First woman Pa. House speaker; Center City apartment boom; Is Group Violence Intervention working? | Morning roundup

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McClinton becomes Pa.’s first woman House speaker

 Rep. Joanna McClinton of Southwest Philly yesterday became the first woman House speaker in Pa. history.

• McClinton is the second Black person to ever serve in the position. Her ascension had been expected in November, but was delayed when Rep. Rozzi was installed as part of an intermediary bipartisan compromise.

The former public defender and criminal justice champion is the first rep from Philadelphia to hold the seat in over a decade, Asha Prihar reports.

→ 5 things to know about McClinton

RECAP: What else happened?

$ = paywalled

• Pennsylvania’s new high school graduation requirements, which have worried some Philly students and teachers, may be having an overall positive effect. [Al Día/Chalkbeat]
   
• About 75% of all new housing built in Philly last year was in greater Center City, per a new CCD report, with the grand majority being apartments. The report suggests the next mayor could increase affordable housing by encouraging public-private partnerships. [WHYY’s PlanPhilly/Center City District]
   
• The I-95 cap park reconnecting Center City to the Delaware waterfront is finally kicking off, after literally decades in planning. PennDOT in 2021 explained this timeline, with a potential target completion date of 2026. [Patch/PennDOT/WHYY/BP 2022]
   
• So far this winter, Philly has apparently gotten less snow than Rialto and Fontana, two towns in the Southern California foothills. [Insider$]
   
• Brewerytown Food Hall opens tomorrow in the expansive space launched in 2017 as the Flying Fish Crafthouse. This iteration is run by Glu Hospitality, and offers everything from pizza to burgers to fried chicken. [Philly/Voice/BP 2017]

How Get Fresh Philly distributed 3,500 produce boxes 

Note: This is a paid post and does not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of Billy Penn at WHYY

Entering its third year, the Freedom Greens + Gardens program has distributed more than 3,500 produce boxes to families throughout Philadelphia.

• The grassroots program is part of Get Fresh Philly, helping further the nonprofit’s mission to make opportunities to eat healthy more abundant, accessible, and affordable in communities of color.

Founder Jiana Murdic credits much of the success to the Well City Challenge, an innovation incubator from the Economy League. Have a great idea for a healthy Philly? Applications are now open.

→ Apply before Friday, March 3, to win up to $50k 

Weekly brief on gun violence prevention (with PCGVR)

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

• Philadelphia’s Group Violence Intervention strategy is working, per a new UPenn report. Gun violence among the 0.5% of residents most at risk dropped by 38% after one visit by program staff, and 50% after two visits. Sample size was small, but leaders are now expanding the program. [Phila Gov/Crime Justice Lab/WHYY/Axios]
   
• Meet the moderators: A trauma surgeon, community leader, and gun violence prevention reporter will ask Philly mayoral candidates questions at tonight’s forum on public safety. It starts at 7 p.m.; find the livestream link here. [Billy Penn/Facebook]
   
• “We have to stop trying the same things that don’t work.” As part of PCGVR’s Credible Messenger Reporting Project, a survivor who grew up in North Philly surrounded by gun violence suggests five ways to change the culture. [PCGVR/Citizen]
   
• Community members in Strawberry Mansion offered support and solutions following last week’s shooting that wounded seven people. It was the city’s worst single incident since nine were shot at a bar in Kensington last November. [WHYY/Gun Violence Archive]
   
• Philly state Rep. Chris Rabb introduced legislation to better regulate firearm thefts. It would establish random inspections of dealers and codify requirements to report stolen guns. [Pa. Gov]

By the numbers in Philadelphia

• 30: Shooting victims recorded last week, vs. 36 the week prior. [City Controller via @PCGVR]
• 264: Shooting victims this year so far, down 24% vs. this time last year. [PCGVR]
• 69: Year-to-date homicides, down 18% vs. last year’s pace; up 50% vs. five years ago [Philly Police]

MAYOR WATCH: Mar. 1, 2023

Nothing public today for Mayor Kenney, as he prepares for tomorrow’s presentation to City Council of the final city budget of his two terms in office.

ON THE CALENDAR

🎤 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)

🎨 Portraits of iconic women in the arts by Philadelphia painter Nataliya Yermolenko are featured in this month’s Maker Series at the Hyatt Centric Center City. Meet the artist at an opening reception with free snacks. (6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, March 2)

📐 Printmaking is alive and vibrant in a digital age. That’s the theme behind the inaugural printPHILLY, a free all-day fair hosted at UArts with over 50 artists, print shops, and nonprofits showcasing work. (10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, March 4)