🏛️ Mayor-elect Parker’s cabinet picks

City Office Spent Millions Over Budget

Philadelphia’s Office of Homeless Services (OHS) overspent its budget by $15 million over the past four years, prompting an investigation by the city’s inspector general. It’s not yet clear how it happened, but a city official said that the office’s rapid growth to meet the need for housing during the pandemic created confusion about how much funding was available. OHS had also been tracking contracts and grant funding on a calendar-year basis, making it out of sync with the city’s fiscal year, which starts on July 1. [Inquirer]

Chopper 6 Crash Victims Identified

Pilot Monroe Smith, 67, and photographer Christopher Dougherty, 45, died when the news helicopter crashed late Tuesday night in the New Jersey woods. Friends and colleagues remembered Smith as a skilled pilot and mentor and Dougherty as a talented photographer and avid musician. [6ABC]

Philly’s 2023 Google Search Trends

Philadelphians logged more Google searches for “batting cages near me” than any other place in the country this year, according to the tech giant’s data. The top location-oriented search in the city, “air-quality near me,” is a flashback to the hazy, hot days of summer. And Taylor Swift and Beyonce duked it out for Philadelphia’s favorite concert tour-related search. [Billy Penn]

Wheelchair-Accessible Used Car Scam

The U.S. Attorney’s Office indicted a Philadelphia used car salesman they allege scammed 120 people across the country out of $2.5 million for vehicles he never delivered. Most of the cars were wheelchair accessible models prosecutors say he bought at auction and sold online to seniors with physical disabilities or mobility issues. [NBC10]

Tons of you, our dear readers, guessed the location of this mural of Mario Lanza, the celebrated actor and tenor singer from South Philly. His likeness overlooks the corner of Broad and Reed Streets.

Congratulations to our winners, in no particular order:

• Aleta P.
• Lora C. B.
• Frank B.
• Lucinda M. L.
• Michael G.
• Chris M.
• Michelle Q.
• Lauren G.
• Marcia M.
• Gabrielle J.
• Kenny W.
• Nicole V.
• Laura I.
• Emily M.
• Yvette S. B.
• Matt R.
• George H.
• Brege S.
• Helene M.
• Cheryl G. T.
• Tim M.
• Donna C.

Hint: this week’s challenge lives in an alley with an unusual name.

Send us your guesses for the location of this mosaic! Bonus points if you also know the name of the tiny street it's located on.

Parker’s Top Hires, 15-Cent Paper Bag Fee, New ‘Porch Pirates’ Law

It’s the Friday News Roundup! Topics include Mayor-elect Cherelle Parker’s picks to lead her administration, what new laws City Council passed before the winter break, and changes to Pennsylvania’s legal code you should know about for 2024. Host Trenae Nuri is joined by Stephen Caruso, Pennsylvania Capitol reporter at Spotlight PA, and Sean Collins Walsh, City Hall reporter at The Philadelphia Inquirer.