🔎 Looking into the Office of Homeless Services

🔍 Office of Homeless Services Scrutiny Continues

Mayor Cherelle Parker has hired an outside firm to do a forensic audit of Philly’s Office of Homeless Services (OHS). The city’s inspector general started his own investigation in December, and Parker said the preliminary findings were of “grave concern.” [KYW]

• Get the backstory: OHS has been facing scrutiny over numerous issues, including confusion about where to send people during severe winter weather, unpaid contracts, and overspending its budget. [City Cast Philly 🎧]

✈️ 10 New Cheap Flights out of PHL

Frontier Airlines is expanding its presence at Philadelphia International Airport by adding direct flights to Chicago, Detroit, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Knoxville, Kansas City, St. Louis, Columbus, Pensacola, and Portland, Maine. The new flights start in May and a current promotion offers fares starting at $19. [NBC10]

🚌 Bus Revolution Approval Delayed… Again

The SEPTA board has once again postponed the vote to approve its major bus route overhaul after City Councilmember Katherine Gilmore Richardson raised concerns about insufficient public engagement. SEPTA now plans to hold the vote after another series of public meetings. [Inquirer 🔒]

• Check out the details of what the transit agency has been planning — and what it would mean for your bus route — at this site. [SEPTA Bus Revolution]

🚗 Want Cars To Slow Down in Your Neighborhood?

Philly residents can now make requests for traffic calming measures, like speed cushions, through 311. [WHYY]

• Traffic deaths remain a big issue in Philly, even as the city pursues a “Vision Zero” plan for eliminating them. [City Cast Philly 🎧]
• Not every street is eligible for traffic calming improvements — check here to see if yours is. [City of Philadelphia]

Alright, Philly, it’s time for this week’s “Where Is It” challenge, where I show you a picture of some public art, and you email me if you know where it is (without looking it up online!).

Before we dive into today’s challenge, let’s take a look back at last week’s mural, which was photographed by yours truly:

This painting of Kobe Bryant — the late Philly-born NBA superstar — is at 2nd and Laurel Streets in Northern Liberties, across the street from Pera Turkish Cuisine. It went up in early 2020, shortly after Kobe’s untimely death. It’s by stencil artist @JesPaints, who has said they choose their subjects based on the figures “people want to see.”

Also in 2020, JesPaints put up a very similar piece at 6th & Dauphin and different Kobe paintings at Broad & Lehigh and York & Gratz — all in North Philly.

Congrats to all the folks who guessed it correctly: Kavya U., Natalie M., Susan D., Tim M., Sam S., and Derek S.!

Now, onto a new challenge.

This week’s photo comes courtesy of Hey Philly reader Lauren C.:

Where is this hyper-realistic tree painting? Send me your guesses! Try to be as exact as possible — and remember, no Googling. Reply to this email with your answer, or respond here.

Sheriff’s ChatGPT Snafu, Legal Cannabis & Other PA Budget Highlights

It’s the Friday News Roundup! Today’s topics include: how Philadelphia Sheriff Rochelle Bilal’s campaign used artificial intelligence to spruce up her reelection website with fake news articles, and highlights from Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s second annual budget proposal.