After rash of shootings, more policing pledged | Morning Newsletter
And debating a Northeast Philadelphia health center.
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The Morning Newsletter
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Hi, Philly.
This week saw four straight days of shooting incidents on or near SEPTA buses. In the latest, a shooting in Burholme on Wednesday afternoon, all eight victims are students at Northeast High School.
The latest incident prompted quick responses from city officials, including Mayor Cherelle L. Parker, who vowed to dedicate more city resources to fighting gun violence.
In the lower Northeast, two new, city-run health centers could provide much-needed care. But community meetings to discuss one of the proposed sites in what is considered a health-care desert have been heated.
Keep reading for more details on those stories and others on this cloudy Thursday.
— Julie Zeglen (@juliezeglen, morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)
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Eight Northeast High School students ages 15 to 17 were struck by bullets in a shooting in Burholme on Wednesday afternoon.
The incident came after a 27-year old man in Oxford Circle, a 17-year-old student in Ogontz and a 37-year-old man in South Philadelphia were shot and killed over the three previous days, all while riding, entering or leaving a SEPTA bus.
Officials on Wednesday were swift to emphasize a need for gun violence solutions and justice for the victims, as reported by my Inquirer colleagues:
Mayor Cherelle L. Parker promised to use “every legal and constitutional tool” to fight gun violence in the city during an evening news conference at Wednesday’s shooting site, Rising Sun and Cottman Avenues. “Enough is enough,” she said.
District Attorney Larry Krasner vowed to aggressively prosecute all the individuals responsible: “We are all here united.”
Transit Police Chief Charles Lawson announced plans to regularly search detained suspects for weapons and strictly enforce lesser criminal violations such as fare evasion, drug use, and wearing masks. ”We’re going to enforce crime aggressively and we’re not going to apologize,” he said during a new conference Wednesday morning, before the latest shooting that involved two buses hit by bullets.
City Councilmember Anthony Phillips, whose district borders the site of the Burholme shooting, called for strategies to fight gun violence’s root causes. “It is crucial to provide the necessary resources and support systems to prevent further tragedies and uplift the affected individuals and families,” he said.
Philadelphia Federation of Teachers president Jerry Jordan called this week’s student shootings “senseless” and its impact on young people and the city at large “immeasurable.”
At least five teens have been fatally shot on or near SEPTA property in the past year.
Here’s The Inquirer’s full account of the latest outbreak of gun violence.
In lower Northeast Philadelphia, with a growing concentration of immigrants and lower-income people, the need for accessible health care is urgent.
City-run health centers provide care at little to no cost for residents in need. Only one is based in the vast Northeast: Health Center 10 on Cottman Avenue. Patients sometimes wait as long as six months for a regular physician appointment because there is so much demand, according to a Chinese interpreter at the health hub.
There’s a plan to shrink that disparity: The Department of Public Health intends to build two new health centers in the area, one at the current Friends Hospital site on Roosevelt Boulevard and the other near Frankford Transportation Center.
But some community members, especially historic preservationists, are concerned about the plans for the Friends Hospital site. A Native American encampment might be located behind the hospital, they say, and a historic building would need to be knocked down to make way for new construction.
Reporter Massarah Mikati spoke to residents and officials about the debate.
What you should know today
Philadelphia officials said this week that they will not use funds from the settlements of lawsuits against opioid manufacturers to pay for sterile syringes, which are distributed to many injection drug users to prevent infection and the spread of bloodborne illness. Mayor Parker’s administration did not explain its position on syringe exchange generally, but said it supports overdose prevention work.
When Parker releases her first budget proposal next week, the plan will likely include increased funding for her core initiatives such as expanding street cleaning and bolstering the city’s police force.
Sens. John Fetterman and Bob Casey both signed letters Tuesday requesting to pull federal funding for Center City’s William Way Community Center after learning the LGBTQ-focused nonprofit rents its space for BDSM-kink parties.
A leaked memo reveals a Penn board’s rebuke of law professor Amy Wax’s behavior and more proposed sanctions after racism complaints.
Philadelphia Federation of Teachers has ratified a one-year contract extension, which includes a 5% raise.
Philly schools owe some students with disabilities compensatory services because of COVID. Here’s how to apply for them.
You’ll be able to spot some local representation at and around President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address tonight.
Is the Erin Express still one of the best of St. Patrick’s Day bar crawls? Yes, but it’ll cost you.
Don’t worry, Abyssinia fans: The West Philly staple is open for business after a truck rammed into the Ethiopian restaurant’s front entrance.
🧠 Trivia time
What is the best-selling spirit in Pa., according to the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board?
A) Tito’s Handmade Vodka
B) New Amsterdam Pink Whitney Pink Lemonade Vodka
C) 99 Peaches Schnapps
D) Fireball Cinnamon Whisky
Think you know? Check your answer.
What we’re...
😭 Still not over: Jason Kelce’s retirement speech, now with helpful annotations.
🐏 Petting: Jefferson University’s woolly new mascot, reimagined with help from “mascot whisperer” Dave Raymond.
🚆 Riding: Amtrak, thanks to added service to New York City, Washington, and Boston.
🧩 Unscramble the anagram
Hint: Fans of this binge-worthy show have been asked to pitch in for the restoration of a landmark in the Lackawanna County town where the show takes place.
COFFEE HIT
Email us if you know the answer. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here. Cheers to Tom Bailey, who correctly guessed Wednesday’s answer: McGillin’s Olde Ale House which was named one of the best Irish bars in the country by the Travel Channel.
Photo of the day
Wishing you a happy Thursday. See you tomorrow.
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