City Cast Philly
👮 SEPTA transit police on strike
December 14, 2023
Good winter morning. December is flying by. Have you finished your holiday shopping yet? We’ve got even more help with those last-minute gift ideas in today’s newsletter.
What's CITY Talking About?
SEPTA Transit Police Go on Strike
Two-thirds of SEPTA’s transit police union members voted to strike on Wednesday evening, rejecting contract language that was put up without the endorsement of union leadership who could not come to an agreement with SEPTA during last-minute negotiations. One sticking point is the pace of salary increases. [6ABC]
Penn Picks Interim President
The University of Pennsylvania board of trustees chose J. Larry Jameson to serve as the school’s interim president following the departure of Liz Magill, who resigned amid unrelenting criticism of her testimony in a congressional hearing about antisemitism on campus. Jameson had been serving as the dean of Penn’s medical school. [NYT]
- On the same day Jameson was appointed, Marc Rowan, a wealthy donor to the university who had called for Magill’s resignation, sent a letter to the trustees questioning how the school handles free speech and a host of other administrative policies. [Inquirer]
Escaped Prisoner Found Dead
Police identified a man found dead in a Northeast Philadelphia warehouse as Gino Hagenkotter, who escaped from a Philadelphia jail on November 30. The discovery of his body ended a 12-day search for Hagenkotter, who had not been seen since the day of his escape. How he died is still unknown. [Inquirer]
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What To Do
Thursday, Dec. 14
- 🏠 Architecture as an Engine for Change | 5:30 p.m. | $5 | Center City West
- 🕎 Festival Of Light: Hanukkah 2023 | 7 p.m. | $10–20 | Center City West
- 📺 I Pity the Scrooge! A Mr. T-Inspired Holiday Celebration | 7:30 p.m. | $12.44 | West Poplar
- 🎻 The Philadelphia Orchestra’s The Glorious Sound of Christmas | 7 p.m. | $46+ | Center City
- 🎤 Tina Fey & Amy Poehler at the Met | 8 p.m. | $199.50+ | Fairmount
Friday, Dec. 15
- ✒️ Bill of Rights Day at the National Constitution Center | All Day | $15–19 | Independence Mall
- 🪡 Learn Needle Felting | 1pm | Free | Nicetown-Tioga
- 🤘 Punk Rock Flea Market | 4 p.m.–10 p.m. | $10 | Center City West
- 🚂 Holiday Garden Railway: Nighttime Express| 4:30–8 p.m. | $10+ | Chestnut Hill
- 🎻 The Philadelphia Orchestra’s The Glorious Sound of Christmas | 7 p.m. | $46+ | Center City
Saturday, Dec. 16
- 🧘 Community Yoga Class | 9:30–11 a.m. | Free | West Philly
- 🤘 Punk Rock Flea Market | 10 a.m.–5 p.m. | $10 | Center City West
- 📚 South Philly Book Crawl | 12 p.m. | $15 | Society Hill & South Philly
- 🪦 A Merry Laurel Hill Christmas | 1 p.m. | $10-20 | North Philly
- 🕯 Kwanzaa with Keepers of the Culture | 2 p.m. | Free | Wynnefield
- 🖼️ The Roots Art Show | 4 p.m.–8 p.m. | $35 | Germantown
- 🚂 Holiday Garden Railway: Nighttime Express| 4:30–8 p.m. | $10+ | Chestnut Hill
- 🎤 Tina Fey & Amy Poehler at the Met | 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. | $199.50+ | Fairmount
- 🎻 The Philadelphia Orchestra’s The Glorious Sound of Christmas | 7 p.m. | $51+ | Center City
Today on City Cast
Last-Minute Gift Guide for Philly Experiences
We didn’t put all of our recommendations in the list above, so tune in to today's episode for even more creative gift ideas.
I’ve met Clementine the goat and can confirm — she’s a sweetie-pie 🐐
— Joel Wolfram
Thanks to Laura Benshoff for editing the newsletter.
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