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On South Street, confusion over what police are supposed to do

Following the June South Street shooting that killed three people and wounded 14, there were calls for police to change their approach.

• But not all stakeholders want the same thing for the commercial corridor surrounded by a residential area, interviews with business owners and residents show — and they’re often in conflict.

In both camps, Billy Penn’s Beatrice Forman and Emily White report, many are unclear about what the PPD actually is supposed to be doing to promote safety.

‘Reforestation Hub’ to turn old city trees into usable lumber

Philly Parks & Rec is partnering with a DC-based startup to mill salvageable wood from felled trees into lumber they can sell to fund tree-planting efforts.

• Currently when trees in Philly parks fall down or need to be removed, they’re sent to a Fairmount Park recycling center to be turned into cheap material like mulch or wood chips.

The new tree-milling pilot program is set to launch in spring 2023, Asha Prihar reports, and will employ youth from a local workforce development program.

RECAP: What else happened?

$ = paywalled

• There’s been a surge of new voter registrations since the Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade. In Pennsylvania, nearly two-thirds are women, and more than half are under 25. [Newsweek/Inquirer$]
• With two criminal trials approaching, lawyers for convicted former labor leader John Dougherty have asked a judge for permission to drop him as a client, likely because of payment issues and disagreement over a plea deal. [BP/Inquirer$]
• The PPA is launching a pilot fleet of bike officers to specifically ticket cars illegally parked in bus or bike lanes. [BCGP]
• “Long Hots with Provolone” beat out over 6,200 other potential potato chip flavors to win Herr’s “Flavored by Philly” competition. [Billy Penn]
• Honeysuckle Projects, a West Philly grocery store and takeout spot uplifting Black food culture, is targeting a late September launch. [Billy Penn/Eater]

Weekly brief on gun violence prevention (with PCGVR)

We publish this report each week in partnership with the Philadelphia Center for Gun Violence Reporting at the Community College of Philadelphia. 

• West Philly’s House of Umoja — a longtime local player in violence prevention — has started a youth peace corps to help young people learn strategies for shifting the culture of gun violence in their peer groups. [BP 2020/WHYY]
• The first-ever Credible Messenger Film Festival kicks off Sunday at the Cope House at Awbury Arboretum in Germantown, and it’s free to attend. [PCGVR]
• Northwest Philly anti-violence groups, who say red tape and poor communication are big impediments to putting ideas into action, met with local lawmakers to address those issues. [WHYY]
• Jamal Johnson, the retired Marine who went on hunger strike asking Mayor Kenney to declare a gun violence emergency (he didn’t), is on an anti-violence walk from Philly to DC. [Billy Penn x 2/6ABC]
• The city announced the second leg of its Roadmap to Safer Communities Community Listening Tour, with in-person and virtual sessions through September. [WHYY]

By the numbers in Philadelphia

• 53: Shooting victims recorded last week so far, vs. 47 the week prior. [City Controller via @PCGVR]
• 1,534: Shooting victims this year, up 1% from last year [PCGVR]
• 352: Year-to-date homicides, 1% ahead of last year’s pace and up 74% vs. five years ago [Philly Police]

MAYOR WATCH: Aug. 24, 2022

Busy first half of the day in public for Mayor Kenney. He starts at the ribbon cutting for One Cathedral Square, the new apartment tower on the Parkway behind the Basilica (10 a.m.). Next is a speech at Citizens Bank Park to kick off this year’s Ring the Bell PHL back-to-school campaign (11 a.m.). Then it’s back to City Hall for a Ukraine flag raising ceremony to commemorate the country’s 31st anniversary of independence (12 p.m.).

ON THE CALENDAR