💰 How much federal funding has Philly lost?

🤣 High on Laughter With This Philly Comedian Turned Social Media Sensation

On this episode of City Cast Philly, Trenae sits down with Lauren S. Daniels, a.k.a. Comedian LSD, to hear her journey from rapping to the comedy scene, the power of internet virality, the use of laughter to alleviate a city’s hardships, and translating news reports into Philly-speak. [🎧 City Cast Philly]

💵 Keeping Count of Trump’s Budget Cuts

Disease research, food banks, student success coaches, theater programs, community-based crime reduction. These are some of the areas that have seen funding frozen or rescinded, staff fired, and programming restricted due to the Trump administration’s policies. Philly has had $280 million in funding slashed so far. [🎧 City Cast Philly, Billy Penn]

📘 Philly Book Bank Could Be Booted Out by School District

MLK High School in East Germantown has served as the nonprofit’s home for years, but code violations have caused tension between the book bank and district officials. With only a handful of school librarians in the district, the nonprofit’s departure could leave a literacy-access hole. [Axios]

🎂 That’s Phony, That’s Cake

We’ve asked the question “Is it cake?” so many times, they named a TV show just that. These days search engines and social media are filled with literally impossible-to-make cakes and now local bakeries are trying to reel back customers’ unrealistic expectations. [Technical.ly]

🎤 West Philly Singer Advances to Competition’s Live Finale

This Philly vocalist has some serious chops. West Philadelphia resident RENZO has been killing it on “The Voice” and is now making it to the singing competition’s finale. Catch it live tonight at 8 p.m. [NBC10]

It’s time to vote in Philly’s primary election. We’ve covered the stances of district attorney candidates Larry Krasner and Pat Dugan, and we’ve broken down who’s running in the judicial races.

Due to Pennsylvania being a closed primary state, you can only vote Tuesday for a candidate in your registered party, Democrat or Republican. However, anyone can vote on the city’s ballot questions regardless of party affiliation, and there are three questions Philly wants you to vote on.

Ballot questions come from proposed amendment changes to Philadelphia’s Home Rule Charter. Think of the charter as Philadelphia’s constitution. These changes are voted on and approved by the City Council, but voters get the final say. Here are the changes up for consideration.

Should The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter be amended to create the Office of Homeless Services Ombudsperson to assist residents experiencing homelessness, help provide fair access to essential resources, improve quality of life in the shelter system, investigate client complaints, and provide oversight and recommendations to the City’s providers of homeless services?

An ombudsperson is an independent government employee assigned to look into and resolve complaints made by those receiving the public service. An ombudsperson for the Office of Homeless Services would seek to hold the office accountable by monitoring the city’s efforts to address homelessness and investigate issues like misuse of funding. According to Pew Charitable Trusts, more Philadelphia residents experienced homelessness than ever before in 2024 and the rate increased from the prior year by 10%.

It’s estimated the new position will cost $500,000 to create.

Should the Home Rule Charter be amended to increase the minimum amount that must be appropriated for spending on Housing Trust Fund purposes in the City’s operating budget each year?

The Philadelphia Housing Trust Fund was created in 2005 to meet the housing needs of low-income residents.

Philadelphia’s Zoning Code allows for developers to make a payment to the Housing Trust Fund if they want to increase the density of their housing projects but are restricted in doing so due to the zoning code. These payments are made in lieu of adding more price-fixed affordable housing units to their project. However, these payments aren’t legally bound to be used by the Housing Trust Fund and are often appropriated elsewhere. A change to the charter would require all funds go directly to the trust. Mayor Parker’s administration opposes the change, stating they need flexibility in spending.