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City asks for community feedback on 5-year anti-violence plan

Dozens have come out to voice their thoughts at a listening tour about Philly’s plan to reduce gun violence by treating it as a public health crisis.

  • People told officials problems start because the building blocks of safe communities are missing — robust libraries and recreation centers, block-level organizing, a sense of neighborliness.

The series will convene four more times over the next month, Jordan Levy reports, along with a separate event designed for young people.

Real-time arrival displays coming to 60 Philly bus shelters

Next time you’re waiting for a bus in Philadelphia, you might have a better idea of how long you’ll have to wait.

  • Real-time arrival info has started to appear on big screens at bus shelters around the city, showing the number of minutes until the next eight vehicles come through.

The displays use SEPTA info, Jordan Levy reports, but they’re not run by the transit agency — they’re a project from the city’s OTIS division.

RECAP: What else happened?

$ = paywalled 

  • Finalists for Philly school superintendent introduced themselves at town halls this week. One candidate touted the similarity between Baltimore/DC and Philadelphia. Another said he was ready to go into “a battle worth fighting.” The third wants to “grow a cadre” of Black and brown educators by paying their college tuition. [Keystone Crossroads]
  • The Black Clergy of Philadelphia is asking Mayor Kenney to appoint a single person in charge of coordinating the city’s gun violence response. [6ABC]
  • Visit a destination in Old City’s Historic District this Saturday, and 100% of your admission fee will go to UNICEF, which is providing aid to Ukrainian child refugees. [WHYY]
  • A new public art initiative called “Heat Response” will support teams of artists working in Philly neighborhoods to draw attention to the effects of climate change. [KYW]
  • West Philly native and “Abbott Elementary” creator Quinta Brunson is featured on the cover of Essence, with a gorgeous photo shoot and story about growing up as the youngest of five kids. [Essence]
  • Philadelphia is fronting several finalists for the 2022 James Beard Awards, including Ellen Yin from Fork for Outstanding Restaurateur and three for Best Chef Mid-Atlantic: Nok Suntaranon (Kalaya), Cristina Martinez (South Philly Barbacoa), and Jesse Ito of Royal Izakaya — where you can get this $1,000 sushi platter. [Eater/Billy Penn/Billy Penn]
  • The Flyers did Claude Giroux proud by winning last night’s tilt, which started with an emotional 1000th game tribute for the legendary captain amid strong rumors of impending trade. [NBC Sports Philly/Broad Street Hockey]

MAYOR WATCH

Mayor Kenney is still out of town, according to his office. He endorsed Senate candidate Conor Lamb back in January, about two months before the Philadelphia Democratic Party did this week.

ON THE CALENDAR

? Billy Penn event: Join us for news and history trivia about the city you love! Our monthly Philly Quizzo night is back at Jose Pistola’s in Center City. Free RSVP, happy hour specials, win a $50 gift card if you get the top score. Don’t miss the bonus music trivia round. (6:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 23)

?️ The Ukrainian League of Philadelphia hosts a silent auction and exhibition of children’s wartime artwork from 2014. All proceeds will be donated to support humanitarian relief. (6 to 10 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, March 19-20)

? Billy Penn partner event: Deputy editor Beatrice Forman helps moderate “Shift the Narrative: A Media Panel on Community-Centered Gun Violence Reporting,” presented by PCGVR, PABJ, Young Chances Foundation, and Philly Truce. (1 to 2 p.m. Friday, April 1)