Patrick Kerkstra is deputy editor at Philadelphia magazine and a veteran urban affairs reporter. He's covered the city and region for 15 years, including a decade at the Inquirer, where his beats included higher education, the war in Iraq, politics and Philadelphia's City Hall. At Philadelphia magazine, Patrick has profiled mayors, governors and senators, unpacked the implications for Philadelphia of the Marcellus boom, and explored the city's schools crisis. In January, he's launching a new policy oriented urban affairs blog for the magazine.