Morning roundup
Close Kensington community fridge?; Meet Philly’s new ‘night mayor’; Paying more property tax | Morning roundup
Ya Fav Trashman’s kids’ book is ready to go ๐

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With $100k loan, Kensington food co-op debates how to survive
On the verge of closing, the Kensington Community Food Co-op just got a $100k bridge loan,ย and effectively traded its parking lot for a liquor license.
- Members are divided as the supermarketย struggles to rebound, with someย advocating for shutting down the free community fridge because of the atmosphere it attracts.
Said one member: “I don’t think we’re a charity.”ย Beatrice Forman andย Lizzy McLellan Ravitch report on the brewing clashย betweenย the market’s mission and practices.
Philly just hired a night mayor. Consider him the czar of partying.
Philly’s new night time economy director has a mandate to increase support for businesses that operate after dark and services for people who work late.
- Often called a “night mayor” in other cities, the position went to Raheem Manning,ย a 33-year-old entrepreneur who built a successful event planning biz and has been to 200 cities around the globe.
Any good night mayorย should knowย whereย to party, soย Lizzy McLellan Ravitchย quizzed Manning on his fave spots for getting down and turning up.
RECAP: What else happened?
$ = paywalled
- Jewish leaders from around Pa.ย came togetherย toย denounce Doug Mastriano’s linksย toย the founder of social media siteย Gab, who has called forย fostering a “Christian nationalist” societyย with no acceptance ofย anyone who isn’t Christian. [6ABC/NBC News]
- The family of James Lambert Jr., the senior citizen beaten to death in June, say they’veย been harassed by neighborhood kids. Lawyers for the defendants say their clients have nothing to do with the incidents. [Inquirer$]
- Even with efforts to ease the burden of assessments,ย ~130k owners are still set to pay more in property taxesย than last year. Officials say the goalย was to prevent dire outcomes for the most vulnerable homeowners. [WHYY’s PlanPhilly]
- A Philly organization thatย provides Chinese immigrant familiesย with the tools to heal got new funding from the Scattergood Foundation to expand its mission. [Billy Penn]
- Ya Fav Trashman says hisย children’s book about sanitation workersย and the power of clean streetsย is finally finished, andย $5 of every book sale is donated to Philly public schools. [BP 2021/@YaFavTrashman]
- Philadelphia magazine is back with itsย annual “Best of Philly” listย highlightingย notable people, places, and things around the region.ย [Philly Mag$]
MAYOR WATCH
Mayor Kenney has no public appearances scheduled for today.
ON THE CALENDAR
๐ Sip & Stitch lands atย the Bourse for aย beginner’s embroidery workshop. Tickets are $50 — hoop, needle, and spiked milkshake included. (1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, July 31) ๐ฎ South Philly Barbacoa is turning 10, and they’re celebrating withย a big ‘olย block partyย complete with an art exhibit, DJ sets, andย free food. (3 to 8 p.m. Sunday, July 31)
๐ฟ East Kensington’s Forin Cafe hosts aย y2k-themed partyย — think local designers selling turn-of-the-millenniumย themed wares, lots of early 2000 club hits, and fun cocktails. (4 to 7 p.m. Sunday, July 31).