Internship programs help special needs students find work
The Philadelphia School District has four off-site programs that help students with special needs find employment after graduation.
- For the few dozen students who participate, the internships are extremely successful, with job placement rates of 70% to 100% each year, Elizabeth DeOrnellas reports for Billy Penn.
But the programs aren’t well-publicized, and teachers and admins wish more of the district’s thousands of special needs students were taking advantage.
Old City’s Painted Bride is headed for demolition (again)
A celebrated mosaic in Old City created by artist Isaiah Zagar could be demolished under a new proposal by the building’s owner.
- The Painted Bride Art Center has been the subject of a 6-year battle. The arts group’s decision to sell the property was first blocked in court, then allowed — only to have development plans get blocked again.
It took just 17 people’s votes to bring the compromise project to a halt. Meir Rinde looks at some key numbers behind the protracted preservation saga.
→ Roof decks in the new plan: 2
RECAP: What else happened?
$ = paywalled
- If you’ve applied for a Pa. mail ballot in the past, you may soon receive a ballot request form in the mail. You can fill it out on paper or go online — deadline is May 9. [@PAStateDept/Pa. Gov]
- Pennsylvania counties applied wildly varying rules for mail ballots in the November 2022 election, which disenfranchised some voters, per a new review. [Spotlight PA]
- SEPTA recently said building a Roosevelt Boulevard subway was too expensive, but PennDOT wants the proposed rail line to be included in a coming state study on improvements for the highway that connects Northeast Philly to Center City. The DRVPC will consider the plan at its Thursday meeting. [Inquirer$/BP 2022/YouTube/DRVPC]
- A Philly Starbucks must rehire two baristas it illegally fired, per an NLRB ruling, which said the cafe surveilled, threatened, and otherwise harassed other employees organizing in their workplaces. [Axios/Bloomberg]
- Oh, you wanted another private club in Philadelphia? Restaurateur Teddy Sourias (of Tinsel, Bru, and others) has jumped into the game with 101 Unlockd. Location is ~somewhere~ in Center City, and memberships start at $1,000 per year. [Instagram/NBC10]
Weekly brief on gun violence prevention (with PCGVR)
We publish this report each week in partnership with the Philadelphia Center for Gun Violence Reporting.
- Youth nonprofit YEAH Philly creates space — both physically and mentally — where teens can find joy and healing in the midst of the gun violence epidemic. [WHYY]
- The Philly chapter of March for Our Lives hosted a gun violence “summit” over the weekend, with workshops, panel discussions, and an art display. [CBS3]
- The Trace, a news org entirely dedicated to reporting on gun violence, unveiled a new site focusing on stories from Philly and Chicago. [The Trace]
- Anti-violence activist Pastor Carl Day hosts PPD Commissioner Danielle Outlaw for a conversation on reimagining public safety TODAY at noon on IG Live. [@PastorCarlDay]
- How a 29-year PPD veteran pulled on personal experiences of loss and frustration to connect with residents and create a community policing program that works. [WHYY]
- Here’s a summary of public safety plans put forth by five mayoral candidates. Our forum next week will aim to differentiate among them. [Capital-Star/Facebook]
By the numbers in Philadelphia
- 36: Shooting victims recorded last week, vs. 33 the week prior. [City Controller via @PCGVR]
- 213: Shooting victims this year so far, down 33% vs. this time last year. [PCGVR]
- 62: Year-to-date homicides, down 14% vs. last year’s pace; up 55% vs. five years ago [Philly Police]
MAYOR WATCH
Happy birthday, Reading Terminal Market! Mayor Kenney helps celebrate 130 years at the historic but thriving Center City shopping locus.
ON THE CALENDAR
🍺 Billy Penn Quizzo: Our monthly trivia night is back! We’re at Attic Brewing in Germantown this month, with three rounds of questions, happy hour specials, and great prizes for the winners. Free RSVP here. (6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 28)
🎤 Mayoral forum: Billy Penn, WHYY, and CeaseFirePA host the “100th Mayor: Restoring Safety Forum.” The in-person audience is limited, but you can watch the livestream via Facebook. (7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, March 1)
🏊🏽 Get wet to help Philadelphia public pools open: The Philly Phreeze polar plunge happens at Kelly Pool in Fishtown, with all proceeds supporting lifeguard recruitment. (12 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25)
Catch up on the previous week
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