Category: Newsletters

Morning, Philly. We’re in for a cold, wet Tuesday — and another storm threat looms for the weekend.

A historic preservation bill is provoking debate: Supporters say the legislation gives more notice and power to property owners, while opponents say it will damage the city’s heritage.

And internal documents shed light on Mayor Cherelle L. Parker’s decision to scrap contracting requirements meant to boost diversity and equity.

— Julie Zeglen (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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Good government fix? Or demolition derby?

Most of Philadelphia’s buildings were constructed before the mid-20th century, though few are historically protected. A newly proposed bill from Councilmember Mark Squilla has caused a stir amid heightened debate around preservation.

In the bill: The legislation would institute changes to the city’s Historical Commission, which ensures that historic properties cannot be demolished or their exteriors substantially altered. One big update gives property owners at least 30 days before a pending nomination of their building goes to the commission and protections kick in.

In favor: Developers and other proponents of the bill argue that it is simply meant to give more notice and power to property owners before their buildings are considered for preservation.

In opposition: Preservationists fear that developers will use the extra time to begin razing historic buildings. Some preservation critics dislike the bill, too, saying it doesn’t help homeowners facing high costs to maintain historic properties.

Commercial real estate reporter Jake Blumgart has the details.

In other housing news: City Council bills that cap rental application fees and allow renters to pay security deposits in installments take effect Tuesday.

‘Disadvantaged’ vs. ‘small and local’

More details are emerging about the Parker administration’s decision to halt the use of some diversity targets in city contracts. The shift, which was revealed last month but enacted at some point earlier this year, came in the face of potential legal challenges as national DEI backlash grows.

According to documents obtained by The Inquirer, a law firm hired by the city recommended that Parker adopt a new policy favoring “socially and economically disadvantaged” businesses. Instead, the mayor prioritized “small and local” firms.

Her administration says this language will still help historically disadvantaged firms. Critics argue that it doesn’t go far enough to help women and Black and brown Philadelphians who were the focus of the previous, decades-old policy.

City Hall reporter Sean Collins Walsh has more.

What you should know today

• President Donald Trump’s efforts to keep Alina Habba as the top prosecutor in New Jersey aren’t legal, a federal appeals court ruled Monday.
• A man accused of committing voter fraud in Bucks County in 2020 is seeking to wipe out a pending criminal case, saying Trump’s pardoning of dozens of allies who helped him try to overturn that election should extend to him, too.
• A New Jersey Senate hearing on a proposal to scale back the authority of a state oversight office degenerated Monday into a blistering back-and-forth between officials.
• Rutgers-Camden is celebrating 100 years with a boost in dorm occupancy and international students. Now, its chancellor hopes for more support from central administration.
• Foundation for Delaware County’s Family Village initiative aims to close health gaps in the county, especially for those affected by Crozer Health’s closure.
• Mars Co-Op, the Philadelphia rapper known for the standout verse he contributed to The Roots’ song “Clones” from 1996, has died.
• Marra’s, Philly’s oldest pizzeria, has closed after 98 years on East Passyunk Avenue. EMei, one of the city’s most acclaimed Sichuan restaurants, is taking over the building.
• After 13 years at 6abc, reporter Annie McCormick’s last day with the station was Monday, she announced on social media.
• A disgruntled Eagles fan with access to the traffic signs near the Linc had a message Monday: “Fire Kevin Patullo.” Others took it further: The offensive coordinator’s home was vandalized with eggs hours after the team lost on Friday, police confirmed.

🚉 WTF is happening with…

Transportation reporter Tom Fitzgerald has become somewhat of a social media star with his series answering readers’ questions about what the … heck … is going on with Philly’s beleaguered transit systems. See the latest video on SEPTA’s Regional Rail service and join the conversation.

🧠 Trivia time

An estate sale will open to the public this week at a Delancey Street townhouse filled with an estimated 100,000 what?

A) Brooches

B) Bongos

C) Books

D) Bananas

Think you know? Check your answer.

What we’re…

🎶 Attending: These 15 Philly holiday pop concerts this month.

