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  • Projecting the USMNT’s World Cup roster after its last game of the year: Several locals in; surprises on the bubble

    Projecting the USMNT’s World Cup roster after its last game of the year: Several locals in; surprises on the bubble

    TAMPA, Fla. — From the time Mauricio Pochettino took over the U.S. men’s soccer team last year, each moment has had two meanings.

    Along with trying to win games, every pass, shot, tackle, save, or failure has been about trying to make the World Cup team. That mentality is burned deep into American soccer’s psyche, as it has been for many decades, and it’s even deeper when the tournament is on home soil.

    The competition is made more difficult by how few opportunities there are to compete. Tuesday’s U.S.-Uruguay game was the 22nd match of Mauricio Pochettino’s tenure, with two more in March before the World Cup roster is named in late May.

    Mauricio Pochettino reflects on the USMNT’s progress during his tenure

    That is the same number of games (24) the Eagles played in their entire 2024 campaign, from the preseason through the Super Bowl — to say nothing of how many games there are in other sports’ calendars.

    U.S. manager Mauricio Pochettino.

    On top of that, in none of those 22 games has Pochettino had every member of his A squad healthy. Christian Pulisic, Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie, Folarin Balogun, Chris Richards, Sergiño Dest, and others have missed significant time along the way.

    Then combine those absences with the Nations League flop in March, which forced Pochettino to blow up his plans and bring in a bunch of less-talented challengers to try to outhustle the stars. The result is the roller-coaster path the U.S. team has been on this year, reaching a smooth track only in the last two months.

    This has made projecting a World Cup roster quite difficult. It’s a game fans love to play, and the media often enjoys it too. But the absences, the results, and the quick cadence of FIFA windows this fall made it more sensible to wait.

    Now, though, the Americans have wrapped up their work for the year. The 24 players on this month’s squad headed back to the club world on Wednesday morning, and that side of the game will reign until late March.

    The USMNT’s players appreciate the team’s tough schedule leading up to the World Cup
    Gio Reyna is one of the players who left a big and positive impression in this month’s games.

    So this moment feels right to look at the bigger picture. Here’s my view of the race to make the plane to Atlanta, where the 26-player World Cup team will gather at U.S. Soccer’s new national training center before its pretournament friendlies.

    The projection is broken down by the six main positions in Pochettino’s tactics: goalkeeper, outside back, centerback, central midfielder, attacking midfielder, and striker. Each position then has players who look like they’re in, those on the bubble (in alphabetical order), and a few words of analysis.

    Goalkeepers

    In: Matt Freese (New York City FC), Patrick Schulte (Columbus Crew)

    Bubble: Roman Celentano (FC Cincinnati), Jonathan Klinsmann (Cesena, Italy), Zack Steffen (Colorado Rapids), Matt Turner (New England Revolution)

    Wayne’s Matt Freese remains atop the USMNT goalkeeper depth chart
    Matt Freese making a save during one of the U.S. men’s team’s practice sessions in Chester last week.

    Analysis: Unless something goes off the rails for Freese, the Wayne native is in line to become the most surprising U.S. starting goalkeeper at a World Cup for generations. He was given a chance in June and has not let it go, playing 13 of the Americans’ 14 games since the start of the summer.

    Schulte, at age 24, is a fine starter in Columbus, a capable backup with the U.S., and a leading name for the 2030 cycle.

    Turner’s fall is as surprising as Freese’s rise. The locked-in starter from the 2021 Gold Cup through this past March is now not just out of games, but out of rosters. Even a move back to New England to get the playing time he lacked in Europe hasn’t gotten him back in Pochettino’s good graces.

    Matt Turner is on the outside looking in with the U.S. squad right now.

    Celentano and Klinsmann, son of former U.S. manager Jürgen Klinsmann, have been in a few U.S. camps. Steffen, of Downingtown, unfortunately is on the outside looking in right now, despite his talent. He’ll have to hope for a strong start next year in Colorado that vaults him over the field.

    Outside backs

    In: Max Arfsten (Columbus Crew), Sergiño Dest (PSV Eindhoven, Netherlands), Alex Freeman (Orlando City), Antonee Robinson (Fulham, England), Tim Weah (Marseille, France)

    Bubble: Kristoffer Lund (FC Köln, Germany), John Tolkin (Holstein Kiel, Germany)

    Sergiño Dest (2) in action against Paraguay at Subaru Park on Saturday.

    Analysis: With one exception, this position is easy to line up. All five of the “in” names are locks to make the squad unless Robinson can’t recover from a long-term knee issue. From here, the view is if he’s healthy on June 1, that’s all that matters.

    Dest and Weah are the other big names, each capable of thriving in the right wingback role and playing the left side if necessary.

    Earlier this year, a reader complained to me on social media that the underwhelming Gold Cup squad might only produce the last players picked for a World Cup squad. I responded that if that was to happen, that squad would be a smashing success, no matter its results.

    Arfsten and Freeman are the proof of that, having shot to well-earned prominence this year. Though they wouldn’t start if the three others are healthy, they are more than capable backups.

    Lund and Tolkin are on the bubble in case Robinson ends up out. Tolkin played well against Uruguay on Wednesday in his first U.S. cap since the Gold Cup; Lund hasn’t been called in since October of last year.

    The USMNT’s new tactics seem made for Sergiño Dest, but how much will he play in them?

    Centerbacks

    In: Mark McKenzie (Toulouse, France), Tim Ream (Charlotte FC), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace, England)

    Bubble: Noahkai Banks (Augsburg, Germany), Tristan Blackmon (Vancouver Whitecaps), Cameron Carter-Vickers (Celtic, Scotland), Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati), Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach, Germany), Auston Trusty (Celtic, Scotland), Walker Zimmerman (free agent, last with Nashville SC)

    Chris Richards working out during a practice in September.

    Analysis: Ream and Richards aren’t just locks, they’re expected starters. The third starting spot is up for grabs, and there’s a lot of competition.

    McKenzie isn’t just projected as in here out of hometown loyalty to the Union alumnus from Bear, Del. His play for the national team and Toulouse puts him above a field in which no one else has truly stepped up.

    From here, the bet is Pochettino will take two more, and the race is wide-open.

    Six years since leaving the Union, Auston Trusty comes full circle with the USMNT

    Blackmon has played some for Pochettino but isn’t at the needed level. Carter-Vickers didn’t play for the U.S. in October, a big warning sign, then suffered an Achilles injury at Celtic. Robinson is a U.S. regular but hasn’t quite done well enough to ensure a plane ticket.

    Scally can play multiple positions and is listed here because right centerback is where he projects under Pochettino. After being out of the picture for a while, he played there against Paraguay, got torched on a goal, then didn’t play vs. Uruguay.

    Mark McKenzie (left) and Auston Trusty (right) grew up with the Union together, and could go to the World Cup together.

    Trusty played the full game vs. Uruguay and did well at both ends of the field. Zimmerman is last in line, but if he lands at a big club in MLS free agency and starts the year strong, he could be an emergency option.

    Banks is a big wild card. The 18-year-old Hawaii native stands 6-foot-4, is starting to earn regular playing time at Augsburg, and has held his own in the Bundesliga’s cauldron. Pochettino called him up in September, but hasn’t since. If Banks keeps playing, he might just make it.

