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Art Museum attempts to stay open despite big worker strike
About 180 employees of the Philadelphia Museum of Art are now on strike, making it the largest walkout the institution has ever seen, per The Inquirer.
- The union says workers are paid 20% less than comparable positions at other museums. Management says it offered wage increases totaling 11% by July 2024. Health benefits are another big sticking point.
Negotiations lasted hours last week, but failed to make progress. The museum is open during the strike, though some visitors are refusing to cross picket lines.
Puerto Rican Day Parade brings color to the Parkway
Philly’s Puerto Rican Day Parade returned this weekend after two years canceled due to the pandemic.
- The parade came days after Hurricane Fiona, which devastated the island. The storm was top of mind for many of the hundreds who lined the Ben Franklin Parkway for the event.
“It’s so important with all that’s going on in Puerto Rico right now, for us to come together,” one person told BP contributor Daisie Cardona, who took colorful pics of the show of Boricua pride.
RECAP: What else happened?
$ = paywalled
- The FOP Philly police union endorsed Republican Mehmet Oz for Senate, but sided with Democrats for governor, backing longtime ally Josh Shapiro and saying Doug Mastriano did not meet the group’s standards for “do as I say, not as I do.” [NBC10/Inquirer$/@wrmcduff]
- The Free Library revamped its “library assistant” position to address a major staffing shortage. If you have a high school diploma or equivalent, and you can apply to 100+ openings for the job, deadline Sept. 30. [Tribune$/Billy Penn/Free Library/OHS]
- The Die Dumping, Die! initiative in Fairhill is calling for change to Philly’s trash problems through “creative disruptions.” The group is hosting monthly cleanups that double as community celebrations; the next is scheduled for Oct. 22. [Billy Penn/Kensington Voice/@hace_livability]
- PSA: The lane on some Center City streets that says “BUS ONLY” is…for buses only. The city is cracking down on offenders, and blocking it with your car could cost you $101. [NBC10/Inquirer$]
- Thousands of people came out for the first Philadelphia Polo Classic over the weekend. It raised money for Work to Ride, the innovative horse-riding program for city kids. [Fox 29]
- Starting Saturday, La Colombe shops will offer pumpkin spice lattes on tap for the first time, and it’s made with oat milk. ‘Tis the season — you can find PSLs all over the city right now. [PhillyVoice/Billy Penn]
MAYOR WATCH: Sep. 27, 2022
Mayor Kenney today signs an executive order banning firearms at city recreation facilities, including rec center buildings, athletic courts, fields, playgrounds, and pools. Up to now, if you had a permit, guns were not explicitly banned there. There have been 18 incidents of gun violence at parks and rec facilities this year alone, per Kenney’s office. The 10 a.m. briefing is being livestreamed on Facebook.
ON THE CALENDAR
?️ TONIGHT: BP Quizzo at The Sidecar Bar & Grille! Join us at the Grad Hospital tavern for our monthly pub trivia about all things local, with happy hour specials and prizes. Free with RSVP. (6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 27)
? South Street hosts a huge block party this weekend, complete with Oktoberfest at Brauhaus Schmitz and anniversary festivities at Philly AIDS Thift. (11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1)
? Tinned fish is one of the hottest ingredients these days — really! — and a dinner at Sunflower Philly lets you find out why. $125 tickets include all you can eat and drink. (6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1)