🪪 Noting: TSA’s new $45 fee for travelers without REAL ID.

🍪 Baking: These eight Amanda Shulman-approved cookie recipes.

🛍️ Visiting: Joan Shepp, named one of the country’s best clothing shops.

✈️ Considering: The impact of fatigue on air travel safety.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: Center City park

ALL COERCING

Email us if you know the answer. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here.

Cheers to Laura Napier, who solved Monday’s anagram: Awbury Arboretum. The East Germantown nonprofit’s Francis Cope House is home to the inaugural exhibition of the Museum of African American Art Collections.

Photo of the day

🌲 One last green thing: The real Christmas tree supply is “excellent” this year after several years of shortages, industry experts say. Shopping for your own? Check out these 17 tree farms around the city and surrounding counties.

Stay cozy. I’ll be back with you tomorrow morning.

By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

Welcome to a new month, Philly. Stock up on rock salt (or calcium chloride) now: The season’s first bout of winter weather could hit early this week.

Despite broader economic challenges and a few restaurant vacancies, new and old Chestnut Hill businesses have found success. On this Cyber Monday, consider how the neighborhood’s main street is staying relevant in the Amazon era.

And U.S. Rep. Brendan Boyle has been central in shaping Democratic messaging around Republican policies. Follow the Northeast Philadelphia lawmaker for a day in this look at his growing profile in Washington.

— Julie Zeglen (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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Old meets new in Northwest Philadelphia

As consumer habits skew digital, Chestnut Hill’s main commercial corridor has stayed busy with foot traffic.

🛍️ Business owners and retail advocates say Germantown Avenue’s diverse mix of shops — from a century-old hardware store to an all-day coffee and cocktail bar newcomer — is what continues to draw customers to the downtown area.

🍺 While some of the neighborhood’s biggest restaurants have closed recently, including the regional chain Iron Hill Brewery, patrons still visit because they expect they’ll be able to find something unique to eat, drink, or buy, experts told The Inquirer.

🎄 “When you come to Chestnut Hill over the holidays, you get what you came for,” one Germantown Avenue shop owner said. “You get that charming feeling of being somewhere special for the holiday.”

Consumer reporter Erin McCarthy explains Chestnut Hill’s commercial staying power — and the changes to come.

Further reading: After Cyber Monday comes Giving Tuesday. Experts share how to avoid charity scams and make your gift count.

‘He’s one of our best messengers’

🎤 I’m passing the mic to politics reporter Julia Terruso.

U.S. Rep. Brendan Boyle, a six-term lawmaker, is the most veteran of Pennsylvania’s eight Democrats in Washington. He has been the ranking member of the House Budget Committee since 2023, meaning he is the top Democrat playing defense as the Republican-controlled Congress ushers through GOP spending priorities. It can be a futile exercise in shouting into a void — until the yelling starts to echo outside.

Increasingly, Boyle, known as the Democrats’ “budget guy,” has been the man behind the messaging against President Donald Trump’s reconciliation bill and the shutdown fight over healthcare.

If Democrats reclaim Congress in next year’s election, Boyle would shift from ranking member to chair of the powerful Budget Committee, becoming the first Pennsylvanian to lead it since 1989.

It would be another resumé builder for the 48-year-old lawmaker whose role in Washington keeps growing and who has not ruled out a potential Senate run in 2028, when Democratic Sen. John Fetterman’s seat would be up. — Julia Terruso

Read on to learn how the Somerton resident’s profile is changing amid D.C.’s healthcare fight, and what he sees for his political future.

What you should know today

• A woman who waved a gun at officers died after being shot by police early Sunday in Hunting Park, officials said.
• A 25-year-old man died on Saturday at the federal prison at Fort Dix in New Jersey, prompting prison officials to notify the FBI, officials said.
• State police are investigating a Sunday shooting on I-95 that left one person wounded, and partially shut down traffic for hours.
• The Philadelphia Police Department is forming an unarmed “auxiliary” unit that could launch in 2026, adding to its ranks volunteer members to assist officers at public gatherings.
• A former Fox executive is asking the Federal Communications Commission to reconsider a petition seeking to terminate the license of the network’s Philly-area affiliate, Fox29.
• King of Prussia District is getting new funding to advance a trail project planned for Montgomery County, currently called the “Gulph Road Connector.”
• In Chester County, inmates are getting workforce training and jobs to match post-release. Nearly two years in, officials say it’s been a success.
• FIFA’s World Cup draw is happening this week. The event should help determine which international sides will play in Philadelphia this summer.
• A teen fled war in Ukraine for a new life. Now she’s at the top of her class at a Northeast Philly high school.

