Mayor Parker’s first 100 days | Morning Newsletter
✂️ And free haircuts under the El.
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The Morning Newsletter
Start your day with the Philly news you need and the stories you want all in one easy-to-read newsletter
Welcome to Wednesday. Expect cloudy skies with high temps around 70.
Today marks 100 days from Mayor Cherelle L. Parker’s start as the 100th mayor of Philadelphia. Our top story digs into the biggest issues she’s tackled so far, and what’s still to come for each of them.
And in Kensington, where Parker is focusing much of her political energy, meet a 33-year-old barber who has been quietly giving free haircuts next to the Ave for years.
Here’s what you need to know to start your day.
— Julie Zeglen (@juliezeglen, morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)
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The first 100 days of any public official’s tenure are closely watched. That’s when they set their priorities, staff up, and meet stakeholders.
Mayor Cherelle L. Parker — the city’s 100th mayor, and the first woman in charge — was privately sworn into office on Jan. 1, one day before her public inauguration. From a rash of SEPTA shootings to pushback on her stance on syringe exchange programs, Philly’s newest chief executive has faced an eventful start.
Five issues have most defined her time in office so far: boosting public safety, stabilizing Kensington, fighting the “Filthadelphia” reputation, creating more affordable housing, and shaking up education policy.
What has the Parker administration said and done about each of these issues? What actions are still to come? The Inquirer’s Anna Orso and Sean Collins Walsh examine Parker’s first 100 days.
Under the El near Kensington Avenue, Josh Santiago is serving fades and beard trims to anyone who needs them. He calls his clients “the most beautifulest people that you ever met your entire life.” Many are homeless or addicted to opioids.
Santiago has known that life, too. But a decade out from drug dealing, he estimates he’s given 12,000 free haircuts throughout the country via his mobile barbershop. In Philly, he also offers his phone number and a ride to a treatment center as soon as a customer says they’re ready.
Less tangible is what he gets in return.
The Inquirer’s Max Marin recently spent the day with Santiago and talked peace, purpose and forgiveness.
What you should know today
Philadelphia Police and outreach workers are increasing their presence in Kensington this week as the Parker administration plans a larger-scale crackdown on the open-air drug market there.
Tensions over addiction services are flying elsewhere in the city: The Manayunk group behind a recovery community center, several sober bars, and a harm reduction operation says local business leaders are trying to push them out of the neighborhood.
Meanwhile, the Medical Examiner’s Office found that synthetic opioids called nitazenes, which are up to 40 times more powerful than fentanyl, were present in several overdose deaths in Philly in the last two years.
Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel today asked City Council to approve new funding for hiring more emergency call dispatchers and community outreach workers, plus upgrades to the department’s tech and investigative equipment.
Hundreds of food service workers at the Wells Fargo Center have called a strike as they seek to negotiate a new contract with Aramark. Chief among their asks are a standard minimum wage and health benefits.
Wendy Cadge, a Delaware County native and sociologist who got her undergraduate degree at Swarthmore College, will become the next president of Bryn Mawr College.
A Bensalem veteran is on a mission to ensure the POW/MIA flag flies wherever and whenever the U.S. flag flies. He just got 1,700 flags closer to his goal, thanks to support from Lowe’s.
Alas, despite the apparent influx of vinylphiles, Philly’s listening room boom may be a scratch.
🧠 Trivia time
How many aftershocks have followed Friday’s earthquake felt in and around Philadelphia?
A) Zero
B) Five
C) 44
D) That’s not a thing ... is it?
Think you know? Check your answer.
What we're...
🧑🤝🧑 Cloning: Ourselves to attend all the great shows happening in town this Friday.
🍴 Awaiting: The opening of 30+ area restaurants.
🦖 Taking: The kids in our lives to visit these Philly children’s museums.
🧩 Unscramble the anagram
This Pennsauken company makes TikTok-famous smiley face sponges — and soon, a new bathroom-cleaning product.
BADDY CURDS
Email us if you know the answer. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here. Cheers to Lindsay Hilman, who solved Tuesday’s anagram: Dawn Staley. She’s the North Philadelphia native who just led the University of South Carolina women’s basketball team to NCAA Tournament victory.
Photo of the day
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