#BILLYPENNGRAM OF THE DAY
Carrying a tune
(Photo by @denisewalksphilly)
Philadelphia City Council passes landmark ‘ICE Out’ legislation
The package of seven bills restricting federal immigration enforcement activities in Philadelphia will now go to Mayor Cherelle Parker’s desk, backed by a veto-proof majority.
“This legislation shows that Philadelphians are not afraid to stand up to the Trump administration,” Councilmember At-Large Kendra Brooks said following the vote. “We are not afraid to stand up to our neighbors, and we do not take kindly to bullies who try to intimidate people in our communities.” Continue reading…
Ben Franklin wore many hats, including as America’s first postmaster
The Founding Father’s local postal career began long before his national role. He started as the postmaster of Philadelphia in 1737. In this capacity, he decided which newspapers to distribute, helped individual post offices manage their finances and surveyed post roads.
Artist Caresh Walker sought to capture these responsibilities in his ‘Firstival’ statue as part of the Philadelphia Historic District’s “52 Weeks of Firsts.” Continue reading…
RECAP: What else happened?
$ = paywalled
• The Philadelphia Board of Education postponed a vote on a facilities plan that would close 17 schools following pushback from residents and politicians. [WHYY]
• After years of waiting, many opioid victims across the U.S., including in Philadelphia, will be shut out of settlement with Purdue Pharma. [ProPublica]
• Philly renters just secured new protections from landlord retaliation. A lawsuit could undo them. [WHYY’s PlanPhilly]
• Jefferson Einstein health workers say North Philly pediatric practices closures will leave “a hole” in communities. [WHYY]
• Local members of the Daughters of the American Revolution donated $108,000 to spruce up window decor at Independence Hall. [Billy Penn]
• Philly residents now have free access to gardening tools, compost and mulch at a new Parks & Rec Agricultural Resource Center in Fairmount Park. [PhillyVoice]9
• Bimbo Bakeries is moving its headquarters out of the Philadelphia region after 17 years in the area and returning to Texas. [Inq$$]
MAYOR WATCH
Mayor Parker attends a breakfast reception marking the opening of “Rising Up: Rocky and the Making of Monuments” at the Philadelphia Museum of Art (9 a.m.) before joining the 38th Annual Workers Memorial Day Program honoring sheet metal workers who lost their lives on the job (10 a.m.).
BILLY PENN GUIDES
🌱 Spring in Philly guide
🎤 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
+ A two-day free student journalism summit at the WHYY offices (Friday & Saturday, 4/24-25).
+ A film screening focused on activism, migration and imperialism across Asian American communities in Philadelphia and beyond (Friday, 4/24 at 6:30 p.m.).
+ Outdoor festivals in the Woodlands (Saturday), Tacony Creek Park (Saturday), Spring Garden (Sunday), Fairmount (Sunday) and East Passyunk (Sunday).
+ MORE! For the **FULL LIST** of this week’s events calendar, visit BillyPenn.com!