    Central midfielders

    In: Tyler Adams (Bournemouth, England)

    Bubble: Sebastian Berhalter (Vancouver Whitecaps), Johnny Cardoso (Atlético Madrid), Aidan Morris (Middlesbrough, England), Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders), James Sands (St. Pauli, Germany), Tanner Tessmann (Lyon, France)

    Tyler Adams (left) is one of the U.S. team’s biggest stars.

    Analysis: Adams is a lock — a star, a veteran, and the team’s most vocal leader. From there, the question will be how deep Pochettino goes at the position.

    Tessmann, Roldan, and Morris lead the way, with Tessmann the closest to a lock. That takes the total to four, and the guess here is one more will make it.

    Berhalter made quite a statement in Tuesday’s win over Uruguay, with a goal and an assist off a corner kick. That puts him ahead for now of Cardoso, who has tons of talent and is at a huge club but has a history of playing poorly for the U.S. He’s also coming off an injury. If he’s healthy by March, he could get one shot at a ticket in that month’s friendlies.

    Sands helps his case with versatility, as he also can play centerback. He got a look in October and wasn’t bad, but he wasn’t called back this month even though there was room for him.

    Cristian Roldan is back with the USMNT, and it feels like he never left

    Attacking midfielders

    In: Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United, England), Weston McKennie (Juventus, Italy), Christian Pulisic (AC Milan, Italy), Malik Tillman (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany), Alejandro Zendejas (Club América, Mexico)

    Bubble: Diego Luna (Real Salt Lake), Jack McGlynn (Houston Dynamo), Gio Reyna (Borussia Dortmund, Germany)

    Union alum and Medford native Brenden Aaronson in action for the U.S. on his former home field at Subaru Park.

    Analysis: The “in” players are locks as long as they’re healthy, with Zendejas the only one close to a question. Pulisic obviously is a starter, with Tillman or McKennie in line to run next to him.

    From there, Pochettino can make subs based on situations. Medford’s Aaronson is an ideal defensive closer, and Zendejas provides width and creativity.

    The last pick could come down to Luna, whom Pochettino rightly adores for his toughness; or Reyna, whose talent is forever followed by injury fears. It would be great to see both make it, but there might not be room unless another position is sacrificed. Reyna has the advantage now and will keep it if he plays regularly for his club.

    McGlynn is a long shot, but a hot streak with Houston next year could bring his magic left foot back to the picture.

    Gio Reyna seizes his moment with the USMNT, and is now in the World Cup race

    Strikers

    In: Folarin Balogun (AS Monaco, France), Ricardo Pepi (PSV Eindhoven, Netherlands), Haji Wright (Coventry City, England)

    Bubble: Patrick Agyemang (Derby County, England)

    Folarin Balogun (center) might finally be the U.S. team’s long-awaited top striker.

    Analysis: It’s truly remarkable that the highest-profile position is one at which the U.S. has the fewest questions. Never before in the program’s 36-year modern era has there been a striker depth chart with this much quality.

    If Balogun, Pepi, and Wright are healthy, they’ll be on the plane, and that will be it. If any of them are injured — which Pochettino and every U.S. fan will pray doesn’t happen — Agyemang is first in line to come in.

    The field drops so far from there that right now no other strikers truly are in consideration.

    Folarin Balogun is living up to the hype as a long-awaited top striker for the USMNT
  • One of Philadelphia’s Michelin-recommended restaurants will be closing for good on Friday

    One of Philadelphia’s Michelin-recommended restaurants will be closing for good on Friday

    Barely 12 hours after Michelin included the fine-dining destination Laurel among its list of Recommended restaurants, chef Nicholas Elmi delivered the news that its final night of service would be Friday.

    Laurel’s closing after 12 years had been set in motion over the summer, as Elmi told The Inquirer in June that its lease was ending and that he wanted to open in Rittenhouse.

    Wednesday’s announcement on Instagram included word that reservations were available for a seven-course meal prepared by Elmi and chef de cuisine Kevin McWilliams.

    Chef/owner Nicholas Elmi, general manager Jane Fryer, and chef Kevin McWilliams outside of Laurel on Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023.

    Although honored with the Michelin accolade, “I feel like I’ve known what’s been going on over the past year, so I’ve already gone through the whole gamut of emotions,” Elmi said. “Last night was incredibly motivational for me — it made me redouble my efforts and figure out what my next step is. So that’s where I am: keeping my options open, keeping my eyes open, and trying to remain inspired.”

    The closing a week before Thanksgiving after a five-month wind-down was intentional. “Everyone’s starting new jobs in December, so it lets them take a week and a half off, get through Thanksgiving, decompress a little before moving on to the next stage of their lives and careers,” he said. “And it gives me the month of December to clear the place out and get myself organized. Winding down a business isn’t just flipping a switch — there’s a lot of paperwork to get through right now.”

    Elmi said he was looking forward to family time as well as focusing on his Bala Cynwyd restaurants Lark and the Landing Kitchen, as well as the Pump House events venue, which he own with Fia Berisha.

    What’s next for Elmi and Laurel?

    The new restaurant will not be the same as Laurel, he said. “As the culinary landscape of Philadelphia has changed, Laurel needs to be updated, whatever form that takes. There are a couple of different concepts we’re playing with right now. I think Michelin is certainly going to improve the aspect of fine dining in Philadelphia, and I want to take some time to figure out what that means to me in the context of how I’ve grown up cooking and doing fine dining over the past 20 years.”

    He said he was unsure if the Laurel name will continue.: “There’s a big part of me that understands Laurel is a recognized, branded name. But Laurel was also a little, tiny, beautiful restaurant stuffed into an apartment on a street in South Philadelphia. It was so intimate and so fun, and it represented a really cool moment in my life — being able to cook like that, and cook so freely.

    “There’s part of me that wants that to remain a memory, not only for myself but for the people who worked there and for the guests who came through over the past 12 years. So I’m still struggling with the idea. I’d love to carry the name on, but that name carries weight, and there’s an expectation that comes with it. Moving into something different isn’t off the table.”

  • A former Philly ward leader was sentenced to a year in federal prison for stealing $140,000 from the ward and his church

    A former Philly ward leader was sentenced to a year in federal prison for stealing $140,000 from the ward and his church

    A former West Philadelphia ward leader and onetime staffer for State Sen. Vincent Hughes was sentenced Wednesday to one year in federal prison for stealing more than $140,000 from his ward and a church where he served as a deacon.

    Willie Jordan, 68, had pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud over the summer. During his sentencing hearing Wednesday before U.S. District Judge Harvey Bartle III, Jordan said that he was sorry and that there were no excuses for his misconduct.

    “It was a bad decision,” Jordan said. “It was just wrong.”

    Bartle agreed, telling Jordan that although he appeared to have lived an otherwise noble life — dedicating his time and career to serving the public — stealing from institutions that sought to help people was inexcusable.

    “What’s so disappointing is you had a position of trust … and you abused that position of trust,” Bartle said. “And the amount of money you took were not insignificant sums.”

    Jordan for years was the unpaid leader of the 44th Ward in West Philadelphia and also a deacon at Mount Calvary Baptist Church in North Philadelphia. Prosecutors said that he had near-total control over the finances of both organizations, and that from 2020 to 2024 he took advantage of that status by writing checks to himself to cover personal expenses, including credit card and utility bills, purchases from airlines and furniture stores, and costs associated with a relative’s funeral.

