Democratic ward volunteers bounced after backing WFP
The Philadelphia Democratic Party purge is growing.
At least 16 neighborhood-level party activists were booted from their ward committee slots last month, fulfilling party chair Bob Brady’s promise to punish those who supported Working Families Party candidates in last fall’s City Council election.
BP’s Meir Rinde reports that most of the removals happened in the 22nd ward in Mt. Airy, where Councilmember Cindy Bass is ward leader. Continue reading…
Motorcyclist pleads guilty over City Hall road rage incident
The 26-year-old Frankford man who made national headlines in October after video showed him stomping through the back windshield of a vehicle near City Hall and brandishing a gun at the driver when she got out to confront him and protect her two kids in the backseat has pleaded guilty in court.
Cody Heron faced 19 criminal counts and a $4 million bail. Details on his sentencing are pending. Catch up on the details of the case here.
RECAP: What else happened?
$ = paywalled
• The conservative group Project Veritas and its former leader admitted there was no evidence of election fraud at Pennsylvania post office in 2020, as the lawsuit against them was settled this week. [AP]
• Gov. Shapiro’s budget plan includes $161 million in funding to SEPTA amid budget shortfalls, as well as a push to raise the state minimum wage from the $7.25 where it has been for 15 years. [WHYYx2]
• Syphilis cases are rising across the Delaware Valley, according to the CDC. The news echoes reports of Philly leading U.S. cities in increased reports of STD rates. [WHYY/Reddit]
• Getting traffic calming measures for your block might be easier now with a newly streamlined process from the Streets Dept, which sees online request forms through Philly 311 replacing the ad hoc system of sending written letters. [WHYY]
• The Eagles are expanding their Girls Flag Football League from 52 teams to 92, with 65 of those in the Philly league. [KYW]
MAYOR WATCH
Mayor Parker will name more members of her administration this afternoon in the latest in a series of personnel announcements in recent weeks.
On Monday, Parker appointed Jazelle Jones as city representative, Kristin Del Rossi as streets commissioner and Crystal Jacobs Shipman to fill a new position leading the city’s sanitation efforts.
ON THE CALENDAR
🦆Join Philly Queer Birders and Bird Philly for a winter Duck Watch at the Navy Yard. Free. (9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 10)
🀄 Beginners are welcome at this lunar new year Mahjong Social in Chinatown. Free with RSVP. (2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 10)
🏟️ Neighbors of the proposed 76ers arena are holding an open meeting in Washington Square West to discuss the issue. (4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 10)
💬 Share stories about homecomings, departures, staying, evolving neighborhood identity, housing alternatives, and more at Germantown Info Hub’s winter storytelling series kickoff. Free with RSVP. (3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 11)
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