It's. A. Philly. Thing. (Instagram/@mbaatz9070)

Questions persist about city anti-violence spending

Mayor Kenney and Council President Clarke have touted the city’s record anti-violence spending — about $500 per resident — but there’s little oversight of the funds.

  • A $13.5 million grant for the “Guns Down Gloves Up” boxing program ended up funneling $76k to police staffers, an Inquirer report found. It’s now the target of an Internal Affairs investigation.

The Office of Violence Prevention has been mired in bureaucracy since at least 2018, and last year Philly’s most expansive community grant program struggled to get nonprofits the cash they were awarded.

West Philly residents at a Billy Penn community conversation about anti-violence funding in August 2021 (Danya Henninger/Billy Penn)

The Eagles are headed to Super Bowl LVII

Sunday night was a celebration in Philadelphia after the Eagles rolled over the Niners 31-7 to win the NFC Championship game.

SB57 will be the first ever to feature two Black quarterbacks: Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts.

→ See pics from the party

Green and white pom-poms out. (Nathan Morris for Billy Penn)

RECAP: What else happened?

$ = paywalled

MAYOR WATCH

Nothing on the public calendar today for Mayor Jim F. Kenney. He issued congrats last night after the Eagles beat the 49ers — along with a plea to celebrate safely.

ON THE CALENDAR

📚 The Free Library kicks off Black History Month with a series of events at branches around the city, including a session on how to be an antiracist, a reading group, a themed bingo night and others. (Jan. 31-Feb. 28)

🎨 Four former Philly art students put on a “Language of Color” show at Space 1026 gallery on North Broad, and their First Friday opening reception features refreshments. (6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 3)

🍨 Postpone the February doldrums with Ice Cream for Breakfast Day. Among shops opening early: Jeni’s is hosting a contest to win ice cream for a year; Weckerly’s is offering affogatos and pop-tart ice cream sandwiches; and Franklin Fountain is doing a special waffle sundae. (Saturday, Feb. 4)