🗳️ Your 2024 primary guide

🚌 New Bus Revolution Equity Analysis

An independent analysis from the nonprofit think tank TransitCenter found that the most recent draft of SEPTA’s “Bus Revolution” would slightly increase access to jobs, but wouldn’t dramatically change travel times to places like grocery stores and libraries. [Inquirer 🔒]

⚖️ Major Gun Parts Manufacturers Pause Philly Sales

Polymer80 and JSD Supply agreed to temporarily stop selling their products in all or parts of Pennsylvania as part of a lawsuit settlement with the city. Philadelphia had accused the companies of worsening the city’s gun violence by selling firearm parts used to make untraceable “ghost guns.” [AP]

🎶 Philadelphia Folk Festival Will Return

John Oates will be headlining the three-day event in Montco this August, which is returning after a one-year hiatus. [PhillyVoice]

• Looking for other music festivals to attend this year? We chatted about a few local options last week. [City Cast Philly 🎧]

April 23 is this year’s Pennsylvania primary, when Democrats and Republicans will choose their parties’ nominees for offices at various levels of government.

One of three state “row offices” up for election is Pennsylvania’s treasurer, who’s entrusted with managing the commonwealth’s money, including making and receiving payments on PA’s behalf, overseeing state agencies’ deposits and withdrawals, and managing the state’s investments.

🔴 Who You’ll See on Your Ballot If You’re a Republican

• Stacy Garrity, incumbent

🔵 Who You’ll See on Your Ballot If You’re a Democrat

• Ryan Bizzarro, state representative for part of Erie County
• Erin McClelland, policy advisor from Allegheny County

🥜 The Race in a Nutshell

Garrity, a one-term incumbent, is seeking her second four-year term. She’s running unopposed for the Republican nomination.

In the Democratic race, the two candidates have focused on drawing out their differences in approach, policy, and ideology with Garrity. Bizzarro has painted Garrity as an “extremist” and criticized her record on returning unclaimed property to Pennsylvanians.

Meanwhile, McClelland has called Garrity’s approach to the office “highly politicized” and called for a more “honest broker” as treasurer. McClelland is also a vocal opponent of “Keystone Saves,” a proposed retirement program that Garrity favors.

Bizzarro has managed to pick up more major endorsements than McClelland, including that of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party. McClelland’s endorsers, according to WESA, include Amalgamated Transit Union Local 85 and Lehigh Valley For All.

📖 Dig Deeper with These Candidate Guides

• Spotlight PA
• WESA
• PennLive

🗳️ To Learn About Other Primary Races…

• Check out Hey Philly’s full voter guide here.
• And listen to today’s episode of City Cast Philly for a conversation explaining the stakes of this month’s races and the candidates who are on the ballot.

The classic neighborhood greasy spoon is a time-honored Philly tradition on par with celebratory greased-pole climbing. And even though some legendary diners have shut their doors, Philadelphia is still a haven for those seeking breakfast for dinner or hangover-busting sandwiches.

Here’s a sampler platter of some of our favorite diners around town. (Tune into this podcast episode for even more picks!)

H/T to Beatrice Forman of The Philadelphia Inquirer and City Cast Philly’s own Trenae Nuri for their reporting/picks.

🔔 Liberty Bell Diner

Why It’s Great: It’s a 24-hour joint, the portions are obscenely enormous, the baked goods are all made in-house, and in true Philly fashion, they even have water ice for dessert.

What To Order: The Liberty Bell Jamboree is their riff on a breakfast platter, with French toast or pancakes, eggs how you like ‘em, home fries, and bacon or sausage.

• 📍 8445 Frankford Ave. (Holmesburg)

🍸 Penrose Diner

Why It’s Great: This is a popular post- or pre-game destination for Eagles and Phillies fans, boasts an exhaustive, Cheesecake Factory-esque menu (steaks, seafood, and spaghetti living in culinary harmony!), and some choice $10 cocktails to boot.

What To Order: The options are seemingly limitless. But it’s hard to argue with the South Philly omelet, featuring Italian sausage, sweet peppers, and provolone cheese.

• 📍 2016 Penrose Ave. (South Philly)

🕺 Silk City

Why It’s Great: This combo diner/beer garden/clubby lounge is definitely a modern take on an old classic (the actual diner is housed in a legit 50s dining car, which is a nice touch), but the comfort food delivers, and cocktails are top notch.

What To Order: For the brunch crowd (Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m.–3 p.m.), try the vanilla pancakes complete with berry compote and powdered sugar, and pair it with a pitcher of blood orange margaritas — because you deserve it, reader!

• 📍 435 Spring Garden St. (Northern Liberties)

Your 2024 Primary Election Guide

Pennsylvania's primary is next week, and we’ve got you covered before you head the polls. Katie Meyer of Spotlight PA and Hey Philly newsletter editor Asha Prihar join City Cast Philly podcast host Trenae Nuri to break down state and local races, candidates, and the stakes of this month’s election.