What Schuylkill Yards can learn from Hudson Yards, Philly’s Zahav wins outstanding restaurant | Morning Newsletter
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The vision for Philly’s Schuylkill Yards project is on its way to becoming a reality. The area will help unite Philadelphia’s traditional Center City business district with University City. The Inquirer’s Inga Saffron believes a similar project in New York can serve as a cautionary tale. Mayor Jim Kenney is certainly learning from the past as he seeks reelection. He’s employing a similar strategy that helped him win in 2015 while his challengers are mixing things up by attacking one of his signature achievements.
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— Ray Boyd (@RayBoydDigital, morningnewsletter@philly.com)
Hudson Yards was once a rare empty space in New York’s landscape which is typically hungry for real estate development. Seven years later, the area is filled with high rises and more are set to be completed by 2026.
A similar vision is planned for West Philly’s Schuylkill Yards. Inquirer architecture critic Inga Saffron believes there is a lot the Philly project can learn from its New York counterpart.
For example, among Hudson Yards’ missteps was not becoming a natural extension of Manhattan’s street grid, thus feeling separated from the rest of the area, Saffron writes. Schuylkill Yards has the chance to avoid that and other mistakes.
In Philadelphia, no incumbent who has sought a second term for mayor has been denied in the last seven decades. So it’s safe to say that history is on Mayor Jim Kenney’s side as he seeks reelection by employing a “prevent defense” strategy that helped him win in 2015.
Among Kenney’s challengers for the upcoming primary is State Sen. Anthony Hardy Williams, who ran against Kenney in 2015. Williams was the favorite then and had backing and money on his side. Things look very different for him this time around.
Kenney’s other challenger, much like Williams, is attacking the mayor on crime, economic opportunity, and taxation. Former City Controller Alan Butkovitz has knocked Kenney for his soda tax and hoped for the support of the beverage industry, but so far that effort has fizzled.
The James Beard Awards are the Academy Awards of restaurants. Outstanding restaurant is the equivalent of best picture. Zahav’s win in that category last night marked a first for Philly’s restaurant scene.
Chef and co-owner Michael Solomonov has helped to rewrite the script for Israeli food in the United States. Zahav earned the honor in the first year it was nominated for the award — though the eatery is no stranger to taking home hardware.
Solomonov and his business partner Steve Cook have expanded their Philly empire to include several popular restaurants and plan to open three more restaurants this year.
What you need to know today
A family and school community is mourning the death of Brian Smart. The 25-year-old athletic trainer for Upper Darby High School collapsed and died after suffering a fatal heart attack during Philly’s Broad Street Run.
Advocates for hand-marked paper ballots have criticized Philly’s decision to switch to touchscreen voting machines. After months, Mayor Kenney made his first comments on the new machines and explained why he believes in them — even while the city controller plans to launch a “full investigation.”
Public pressure has mounted and now Philadelphia officials have expressed support for ending the use of money bail in the city. Advocates say cash bail leads to unequal outcomes for those with few resources.
As Cory Booker tries to gain momentum for his White House bid, the New Jersey senator has called for a law that will transform the process for buying and possessing a gun in the U.S — a plan that goes even farther than his own party’s consensus.
How about some good news for a change? We just introduced a brand new special section called the UpSide, filled with positive and uplifting stories. Hear from some of the people behind the pages, live in conversation with UpSide editor Ronnie Polaneczky, tonight at The Inquirer’s office. Register for free here.
Through Your Eyes | #OurPhilly
Let’s all get lost in some wonderful music today 🎶. Thanks for the inspiration, @inspiredbytai.
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
Artist and entrepreneur Jay Pross has seen massive growth ever since he opened a streetwear store that pays homage to his upbringing in Northeast Philly. He even has a unique plan to take his store on the road.
Speaking of hitting the road, Bruce Springsteen reportedly told a big name movie director that he has a new album coming soon with the E Street Band that will include a tour. Whether he’ll launch a tour in support of his upcoming solo album remains unclear.
Game of Thrones fans clearly saw that a forgotten coffee cup made its way into one of the shots in a recent episode. So of course, we decided to see what the coffee cup would look like in other iconic scenes.
CBS is planning to make some major changes to its morning and evening news lineups. The shuffling of hosts will leave two women in prominent roles after sexual harassment claims shook the network.
Opinions
“I was horrified by Sims’ video, because, as a Catholic and a defender of the unborn, I believe it is this woman’s right to pray anywhere she wants. ... I am extremely troubled by the fact that a man who is paid by our tax dollars feels it is appropriate to publicly shame one of those taxpayers just because he disagrees with her.” — Columnist Christine Flowers on an interaction between State Rep. Brian Sims and a woman praying outside Planned Parenthood.
Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid are playing just fine in the Sixers’ series against the Raptors, writes Columnist David Murphy. He adds that it’s another key player who needs to step up his game.
New Jersey state tax breaks for businesses moving to or expanding in Camden are important. But small businesses in the city might be more deserving, writes The Inquirer Editorial Board.
What we’re reading
Philadelphia has a rich mural landscape that will soon add a new work from the artist who painted Michelle Obama’s official portrait for the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery, Amy Sherald. PhillyVoice unpacks what’s known about the project set for Philly’s Gayborhood.
Could a driveway threaten the Italian Market’s walkability? A debate over an impending curb cut has now reached City Hall and a new bill aims to put an end to it, PlanPhilly reports.
Conversation around Democrats’ ambition to end the Trump presidency in 2020 focuses on candidates’ abilities to win midwest states. But when it comes to that region, Sen. Kamala Harris says certain voters are being ignored, BuzzFeed News reports.
A Daily Dose of | Family
Cassie Gaffney is the longest-serving waitress at Philly’s oldest bar. Thanks to her granddaughter, the Friday lunch shift at McGillin’s is now a family affair.
