City Cast Philly
🏠 The fate of a Fishtown family’s home
January 24, 2024
Good morning! What’s on your list of Philly restaurants you’re itching to try? I just found one to add to mine: Avenida 7 Café, a new South Street spot run by a family from a small town in Cuba that used to be called Hershey (founded by the PA chocolatier). On to today’s news.
What's CITY Talking About?
🫥 Disappearing State Records
“Human error” caused thousands of government records, including some police evidence logs, to be deleted from state servers this month, per Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s administration. Most have been recovered, but it’s unclear whether the rest will be. [Spotlight PA]
💵 Expanded Tax Credit for PA Parents
Some Pennsylvania parents will get more money back on their taxes this year because of legislation expanding the state’s Child and Dependent Care Enhancement Tax Credit. [WVIA]
- Shapiro’s office estimates that the change impacts 27,500 Philadelphians. [Governor’s Press Office]
⚖️ Roxborough High Shooting Suspect Update
A judge ruled that Dayron Burney-Thorn, 17, will go on trial for murder and other charges in the September 2022 killing of 14-year-old Nicholas Elizalde. Burney-Thorn, three other teenagers, and an older co-defendant have been charged as adults and will stand trial together. [AP]
🏥 Jefferson Health Equity Advocate Passes
Edith P. Mitchell, an accomplished Thomas Jefferson University Health professor, has died. She established the Center to Eliminate Cancer Disparities at the Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center. [WHYY]
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What To Do
Wednesday, Jan. 24
- 💄 Mean Girls BYOB Screening | 7 p.m. | $14 | Old City
- 🎤 Miki Howard at City Winery | 7:30 p.m. | $40–$65 | Market East
- 😋 Center City Restaurant Week | Times Vary | $20–$60 | Center City (multiple locations)
Thursday, Jan. 25
- 🌳 Nicetown-Tioga Greening Plan Info Session | 3 p.m. | Free | Nicetown-Tioga
- 📚 Author Event: “Behind You Is the Sea: A Novel” | 7:30 p.m. | Pay What You Wish | Parkway Central Library
- 🎵 Madonna – The Celebration Tour | 8:30 p.m. | $88+ | Wells Fargo Center
- 🚲 Philly Full Moon Bike Ride | 8:45 p.m. | Free | Fairmount (starting point)
- 😋 Center City Restaurant Week | Times Vary | $20–$60 | Center City (multiple locations)
Friday, Jan. 26
- 🧘 Meditation Club for Adults | 10 a.m. | Free | Andorra
- 🖤 Philadelphia Tattoo Arts Festival | 2–11 p.m. | $25 | Pennsylvania Convention Center
- 🎨 Experiment and Pop! | 5–8:45 p.m. | Pay What You Wish | Philadelphia Museum of Art
- 🚢 2000s vs. 2010s Boat Party | 10 p.m.–2 a.m. | $20 | Moshulu
- 🕺 Gimme Gimme Disco | 10:30 p.m. | $24–$28 | Fishtown
- 😋 Center City Restaurant Week | Times Vary | $20–$60 | Center City (multiple locations)
Today on City Cast
Anti-Blight Legal Fight in Fishtown
This house has basically stayed unchanged over the years as Fishtown has completely transformed around it, from this very working-class, relatively low-income community to an extremely gentrified community.
There’s a battle brewing in Fishtown. The Fishtown Kensington Area Business Improvement District is trying to take control of a house it says is an eyesore. But the family that owned the home for generations says they’re being targeted because they have limited means. City Cast Philly podcast host Trenae Nuri talks with Samantha Melamed, investigative reporter for The Philadelphia Inquirer, about the impact of a state law known as Act 135.
Hope you enjoy your day!
— Asha Prihar
Thanks to Laura Benshoff for editing.
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