Quote of the day

The Bezos-owned Post snubbed Philly on its list of the country’s best sports cities. Nine Inquirer writers offer plenty of reasons why they’re wrong.

🧠 Trivia time

Which of these is a priority policy goal of Philadelphia’s new Vision Zero report?

A) The city wants to set its own speed limits

B) The city wants to change how it tracks traffic deaths

C) The city wants to get rid of bike lanes

D) The city wants to implement 20 new roundabouts

Think you know? Check your answer.

What we’re…

☃️ Planning: Outings to see these holiday light shows around Philly.

🍴 Begging you to do: Use your restaurant gift cards, ASAP.

📱 Appreciating: This Rutgers University professor’s efforts to spread kindness digitally.

🦖 Voting on: The name for the stone statue replacing Manayunk’s Bridget the Dino.

✉️ Considering: The apparent demise of mailed holiday cards.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: _ Arboretum in East Germantown

BUY RAW

Email us if you know the answer. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here.

Cheers to Maryn Gemgnani, who solved Sunday’s anagram: Robert A.M. Stern. The renowned architect whose designs included the Comcast Center and the Museum of the American Revolution, has died at 86.

And shout-out to Brad Baer, who shared this connection: “Bob was my dean in architecture school at Yale. In a full-circle moment, I was in his Comcast Center, watching the Comcast Holiday Spectacular with my wife and sons, when I learned of his passing.”

Photo of the day

📬 Your ‘only in Philly’ story

Think back to the night that changed your life that could only happen in Philly, a true example of the Philly spirit, the time you finally felt like you belonged in Philly if you’re not a lifer, something that made you fall in love with Philly all over again — or proud to be from here if you are. Then email it to us for a chance to be featured in the Monday edition of this newsletter.

This “only in Philly” story comes from reader Megan McCusker, who describes finding a reminder of home, 100 miles away:

Branching out of my comfort zone to attend Columbia University in New York City but with roots firmly planted in Philadelphia led to an internal struggle between living the life of glamour and grind in the city that never sleeps and affecting a more laid-back, casual style. While my mind told me, “Keep up! Keep hustling!” my heart said “Just be who you are — the big-city, small-town girl from next door.”

That internal war started to fade the night the Phillies won the 2008 World Series. I had a friend who had already graduated from Columbia and was living downtown. He invited me and my friends to a place called Wogies, a sports bar that he claimed was for Philly transplants living in New York. I almost didn’t believe him that such a place existed, but since “Wogies” rhymed with “hoagies,” I thought maybe it could be true.

I arrived at Wogies to find a sea of red baseball caps and jerseys, only Phillies fans packed shoulder-to-shoulder in the center of a TV-lined bar, all eyes glued to the screens. Feeling the buzz after a beer, I felt like I had found my people and my place in a city that constantly reminds you of your anonymity.

About an hour into the game, into the bar walked a guy donning a Yankees hat flanked by two Phillies fans — his “friends.” As if the crowd could feel the presence of an intruder, the entire bar turned to see their foe, and without skipping a beat, began chanting in unison, “Boo! Boo! Get out of our house!” Nowhere in New York has a Yankees fan felt so unwelcome. The poor guy left!

It’s that kind of fan dedication and commitment that can only be inspired by being from Philadelphia. In that moment in a corner bar in the West Village, I realized my true identity without having to be physically present in Philadelphia. From then on, I had the courage to be unapologetically “from Philly” in a city where New Yorkers think talking about “the city” always and exclusively means “New York City.”

