Jeff Brown and super PAC sue Philly ethics board
Brown, the millionaire supermarket magnate who came in fifth place in last May’s primary election, sued the city’s ethics board, alleging they maliciously attacked him and harmed his reputation during the mayoral campaign.
Billy Penn’s Meir Rinde says the dagger for Brown and the For a Better Philadelphia super PAC happened when the board asked a judge to halt the PAC’s activities one day before the first televised mayoral debate. Continue reading…
Embiid’s football dreams: “I wish I was a football player.”
The reigning NBA MVP talked all things soccer (or football, rather) with the Men in Blazers podcast.
““That was my first love,” Joel Embiid said as he reminisced about watching his home country of Cameroon win back-to-back African Cup of Nations tournament wins in 2001 and 2002. “To be honest, I love football more than basketball.” Continue reading…
RECAP: What else happened?
$ = paywalled
• Improved student attendance, graduation rates, and dropout rates must be just the start of good news regarding Philly schools, says Superintendent Tony Watlington during his State of Public Education speech. He cited a budget shortfall, teacher shortage, low test scores, and aging buildings as challenges. [Chalkbeat]
• What is ex-mayoral candidate David Oh doing now that he’s not on Council? He’s been tapped as CEO of Philly’s Asian American Chamber of Commerce. [BizJournal$]
• There will be more vacant stores as the bankruptcy process enables companies like Rite Aid to break their leases. Here’s what’s happening behind the scenes. [WHYY]
• Philly traffic was ranked eighth-worst in the U.S., according to a 2023 study from mapping company TomTom. New York came in as worst on the list. [CBS3]
• More than 80 dishes from families across Northeast Philly are part of a Kensington/Fairhill/River Wards Community Cookbook available free at Free Library branches and for sale, with all proceeds going to McPherson Square Library. [PhillyVoice]
Weekly brief on gun violence prevention (with PCGVR)
We publish this report each week in partnership with the Philadelphia Center for Gun Violence Reporting.• The new chair of Philly City Council’s tech committee wants to use data to help reduce gun violence. [Technically Media]
• CHOP, Penn, Jefferson, and Temple are among the Philadelphia hospitals participating in the launch of a child gun safety effort with nationwide ads and PSAs. [Metro Philadelphia]
• CeaseFirePA’s End Gun Violence Advocacy Day will take place on May 7 in Harrisburg. [CeasefirePA.org]
By the numbers in Philadelphia
- 16: Shooting victims recorded last week, vs. 21 the week prior. [PCGVR]
- 79: Shooting victims as of January 29 were down 42% vs. the previous year. [PCGVR]
- 22: Year-to-date homicides, down 21% vs. last year’s pace; down 18% vs. five years ago [Philly Police]
MAYOR WATCH
Mayor Parker speaks to school district officials, parents, and community groups about successes, challenges, and opportunities ahead with Philly Schools’ five-year strategic plan. (10 a.m.)
ON THE CALENDAR
🎹 Jam to acoustic music from across genres while socializing with other music lovers in a friendly space in South Philly. (6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 1)
🎶 Enjoy a classical concert with a casual vibe at Orchestra After 5: Strings and Tango. Tickets are $25 to $90. (6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 1)
💕 Vegan singles, Nourish has got you covered ahead of Valentine’s Day with Vegan Singles Night. Sign up in advance. (8:30 to 10:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 2)
Catch up on the previous week
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