Philly’s courtesy-tow problem | Morning Newsletter
And Kenyatta Johnson’s comeback
The Morning Newsletter
Start your day with the Philly news you need and the stories you want all in one easy-to-read newsletter
Expect a cloudy day with a slight chance of showers. Temps will reach a high of 79.
Philly’s notorious and longtime courtesy tow issue doesn’t look like it’ll have a resolution soon.
Ten new victims have joined a pair of potential class-action lawsuits targeting the city’s system of moving cars for roadwork, construction, and special events. And yet, this still isn’t motivating the city to act.
Our lead story shows that Philly officials are refusing to fix our courtesy-tow problem.
— Taylor Allen (@TayImanAllen, morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)
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Philadelphia city lawyers argue that the city’s unique problem of courtesy towing isn’t on them.
Ten new victims — including two drivers who never found their cars — have joined two potential class-action lawsuits targeting the city’s system for relocating cars.
Some context: For years, residents have complained about the system that doesn’t have a reliable way for documenting where the vehicles are towed to. In some cases, people don’t even know who towed them. Drivers have been left wandering weeks or months looking for their cars, which could have been dropped off a few blocks away or in an entirely different neighborhood.
The city response? It’s someone else’s fault.
In their own words: “[T]hey do not claim an injury that is fairly traceable to the City,” Anne Taylor, chief deputy city solicitor, wrote of the plaintiffs.
A federal judge rejected the city’s motions to have the lawsuits tossed and ordered the parties to engage in mediation.
Continue reading to learn the extent of what victims are up against.
Around this time last year, Philadelphia City Councilmember Kenyatta Johnson faced the possibility of spending years in federal prison.
Today, he’s vying to become Philadelphia’s top legislative leader. He’s cruising toward a fourth term representing South and Southwest Philadelphia and has allies both in City Hall and Harrisburg.
A quick recap: He announced his candidacy for Council president in February. That was less than four months after he and his wife, Dawn Chavous, were acquitted on charges that they accepted bribes and used his power to help a nonprofit maintain real estate in his district. He made headlines again last month when federal prosecutors charged a developer with leveraging his relationship with the Council member to illegally flip cheap parcels for huge profits.
Some in City Hall are quietly uncomfortable with the scrutiny over his land-use decisions.
In his own words: “I wasn’t only just exonerated, but innocent. That’s the rules: innocent until proven guilty,” Johnson said. “Through the grace of God, that process turned out in my favor. And I maintained my innocence from day one.”
Continue reading for the full profile that examines his political career.
What you should know today
A deadly shooting near Independence Mall leaves tourists undaunted yet unnerved.
As part of a state program, all Pennsylvania public school students will get free breakfast each day this school year, but some districts struggle with low participation.
The 27-year-old daughter of a Delaware County police officer, Ashley McLean-Gaylor, was killed in a hit-and-run accident in Southwest Philadelphia Saturday morning.
Home insurance is getting more expensive, largely because of rising building costs and extreme weather.
A LNG plant could bring millions into the bankrupt city of Chester but residents don’t want it, saying it would hurt their future.
South Jersey disc golfers are fighting to save their Stafford Woods course. Within three days, more than 11,000 people signed a petition to keep it.
A family discovered a bottle with a message earlier this month on a North Wildwood beach that was sent from Ireland four years ago. The sender and finder finally found each other.
As more small businesses come to Woodbury, the South Jersey town is working toward getting more residential and transit projects to boost downtown.
🧠 Trivia time 🧠
What year did the Naked Bike Ride arrive in Philly for the first time?
A) 2010
B) 2008
C) 2009
D) 2006
Think you know? Check your answer.
What we’re...
🗳️Explaining: What you need to know about Nicolas O’Rourke, the Working Families Party candidate running for Philly City Council.
🎧Listening To: Amber Mark’s Tiny Desk (Home) Concert.
🧩 Unscramble the anagram 🧩
Hint: This Starbucks drink just turned 20
PICKUPS ALIEN TEMPT
Email us if you know the answer. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here. Cheers to Nancy Brago, who correctly guessed Sunday’s answer: Lincoln Highway.
Photo of the day
I know it’s only Monday, but I’m starting my day by planning my Labor Day Weekend. I’m soaking in every bit of the last days of summer. I’ll be back in your inbox tomorrow. ☀️