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Philly’s police union could lose power with reforms | Morning Newsletter

Plus, the history behind Juneteenth, which is today.

John McNesby, President of the Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge #5, is shown on Sept. 4, 2019.
John McNesby, President of the Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge #5, is shown on Sept. 4, 2019.Read moreCharles Fox / File Photograph

    The Morning Newsletter

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In response to civil unrest and calls for police reform, Philadelphia City Council is poised to approve a budget for the next fiscal year that cancels a $19 million increase in police funding. Meanwhile, $14 million would be diverted into a different part of the city budget by moving crossing guards and public safety enforcement officers out of the Police Department. Mayor Jim Kenney promised to make changes to the proposed city budget last week amid protests over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

— Lauren Aguirre (@laurencaguirre, morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

The scenario is repeated in big cities such as Philadelphia: Outrage over episodes of police misconduct is met with promises from political leaders to enact change. Then, police union officials combat and prevent that change.

But this time could be different. The death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police has led to a rare moment of broad political agreement: Something has to change. And even Republican lawmakers, who are normally staunch defenders of the status quo, are now pushing legislation that could radically change how police unions work in Pennsylvania.

City Council unanimously passed five housing bills Thursday to help renters who are struggling financially during the coronavirus pandemic. Council voted to extend the eviction moratorium for Philadelphia residential renters and small businesses, waived rent fees, and created an eviction-diversion program.

These bills passed after the city’s pandemic rental assistance program ran out of funds to help Philly residents. Almost 13,000 households applied, but Philadelphia was able to pledge support for only 4,000 households before the money ran out. If you’re confused about all the unemployment numbers, here’s a breakdown of how to read them during the pandemic.

Today is June 19, celebrated as Juneteenth. Many people, regardless of their race, don’t know the significance of the holiday. It’s the oldest American holiday to commemorate the end of slavery, and was first celebrated by newly emancipated black Texans 155 years ago.

My colleague Elizabeth Wellington dives into the holiday’s history, why it isn’t already mainstream, and why everyone should celebrate it.

What you need to know today

  1. Southeastern Pennsylvania is approaching the “green” phase of reopening next week, but Philly is taking it more slowly.

  2. A man was charged in an attempt to blow up a Kensington ATM amid a rash of similar crimes across Philadelphia.

  3. Philadelphia settled with supporters of a Columbus statue in the city and promised a “public process” before any removal.

  4. Pennsylvania will give health systems $175 million to lead the COVID-19 response inside the state’s nursing homes, many of which have been ravaged by the virus.

  5. Pennsylvania’s primary election results are finally in. Here’s what they mean for November.

  6. SEPTA has proposed some last-minute changes to its latest fare restructuring plan, including allowing children to ride for free and giving a longer window for free transfers.

Through your eyes | #OurPhilly

Here’s an adorable Philly-raised puppy for your Friday. Thanks for sharing, @brooklyn.pup!

Tag your Instagram posts or tweets with #OurPhilly and we’ll pick our favorite each day to feature in this newsletter and give you a shout out!

That’s interesting

  1. 👶 There has been speculation that quarantining could lead to a baby boom, but a study says the U.S. could actually see a half-million fewer births than usual.

  2. 🏈 After four members of his family contracted COVID-19, a Penn State running back says he’s seen for himself how seriously people need to take it.

  3. 🎤 Philly’s Disco Biscuits will play to an empty Citizens Bank Park to benefit Black Lives Matter.

  4. 🤎🖤 Juneteenth events galore, John Legend and Alicia Keys on Verzuz, drive-in art and music shows, and other events to stream or attend this weekend.

  5. 🍺 We’ve rounded up a list of craft breweries in Pennsylvania that are worth a day trip.

  6. 🏒📖 Check out how the Flyers’ iconic logo has been spread around the world, with an excerpt from a book co-written by Inquirer hockey writer Sam Carchidi.

Opinions

“It’s precisely because these [monuments] embody white supremacy that we must safeguard them, in places that foster real historical understanding. Of course we shouldn’t let racist leaders and traitors remain on pedestals. But simply pulling them down won’t do anything to challenge their legacy. That will require the hard work of preserving our racist past, so — one day — we will learn not to repeat it.” writes Jonathan Zimmerman, who teaches education and history at the University of Pennsylvania, about moving racist statues into museums instead of storage.

  1. Make Juneteenth a federal holiday, writes Chad Dion Lassiter, executive director of the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission.

  2. When media rely on what police say, they miss key truths about crime and black communities, writes Inquirer national columnist Will Bunch.

What we’re reading

  1. Gyms are not allowed to be open in the “yellow” phase, but some of them are hosting outdoor workouts with social distancing. Philadelphia Magazine looks at how this works.

  2. How a Philadelphia couple’s maternity photos, taken in Fairmount Park just before the city’s protests began, went viral, from Billy Penn.

  3. Texas was the first state to recognize Juneteenth as an official state holiday, according to the Dallas Morning News. This year, the News also profiled the efforts of a 93-year-old black woman who has been petitioning for years to make Juneteenth a national holiday.

Your Daily Dose of | Art Escape Drive-Through

The Delaware Contemporary created an “Art Escape Drive-Through” in response to the pandemic and social-distancing guidelines. It was set to open in early June, but protests after the death of George Floyd swept the country, so the museum changed its approach. The museum reopened its doors June 12 and turned one of its galleries into a “Response Gallery,” where visitors are urged to “take over” the room and express their voices through art created on the walls. This gallery is open to the public through July 26, and the drive-through portion of the “Art Escape” is open from 5 to 8 p.m., Friday, June 19.