ELECTION UPDATE
WFP Candidates Aim to Oust Republicans From City Council, City Commissioners Board
Candidates from Philadelphia’s progressive Working Families Party (WFP) are officially seeking to oust Republicans from office in the upcoming November election. WFP City Council candidate Nicolas O’Rourke is working to double the success of WFP incumbent Kendra Brooks, who stunned the local political scene with her historic win in 2018. Meanwhile, WFP City Commissioner candidate Jarrett Smith is eyeing Republican incumbent Seth Bluestein’s position on the three-member elections administration body. The three WFP candidates submitted more than 21,000 signatures to qualify for the ballot, which is three times more than the required amount to qualify.
Democratic Mayoral Nominee Cherelle Parker to Gear Up for General Election
While many consider Democratic victory in the upcoming Philadelphia mayoral election to be a foregone conclusion, due to Democrat’s voter registration advantage, there is at least one person who doesn’t: Democratic nominee Cherelle Parker. Even though the former state representative and city councilmember took some personal time off following her primary win in May, she stated that she is taking the race seriously and will ramp up her campaign efforts again after Labor Day.
AROUND TOWN
City, Nonprofit Partners Take Aim at Tangled Titles
Philadelphians risk losing a collective $1.1 billion in generational wealth from tangled titles, an administrative phenomenon that occurs when the legal ownership of a given property is in question. According to a 2021 analysis by Pew Charitable Trusts, there are more than 10,400 tangled titles in Philadelphia, which city officials and nonprofit partners have been working tirelessly to remedy by devoting more resources to educating and assisting Philadelphians with estate planning and will writing services.
HUD Awards PHA $50 Million Choice Neighborhoods Grant to Renovate Bartram Village
The Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA) received a transformational $50 million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development’s (HUD) competitive Choice Neighborhoods program to renovate Bartram Village in Southwest Philadelphia. The program is designed to help improve struggling communities.
Pattern of Antisocial Behavior Jeopardizes Popular Community Programs Offered at FDR Park
An increase in antisocial behavior, including repeated vandalism, theft, and littering, is jeopardizing the very existence of popular community programs offered in Philadelphia’s FDR Park. Even with the Parks Department rangers monitoring the park overnight, many boating, fishing, and outdoor education programs worry that this preventative measure won’t be enough for them to continue offering services.
The Mazzoni Center Names Dr. Trooskin as New Executive Director
Stacey Trooskin was named executive director of the Mazzoni Center, Philadelphia’s largest LGBTQ health agency. Dr. Trooksin will lead the agency’s work, providing access to mental, behavioral, and gender affirming care, at a time when LGBTQ rights are more precarious than ever.
Opinion: Philadelphia Government Transparency Efforts Leave Much To Be Desired
According to a public records response time analysis, Philadelphia has been getting steadily worse at successfully responding to such requests in a timely fashion. The article weighs the pros and cons of options that would improve city government transparency.