City Cast Philly
🛣️ Why Philly wants more traffic speed cameras
January 16, 2024
Good morning! I’ve found a contender for the strangest local headline of 2024 so far: “What does Jason Kelce smell like?” Shoutout to PhillyVoice for posing the questions the rest of us are too afraid to ask (and to the four Philly candlemakers who gave interesting answers).
What's CITY Talking About?
🥫 Biden Went to Philabundance on MLK Day (Again)
Just as he did in 2021 and 2022, the president stopped by the Philly-based food bank on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. It was also his third Pennsylvania visit in less than two weeks. [Inquirer 🔒]
✏️ New Report on PA School Funding
Months after the PA Supreme Court ruled the state’s education funding formula to be unconstitutional, a panel of policymakers voted along partisan lines to issue a report recommending the state give $5.4 billion to school districts over seven years to reduce inequities between schools. The state legislature and governor have to come to a consensus on how to move forward. [Spotlight PA]
- Related: School funding isn’t fair. What comes next? [City Cast Philly 🎧]
🟢 Green Light for Harriet Tubman Statue
The Philadelphia Art Commission voted unanimously on final approvals for the permanent statue outside City Hall honoring the Underground Railroad icon. The city will now start its formal contracting process with artist Alvin Pettit. [NBC10]
📚 Saturday Hours Coming Soon at Parkway Central
Starting this weekend, the main branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays.
- Twenty-two other branches also have Saturday hours: Here’s the list. [Free Library]
What To Do
Tuesday, Jan. 16
- ⚕️ COVID-19 Test Distribution & Health Information Table | 2 to 4 p.m. | Free | Thomas F. Donatucci, Sr. Library
- 📚 Uncle Bobbie’s x Cole Arthur Riley, “Black Liturgies” | 7 p.m. | $5 – $24 | Germantown
- 🎤 First Person Arts Online Dating-Themed Story Slam | 8 p.m. | $15 | West Philly
- 🚗 Philadelphia Auto Show | 12 to 9 p.m. | $12 – $20 | Pennsylvania Convention Center
Wednesday, Jan. 17
- ⚕️ Public Health Preparedness Info Table | 2 to 4 p.m. | Free | Nicetown-Tioga Library
- 🚗 Philadelphia Auto Show | 12 to 9 p.m. | $12 – $20 | Pennsylvania Convention Center
- 🐶 Read to a Therapy Dog | 3:30 p.m. | Free | Parkway Central Library Children’s Department
Thursday, Jan. 18
- 🎶 Amplified: Art, Music, Power | 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. | $6+ | National Liberty Museum
- 🚗 Philadelphia Auto Show | 12 to 9 p.m. | $12 – $20 | Pennsylvania Convention Center
- 🫀Poe-sers: Celebrating Edgar Allan Poe | 5:30 p.m. | Free | Parkway Central Library
- 😍 Pitch-A-Friend | 8 p.m. | $5 | Olde Kensington
Today on City Cast
Why 5 More Philly Streets Are Getting Speed Cameras
After a Roosevelt Boulevard pilot program, the city government wants to bring more speed cameras to Philly to address concerns about dangerous driving. City Cast Philly podcast host Trenae Nuri and Aaron Moselle, a reporter at WHYY’s PlanPhilly, discuss how Philadelphians feel about speed cameras, and if a new state law could help make driving in Philly safer.
It's not that Philly is the only city in the country that's dealing with traffic safety issues … but Philly, for whatever reason, has had a harder time getting that problem under control.
Enjoy your Monday Tuesday, friends.
— Asha Prihar
Thanks to City Cast’s Natalia Aldana for editing.
Free · Daily