The second week of City Council hearings about the Sixers’ proposed arena started off with SEPTA officials saying they’ll need millions of dollars to manage the increase of transit users driven by concert- and game-goers with a new arena. The city and the team have both said they have no money for such an expansion.
Also, proponents and opponents had a chance to weigh in, with those for the proposal saying it was opportunity the city could not pass on and those against it saying it threatened nearby communities and small businesses. Two more hearings to go this week. Continue reading …
A new mural unveiled Monday at Cedar Park Pedestrian Plaza serves two purposes — brightening the park AND helping to restrict traffic flow and protect pedestrians.
It’s the culmination of an effort to connect the park and increase safety. Continue reading …
RECAP: What else happened?
$ = paywalled
• Pres-elect Trump nominated former Pa. Senate candidate Mehmet Oz to lead the agency that oversees Medicare and Medicaid, and nominated Howard Lutnick, Haverford College’s largest donor, as Commerce secretary. [Politico/PhillyVoice]
• The Pa. Supreme Court ordered counties to stop counting misdated mail-in ballots, amidst a recount of votes in the U.S. Senate election. What will this mean? [WHYY/Spotlight PA]
• Phillies top prospect Andrew Painter looked great in fall ball. What can we expect in 2025? Also on sports, Sixers’ Tyrese Maxey reportedly called out Joel Embiid for being “late for everything” after latest loss. [BP/PhillyVoice]
• For the first time, new home tests — available at pharmacies without a prescription — can test for both the flu and COVID simultaneously. [NPR]
• Drexel University this month laid off 60 staff employees — just under 1.4% of the school’s workforce — as part of efforts to address a budget crunch. [Inquirer$]
• An Israeli muralist from Germany has been selected to design Philly’s Holocaust Memorial Plaza on the Ben Franklin Parkway, and the Weitzman Jewish museum named its new CEO, who comes to Philly from a museum in Tel Aviv. [WHYYx2]
• Vare Recreation Center in Grays Ferry reopened after a $21 million renovation that brought new indoor gyms, outdoor space, classrooms, and a computer lab that is the first in the city with fiber-optic high speed internet. [WHYY]
• Cellar Dog Philly opens Thursday at 258 S. 15th St. with 8,000-square-feet of games, live music, and bar food. [Wooder Ice]
Weekly brief on gun violence prevention (with PCGVR)
We publish this report each week in partnership with the Philadelphia Center for Gun Violence Reporting.
• Temple is the first Philly-area university to use gun-detecting AI tech ZeroEyes — even after SEPTA ended its pilot earlier this year. The tech is used in 42 states. [NBC10/The Trace/Flatland]
• Violence interrupters move to break the cycle of gun violence in Philly [WHYY]
• 1 in 8 are shot or killed before age 25: A Penn professor writes about the grim reality facing Philadelphia’s adolescent Black males. [Penn LDI]
By the numbers in Philadelphia
- 11: Shooting victims recorded last week, including 1 fatality, vs. 24, with 4 fatalities, the week prior. [Philly Police]
- 968: Shooting victims as of Nov. 17 were down 37% vs. the previous year. [PCGVR]
- 228: Year-to-date homicides, down 39% vs. last year’s pace; down 27% vs. five years ago [Philly Police]
MAYOR WATCH
The mayor has a busy day. She will join:
Former President Clinton as he promotes his new book, “Citizen: My Life After The White House,” about his life after the presidency, at Parkway Central Library, Montgomery Auditorium, 1901 Vine St. (7 p.m.)
Government officials and community stakeholders at the Green Hydrogen Summit, at Philadelphia Marriott Downtown, 1200 Filbert St. (9 a.m.)
The Office of Faith-Based Initiatives and Interfaith Affairs for a Clergy Appreciation Day celebration, at City Hall. (1:40 p.m.)
Managing Director Thiel, Fire Commissioner Thompson, Police Commissioner Bethel and Chief Public Safety Director Geer to discuss ongoing efforts to address public safety and nuisance fires in the Kensington neighborhood. The event will be held at the Philadelphia Fire Department Engine 25, 2937 Boudinot St. (4 p.m.)
ON THE CALENDAR
💬 Wednesday, Nov. 20: 47th St. Redesign Public Meeting
Residents are invited to give feedback on the 47th Street Traffic Safety Project, which aims to improve traffic safety for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers from Chestnut Street to Kingsessing Avenue. At St. Francis De Sales School (917 S. 47th St) from 6:30-8 p.m.
✨ Thursday, Nov. 21: Opening Night of Winter in Franklin Square Park
The season’s first lighting of the Electrical Spectacle Light Show is at 6:30 p.m., with shows every half hour until 9 p.m. The show’s new song this year is “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” from the Eagles’ Christmas album, sung by The Philly Specials — Jason Kelce, Lane Johnson, and Jordan Mailata.
💿 Saturday-Sunday, Nov. 23-24: VinylCon!
A community celebration of collecting culture and discovering new music, featuring 70+ vendors, 100K+ records, a full bar, food trucks, vinyl DJs and more, all at the 23rd Street Armory! $30 early entry, $10 Saturday, Free Sunday. (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.)
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