Youth voter turnout in Philly is on the rise, but still relatively low
Over the past couple of years, Philadelphia has seen an increase in young voter engagement. Between the 2021 general election and the 2023 primary, the number of registered voters between the ages of 18 and 24 grew 9%.
Still, only about 12% of those voters cast a ballot this past May — less than half the overall turnout rate of 27%. BP intern Rachel Williams spoke with fellow college students trying to flip that stat. Continue reading…
With an immersive show, EgoPo takes on African colonization
When EgoPo Classic Theater stages “Les Blancs” in Old City this week, the experience will be unique. Viewers of the play about African colonization and independence — by “Raisin in the Sun” playwright Lorraine Hansberry — will also be served African-inspired food and drink to make it an immersive experience. Live African drumming and period string music will add to the atmosphere.
Once the play begins, the action occurs around the audience, Jane M. Von Bergen reports, and it could get pretty tense. Continue reading…
RECAP: What else happened?
$ = paywalled
• In a rare joint interview, Philly’s mayoral candidates shared widely differing views on two big issues. On stop and frisk, Democratic nominee Cherelle Parker is in favor, Republican David Oh is against. On the Sixers arena, Parker is open to it, while Oh is far from convinced. [Inquirer$]
• A reported crowd of thousands marched Saturday in Center City in support of Palestinians calling for a ceasefire. On Sunday, at the long-planned Jewish Priorities Conference at the Weitzman Museum, a survivor of the Hamas attack on an Israel music festival told her story. [@phillypalestinecoalition/WHYY]
• Here’s an updated step-by-step guide to making sure your mail ballot is completed properly ahead of the Nov. 7 election. [Billy Penn]
• The Philadelphia Orchestra avoided a strike by agreeing to a new contract for musicians with a 15.8% starting salary increase over three years. [AP]
• One local ball club already made it to the World Series this year: the Philly Tasty Cakes, who battled up from 37th seed to take second place in the gay softball championships. [Billy Penn]
• The kelly green-clad Eagles took down the Dolphins (not the Cowboys, of course) in a 31-17 win that made use of the “brotherly shove.” Jalen Hurts wore a leg brace for the second half, but seemed OK. In the stands? Nick Castellanos and his son Liam, which resulted in a crowd rendition of “Dancing on My Own.” [Billy Penn x 2/ESPN/Billy Penn/@ViolationsGreg]
MAYOR WATCH
It’s not often Mayor Kenney shows up at the launch of a small business, but today he joins local firms ChatterBlast Media and Big Picture Alliance for the opening of GroundFloor Studios, a multipurpose creative space near 13th and Walnut (10:40 a.m.).
ON THE CALENDAR
🕮 The Historical Society of Pennsylvania turns 200 years old next year and it’s celebrating early by releasing a book of archives at a free launch party with contributors speaking on the work. (6:30 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 24)
🧹 The annual Witches of East Passyunk Bar Crawl features witch and wizard-themed food and drink specials along the avenue. Your $6.66 registration comes with a keepsake map and entry in a treasure hunt. (5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 25.)
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