    In all, prosecutors said, he stole more than $57,000 from the church and $85,000 from the ward, and often claimed the money was to reimburse the organizations for expenses they never incurred. To further conceal his wrongdoing, prosecutors said, he sometimes wrote false entries on checks’ memo lines, saying they were to pay for items such as Easter baskets or summer youth programs.

    Much of the fraud occurred while Jordan was working in Hughes’ office, prosecutors said, where he was a longtime top aide and had a six-figure state salary.

    Jordan’s attorney, Sam Stretton, said that Jordan retired from that job earlier this year amid the federal investigation into his crimes, and that he also is no longer a ward leader.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Louis Lappen said in court that the repeated nature of Jordan’s wrongdoing, and his status as a well-paid public employee, made his crimes stand out.

    “He’s somebody who should have known better,” Lappen said.

    Stretton said Jordan “made a terrible mistake but is an otherwise good person.” He said Jordan has already repaid the $57,000 he stole from the church and is continuing to donate hundreds of dollars per month to help cover its bills and other expenses. Jordan also is continuing to make restitution payments to the ward, Stretton said.

    Several of Jordan’s relatives wept in the courtroom after Bartle imposed his sentence. The judge then paused and addressed Jordan again before adjourning the hearing.

    “You’re going to have to pay the price of your crimes, but there is life after prison, and I hope you will continue to be a useful and productive citizen,” Bartle said. “There is redemption.”

  • Lower Merion may raise parking meter rates for the first time since 1999

    Lower Merion may raise parking meter rates for the first time since 1999

    Lower Merion’s board of commissioners is set to put multiple new ordinances on the books next month, including policies raising parking meter rates for the first time since 1999, lowering the speed limit on parts of Lancaster Avenue, and regulating where smoke and vape shops can open in the township.

    The smoke and vape shop regulation moved ahead last month, and the commissioners advanced the parking meter and speed limit changes Wednesday evening. Lower Merion’s assistant township manager, Brandon Ford, said the commissioners are poised to formally vote on all three proposals in December. Here’s everything you need to know.

    Parking meter rate may go up

    Commissioners on Wednesday moved forward an ordinance that would raise parking meter rates across Lower Merion for the first time in more than 25 years.

    Under the proposed ordinance, parking would increase from 50 cents per hour to $1 per hour across the township, with the exception of six locations in Ardmore. Parking would go up to $1.50 per hour at Rittenhouse Place, Cricket Avenue, Cricket Terrace, and township-owned parking lots five (Cricket Terrace) and six (Schauffele Plaza). The Cricket Avenue Parking Garage would stay at 50 cents per hour.

    Township staff say the proposed meter rate increase would generate around $900,000 annually and would likely drive quicker turnover in Lower Merion’s commercial corridor, generating more economic activity for local businesses.

    “The rates that we are charging have not kept up with the overall cost for maintaining those parking meters, as well as our overall parking services program,” Ford said during a Nov. 5 meeting.

    The ordinance, if passed, would not change how parking meter fees are collected. The township collects parking fees through meters, kiosks, and a mobile app.

    Commissioner Scott Zelov, who represents Bryn Mawr, Haverford, and Gladwyne, said: “It certainly is time to do this.”

    Anderson Avenue near Suburban Square on June 8. A proposed Lower Merion ordinance would increase parking meter rates across the township in hopes of raising revenue and spurring economic activity in places like downtown Ardmore.

    Lancaster Avenue speed limit reduction

    Lower Merion is set to reduce the speed limit on parts of Lancaster Avenue from 40 mph to 35 mph, bringing township code in compliance with an earlier speed limit change by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.

    PennDot has already placed 35-mph speed limit signs on the selected strip of Lancaster Avenue. The board’s approval will bring the township in line with the state and allow township police to start enforcing the reduced speed limit. The speed limit change is the latest development in a major redesign of Lancaster Avenue by the state and the township.

    A study conducted by PennDot earlier this year found that, out of nearly 20,000 vehicles traveling on Lancaster Avenue between Wynnewood Road and City Avenue during a 24-hour period, only 57% were driving at or below the 40-mph speed limit. PennDot considers the intersection of Lancaster Avenue and Remington Road to be a “high crash location.”

    The ordinance, approved for advertisement on Wednesday, also bans right turns on red at three intersections: Lancaster Avenue and Remington Road for eastbound traffic, Lancaster Avenue and Haverford Station Road for westbound traffic, and Montgomery Avenue and Airdale Road for east-west traffic.

    The township aims to place automated red-light cameras at all three intersections. The first red-light camera, at Remington Road and Lancaster Avenue, is in the process of being installed. Andy Block, Lower Merion’s superintendent of police, said the camera should be up and running by the end of the year.

    Red-light enforcement cameras set to come to Lower Merion

    Smoke and vape shop zoning

    Following a lengthy discussion that stretched across two meetings, the board of commissioners on Oct. 22 moved forward an ordinance that would decide where tobacco and vape shops can operate in Lower Merion.

    Under the proposed ordinance, if a tobacco or vape shop wanted to open in Lower Merion, it would have to be situated at least 1,000 feet from any other tobacco or vape shop and 1,000 feet from any public or private school. The rule would also apply to hookah lounges.

    Township staff said the 1,000-foot buffer would dramatically decrease the opportunity for smoke shops to operate in Lower Merion. Ford said there are currently around 1,000 properties in Lower Merion where smoke shops could operate. If the buffer ordinance were to be implemented, that number would drop to 300.

    While some commissioners inquired about creating a larger buffer, officials said doing so would likely zone smoke shops out of Lower Merion entirely, which would give smoke shop owners the legal claim to build anywhere in the community.

    During an Oct. 17 discussion of the ordinance, Commissioner Anthony Stevenson, who represents Ardmore and Haverford, said: “We need to avoid the continuation of making our township, and particularly in the Ardmore area, a vape central.”

    This suburban content is produced with support from the Leslie Miller and Richard Worley Foundation and The Lenfest Institute for Journalism. Editorial content is created independently of the project donors. Gifts to support The Inquirer’s high-impact journalism can be made at inquirer.com/donate. A list of Lenfest Institute donors can be found at lenfestinstitute.org/supporters.

  • First-year coach K.C. Keeler is committed to Temple, Philly, and his ‘grandpa’ dance moves

    First-year coach K.C. Keeler is committed to Temple, Philly, and his ‘grandpa’ dance moves

    Last summer, K.C. Keeler and his wife, Janice, began building a house in Wilmington. This would not have been notable if Keeler were coaching at an SEC dynasty or a Big 10 stalwart.

    But he works for Temple, where head football coaches have long been transient.

    The Owls have shuffled through 11, including interims, in 15 years. Some were fired because they weren’t winning; some were poached to fill higher-paying jobs.

    One coach, Manny Diaz, stayed for 17 days before running off to the University of Miami. Another, Geoff Collins, led Temple to a 15-10 record, only to leave for Georgia Tech after two years.

    Collins took over for Matt Rhule, who went 28-23 over four seasons before departing for Baylor. Rod Carey came next, and was fired after three seasons, during which he posted a 12-20 record.

    Stan Drayton, who won only nine games in parts of three seasons, didn’t even make it to the end of the 2024 campaign.

    This dynamic — being a smaller Division I program with fewer resources — has led Temple to a difficult balancing act. The school is established enough to hire good coaches but not always to keep them.

    Temple coach K.C. Keeler looks on during practice at the Edberg-Olson Hall football facility in July 30.

    Keeler, whom the Owls hired on Dec. 1, appears to be different. He has an established track record of building winning programs, and the 66-year-old won’t likely use Temple as a stepping stone.

