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Why are so many mayoral candidates using orange?
Orange is relatively unusual for political campaigns, but nearly a third of the candidates for Philly mayor have embraced the bold hue.
- Cherelle Parker, Allan Domb, and Jeff Brown all feature it prominently in their logos. Parker’s campaign says it’s always been her color. Domb’s says he’s used it before. Brown’s campaign ignored our questions.
There’s a potential reason they all could have cited, Asha Prihar reports, related to one of the city’s biggest crises: orange is the color for gun safety.
Scent-based art exhibit thrills visually impaired visitors
There’s been a lot of chatter about the latest exhibit at the Institute of Contemporary Art — but a recent set of visitors brought a new perspective.
- A group of visually impaired Philadelphians took a tour of the show by Scandinavian artist Sissel Tolaas, which features pieces that are based around scent and is open through Dec. 30.
The visit will inform future accessibility trainings, Lisa Bryant reports, but it was also “liberating,” one attendee said. “It felt like it leveled the playing field.”
RECAP: What else happened?
$ = paywalled
- After purposeful redistricting, the incoming Pa. House class is the most racially diverse ever. Latinos are still underrepresented, however — 2% of seats, 8% of the population. [AP]
- Groups of people seeking asylum keep arriving from Texas. Since Gov. Abbott added Philly to his uncoordinated efforts in mid-November, the city has welcomed over a dozen buses carrying more than 400 travelers. [Billy Penn/Phila Gov]
- Four former employees of IBEW Local 98 have now pleaded guilty to stealing from the union’s benefit plan. Former labor leader John Dougherty, who said he was having trouble paying his lawyers, stands trial on related charges next month. [WHYY/City & State/Inquirer$]
- After Black trans activist Mar’Quis Jackson was found dead in Nicetown, police are investigating it as a homicide. Philadelphia has had better-than-usual success in bringing perpetrators of anti-trans violence to justice. [Them/6ABC/BP 2020]
- Trolls came after a guy who proposed to a Sixers dancer mid-game last week, calling him too much of a dork, but he clapped back with good humor. [TMZ/@chris_girard13]
- Two Robbers, a local hard seltzer brand that hit the market in 2019, opened a tasting room in Fishtown serving smash burgers and stracciatella tacos. [BP 2019/Breweries in PA]
The story you didn’t read
⭐ Highlighting good BP articles you might’ve missed ⭐
- McPherson Square Winterfest brought a welcome holiday glow to Kensington. As kids reveled in gifts and fun, community members pressed their Council rep to get work started on much-needed building repairs.
MAYOR WATCH
Though there’s nothing on his public schedule today, Mayor Kenney appears to have made it past last week’s routine medical procedure without incident. He made a recorded appearance on the city’s Kwanzaa kickoff celebration, a virtual gathering and the lighting of Boathouse Row.
ON THE CALENDAR
? To celebrate Kwanzaa, Lucien Blackwell Library hosts a “Taste of Africa” pop-up with free food and reflections on the meaning of Ujima — collective work and responsibility. (2 to 3 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 28)
?? Franky Bradley’s dance floor features a burlesque show billed as “A Celebration of Nerds.” Tickets are $15. (8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 28)
