote the Failure Story

Browse by topic

Fresh from the notebook

After Kroger Left, Southeast Raleigh Broke Ground on a Grocery Store It Owns

Kansas City's 248 free orchards and the stewards who keep them alive

Portland Spent $724 Million While Its Homeless Count Rose

What Pennsylvania's Own SNAP Count Cannot Explain

COLTRANE 100 and The Offering Table, Ars Nova Workshop at Honeysuckle

Philadelphia's Economy Is Growing. Who Is It Growing For?

Philadelphia places Harry has written about

The archive

2026

2025

2024

2020

Blog & Insights

Latest post

Gotham Greens Turns Fifteen, and Nobody Wrote the Failure Story

Browse by topic

Fresh from the notebook

After Kroger Left, Southeast Raleigh Broke Ground on a Grocery Store It Owns

Kansas City's 248 free orchards and the stewards who keep them alive

Portland Spent $724 Million While Its Homeless Count Rose

What Pennsylvania's Own SNAP Count Cannot Explain

COLTRANE 100 and The Offering Table, Ars Nova Workshop at Honeysuckle

Philadelphia's Economy Is Growing. Who Is It Growing For?

Philadelphia places Harry has written about

The archive

2026

2025

2024

2020