    He’s deeply invested in the Owls and has genuine belief in his team’s ability. He also has local ties: The coach grew up in Emmaus, Lehigh County, 50 miles north of Philadelphia, and has a daughter and grandchildren who live in Delaware.

    Which is why he built a home in the area. Keeler is the first Temple head coach since Bruce Arians in the mid-1980s to do so.

    “It’s incredible what he’s done,” said senior quarterback Evan Simon, “and it’s only his first year. I wish I had a couple more with him.”

    A winning legacy

    Keeler’s first memory of Temple dates to the late 1970s, when he was a starting linebacker at the University of Delaware.

    The Blue Hens were a strong team but consistently struggled against the Division I Owls. In 1978, they won 10 games but were soundly beaten by Temple, 38-7.

    In 1979, when it won a Division II national championship, Delaware lost only one game. It was to Temple, at home, 31-14, on Sept. 22.

    Keeler graduated in 1981, and was hired as an assistant coach at Amherst College in Massachusetts that year. Rowan added him to its staff in 1986 (when it was known as Glassboro State College) and named Keeler head coach in 1993.

    K.C. Keeler earned his 275th career win. The first-year Temple coach recounts how he got there.

    Over nine seasons, he led the Profs to an 88-21-1 record, with seven Division III playoff appearances. Delaware brought him on as head coach in 2002 (succeeding Tubby Raymond after 36 seasons) and Keeler went 86-52 with the Blue Hens, reaching the Division I-AA national title game three times and winning a championship in 2003.

    He joined Sam Houston State as head coach in 2014, and posted a 97-39 record through 11 seasons, making the FCS playoffs six times and winning a second national title in 2020.

    Temple, meanwhile, notched only 11 winning seasons between 1981 and 2024. The Owls had suffered an especially tough stretch of late, failing to win more than three games in a season since 2019.

    K.C. Keeler won the NCAA Division I-AA Championship at Delaware in 2003.

    But for Keeler, the shine of those 1970s-era teams never wore off. He still saw a winner. So, when Temple approached him last year after firing Drayton, he took the opportunity.

    Things got off to a slow start. Some players were worried that they wouldn’t be welcomed back.

    Others were unsure of how they’d jell with Keeler and his staff.

    The head coach held a team meeting in December, before his introductory news conference. He tried to tell a couple of jokes, to lighten the mood.

    No one laughed. Keeler turned to his special teams coordinator, Brian Ginn.

    “Boy, these guys are serious,” he said.

    “Yeah,” Ginn responded. “They just went 3-9. I can see why they’re serious.”

    A few hours later, Keeler told the media what he told his team: that there would be no rebuild. That he was here to win a bowl or a conference championship.

    Fans are becoming more engaged as Temple and K.C. Keeler reimagine the football program

    Simon, the senior quarterback, was standing in the back of the room, listening acutely.

    “It was a little scary [at first],” he said. “I mean, this place hasn’t won more than three games since, who knows? I don’t even know.”

    Over the next few days, Keeler held one-on-one meetings with all 114 players on Temple’s roster.

    He asked what they liked — and disliked — about the program, and what changes they wanted to see.

    The coach quickly showed a willingness to listen, even to seemingly mundane concerns. Many players lived off-campus and mentioned that they had to pay for a meal plan that they didn’t use.

    Keeler talked to a few higher-ups, and was able to make a change, putting $500 worth of meal money back into players’ pockets. Temple now provides grab-and-go lunches and snacks, available outside the locker room.

    The head coach continued to encourage his team to communicate, and gradually, the players began to feel more comfortable.

    From left, Temple athletic director Arthur Johnson, newly-hired football head coach K.C. Keeler, and university president John Fry at a news conference on Dec. 3.

    In February, Keeler got word that a former Temple defensive tackle, Demerick Morris, would be leaving Oklahoma State. He had transferred there in December 2024 but had a change of heart, and was eager to return to Philly.

    Keeler wanted to bring him back, too, but decided to ask his defensive line coach, Cedric Calhoun, to check with rest of the linemen first.

    They were not on board.

    “Coach Calhoun goes, ‘They said, [expletive] no. There’s no way they’re taking him back,’” Keeler said. “And he was in a panic. I’m like, ‘It’s OK, let me handle this.’”

    The three defensive linemen — Allan Haye, K.J. Miles, and Sekou Kromah — shuffled into Keeler’s office and sat shoulder-to-shoulder on his cherry-red couch.

    Before Keeler explained his side, he made sure the players knew it was their decision.

    Temple can still make a bowl game, but heading into the bye week it’s about ‘moving forward’

    Then, he asked for their perspective. They said that years ago, the four linemen had made a pact not to enter the transfer portal. To stay at Temple and “fix” the program.

    When Morris left for Oklahoma State, Haye, Miles, and Kromah felt betrayed.

    “[To them], it was ‘Demerick broke the pact,’” Keeler recounted. “‘Demerick took the money.’”

    The head coach laid out the situation in more pragmatic terms. Temple needed to bring in another defensive tackle, regardless. Why not go with the familiar option?

    K.C. Keeler directing Temple against Howard on Sept. 6.

    “I know Demerick is a great player,” Keeler told them. “I can’t guarantee the [other] guy we’re going to bring in is going to be a great player.

    “I know Demerick is a great person. The guy we bring in … I don’t know a lot about him. I know Demerick loves Philadelphia. He’s living here now. He’s from Chicago.”

    The linemen changed their minds.

    “Again, the key was, this is still your call,” Keeler said. “I am not going to overrule your decision.”

    Poor push-ups and ‘terrible’ dance moves

    When Simon showed up to practice last summer, he could tell things were going to be different.

    At 66, Keeler was doing push-ups in the middle of the field. He was running sprints and stretching alongside his team.

    He even took control of the stereo sometimes, playing the music of his adolescence: Bruce Springsteen, Bananarama, and, of course, KC and the Sunshine Band.

    The quarterback compared it to being around your fun “uncle.”

    “They’re the world’s worst push-ups,” Simon said. “But his energy, it lifts the program. You’re allowed to have fun at practice.”

    Evan Simon wants to change Temple’s trajectory in football. He’s devoting time to make it happen.

    Keeler strikes a balance. There are times when practice is not fun. The head coach has high standards and pushes his team hard.

    But he also tries to foster human connection wherever he can, whether it’s sending a birthday text to a player, hosting team dinners, or organizing trivia nights at Temple’s Liacouras Center.

    One of Keeler’s biggest assets is his humor. He isn’t afraid to laugh at himself.

    On Oct. 4, in Temple’s fifth game of the season, the Owls trailed Texas-San Antonio, 14-3, at the half.

    Keeler reamed his players out in the locker room. He told them that it was the first time he’d been embarrassed to be their coach.

    “I said, ‘This the first time I’ve ever even thought this, in my 10 months here,’” Keeler recalled.

    The team responded almost immediately. Temple scored 21 points in the third quarter and ended up winning the game, 27-21.

    Afterward, the players started dancing in the locker room. Keeler joined in.

    The coach received some tough feedback.

    “A lot of comments like ‘I dance like an old white guy,’” he said. “Well, yeah, I am an old white guy. But, you know, winning is hard. So when you win? You celebrate.”

    The post-win dance quickly became a team tradition, and Keeler began to get creative with which guys he’d single out.

