Can Republicans maintain a foothold in Philly?

Four years after Republicans gave up one of the 10 at-large City Council seats a progressive challenger, they’re fighting not to lose another.

Working Families Party candidate Nicholas O’Rourke is back in the race. When he ran in 2019, the pastor and activist garnered more votes than all GOP candidates except incumbents.

This time, Republican Councilmember Oh is expected to resign for mayor, Meir Rinde reports, while WFP Councilmember Brooks is running again.

→ Who’s in the GOP primary?

Working Families Party City Council at-large candidate Nicholas O’Rourke campaigning in 2019 Credit: Kimberly Paynter / WHYY

What else do the Sixers owners own? Yeah, a lot

As 76ers managing partners Josh Harris and David Blitzer work to build a Center City arena, they’re also looking to expand their sports holdings

Harris is reportedly a top candidate to buy the Washington Commanders. Amazon mogul Jeff Bezos has also been floated as a buyer, but an NFL franchise has been high on Harris’ wish list for a while.

The collection owned by Harris-Blitzer already includes pro teams in hockey, basketball, and both U.S. and U.K. soccer, Mike Greger reports.

→ 6 current holdings, 3 attempts

Philadelphia 76ers owners Joshua Harris and David Blitzer, 2nd and 4th from left, with team leadership after their purchase of the franchise in October 2011,

RECAP: What else happened?

$ = paywalled

Pa. received $350 million in federal funding last year to help homeowners recovering from the pandemic, but as of December, 6,000+ applicants were still in a holding pattern. [Spotlight PA]
The most common complaint to Philly 311 last year: abandoned vehicles. The service center logged 13.5k requests about it, 13% of all calls. Illegal dumping was second, with 28k calls. [Axios/BP 2022]
Organizers launched a “Kids’ Campaign” outside City Hall last week, calling for mayoral candidates to present plans for how they’ll make Philly safer for young people. [Al Día]
More than three years after they were announced, countdown clocks are coming to SEPTA platforms. March is the target for launch along the MFL, followed by the BSL, then trolleys and the Norristown High Speed Line. [WHYY’s PlanPhilly/KYW]
Northern Liberties installed solar-powered street lights along two blocks, and if the pilot goes well, they could expand to more. [Green Philly]
East Passyunk is getting a new BYOB: Joncarl Lachman (formerly of Noord and The Dutch) is opening Dankbaar, promising “romantic candlelit dining” and launch in time for Valentine’s Day. [@nethernoord/Dankbaar]

MAYOR WATCH

Nothing on Mayor Kenney’s public schedule today. Yesterday he ordered the city’s flags flown at half-staff in memory of Jerry Blavat.

ON THE CALENDAR

🍛 Last minute cooking class alert: The Free Library Culinary Literacy Center still has $15 tix available for a manga-inspired evening of instruction in Japanese curry. (6 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 24)

💵 Philly’s Office of Economic Opportunity has a new monthly seminar series on “Creating a Pathway to Generational Wealth.” This edition focuses on the psychology of owning a business. (1 to 3 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 25)

🕯️ For International Holocaust Remembrance Day, Jewish orgs in Philly host an online discussion of the life of Martin Niemöller, the man behind the famed “Then they came for me” quote. (6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 26)

🖼️ You’ve heard of paint ‘n sip? How about paint ‘n puff? Hookahs are the offering at these drop-in beginner art classes at the Explicit Event Hall in Southwest Philly. $30 to paint, $10 to lounge, with mimosas included. (8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 28)