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Crowded mayor’s race: Jeff Brown and Allan Domb go official
Democratic candidates No. 4 and 5 officially join Philly’s mayoral race this week. Allan Domb made his announcement Tuesday, and today it’s Jeff Brown.
- A fourth generation grocer, of ShopRite and FroGro fame, Brown uses his dozen stores as incubators for entrepreneurs of color and to employ formerly incarcerated people.
And he hates the soda tax, Beatrice Forman reports. “I’m not shy about the fact that I think we need a different mayor,” Brown said back in 2019.
Burger Brawl turns into Burger Crawl: What’s Philly best?
After being postponed 2x because of the World Series, the 10th annual Burger Brawl is now a monthlong crawl.
- 50 restaurants around the city will feature special patties throughout January. Ticketholders will vote, and the top 10 will face off at Xfinity Live. Proceeds from the event go to schools and rec centers.
To prep for the fest, we asked participating chefs, “What would make a distinctly Philly burger?” Here’s what we found.
RECAP: What else happened?
$ = paywalled
- Texas Gov. Abbott confirmed he sent a bus of asylum-seekers to Philly, expected to arrive Wednesday morning at 30th Street Station. [Billy Penn]
- The Pa. House Judiciary Committee approved legislation impeaching Philly DA Krasner. A floor vote is expected today, but it’s unlikely the Pa. Senate will be able to convene for a trial until next session. [Billy Penn]
- In a deal with the FOP police union, Philadelphia will now be able to replace some sworn police officers with civilians, including mail carriers, graphic designers and crimes scene unit investigators. [Inquirer$]
- The former North Star Bar in Fairmount is being turned into an indoor-outdoor dog bar where customers can let furry friends roam free while they sip on cocktails. [Philly Grub]
- Apparently Cincinnati also makes something just like Philly fave scrapple, but theirs is called “goetta” and uses oats instead of cornmeal. [BP 2020/Daily Meal]
The story you didn’t read
? Highlighting good BP articles few people clicked on ?
- A new study at Temple University will try to reduce the unusually high mortality rate for Black women during and after pregnancy. In Philly last decade, they made up 43% of births, but 73% of related deaths.
Weekly brief on gun violence prevention (with PCGVR)
We publish this report each week in partnership with the Philadelphia Center for Gun Violence Reporting.
- Philly police curbed their use of controversial “stop and frisk,” but some city leaders are calling for its return. A new podcast from WHYY and Temple’s Logan Center dives into the conversation. [BP 2017/NPR]
- One of Philadelphia’s key anti-violence programs needs improvements, per a city-commissioned review, which revealed that CCIP staff, while committed to their work, are not fully trained. [Inquirer$/WHYY]
- As research reveals widespread and lasting negative effects of mass shootings — Philly experiences the equivalent at least once every 3 months — the American Medical Association is forming a firearm violence prevention task force. [Pew/BP 2019/AMA]
- Violent crime at Philly gas stations has risen since 2020, and some people who’ve suffered injuries or lost a loved one are filing negligence lawsuits. [Trace]
- As the cast of hopeful replacements grows, Mayor Jim Kenney penned an 800-word op-ed about addressing gun violence being the top priority as his term ends. “And,” he wrote, “I am energized to lead the fight.” [Inquirer$]
By the numbers in Philadelphia
- 45: Shooting victims recorded last week so far, vs. 54 the week prior. [City Controller via @PCGVR]
- 2,097: Shooting victims this year, 2% ahead of last year’s pace. [PCGVR]
- 459: Year-to-date homicides, 5% down from last year’s pace; up 63% vs. five years ago [Philly Police]
MAYOR WATCH
In 2018, the city partnered with the Philadelphia Youth Sports Collaborative on a task force to examine how to encourage and leverage sports-based youth development, and Mayor Kenney joins PYSC and Parks & Rec Commissioner Ott Lovell at the Pyramid Club to review progress (6 p.m.).
ON THE CALENDAR
? Manayunk kicks off the holiday season with a tree lighting at Canal View Park, featuring pre-show giveaways and a photo booth. (5:30 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 17)
? Philly brass band Snacktime headlines South Street’s famed Theater of Living Arts for the first time, joined by two opening acts. Tickets start at $25. (8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 18)
