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Councilmember Oh planning to resign to run for Philly mayor
Philadelphia Councilmember David Oh is preparing to resign his at-large seat and launch a long-expected run for mayor.
- Early February is the target for declaring his candidacy, Oh told Billy Penn. He would be the first Republican to enter the race, and the 11th declared mayoral candidate overall.
In a heavily Democratic city, does Oh have a chance? What’s his legislative record? Meir Rinde runs down what you need to know.
Good Karma closes Wash West cafe after $17k goes missing
Readers reached out to tell Billy Penn Good Karma Cafe’s original location was closed indefinitely, per signs on the door citing “embezzlement.”
- In an email sent to employees, the company president alleged $17,000 was missing from the Washington Square West coffee shop, and said an “internal investigation” was underway.
Police don’t have a record of the theft being reported, Erin Blewett writes — and staff members are confused.
RECAP: What else happened?
$ = paywalled
- Gov.-elect Shapiro is tapping lots of Philly-area leaders to fill his cabinet. So far there’s Al Schmidt for State, former deputy mayor Rich Negrin for Environment, Montco commish Val Arkoosh for DHS, and Lower Merion’s Khalid Mumin for Education. [Billy Penn/Al Dia/Capital-Star/NBC10]
- What won’t be distracting Harrisburg this winter? DA Krasner’s impeachment trial. The Pa. Senate voted yesterday to postpone it indefinitely. [BP/City & State]
- Activists are holding weekly rallies to call for the resignation of Judge Genece Brinkley. Famous for her harsh sentences, including Meek Mill’s, she was recently stripped of criminal cases and transferred to civil court. [@kurtcooks/EveryAction/BP 2019/Complex]
- A few months after the city formally apologized for its role in the unethical Holmesburg Prison experiments by Penn dermatologist Albert Kligman, the College of Physicians has issued its own apology. [BP 2022/WHYY]
- Get your Pep Bowl visits in now. The nonprofit that runs the inexpensive below-ground lanes is selling the building, and it’s unclear what might happen to the popular bowling alley. [Pep/Inquirer$]
- Latest rumor about what’s replacing the Barnes & Noble, which is moving to Chestnut Street and vacating three floors across from Rittenhouse Square: a new Stephen Starr restaurant. [PhillyVoice/Philly Chit Chat]
MAYOR WATCH
Nothing on Mayor Kenney’s public schedule today. In the report outlining priorities for his last year in office, he highlighted “enhancing public safety, increasing the quality of life, and building thriving neighborhoods across the city,” per WHYY.
ON THE CALENDAR
?️ Red Rum Theater, Philly’s first dedicated murder mystery venue, opens next week in the Curtis Center with a Golden Girls-themed show. Tickets start at $35. (8 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 17)
? The Citizen is hosting public “job interviews” with each mayoral candidate, and the next free Fitler Club event features Derek Green in the hot seat. (6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 17)
