Temple grad students ratify new contract to end 6-week strike
After a six-week strike that attracted the support of political and labor leaders on a national scale, Temple graduate students are going back to work.
- Union members overwhelmingly ratified the latest proposal from the administration. The university had already backtracked and restored the health care it attempted to withhold during the work stoppage.
In effect immediately, per TUGSA, the new contract offers better pay, benefits, and improved grievance procedures, Ben Seal reports for Billy Penn.→ What the union won
Secret Philly: The 18th century mayor who ran away from the job
Mayoral elections in 18th century Philadelphia weren’t decided by popular vote, but by members of City Council, who usually selected one of their own.
- The first time Anthony Morris was tapped, in 1738, he dutifully served the year term. A brewer whose operation was considered one of Philly’s first businesses, he apparently didn’t love the leadership side gig.
Council didn’t get the hint. When Morris was again selected to be mayor a decade later, Sam Searles reports, he fled the city.
RECAP: What else happened?
$ = paywalled
- Republican Brian O’Neill — the longest serving City Council member in modern history — has a union-backed Democratic challenger this year. Does Gary Masino stand a chance? [Billy Penn]
- A man driving a van down North Broad this morning turned abruptly and slammed into the doors of the Philly PD headquarters, and was promptly taken into custody. The new HQ, which recently opened after a $250 million renovation (and a $50 million debacle in West Philly), does not have protective bollards out front…yet. [@RossDiMattei/6ABC/BP x 3]
- ADA-compliant boarding areas and new signage are coming in SEPTA’s renovations to the Wissahickon Transportation Center. [NBC10]
- Did you watch or attend our 100th Mayor: Restoring Safety Forum? Please fill out this short survey to let us know what you thought. [BP/Google Forms]
- Vinyl albums outsold CDs last year for the first time since 1987. Philly stores have been contributing to that boom, thanks in large part to gen Z. [NPR/BP 2022]
- Fans of humor and wit mixed with football rejoice: Jason Kelce — the Mummers-outfit-wearing, Christmas-carol-crooning, beer-chugging-with-the-Phanatic, “Sexy Batman” center — is putting off retirement and returning to the Eagles for another year. [BP x 3/@NBCSPhilly/@jasonkelce]
MAYOR WATCH
Mayor Kenney welcomes students to City Hall for the annual PAL Day coordinated by the Police Athletic League, where highschoolers spend a day shadowing city employees (10 a.m.).
ON THE CALENDAR
🌮 BP Quizzo: Join Billy Penn for a night of local trivia with Taco Tuesday deals! We’ll be at Pistolas Del Sur on East Passyunk, handing out prizes for high scores and best team name. Free with RSVP. (6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 21)
🤹🏾 Parents of acrobatic West Philly kids: Cobbs Creek Library hosts the Philadelphia School of Circus Arts for a free afternoon of juggling, lasso-spinning, and feather-balancing. (4:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 15)
🍹 A forthcoming East Kensington cocktail bar called Post Haste hosts a preview pop-up at Philadelphia Distilling, with a DJ and pay-as-you-go drinks and snacks. (5 to 10 p.m. Thursday, March 16)
Catch up on the previous week
Receive Billy Penn’s free daily roundup in your inbox every morning