Keep up with the mayor’s race using our candidate tracker

As BP readers know, the race to succeed term-limited Jim Kenney and become Philly’s 100th mayor is crowded.

We’ll be covering the race consistently throughout, but we pulled together all the info about declared candidates — currently 10 are vying for the Democratic nomination — into a single post we’ll keep updated.

From experience to affiliations and endorsements to vibe, our reporters put together a cheat sheet for the upcoming mayoral race.

→ Track the candidates

Philadelphia City Hall (Mark Henninger / Imagic Digital)

Leaders, residents protest DeSantis honor at the Union League

Last night, after a postponement over internal controversy, the Union League of Philadelphia bestowed one of its highest honors on Florida Gov. DeSantis.

The event was met with a major protest, with local elected officials and leaders calling DeSantis antithetical to the institution’s roots — it was founded to support President Lincoln’s pro-Union policies in the Civil War.

City Council plans to introduce a resolution denouncing the league, Meir Rinde reports, and another coalition is calling for mayoral and Council candidates to boycott the club, which is a popular spot for campaign fundraisers and events.

→ See pics from the protest

Pamela McDonald, a Center City resident, denounced Ron DeSantis receiving the Abraham Lincoln award from the Philadelphia Union League (Kimberly Paynter / WHYY) Credit: Kimberly Paynter / WHYY

RECAP: What else happened?

$ = paywalled

Turns out the Pa. Attorney General has been investigating ABC Capital for a year. An Inky investigation last month detailed how the company ran a real estate Ponzi scheme that left people living in falling-apart houses. [Baltimore Banner/Inquirer$]
Instead of this fall, SEPTA will push off changes in bus routes till next year. The agency started gathering community feedback on the “Bus Revolution” back in 2021, but a City Council hearing this week surfaced persistent rider worries. [WHYY/BP 2022/Metro]
PhilTel, the nonprofit building a free network of actual physical pay phones around Philadelphia, is looking for volunteers to help with tech or outreach. [PhilTel]
What’s leading to the stranded whales washing up at the Jersey Shore — at least nine in the last year? It’s not offshore wind activities, experts say. [Patch/Inquirer$]
“Abbott Elementary” star and Emmy winner Sheryl Lee Ralph will perform at the Super Bowl pregame show, opening for Rihanna with “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” She tweeted the news, saying, “Someone wake me from this dream!” [Billy Penn/Wrap/@thesherylralph]

Weekly brief on gun violence prevention (with PCGVR)

We publish this report each week in partnership with the Philadelphia Center for Gun Violence Reporting.

Billy Penn and WHYY are partnering with CeaseFirePA to host the “100th Mayor: Restoring Safety Forum” in early March. Stay tuned for livestream info. [Billy Penn]
A Kensington man was arrested and charged with running a DIY gun-production facility in his home. He had prior convictions, but no background check is needed to buy parts to make ghost guns. Their use has skyrocketed: four years ago Philly police recovered 12 privately-made firearms, vs. 575 last year. [DAO/WHYY/Inquirer$]
City departments are upping safety plans and coordination with PPD after a 6-month period that saw a trio of local gov workers — from Parks & Rec, Streets, and the PPA — shot on the job. [The Trace]
Students at Swarthmore can take a Gun Violence Prevention course this semester, as part of the Peace and Conflict Studies program. [Swarthmore]
Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church in Mt. Airy and Germantown is inviting mayoral candidates to Saturday virtual prayer sessions to discuss gun violence and other issues. [WHYY]

By the numbers in Philadelphia

37: Shooting victims recorded last week, vs. 29 the week prior. [City Controller via @PCGVR]
108: Shooting victims this year so far, down 33% vs. this time last year. [PCGVR]
25: Year-to-date homicides, down 32% vs. last year’s pace and but up 78% vs. five years ago [Philly Police]

MAYOR WATCH

Nothing on the calendar today for the public to know about, Mayor Kenney’s office says.

Relevant to this year’s election: When Kenney won the 2015 primary, it was with just 13% of all registered voters. Nutter won in 2007 with just 11%. The takeaway, per Committee of Seventy: make a plan to vote — and take your friends and fam with you.

ON THE CALENDAR

🕯️ 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)

🪩 For a night of dancing with no ringing ears, hit up Philly’s Silent Headphone Party at a former Kensington warehouse, with three DJ-curated channels to choose. Tix start at $15. (10 p.m. to 3 a.m. Friday, Jan. 27)