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What Philly’s wage tax cut means for workers, and the city

City Council is poised to approve a small decrease in Philly’s wage tax today when it passes the city’s fiscal year 2023 budget.

• The rate cut will not have a meaningful impact on residents’ wallets. It’s touted as a business-boosting measure, intended to help keep companies from moving operations outside Philadelphia.

People making the city’s median income will save about 47 cents a week, Lizzy McLellan Ravitch reports, while the average suburbanite will save 14 cents.

Malcolm Jenkins launches whiskey from Black and brown farms

Malcolm Jenkins is using his star power to address the lack of diversity in the spirits industry through a partnership with Kensington’s New Liberty Distillery.

• Black- and brown-owned farms will supply all of the grain for the forthcoming bourbon from the former Eagles safety, which may be an industry first. Only 8% of the U.S. craft spirits workforce is Black.

It hasn’t been easy finding farmers for supply, but the first batch of whiskey could start production this year, Ian Mikrut reports for Billy Penn.

RECAP: What else happened?

$ = paywalled

• With CDC approval, children as young as 6 months are now eligible for the COVID vaccine. One catch: In Pa., pharmacists are only authorized to vaccinate kids 3 and older — and even that is up for debate — so a doctor’s visit may be needed. [Axios/WHYY]
• Councilmember Bass and Mayor Kenney came to an undisclosed agreement over Rebuild, which funds overhauls of the city’s rec centers and other public spaces. Bass had held up legislation in an attempt to secure $20 million for projects in her Northwest Philly district. [WHYY’s PlanPhilly/WHYY]
• As new Philadelphia School Superintendent Tony Watlington Jr. transitions into leading the district, he’ll need some help. $450k of help, to be exact — the cost of the consulting firm contracted to work on his 5-year strategic plan. [Chalkbeat]
• On the heels of news that the Water Works’ “plexiglass party tent” won’t return next year, Inky architecture critic Inga Saffron argues the concessionaire is generally cutting off access to the historic public space. [Billy Penn/Inquirer$]
• Longtime 76ers co-owner and superfan Michael Rubin is selling his stake in the team because of potential conflicts of interest with Fanatics, his sports apparel empire that’s branching into trading cards and betting. [@michaelrubin/PhillyVoice]
• Eagles QB Jalen Hurts is looking to trademark the phrase “Hurts So Good” for use in a clothing line and merch. Might John Cougar Mellencamp have something to say about that? [NBC10]
• The former Amis Trattoria on 13th Street, once a Vetri restaurant, is now the throwback Paulie Gee’s Soul City Slice Shop, serving NY-style pizza with pool tables and a bar. [Philly Mag$]

MAYOR WATCH

Nothing on the public schedule today for Mayor Kenney, as he likely pays close attention to the City Council session where lawmakers are expected to approve next year’s Philadelphia budget.

ON THE CALENDAR