#BILLYPENNGRAM OF THE DAY
One man’s trash
(Photo by @denisewalksphilly)
City Council approves mayor’s $7.1B budget plan, but rejects proposed hotel and rideshare taxes
Mayor Cherelle Parker took verbal shots at rideshare companies Thursday after her proposed $1 tax on Uber and Lyft rides was struck down by City Council in the preliminary budget.
In addition to the school budget deficit, Parker’s tax proposals also aimed to pay for pothole repairs and fund homelessness prevention. A final vote on the budget will take place June 11. Continue reading…
A ‘firstival’ for the first American flag
The true origins of the first American flag are often debated – but many attribute its creation to Philly seamstress Betsy Ross. The “Betsy Ross Flag” is also known as the “Stars and Stripes” flag.
There were multiple prior iterations of the American flag. The Grand Union Flag, also known as the Continental Colors Flag, contained alternating white and red stripes with the U.K.’s flag in the upper-left-hand corner. But the first official American flag was designed after Congress declared the country’s freedom from Great Britain. Continue reading…
RECAP: What else happened?
$ = paywalled
• 52 Philadelphia schools will go virtual Friday due to high temperatures. Here’s the list. [Chalkbeat]
• SEPTA police are threatening to strike during the World Cup. [Inq$$]
• The Pennsylvania Council on the Arts is restoring state arts funding to smaller organizations with budgets between $10,000 and $100,000, and allows for fiscal sponsorships. [WHYY]
• A new tool shows toxic PFAS chemicals are pervasive and increasing in the Delaware River, as well as in the fish that swim along the waterway and its tributaries — which supply drinking water to more than 14 million people. [WHYY]
• The porches and sidewalks of Cobbs Creek function like living rooms, fostering a distinct “porch culture” that moves at a block-level pace. [Billy Penn]
• Reading Terminal Market completed its Public Table Renewal Project, a renovation of more than 5,000 square feet of communal space. [NBC10]
• Philly Pride March: Here are the road closures and parking restrictions in place for Sunday. [PhillyVoice]
MAYOR WATCH
Mayor Parker has no public events scheduled Friday.
BILLY PENN GUIDES
🌈 Pride Month events guide
🥳 World Cup events guide
🛝 Kid-friendly summer guide
☕ Philly coffee guide
🚶🏽♀️ Alt Philly history walking tours guide
🌱 Spring in Philly guide
🎭 Philly’s comedy scene
🎤 Philly Record Store Guide
⚽ Billy Penn’s FIFA World Cup Guide
🛍️ Thrifty in Philly guide
📚 Book lovers’ guide to Philly
🍹 Non-alcoholic Philly
😋 Dining in Philly
🏃🏽 Philly Runners Guide
ON THE CALENDAR
🗓️ For the **FULL LIST** of this week’s events calendar, visit BillyPenn.com!
First Fridays at Percy Street brings live painting, art and more to Electric Street (Today)
+ a benefit concert in honor of Christina Grimmie in support of families impacted by gun violence (Saturday)
+ Block Party at the Rail Park (Saturday)
+ Philadelphia Pride Parade (Sunday)
… and so much more!