    On Oct. 18, in the final seconds of Temple’s victory over Charlotte, he looked to the sideline to find three of his players — Cam Stewart, Khalil Poteat, and Mausa Palu — dancing.

    Temple’s Cam’Ron Stewart made a position change and became one of the nation’s top pass rushers

    The coach had always instructed his team not to gloat in public. So, he decided to teach them a lesson.

    When the players walked into the locker room, Keeler called them out.

    “OK,” he said. “You guys want to dance? You’re leading the dance.”

    General manager Clayton Barnes hit the music. The team gathered in a circle, as Stewart, Poteat, and Palu showed off their moves.

    Then, Keeler showed off his.

    “Terrible,” said Kromah.

    “It’s like seeing your grandpa dancing,” said running back Jay Ducker. “‘OK, grandpa! OK!’”

    “I think he’s got to start stretching before he does them,” said Simon.

    On Oct. 25, after Temple’s fifth win of the season, against Tulsa, Keeler summoned offensive lineman Giakoby Hills.

    It was Hills’ birthday.

    “Giakoby, come on down!” Keeler said. “Birthday boy is going to lead the dance.”

    This may seem like a silly custom, but for a team that couldn’t muster a laugh back in December, it’s progress.

    Temple quarterback Evan Simon has 22 touchdowns with 1,847 passing yards and only one interception through 10 games this season.

    And for players like Simon, it has made a difference. The quarterback is in the midst of a career season. He has 22 touchdowns with 1,847 passing yards and only one interception through 10 games.

    He credits a lot to “Uncle” Keeler.

    “He’s so easy to talk to,” Simon said. “And that’s important as a player. Not being nervous all the time. Because I’ve experienced that, where there’s tension, [and you’re] afraid to mess up. But he’s super easygoing.”

    ‘Not afraid to fail’

    There are plenty of young players who have thrived under Keeler’s quirky coaching style.

    But none as successful as Bengals quarterback and 18-year NFL veteran Joe Flacco, who played at Delaware in 2006 and 2007.

    Keeler brought the same enthusiasm back then that he does now (with fewer dance moves, to which Flacco responded: “Thank God”).

    When Flacco transferred from Pittsburgh to Delaware, he was a backup quarterback, sorely in need of a good spring.

    K.C. Keeler coached Joe Flacco at Delaware.

    He contemplated playing collegiate baseball, an idea the coach quickly put an end to. Keeler told his pupil that he needed to focus on football. He reiterated, time and time again, that Flacco would be drafted by an NFL team.

    It was helpful for the young quarterback to hear.

    “I was honestly happy,” Flacco said. “I thought I wanted to pursue [baseball], but deep down, I really didn’t. And he didn’t want me to do it. So, I was like, ‘Good, I don’t really want to do it.’”

    After Flacco was selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the first round of the 2008 NFL draft, he met with his former coach.

    Keeler asked him a question.

    “I’m going to be talking to another team [someday], and they’re going to want to know,” he said, “what makes Joe Flacco great?”

    The quarterback answered without hesitation.

    “I’m not afraid to fail,” he responded.

    Keeler might have this quality, too. He was not afraid to loudly proclaim that he wanted Temple to become bowl-eligible this season, and his team is close to meeting that threshold.

    Temple not shying away from being close to bowl eligibility: ‘We aren’t going to hide from it’

    The Owls have lost their last two games, in part because of mounting injuries. Despite that setback, they sit at 5-5, the most wins since 2019.

    Temple needs to win one of its remaining two games — Saturday against Tulane or Nov. 28 at North Texas — to qualify for a bowl game.

    But regardless of what happens, Keeler won’t be afraid of the outcome. And if the Owls win, he certainly won’t be afraid to dance.

    “[He has] a belief and ability to make [a program] bigger than what everybody thinks it is,” Flacco said of his former coach. “It’s not only that he says it, and preaches it, but he also gets you to believe it. And that’s huge.”

  • ‘A Drugcember to Remember’ is coming back to its ‘old local hangout’

    ‘A Drugcember to Remember’ is coming back to its ‘old local hangout’

    Once again, Philadelphia music fans can look forward to a Drugcember to remember.

    Next month, Philly rock band The War On Drugs will renew a tradition that has been on hiatus since 2022. It will perform a trio of fundraising shows to benefit the Fund for the School District of Philadelphia, the nonprofit that raises money and coordinates investments into Philadelphia Schools.

    The Adam Granduciel-led seven piece band, that won a best rock album Grammy for A Deeper Understanding in 2018, will play three nights at Johnny Brenda’s in Fishtown, from Dec. 18-20.

    The 250 capacity club — which the band first played on the venue’s opening weekend in 2006 — is several magnitudes smaller that the amphitheater, arena, and festival stages the Drugs typically plays in venues around the world.

    Drugcember to Remember debuted in 2018 and became an annual Philly three-show tradition through 2022, with the exception of the COVID shutdown year of 2020.

    But it hadn’t taken place since 2022, and seemed in danger of being gone for good, with Granduciel now living on Los Angeles and bassist and original members Dave Hartley in North Carolina.

    Granduciel said in a statement that the return to the treasured tradition is a way to reaffirm its Philadelphia identity.

    The flyer for The War on Drugs’ 2025 ‘A Drugcember to Remember’ benefit shows at Johnny Brenda’s on Dec. 18-20.

    “This has been a year end highlight for me since we started doing it in 2018,” said the guitarist and songwriter who stepped out as a producer in 2025 on Craig Finn’s Always Been and Sam Fender’s People Watching. “Three rock shows at our old local hangout benefiting the Philadelphia School System. This band wouldn’t exist if not for the vibrant Philadelphia music community that has supported us from the beginning and we are very grateful for it.”

    The War On Drugs’ most recent studio album, I Don’t Live Here Anymore, came out in 2021. Last year, they released the in-concert recording Live Drugs Again.

    Philly’s the War on Drugs reach for greatness and ‘A Deeper Understanding’

    Its most recent Philadelphia performance was in the summer of 2024, sharing a bill with the National at the Mann Center in Fairmount Park. Besides the Drugcember shows, the only two dates on the band’s schedule are at festivals in Spain and Portugal in July 2026.

    A Drugcember To Remember will raise funds through ticket sales and also the sale of exclusive items though Philadelphia businesses, including Elixr Coffee, Sacred Vice Brewing, Room Shop, Uncle Ron’s Candles, and Kinetic Skateboarding/Nocturnal Skate Shop.

    Ticket for the Johnny Brenda’s shows go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday Nov. 21 at thewarondrugs.net/tour.

  • ‘Phillies Extra’ Q&A: Joe Maddon on Kyle Schwarber’s evolution, and a potential key to playoff success

    ‘Phillies Extra’ Q&A: Joe Maddon on Kyle Schwarber’s evolution, and a potential key to playoff success

    Kyle Schwarber spent much of his first five major league seasons trying to get things right against lefties.

    Joe Maddon watched the struggle up close.

    Schwarber was a .198 hitter with a .658 OPS in 374 plate appearances against lefties from 2015 to 2020, and as the Cubs’ manager, Maddon was hard-pressed to keep him in the lineup. After the 2020 season, under an ownership mandate to cut payroll, Chicago let Schwarber go.

    GM meetings takeaways: The J.T. Realmuto question, competition for Kyle Schwarber, and more

    It must have been quite a sight, then, for Maddon to watch Schwarber bat .300 against lefties in 2024 for the Phillies and set a single-season major league record with 23 left-on-left homers this year.

