“Living in Philly” interview series where realtor Cherise Wynne (“Agent Lady”) highlights interesting people & organizations in the civic, real estate, restaurant and lifestyle space that help first time home buyers navigate our great city of Philadelphia.
Meet Jim Saksa, Transportation Reporter at PlanPhilly
Jim Saksa
Agent Lady: When people ask that famous question “what do you do”, how do you typically answer?
Jim: PlanPhilly is a project at WHYY, Philly’s NPR news station, that covers the built environment: city planning, transportation, housing, economic development, parks and public space, zoning, etc. It’s the stuff that day in and day out impact our lives the most. I cover transportation. PlanPhilly can be wonky, but we have a really great, loyal audience that appreciates our thoughtful, in-depth coverage.
Agent Lady: What does PlanPhilly do, what neighborhood(s) does it provide products/services in, and what do you find special about those Philly areas?
Jim: We do online news and radio. We try to cover all of Philadelphia’s neighborhoods and some of the suburbs, too, but we fall way short of meeting our goals, there. Like other media outlets, we tend to cover Center City and the surrounding neighborhoods far better than the outlying areas, to our discredit. In our defense, we’re a team of just two full-time reporters, one part-time reporter, an engagement editor and managing editor.
As for what I find special about those Philly areas – every neighborhood has something special about it. I love West Philly’s trees, the tiny side streets of Washington West, the historic row homes in Queen Village, the bustle and excitement in Frankford….
Agent Lady: How do you believe PlanPhilly is making Philadelphia better?
Jim: We arm engaged citizens with information. If you want to make a difference in your community, you need to read PlanPhilly.
Agent Lady: If you had to choose between a Philly cheesesteak or a Philly pretzel, which would you choose?
Jim: Depends on how hungry I am.
Agent Lady: What’s the biggest misconception people have about your industry or type of organization?
Jim: That journalists have an agenda. Most journalists are just trying to figure out the who, what, where, when, why, and how, and trying to present that in a way that’s informative and enjoyable.
Agent Lady: What is the nerdiest thing you do in your spare time?
Jim: My reading habits: history, law, economics and behavioral psychology.
Agent Lady: What is your favorite word?
Jim: That’s like picking a favorite child.
Agent Lady: If you had to pick another career what would it be?
Jim: Not a corporate attorney. I’d go into academia, either political communications or behavioral economics.
Agent Lady: For anyone looking to buy their first home in Philly or move to the Philly area, what do you have to say to them?
Jim: There are a ton of great places to buy and a ton of great places to buy in the hopes of seeing a solid appreciation in your home’s worth. Look around and don’t let anyone who hasn’t lived here in the last 10, or even 5, years tell you what neighborhoods to avoid.
Agent Lady: If someone wanted to learn more about you or PlanPhilly, where could they go?
Jim: Me: Talk to me. Shoot me an email. As for PlanPhilly, PlanPhilly.com is probably your best bet.
I’m a huge fan of Jim’s work, so thanks again to him and PlanPhilly for helping to attract, retain, and empower citizens of Philadelphia. If you enjoyed this interview please share with the cool people in your network, and if you never want to miss another interview we hope you signed up for the newsletter. Until next time, stay awesome!
About Agent Lady: Cherise Wynne is a leading real estate agent in Philadelphia, helping home buyers and sellers navigate the City of Brotherly Love, with a special focus on first time home buyers. To chat about getting started with your first time home buying experience, click here.
