Fault lines in Philly’s labor movement | Morning Newsletter
🍨 And the best ice cream, mapped.
The Morning Newsletter
Start your day with the Philly news you need and the stories you want all in one easy-to-read newsletter
It’s Friday, Philly. Shower chances persist through the weekend — but as has been the case all week, how much rainfall you see depends on where you live.
The eight-day District Council 33 strike could have been an opportunity to unite Philadelphia unions. Instead, it exposed fault lines in the city’s labor movement, as some had to balance supporting the striking workers with maintaining their relationships with Mayor Cherelle L. Parker.
And hey, you deserve a sweet treat, so take a look at our map of the region’s best ice cream and gelato makers. One is even the oldest in America.
— Julie Zeglen (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)
P.S. Friday means trivia. Our latest news quiz includes questions on a Bridesburg park, All-Star Phillies, and more.
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During the DC 33 strike, Philly’s labor unions found themselves navigating a challenging political situation.
Some appeared hesitant to publicly back their fellow workers, concerned about weakening their ties to the Parker administration. Tensions arose, too, when some members of the building trades unions helped set up the Wawa Welcome America concert, prompting accusations of scabbing.
“If employers think that they can utilize one union and not another, there’s no reason for unions,” Teamsters Local 107 president Bill Hamilton said of the laborers who worked the event. “It’s a mistake that they crossed the line, and I think it has a lot to do with politics.”
Can the Philly labor community be united after a bruising eight days?
Reporters Sean Walsh and Max Marin have the story.
Further reading: The new contract negotiated by DC 33 leadership and the Parker administration can’t be ratified until its members vote on it next week. Check out what’s in it, from wages to healthcare to leave.
From flash flooding to trash piles, it’s been a stressful week in Philly. But you know what could melt all that stress, if only for a moment? A really great bowl of frozen dairy.
The Inquirer food team is making it easy to find sweet relief with a map of their favorite ice cream and gelato in the city. A sampling of their picks:
🍨 Bassetts, the country’s oldest ice cream brand, which holds court at Reading Terminal Market
🍨 Malai, the South Asian flavor-infused newcomer that’s drawing long lines near Rittenhouse Square
🍨 Milk Jawn, the homegrown maker of flavors like espresso martini and mango sticky rice
See more of the best scoops in Philadelphia.
What you should know today
A man who fired more than 100 rounds at Philly police officers during a 2019 standoff in Tioga was sentenced to 120 to 240 years in prison.
More than two years after a 16-year-old was shot and killed near his mother’s North Philadelphia home, police have arrested another young man they believe fired the bullets.
A man who stole several Philly houses from dead or tax-delinquent homeowners by forging deeds and transferring ownership to himself will serve six years in federal prison.
U.S. Sen. John Fetterman earned praise from President Donald Trump for slamming calls to abolish Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The States Project helped Pennsylvania Democrats flip the state House. Now its founders have launched a new policy forum in Philly.
Meet the three progressive winners of the Cherry Hill county committee election, who will defend their victory in court today.
Antonio Merlo, a political economist from New York University, began his tenure as Drexel University’s president on July 1. He says he’s ready to focus on the school’s academic overhaul.
Penn Museum workers, whose contract expired in June, have authorized a strike.
Welcome back to Curious Philly Friday. We’ll feature both new and timeless stories from our forum for readers to ask about the city’s quirks.
This week, we have an explainer from reporter Michelle Myers on why drivers might lose Bluetooth connection near the Camden side of the Benjamin Franklin Bridge.
First of all, no, it’s not extraterrestrials (probably). Instead, as a Drexel engineering professor told Myers, it’s likely a signal jam from the more powerful equipment connections around the bridge. Your device’s ability to fight through the noise depends on how well it can hop between frequencies.
In other words: science! Here’s the full explanation.
Have your own burning question about Philadelphia, its local oddities, or how the region works? Submit it here and you might find the answer featured in this space.
🧠 Trivia time
American Airlines is expanding service with a new bus route connecting Philadelphia and Trenton. The program allows passengers to do what at PHL?
A) Board first
B) Skip security
C) Check bags for free
D) Pay a discounted rate
Think you know? Check your answer.
What we’re...
🦈 Remembering: The deadly shark attacks at the Jersey Shore that inspired Jaws.
🏀 Navigating: The trademark minefield that is picking a WNBA team name.
👀 Looking for: A Nick Castellanos doppelgänger.
🍖 Welcoming: These six new restaurants coming to Cherry Hill, from barbecue to Japanese taiyaki.
👪 Considering: The Germantown mom who wants out of Philly after ICE deported her husband.
🧩 Unscramble the anagram
Hint: Restaurant from chefs Omar Tate and Cybille St.Aude-Tate
SLOUCHY KNEE
Email us if you know the answer. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here.
Cheers to Megan Bellwoar Hollinger, who solved Thursday’s anagram: David Corenswet. The Philly-native actor is being praised for his take on the titular role in Superman, out today. (Bonus: He’s an Eagles fan!)
Photo of the day
Stop and smell the lilies this weekend, if you see any, OK? And thanks for ending your week with The Inquirer.
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