🚌 Councilmember pushes for free 24/7 student fares

Congressional Contest Heats Up Weeks From Election Day

State Rep. Chris Rabb animated a candidate forum in University City on Monday night by repeatedly referencing “genocide” in Gaza. Dr. Ala Stanford, meanwhile, spoke of how she once relied on welfare and now treats victims of gun violence. And State Sen. Sharif Street leaned on his legislative track record in arguing that he should win next month’s Democratic primary rather than “a person who has the best speeches.” [City and State PA]

• Related: Unfamiliar with any of these candidates? Here’s what to know before May’s primary. [🎧 City Cast Philly]

Millions Injected into Shapiro v. Garrity Gubernatorial Race

Speaking of Election Day, it’s more than just the Third Congressional District that’s up for grabs; we need to choose a governor. Pennsylvanians will decide in November if current Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro gets another term or if he’ll be replaced by State Treasurer Stacy Garrity, a Republican. President Trump — and the 2028 presidential election — loom over the race. [🎧 City Cast Philly]

MLB All-Star Week Returns to Philly This July

We may be so Flyer’ed up that baseball is in the back of our minds, but get ready for the Midsummer Classic! The MLB announced events around July’s All-Star Game in Philly including the HBCU Swingman Classic, Capital One All-Star Village, and T-Mobile Home Run Derby. [NBC10]

Free Rides for All Students

Councilmember Rue Landau is proposing an expanded student fare program that would cover student trips every day and year-round. Passes currently work between 5:30 a.m. and 8 p.m. on school days. Landau plans to schedule hearings this summer on ways to fund the initiative. [Billy Penn]

The sale of a neglected lot, long cared for but not owned by stewards in a neighborhood, can be devastating.

Dominique Johnson, a North Philly resident and member of the newly formed Philadelphia Land Stewards Union, tended a vacant lot next to his family’s home for two decades. He even attempted to purchase it from the Philadelphia Land Bank, which acquires vacant and tax-delinquent properties for redevelopment, without success.

“Every once in a while, I will go in and just kill the weeds, try and cut down some of the trees,” Johnson said. “I had a weed whacker, and I would try and keep it tidy, get rid of the trash.”

Last summer, Johnson said the city removed a gate that had been there, and since then, it has become a regular hangout for smoking and other late-night activities. “Since we don't have a gate, a lot of people walk in and out,” Johnson said. “Sometimes they don't have the best intentions.”

Johnson understood something like this could happen, as neither he nor his neighbor officially owned the land despite being the main caretakers. That’s why, on his mother’s behalf, in 2018 he reached out to the Philadelphia Land Bank to express interest in the property.

“But I didn't get any type of confirmation email,” he said. “So I just waited and waited and never heard back.”

He made another attempt the following year, once again expressing his interest but unaware that these attempts were not formal applications. This time he received an email response saying he’d hear back in 30 days. But he never did.

Then last month Johnson found a flyer on his door informing him that the lot would be developed.

🎧 Ryan Gittler-Muñiz spoke with City Cast Philly about why community members are using a union model to have a say in what development happens in their neighborhoods. Listen to our full conversation about the Philadelphia Land Stewards Union.