    Schwarber became a complete hitter in four seasons with the Phillies — and put himself in position to cash in this offseason in free agency. As Schwarber’s market develops, Maddon sat down with Phillies Extra, The Inquirer’s baseball podcast, to discuss the slugger’s maturation as a hitter.

    Maddon also weighed in on how the Phillies can best protect Bryce Harper in the lineup, the value of experience in the manager’s seat, and more. Here’s an excerpt from our conversation, edited for brevity and clarity.

    Watch the full interview below and subscribe to the Phillies Extra podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

    Q: You managed Schwarber in his first five years in the big leagues, and there were real questions about his ability to hit lefties and be an everyday player. What goes through your mind this year, when you see him set a record with 23 homers against left-handers and evolve into a complete hitter?

    A: The guy’s all heart. He comes from a family of first responders. He’s got a great charity organization. I love his wife, Paige. Also haven’t met the baby yet, but there’s a lot to love about this guy. He’s real … and that’s why he fits in so well in Philadelphia.

    When we had him there [in Chicago], I wanted to hit him leadoff because of all the attributes that we’re discussing right now, the fact that I thought he had a good eye at the plate, he would accept his walks, and he could put you up 1-0 before the first hitter is done right there. However, he was deficient against left-handed pitching at that time. He didn’t wait on the ball as well as he does right now. … You can see the difference in the way that Schwarbs just lets the ball get to him, as opposed to wanting to go get it, especially against the left-handed pitcher, the ability to hit the ball to left-center has really highlighted that even better. So am I surprised? No, I thought that eventually it would get to that point.

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    If you’re the Cubs, at that point in his career, it’s hard to be patient. I was criticized for [hitting him] leadoff, even though I really thought it was a great idea, and you’ve seen it’s worked well, even in Philadelphia when they do that. But he really did need to learn a new approach, mentally and physically, against left-handed pitching. And he has. They’ve done a wonderful job.

    The other part that was against him was his defense. He had been a catcher. When he came up, we put him in the outfield, and he was a below-average outfielder. There’s no way to describe it otherwise. But he had a good arm. He made some really great throws. And of course, he’s one of those guys, if you tell him he can’t do something, he’s going to prove you wrong, which he’s done his entire existence, from [college at] Indiana on up, and even probably when he was in high school. So these are the things he had to learn. He has learned them.

    I’m so happy for him and his family that this all happened now, so that probably, I would say absolutely, a three-year heavy contract with maybe a fourth year as an option is in order right now. I’d love to see him stay in Philadelphia, because I think his sensibilities, his personality, plays with that fan base extremely well, and that’s not going to go away.

    However, I know Dave Dombrowski really well. David and I scouted together in Arizona back in the ’80s. David’s a real baseball guy. He’s going to look beyond certain components of this. They know what they see, also talking to him and the impact he has in the clubhouse. I would like to believe he’s going to stay in Philadelphia, and I think he should. I don’t know that if somebody wants to give him a couple more million bucks than the Phillies do, that, I still think Schwarbs is grounded enough that he’s going to go where he wants to go, as opposed to being swayed by a couple extra dollars.

    Rob Thomson’s Phillies have been bounced from the playoffs in the NLDS each of the last two seasons.
    Q: What do you make of where the Phillies stand in their competitive cycle, and how far do you think they can go with the same group?

    A: If you’re going to change things, you’ve got to pretty much make sure that you’re getting better, right? They are good. I like watching them. I watch them often, and I think they have grit. I think they have great camaraderie. I love their leadership. I don’t know what else you want, really. I mean to say that we’re just going to blow this up and all of a sudden we’re going to be as good next year as we were the last two or three years, and then we’re going to do better in the playoffs, that’s kind of a reach for me.

    With this group, I would look to tweak it a little bit. I wouldn’t necessarily look to blow it up. There’s just too many good players on that roster, and I really think they interact well.

    Let’s make a deal: Phillies trade ideas for Alec Bohm, Nick Castellanos, a catcher, and more

    The division itself, with the Mets, the Braves off a bad year are going to probably be better. But I still think Philly’s the right team, the team that has a chance to repeat again as the champs of their division again next year.

    My biggest thing I would look at is, “how do we prep for playoffs? What are we doing there?” My big thing is, when you get to the playoffs, I like to do less and not more. And analytical departments like to do more and not less. That time of the year, you’ve already played all these teams. You’ve played them; you’ve seen them. And then there’s the meetings. If they become more laborious, more detailed, longer, you’re putting more stuff on guys’ plate, that would be the mistake I would consider. So I don’t know this. I’m just saying I would really look at the prep work, because what would always frustrate me, we would go through the whole year, you get to this particular juncture, and now is the time to really let your players get out there, rested body, rested mind, and free. Give them a nugget or two, but let them go play some baseball, which is why we just love the World Series.

    … I had Shohei [Ohtani], I’ve had a lot of these guys — they don’t hold on to analytical nuggets when the game’s played. They don’t. That’s for managers and coaches to really decipher before a game. But then again, it has to be distilled. When you get too much information, it only serves to confuse. And again, I don’t know anything here, because I’m not privy to this, but I would look into, how are we prepping going into the playoffs? What are we laying on these guys, and how are we approaching them at that point? Because, quite frankly, they look a little bit more uptight to me in the playoffs than they do during the regular season. Like with Arizona a couple years ago [in the NLCS], I couldn’t believe that.

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    So, I would really research and analyze my approach into that part of the year. Because obviously the approach during the year looks pretty darn good, and I don’t see that changing. So whatever you feel as though there was a deficiency, yes, try to add on to that. There’s got to be some micro stuff. But to blow that thing up doesn’t make any sense to me.

    Watch or listen to the full interview to hear Maddon’s thoughts on protecting Harper in the lineup, his connection with Phillies manager Rob Thomson, and more.

  • An Infrastructure for Empowerment

    An Infrastructure for Empowerment

    A 2019 recipient of the Philadelphia Award, the Rev. Luis Cortés Jr., 67, has come a long way from working after school at his father’s grocery store, known as a “bodega” in East Harlem. The bodega is where he learned the impact of social connection. “I’ve never seen sociology papers written from the bodega perspective, but there can be,” Cortés said.

    Those early observations informed Cortés’ belief that perseverance and financial literacy can help close the gap for Latino communities. In 1986, Cortés founded the nonprofit Esperanza, which means “hope” in Spanish. The faith-based organization is guided by Jesus’ mandate in Matthew 25:40 to serve and advocate for “the least of these” around us.

    Known simply as “Rev” by members of the wider Philadelphia community, Cortés is proud of the breadth of services Esperanza offers. The organization improves the lives of those in North Philadelphia through education, housing stability, work training, civic empowerment, and the arts. Over the last 40 years, Esperanza has grown to serve more than 30,000 families annually. Cortés aspires to do more, still.

    How did your upbringing in New York City influence you?

    The first 10 years of my life were in Spanish Harlem, then we moved to Black Harlem and I attended New York City public schools. My father ran a grocery store, a bodega in the neighborhood, and I worked at the store. Working at the store teaches you a lot about life. You get to know the customers. You get to know their families. You get to know their hopes, aspirations, fears, and you begin to become part of the fabric of their lives. You learn about things that are happening in people’s lives that are very real and painful.

    It’s always the same things: the desire to have safety, and also long-term aspirations, [like to] be able to provide for their family.

