In City Hall, it’s Parker vs. big tech| Morning Newsletter
And a former patient’s mission to work at CHOP.
The Morning Newsletter
Start your day with the Philly news you need and the stories you want all in one easy-to-read newsletter
Good morning, Philly ☀️
And happy primary Election Day to our Jersey readers 🗳️. Here are the races we’re watching. Be sure to check Inquirer.com throughout the day to get the latest updates.
Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle L. Parker’s budget plan relies on taxing big tech companies, but she’s getting resistance from both inside and outside City Hall.
Plus, a former CHOP patient is now starting her career journey there, and more news of the day.
— Taylor Allen (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)
If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.
Mayor Parker formed her budget agenda on the backs of big tech companies:
💰 Parker originally wanted to increase the city’s hotel tax by 2% but is now willing to go down to 0.6% and, instead, jack up the tax on short-term rentals like Airbnb by 6% to fund homelessness prevention programs.
💰She also wants to levy a 25-cent fee on retail delivery orders like Amazon to help fund fixing potholes.
💰 Most controversially, she’s pushing for a $1-per-ride surcharge on rideshare services like Uber and Lyft to stave off the Philadelphia School District’s planned staff cuts.
None of this is happening without the majority of support from City Council, and she’s running out of time. Council must give its preliminary budget approval by Thursday to be fully passed by the start of the new fiscal year on July 1.
To get what she wants, she’ll have to navigate hesitation from her City Hall colleagues, opposition from large tourism organizations, and an intense lobbying effort against her proposed tax hikes.
Reporter Anna Orso breaks down the multiple factors at play.
Emma Walz dreamed of working at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia since she was treated there for cancer as a kid.
Her aspirations became a reality when she landed an internship and then was hired full time as a research assistant in psychology.
Walz’s passion for helping children with behavioral challenges helped her overcome survivor’s guilt.
Read more to discover how Walz’s experience inspired her career choice, as well her father’s.
The Inquirer’s Kayla Yup has the story.
What you should know today
The same vendor that supplied concrete in the deadly Grays Ferry garage collapse also supplied similar slabs to a New Jersey hospital garage that was declared unsafe.
Ursinus College laid off 15% of nonfaculty staff, including 25 full-time and 10 part-time employees.
More demonstrators were arrested outside the Delaney Hall ICE facility in Newark, N.J., when they refused to leave the area after the 9 p.m. curfew late Sunday.
Pennsylvania House staffer Megan Griffin-Shelley narrowly won the crowded Democratic primary race to replace State Rep. Mary Jo Dailey to represent the 148th district.
To brace for an influx of international tourists who do not tip like Americans, Philadelphia restaurants are considering implementing service charges to ensure their staff is paid during the 2026 World Cup and America’s 250th anniversary festivities.
Lower Merion is revisiting its leaf-blower ban after there was confusion over what equipment is included.
South Jersey now has a new free shuttle service. The regional service called NJ Connects provides six new bus routes to help close transportation gaps in Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, Atlantic, Cumberland, Cape May, and Salem Counties.
Quote of the day
A cheesesteak shop in Seoul, Wiir Philadelphia, is now thriving after the owner returned to Philly for a trip and learned how to create traditional hoagie rolls.
🧠 Trivia time
Who will headline the opening night concert of Philly’s FIFA Fan Festival?
A) Luis Fonsi
B) Bad Bunny
C) Jill Scott
D) None of the above
Think you know? Check your answer.
What we’re …
🏡 Admiring: This 18th-century farmhouse in Chester County.
🏈 Reminiscing: A.J. Brown’s best off-field moments with the Eagles.
🍿 Watching: The second season of The Four Seasons.
🧩 Unscramble the anagram
Hint: Historic hotel
SOUR HEROISM
Email us if you know the answer. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here.
Cheers to Katie Schmidt Schoenbaum, who solved Monday’s anagram: Love Island. Sean Reifel was previously a Bethlehem police officer. Now, he’s joining the cast of this hit reality dating competition, looking for love and a cash prize.
Photo of the day
Thank you for starting your day with The Inquirer.
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.
