Philly Dems expel member for Working Families endorsement
Philadelphia’s Democratic party has started expelling committeepeople who endorse Working Families Party candidates, fulfilling a threat first made by party chair Bob Brady four years ago, Meir Rinde reports.
Kate Rivera, who was booted from East Kensington’s 31st ward, was one of 100 other Democrats to sign an open letter endorsing at-large WFP candidates in the November election. Continue reading…
FDR Park’s Verna Playground opens with mega swing set
A little over a year after a groundbreaking ceremony, Anna C. Verna Playground is now welcoming all comers at FDR Park. Named for Philly’s first and only woman City Council president, the playground is part of the $250 million overhaul of the green space at the tip of South Philadelphia.
Its most impressive feature is the “mega” swing set that circles the playground, but there’s also two giant tree houses, slides, and more. Continue reading…
RECAP: What else happened?
$ = paywalled
• Philadelphia has launched a new program to try to reduce drug overdose deaths, with workers going door-to-door handing out free Narcan, fentanyl test strips, and info pamphlets. A record 1,413 people died in Philly last year after overdosing. [WHYY]
• The Holmesburg Civic Association declined to support a zoning variance for a faith-based “pregnancy center,” calling the organization “anti-choice.” [Northeast Times]
• Philly was awarded a $1 million grant from Bloomberg Philanthropies to create a public art installation in Germantown. Led by past poet laureates Trapeta Mayson and Yolanda Wisher, it’ll address gun violence and include workshops and a weekly phone line. [Creative PHL]
• A Philadelphia mom and her two daughters are writing books about bullying, trying to encourage solutions by humanizing the villain. [Billy Penn]
• Test your local knowledge! We’ve got a new monthly BP Quizzo quiz. Can you beat the Fitler Club high score of 19/24? [Billy Penn]
• Despite the amazing pre-game vibes of Jason Kelce, Lane Johnson, and other Eagles players dancing with the Phanatic, the Phillies’ bats went cold and they dropped Game 6 to the Diamondbacks at home. Last chance to take the NLCS starts tonight at 8:07 p.m. [Instagram/AP]
MAYOR WATCH
Mayor Kenney speaks at the funeral service of Philadelphia Police Officer Richard Carrero Mendez at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Peter and Paul (11:30 a.m.).
Yesterday, Kenney signed Executive Order 6-23, which commits the City to annual racial equity action planning, budgeting for racial equity, and public reporting, which includes a public online dashboard with status updates.
ON THE CALENDAR
📜 Hot tip for home documentarians: the Free Library is teaming up with several local historical groups for a drop-in interactive community fair all about how to manage personal and family collections. Free. (6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 26)
😱 Kick off Halloween horrors with a little history over happy hour in Fishtown. For $15, “Horror in the East” takes you on a look at frightening Buddhist beliefs and rituals, with Justin McDaniel of the Penn Ghost Project. (6:30 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 26)
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