    What experiences in your life or background led you to dedicate your career to social services and community support?

    I decided to go into the ministry because I could work on behalf of communities. I went from “I’m going to be a lawyer to help people,” to being a minister to help people. I became immersed in civil rights, both in my theological training as well as [in] my ministerial pursuit.

    I worked for a group called IFCO [Interreligious Foundation for Community Organization], based out of the Abyssinian Church under Rev. Lucius Walker. We [supported] self-determination for Puerto Rico. We [supported] civil rights in the U.S., [and] the National Anti-Klan Network. I’m willing to persevere for the greater good of the community. I realized I’m better at civil rights work and community development work.

    If someone were to ask you about entering the clergy today, what would you advise?

    I think that entering the clergy allows you to get into the most theoretical, philosophical, theological thoughts in the history of humankind. All areas of inquiry are open to you.

    Esperanza is a faith-based organization. How is faith woven into all that Esperanza does?

    The fact is, all human beings are equal and all human beings need to be loved and respected.

    That’s our theological and our epistemological premise. Every individual has something to share, both for the growth of their family and for the whole. If you start there, everything [is] about opportunity. Money should not inhibit your growth and your ability to serve others. At Esperanza the religious aspects will always be present as long as we maintain the theoretical framework that all human beings are created by God. And all human beings are equal, regardless of who they are in the present day, because that will not define who you will be tomorrow.

    Economics is a touchstone for you and for Esparanza. What’s behind your focus on financial literacy?

    I learned early that money is a tool. And no matter how much money you have, it is still a tool, and an important one. How do we learn to use and apply that tool?

    The example I use is this: When I worked at my family’s store, I would always take a Snickers bar and a Pepsi. The fact that I wasn’t thinking about it irritated my father. So one day he asks me four basic questions: How many are in a box? How many do I have to sell to break even? How long is the box there? And why is the box there?

    He wasn’t upset that I was eating a Snickers bar. He was upset that I didn’t know what [it] meant to the overall economics of the store, and that I was taking that tool [of money and economics] for granted. Money is a tool no matter how little you have. And you need to understand the tool and how you apply the tool.

    We need to find ways to educate people about money, about status, immediate gratification versus long-term gratification. You cannot just live for tomorrow, but you should not just live for today. That’s my philosophy.

    Is there a division of Esperanza that you hold a soft spot for?

    In our art gallery, Galéria Esperanza, we highlight Latino artists from Philadelphia who don’t get a shot anywhere else. There are great composers, [musicians, dancers, and other Latino artists] in history. And so Esperanza Art Center melds [the performing arts, including theater, film, music, and dance, to feature those artists]. And then [another] important [piece] is access: [kids] 18 and under and college students [can attend for] free, and senior citizens are free.

    We need to thank the philanthropic community because they made that access possible. We built and paid for our theater, the Teatro Esperanza. I convinced the performing groups, including Philadelphia Ballet, Philadanco and Opera Philadelphia, to come, but I still needed a way to help finance those groups.

    We have a library, which is now a community library. The businesses use it in the evenings. It’s reserved for our high school juniors, seniors, and college students during the day. It’s wonderful. We don’t get any government funding for that, but we need it. We hold community school meetings here at Esperanza as well.

    Can you share a recent success story?

    It is the opening of Esperanza Academy Charter School‘s elementary building in September. It took us almost 12 years to gain permission, raise the money to build, and open our elementary school. Once we finally got permission we had to raise money. It took five years to raise $40 million for the construction. We have a state-of-the-art facility. It is a physically beautiful space for our children. The parents see it and cry.

    There have been a lot of recent changes politically on the local, state, and national levels. How has Esperanza had to shift its focus?

    Civic rights, civic engagement have become a larger focus in the more recent months. We have an immigration division, so we put out training sessions to know your rights.

    We also have explained to staff what their rights are. We’ve explained to business owners [and] clergy. A lot of clergy thought that ICE cannot come into their church. The law is clear. ICE can walk into your church on a Sunday morning while you’re preaching. They cannot go into any space that’s private. So put “private” on every door.

    Learning the rules of engagement is important, even though the rules of engagement are not always followed by the government these days. But knowing them is important because they will affect your case as you move forward.

    We’re proceeding with our work. People need housing. People need food. People need education. Nothing changes. We have to continue to let people know that this political climate is abnormal. But you need to understand that while it’s abnormal, it may be legal. And if it is legal, you need to understand what your rights are. You need to understand where you must comply.

    What is the biggest challenge for Esperanza in the coming year?

    The biggest challenges include programming for senior citizens around heat mitigation, cuts to our college (a Hispanic-serving institution), and reductions in community development funding. We had to make tough decisions. The loss of funding meant we couldn’t hire a group of people, and hard-working people had to be let go.

    These are fundamental issues about being humane and they’re very important. I see a lot of inhumaneness by governmental structures these days.

    Esperanza turns 40 years old in 2026. Are there any special events in the works?

    We will be celebrating our 40th anniversary in April with a sponsored event. And then, we also are celebrating the 25th anniversary of [Esperanza Academy Charter School] and the 25th anniversary of [Esperanza College of Eastern University].

    We’ll be holding an event the day before our 40th anniversary event [that is] a musical celebration with a jazz orchestra band for the community [celebrating] 250 years of Latin music. We’ll have big-band-style performers with Pablo Batista heading it up. Pablo was this year’s Grand Marshal for the Puerto Rican parade. He’s one of the top percussionists and a global icon who’s been living in [Philadelphia] for his whole life.

    What do you want your legacy to be?

    That’s easy: to build Esperanza College into one of our major universities in Philly. And the institution will compete and become the mechanism by which people can become empowered.

    PHILLY QUICK ROUND

    What’s your favorite Philly food splurge? I have two: the Tres Leches cake from Vickie’s Sweets and the homemade ice cream from Helados Chupi Chupi.

    Favorite Philly restaurant? Tierra Colombiana. You can get the best Latin food in the city.

    Favorite Philly small business? Cafe Tinto and Amy’s Pastelillos, both in North Philly.

    Which sports teams do you root for? I was a Sixers fan before I came to Philadelphia. All the other teams I became a fan of after I moved to Philadelphia. They grow on you. The Flyers, Phillies, the Eagles are in a renaissance period right now.

    Favorite Philly artist, performer, musician and/or band? Percussionist Pablo Batista and the band Low Cut Connie.

    What elements of Philly remind you of your childhood neighborhood of East Harlem in NYC? Any time I walk into a bodega and I can talk in Spanish, it’s like a time warp.

    What’s one place in or around Philadelphia everyone should visit at least once? Teatro Esperanza.

    What do you wish people knew about the people who call Philly home? We always get up. We get knocked down, but we always get up. It’s part of that Rocky theme. There’s a lot of persistence in Philadelphia. It makes our city more dynamic.

  • Philly Housing Authority plans to lay off almost 300 workers in 2026

    Philly Housing Authority plans to lay off almost 300 workers in 2026

    The Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA) is planning sweeping layoffs that will affect almost 300 of the agency’s 1,200 employees, beginning in January 2026.

    The cutbacks are the result of dramatic changes in how PHA, which provides affordable housing to thousands of families across the city, does maintenance and repair work. Instead of directly employing union electricians, carpenters, and other workers, beginning next year, the agency will contract out for those jobs as needed.

    “This is a housing program, it is not a jobs program,” said Kelvin Jeremiah, the president and CEO of PHA, in an interview.

