A shock for Philly homeowners | Morning Newsletter
And child-care centers go on strike.
The Morning Newsletter
Start your day with the Philly news you need and the stories you want all in one easy-to-read newsletter
We’re looking at optimal spring weather today, with sunny skies and a high temperature near 66. But grab a jacket if you’ll be out tonight; lows will be down in the 40s this evening.
Today, we tell you everything you need to know about Philadelphia’s first property reassessment in three years.
Also, two dozen child-care centers in Philly participated in a national day of action on Monday to fight for better wages and affordable care for families.
If you see this 🔒 in today’s newsletter, that means we’re highlighting our exclusive journalism. You need to be a subscriber to read these stories.
— Felicia Gans Sobey (@FeliciaGans, morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)
Philadelphia released its first property assessments in three years on Monday, shocking many homeowners who saw their own property values spike. The value of the average residential property in the city went up 31% since the last assessment.
Why does this matter? The city will use your updated assessment to determine your annual tax bill.
If you’re curious what this means for your property, start by using the city’s website to find your 2023 assessed value. Then pull out a calculator to find 1.3998% (the city’s current real estate tax rate) of that value. That would be your tax bill, based on current numbers. (But keep in mind: The city’s tax rate could change, and tax-relief programs such as the homestead exemption could affect your final bill.)
My colleague Max Marin tells us more about what to know regarding Philly’s property assessments.
What you should know today
Philadelphia prosecutors have dropped more than half the charges against former detective Philip Nordo, including counts of rape, institutional sexual assault, and official oppression, after weeks of being unable to find a witness who had been expected to testify during his trial.
The weekend nor’easter that ripped through our region washed away a third of the sand North Wildwood had stockpiled to replenish its beaches.
The Eagles have landed a Monday Night Football game against the Vikings in September.
Comcast is one of 20 companies to join a White House program that will bring discounted internet service to low-income households.
Anthony Lucidonio Sr., the founder of the iconic Tony Luke’s, and one of his sons, Nicholas Lucidonio, pleaded guilty in federal court Monday to hiding millions in revenue from the IRS.
Local Coronavirus Numbers: Here’s your daily look at the latest COVID-19 data.
Two dozen child-care centers in Philly participated Monday in a national day of action, going on strike and calling for living wages for workers and for affordable care for families. More than 100 advocates rallied in front of Philadelphia City Hall to bring attention to the issue.
Here’s what two advocates said at the rally:
🎤 “I’m not a babysitter, I’m an educator,” said Rasheeda Brown, who works with children ages 3½ to 5 at the Children’s Playhouse.
🎤 “I really love children,” said Isis Brooks, a mother of four who also works in the child-care industry. “I would stay if the pay got better.”
🧠 Philly Trivia Time 🧠
A Sixers fan sitting courtside at Sunday’s game against the Miami Heat went viral when he dozed off mid-game. But he wasn’t just any fan ... Today’s Question: Who was he? Take a guess and find the answer here.
a. Steven Singer, of Steven Singer Jewelers
b. Pete Ciarrocchi, CEO of Chickie’s and Pete’s
c. David Kelleher, president of David Autos
d. Gritty
What we’re…
🐔 Eating: Raising Cane’s is opening a shop on Walnut Street in University City. (The chicken shop is a big hit on the campus of my alma mater, Boston University.)
🔍 Learning: Why it’s illegal to buy (legal) recreational marijuana in New Jersey and bring it back to Pennsylvania.
💲Calculating: My personal rate of inflation, using this New York Times calculator.
🧩 Unscramble the Anagram 🧩
This beloved Eagles commentator and Hall of Fame writer announced over the weekend that he is retiring.
GARDINER DIY
Think you know? Send your guess our way at morningnewsletter@inquirer.com. We’ll give a shoutout to a reader at random who answers correctly. Today’s shoutout goes to John Simon, of South Philadelphia, who correctly guessed Dr. Dog as Monday’s answer.
Photo of the day
👋 That’s all for today. Kerith will be back in your inbox tomorrow.