#BILLYPENNGRAM OF THE DAY
Grid drop along Schuylkill Banks
(Photo by @thetinybun)
A solution for SEPTA’s funding dilemma remains elusive
As the state budget deadline nears, it’s still very uncertain that legislators will approve spending the hundreds of millions of additional dollars that SEPTA says it needs to avoid ruinously deep service cuts.
Meir Rinde spoke to a GOP political strategist and a local Republican lawmaker to better understand what a possible deal might look like, when it might happen, and how likely it was to happen. Continue reading …
Mawn’s Phila Lorn brings home James Beard Award
Phila Lorn, owner of Mawn, the Cambodian Noodle house, won Emerging Chef, one of the major categories, at the James Beard Awards ceremony in Chicago Monday.
Phila opened Mawn as a mom-and-pop restaurant in 2023 with his wife, Rachel, who operates the front of the house. BP’s Julia Binswanger fills us in on the win, her pre-Beard conversation with him, how hard it will be to get a reservation at Mawn this summer, and how our other contenders fared. Continue reading …
RECAP: What else happened?
$ = paywalled
• A Scranton congressman is among the politicians facing scrutiny over stock trading potentially using insider information as Trump announced tariffs. [WHYY]
• We’re No. 13! Philly is among the top places in the world to launch a startup. [Technical.ly]
• Community organization in Northeast Philly are suing to stop PennDOT’s plan to narrow a commercial corridor. [WHYY]
• Looking for a location to breastfeed your infant in Center City? There’s an app for that. [PhillyVoice]
• Covenant House Pa opens a new 12-unit transitional housing center in Germantown this month. [PGN]
• The first Club World Cup match in Philly was loud fun, and a chance for some Philadelphians to be reunited with their fave teams. [Billy Penn]
• Volunteers are working to preserve an Underground Railroad site in Kennett Square before Juneteenth. [CBS3]
Weekly brief on gun violence prevention (with PCGVR)
We publish this report each week in partnership with the Philadelphia Center for Gun Violence Reporting.
- A West Philadelphia community remembers 16-year-old with a heartfelt balloon release: “It’s hard for us to bury a baby.” [CBS Philadelphia]
- Philly updated its crime reward process for tipsters who help solve homicide cases. [NBC Philadelphia]
- New Emerging Leader Fellows will focus collectively on expanding, improving, and sustaining the scale and effectiveness of Philadelphia’s gun violence prevention ecosystem. [Stoneleigh Foundation]
By the numbers in Philadelphia
- 23: Shooting victims recorded from June 8 to 14, including 4 fatalities, according to city data. During the previous week, 15 shooting victims were recorded, including 2 fatalities. [Source: nickhand.dev]
- 100: Year-to-date homicides, down 17% vs. last year’s pace; down 46% vs. five years ago [Philly Police]
MAYOR WATCH
Mayor Parker will join the Office of Children and Families, in partnership with Parks & Recreation and American Dairy Association North East, to help kick off the annual Summer Meals program season, at Vare Recreation Center, 2601 Moore St., 11 a.m.
The mayor will join Chief Public Safety Director Adam Geer and the Office of Public Safety to celebrate the 2025 Anti-Violence Community Partnership grantees, at City Hall, 2 p.m.
ON THE CALENDAR
🎉 Juneteenth events in Philly
🌈 Pride Month celebrations
🏊🏽 Public pools in Philly 2025
🎭 Epic 3-week ‘space opera’ gaming theater
🌸 27 ways to get out and enjoy the warm weather
🏃🏽 Philly Runners Guide
Tuesday, June 17: Bridging Blocks | Invisible Barriers: How Ableism Affects Accessibility
How does Philadelphia show up for its residents living with a disability? What services are currently available and what can be improved? How did we get here and how do we move forward? Join WHYY for this second civic dialogue on Ableism, at the Parkway Central Library. (4:30 to 6:30 p.m.)
Tuesday, June 17: “Queer Love is Resilience” Poetry Open Mic + Q&A ft. Alison Lubar
Flashpoint Gallery & Community Space and Nutmeg Bar & Market host the open mic at 6:30 p.m. and show at 7 p.m. First-come, first-served. “Pride month, so bring your gayest poetry!” Reading and Q&A. Books, art and zines for sale; a portion of proceeds go to The Trans Lifeline. Free to register. (6:30 to 9 p.m.)
Wednesday, June 18: Justice & Journalism at Eastern State Penitentiary
Uncover the role of investigative journalism in shaping our understanding of the criminal justice system through live storytelling, panel discussions, and interactive exhibits at the historic prison. $17 in advance; $20 at the door. (5:30 to 9:30 p.m.)
Wednesday, June 18: Philly-Based Novels by Philly-Based Novelists
Join Swarthmore Creative Writing Professor Moriel Rothman-Zecher in conversation with Emma Copley Eisenberg, Asali Solomon, and James Earl Thomas. At American Grammar in Kensington. (6 p.m.)
Wednesday, June 18: Love Me Long Time Reading Group
This reading group explores desire, intimacy and love over 3 themed Wednesdays, collectively reading and discuss ingexcerpts from texts by Asian/Asian diasporic writers. June 18’s reading is from “I’m Laughing Because I’m Crying” (Chapter TBD) by Youngmi Mayer. Snacks provided. Free Registration recommended. (6 to 8 p.m.)
Wednesday, June 18: “Wicked” screening
Relive Elphaba and G(a)linda’s ahead of the second film’s premiere later this year. Sunset Social hosts this outdoor screening on a 60-foot screen. (7 p.m.)
Wednesday, June 18: Fishtown Choir sings Lady Gaga
Head to Ortlieb’s for the latest community choir performance! $15+fees in advance; $17 day of show. (7 to 11:30 p.m.)
Thursday, June 19: Kami’s Korner: Spoken-Word Soundscapes for the Black, Ancestral Body
Hang out in East Passyunk on Juneteenth for poetic soundscapes performed live with KAMI X, followed by an ancestral poetry workshop led by Nycir Keen. $17.85 tickets. (6:45 to 9:30 p.m.)
Friday, June 20: Singing Our Grief
The simple act of singing in community can transform our relationship to sorrow. Experience your grief through the vibration of sound, at Chestnut Hill United Church at 8812 Germantown Ave. $10-30 sliding scale. (7 to 8:30 p.m.)
Friday, June 20: Stogie Joe’s Speakeasy Night
Every Friday at 10 p.m. on East Passyunk. Password: OLD SPORT.