Thanks for starting your week — and month — with The Inquirer. See you back here tomorrow.

By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

Good morning. Sunday may be soggy, with rains expected throughout the day.

Today’s main read touches on the growth of electric-vehicle charging stations in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, even as EV sales slow nationwide.

— Paola Pérez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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Charging stations forge ahead

As an unpredictable venture, the electric-vehicle business has been forecast for a downturn by analysts and automakers for a long time.

🔌 Despite a drop in EV sales, consumer interest remains strong, and charging suppliers are not losing their motivation.

🔌 Convenience stores are at the forefront of private investment in EV-charging stations. Wawa, Sheetz, and Pilot are deep into the game, with hundreds of charging locations combined.

🔌 EV owners are noticing the changes, but drivers report mixed results.

Scott Sturgis explains how federal funds play a role, and more of the latest developments in the EV world.

What you should know today

• Philadelphia police arrested a man they say struck and killed a 41-year-old woman in University City on Thanksgiving Day.
• A man died in a fire at a Strawberry Mansion home on Friday, officials said. The cause remains under investigation.
• Fans flocked to the annual Wanamaker Light Show, even as its future remains uncertain.
• The familiar Black Friday hustle descended on the Cherry Hill Mall, but as some retailers reported business as usual, others described the shopping destination as more subdued than in years past.
• Holiday travelers are returning home during a busy travel weekend and there could be disruptions to air traffic. We’re checking conditions at Philadelphia International Airport every hour.
• A white state trooper who served on the governor’s security detail is suing the Pennsylvania State Police, alleging he faced racial discrimination.
• For those who drove to South Philadelphia for the Eagles’ Black Friday matchup, the city had a postgame surprise: a new traffic management plan that might minimize stadium complex gridlock.
• A Filipino-American steakhouse called Manong is set to open in Fairmount next week. It’s a celebration of Tabachoy owner Chance Anies’ ’90s upbringing.
• A dispute over the level of taxation and accusations of retribution derailed another attempt to regulate skill games in Pennsylvania, Spotlight PA reports.
• Nobody likes rejection, but how it is communicated matters a great deal. Temple University studied the science behind softening the blow.

Design the dress

For Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s forthcoming star-studded nuptials, there’s a lot that we don’t know yet, including their attire to walk down the aisle.

In the spirit of creativity, The Inquirer recruited fashion students — and Tayvis fans — at several Philadelphia universities to sketch their own gowns and suits for the celebrity couple.

For Swift, one student said their asymmetrical gown design reflects “how Swift often separates her personal life from her stardom,” and another drew inspiration from a vintage wedding cake to craft a layered dress with a one-shouldered neckline.

And for Kelce, there’s a sporty tuxedo inspired by the football field, and another accessorized with gold chains as a nod to a lyric from one of Swift’s songs.

From fanciful to classic and architectural, swipe through our favorite selections and pick your fits.

❓Pop quiz

Somewhere in Philly, there’s a shopping center with a Starbucks coffee shop and a Sunglass Hut store right next to each other.

Where is it?

A) Fashion District Philadelphia

B) King of Prussia Mall

C) Philadelphia Premium Outlets

D) Franklin Mall

Think you know? Our weekly Citywide Quest game puts your knowledge of Philly’s streets to the test. Check your answer.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

Hint: Renowned architect who designed the Comcast Center and the Museum of the American Revolution

AMBER TORRENTS

Email us if you know the answer. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here.

Cheers to Dan Tureck, who correctly guessed Wednesday’s answer: Essen Bakery. Its James Beard Award-nominated owner is permanently closing both of her shops and may file for bankruptcy.

Photo of the day

🎶 Today’s track goes like this: “All of the power that burns in the flame / Ignites the light in a single name.”

Ahead of Patti Smith’s Horses 50th anniversary show at the Met, pop critic Dan DeLuca spoke with the punk rock icon on the ways Philadelphia and South Jersey shaped her. She will be at Marian Anderson Hall on Monday to promote her new memoir.

👋🏽 Have a good day, OK? Julie will bring you tomorrow’s news first thing in the morning. Thanks for stopping by.