    “Do I use the resources that we have to protect residents, to advance the availability of affordable housing to the families that are most in need? Or do I use those limited resources to fund positions that I don’t need?” Jeremiah said.

    There are 620 members of the Philadelphia Building and Construction Trades Council employed full-time by the agency as maintenance staff. Jeremiah estimates that by almost halving that number PHA will see a cost savings of $24 million annually.

    The agency said it currently costs $15,500 to maintain a single unit of traditional public housing annually, due to the agency’s complex work rules, which require many different union workers to make repairs. Most other multifamily providers have dramatically lower per-unit maintenance costs.

    “PHA has engaged the unions throughout this process and can proceed with this policy decision without additional approvals,” an agency spokesperson said in an emailed statement.

    Although in-house building trades workers will constitute the majority of lost jobs, other positions will also be affected, including 33 managerial roles in PHA headquarters. Overall, PHA’s workforce will shrink by about 20%.

    “We are going to talk and try to offer some alternatives, but this is an issue of price sensitivity and we have to understand, given the new environment, that there are less funds to do the same mission with,” said Ryan Boyer, business manager for the Philadelphia Building and Construction Trades Council, whose unions represent many of the affected workers.

    The Philadelphia Housing Authority Headquarters is planning sweeping layoffs that will affect almost 300 of the agency’s 1,200 employees, beginning in January 2026 in Philadelphia, on Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025.

    More with less?

    The cutbacks come amid an aggressive $6.3 billion plan unveiled earlier this year, through which the agency hopes to expand its housing portfolio by 7,000 units while rehabbing the 13,000 units it already owns.

    Jeremiah said that the staff reduction should not be seen as PHA doing more with less, and that it will not limit the agency’s ability to execute his planned expansion.

    “We will not be doing less than what we’re doing now, but we have been doing too little with too much,” Jeremiah said. He said other market-rate and affordable housing multifamily operators are able to do unit repairs for far less than what PHA pays.

    “My colleagues have all been doing this at substantially less cost,” Jeremiah said. “The only difference between us is that they have an operating model that does not require six different trades to do a single thing.”

    Kelvin A. Jeremiah, PHA President & Chief Executive Officer, at PHA headquarters, in Philadelphia, May 21, 2025.

    Because PHA’s layoffs will affect hundreds of members of Philadelphia’s influential building trades unions, Jeremiah said, he has been negotiating with Boyer on the work-rule changes.

    “My reaction is one of disappointment. However, we remain partners with PHA and we will still build most of the stuff on the capital side,” Boyer said. “I don’t want it to be lost that when they build stuff, they will still be members of the Philadelphia building trades working, and there will still be members doing maintenance work.”

    Boyer is also the business manager for the Laborers’ District Council and a close ally of Mayor Cherelle L. Parker.

    Jeremiah said maintenance technicians, laborers, and painters will be the only trades that remain directly employed with the agency after the work-rule changes go into effect.

    The electricians union, IBEW Local 98, said it is still studying PHA’s new policy.

    PHA will also still work with the trades for discrete repair and maintenance jobs within the agency’s housing portfolio but will no longer directly employ as many workers full-time, Jeremiah said.

    The Trump effect?

    PHA’s layoffs, and its expansion plan, are unfolding during a period of uncertainty nationwide for affordable housing policies and organizations like PHA.

    Some housing experts were surprised to see PHA embark on its ambitious $6.3 billion plan amid President Donald Trump’s skepticism of affordable housing programs and a raft of austerity measures from his administration, which has sought to reduce public support for lower-income Americans.

    Nearly all of PHA’s funding — 93% — comes from the federal government, according to the agency.

    “If Congress and the administration coughs, it impacts us,” Jeremiah said. “If there is a reduction [in funding], it impacts us.”

    Jeremiah said he is seeking to operate within the mandates set by Trump’s administration while continuing to support PHA’s tenant base and plans.

    “Subsidizing employment … is just not the way to go at a time when we’re looking at less funding on the horizon,” Jeremiah said. “Where am I to get the funds not only to do more developments, acquire more, and preserve what we have at the same time [that] we have a workforce that is, quite frankly, I will dare to use the word bloated?”

    Waves of layoffs

    Despite the layoffs, Jeremiah believes the agency will still be a rich source of jobs for the building trades unions as the $6.3 billion plan unfolds. He points to an analysis of PHA’s 10-year plan by economic consulting firm Econsult Solutions, which said it would create 4,900 jobs annually in the city.

    The first round of 260 job losses will hit in mid-January 2026, although Jeremiah says 93 of those workers will be retained in new positions as maintenance aides, laborers, and painters. A further 116-position reduction will occur next summer.

    A vice president of development, Greg Hampson, also recently left PHA, although the agency declined to comment on that case. Jeremiah said that several vice president and director-level positions will be among the coming layoffs.

    The last major round of layoffs at PHA was in 2016, when 14% of the staff was cut. Those positions were mostly administrative roles.

    Editor’s note: A previous version of this story misstated the number of employees impacted.

  • Jordan Davis plays quarterback, and serves up a Thanksgiving meal to Camden families: ‘It takes a village’

    Jordan Davis plays quarterback, and serves up a Thanksgiving meal to Camden families: ‘It takes a village’

    The Eagles’ Jordan Davis had a different role Tuesday night at the Salvation Army Camden Kroc Center. The 6-foot-6, 336-pound defensive tackle lined up under center as the designated quarterback in a room with over 100 children, ready to play flag football.

    Davis spent time with four teams, joining each huddle and running plays as he introduced football to several kids who had never played the sport before.

    “This is the best flag football team in Camden, New Jersey. And I’m standing on that right now,” Davis said. “If I had so much time, I would actually coach y’all because y’all have so much potential.”

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    This was just one way the North Carolina native helped families in need Tuesday. The Jordan Davis Family Foundation provided a fully catered Thanksgiving meal to families who attended. And to end the night, all the families were handed Thanksgiving turkeys and AT&T laptops as they left the Kroc Center.

    The Jordan Davis Family Foundation provided Thanksgiving meals for families at the Salvation Army Camden Kroc Center in Camden on Tuesday night.

    Partnering with the Salvation Army is a full-circle moment for Davis. When he was a child, his family received assistance from the organization. Now, it’s his turn to give back.

    “It was hard for my mom, just making sure that we had a meal every night, me and my brothers,” Davis said. “And even nights that she might have sacrificed the meal for herself, it was always meant for us to eat. And I think that’s just a wonderful story for me because it shows the type of woman that she is.

    “She raised me to be that way. And it might not be a meal here, it could be a coat drive. It could be another drive. It could be a back-to-school event. It could be a kids camp. Anything matters. Everything matters. So, that’s just something that I keep in my heart, and I want to keep that going.”

    Davis isn’t the only Eagles player giving back ahead of the holiday season. Last week, running back Saquon Barkley partnered with Ashley Furniture and the Salvation Army to give out mattresses and bedding to families in need.

    Jordan Davis played flag football with the kids after eating providing a Thanksgiving meal through his foundation on Tuesday night.

    “It takes a village to raise a child,” Davis said. “And that’s something that my team, we always say. It takes a village. … When you have an opportunity to give back, it doesn’t matter what time it is. As long as you have that time, you want to make sure that you’re providing that time.

    “Time is the most important thing you can spend. And we could be doing anything else with this time right now, but we spend it giving back and we spend it doing the things that matter most to us.”