Philadelphia police commissioner resigns; Who are small-dollar donors picking in 2020? | Morning Newsletter
All the local news you need to know to start your day, delivered straight to your email.
/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-pmn.s3.amazonaws.com/public/7LDR7K5P75CMVLJH2HH7XAVPHE.jpg)
The Morning Newsletter
Start your day with the Philly news you need and the stories you want all in one easy-to-read newsletter
Philadelphia Police Commissioner Richard Ross stepped down yesterday amid allegations of sexual harassment and gender and racial discrimination within his department. Ross had been with the city’s police department since 1989, and he had been commissioner since 2016. Also, small-dollar donors in New Jersey and Pennsylvania have their favorite 2020 candidates, and, in many cases, they’re giving to more than one.
— Josh Rosenblat (@joshrosenblat, morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)
Mayor Jim Kenney announced the resignation yesterday, saying that it was related to allegations of sexual harassment and gender and racial discrimination within the Police Department.
Kenney said that Ross’ resignation “is in the best interest of the Department," even though Ross isn’t directly accused of harassment. Kenney added he doesn’t believe the Police Department has taken the necessary actions to address underlying cultural issues that affect women, especially women of color.
The commissioner’s ouster came one day after a woman in the department claimed in a lawsuit that Ross ignored her complaints of another officer’s sexual harassment because she broke off a two-year affair with Ross in 2011.
Deputy Commissioner Christine M. Coulter will now lead the force on an interim basis. Her elevation to commissioner marks the first time a woman will serve as the city’s top cop.
Small donors play a big role in presidential politics. And both Pennsylvania and New Jersey rank in the top ten states for small-dollar donations.
The Inquirer analyzed data from both to see who these small donors are supporting. And it seems that many of those who are politically engaged in the region haven’t fully committed to one choice.
For example, 8% of Bernie Sanders’ donors also gave to Elizabeth Warren and Joe Biden saw 7% overlaps with both Kamala Harris and Pete Buttigieg.
It’s kind of like a college dorm. Except its populated by women in their 70s. In a Lancaster County town, these four women can live independently, but share a home. Each has their own bed and bathrooms, but they share their common areas.
Affordability is a major problem as a wave of baby boomers enters older age. That has led aging experts to push for solutions for elderly people who have too much money to qualify for government help, but can’t afford the kind of upscale senior housing that is common in Philadelphia and its suburbs.
The model has won an award and will be studied by Kansas State University.
What you need to know today
Planned Parenthood chapters in Philadelphia will stay open after pulling out of some federal funds, but they’re seeking more donations.
The Philadelphia refinery that suffered damage from an explosion this summer laid off most of its workers yesterday.
The iconic I. Goldberg Army & Navy store is closing after a century.
An Ocean County mom received a 24-month prison sentence for her role in a vast Jersey Shore prescription drug ring.
New Jersey is setting aside $10 million to help towns share services and chip away at residents’ property taxes.
Drexel scientists completed their murdered colleague’s study of assaults on first responders.
Through Your Eyes | #OurPhilly
Love that reflection on the hood. Nice shot, @falseclimax.
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
A new chicken sandwich has Popeyes and Chick-Fil-A fans clucking on social media about which sandwich wins out. The Sixers’ Mike Scott weighed in yesterday.
A tax-rate typo saved money for parents, but created headaches for a school district in Bucks County.
A former NBA ref has traded the hardwood for homilies, becoming a deacon in the Catholic Church.
Filipino sweets power a pastry chef’s personal journey at a Kensington coffee shop.
A self-professed tree detective has advice as more places push for greener spaces.
The former chef at one of Philly’s best-known restaurants has traded Old City for a 1,400-acre working farm in Vermont. And his replacement relocated 2,500 miles to take over for him.
Opinions
“It was a worthy lesson for anyone who is invested in saving lives in Philadelphia, regardless of opinion about a supervised injection site. And yet, elected officials who have raised questions and concerns about supervised injection sites did not make the effort to go to the hearing.” — The Inquirer Editorial Board writes about Monday’s hearing in federal court in which the Justice Department squared off against the nonprofit that wants to operate a supervised injection site in Philadelphia.
The controversial history of the Pennhurst State School and Hospital is getting exploited in a new movie from an Oscar-winning director, writes Dennis B. Downey, a professor emeritus at Millersville University.
A policy that helped Pittsburgh with housing equity could be useful in Philadelphia, write Mark Schwartz, executive director of Regional Housing Legal Services, and Bomb Damewood, a staff attorney for RHLS.
What we’re reading
The Philadelphia Tribune reports on how the deep scars of slavery exist in Philadelphia and across Pennsylvania.
The New York Times analyzed the music played at some of the 2020 candidates’ rallies. They reveal a lot about the core messages of each campaign.
Life is now an endless, terrible competition. The Atlantic explores how meritocracy prizes achievement over everything.
A Daily Dose of | Photo 💣
A new Philly wedding tradition: married couples photo-bombing the Naked Bike Ride. That’s one way to remember your wedding day, I guess.