SEPTA saw you block the bus lane | Morning Newsletter
And poor air quality threatens outdoor workers.
The Morning Newsletter
Start your day with the Philly news you need and the stories you want all in one easy-to-read newsletter
Congrats, you made it to Friday. It’ll likely be another smoky day with a chance of rain hitting us in the afternoon. Before you go outside, know the risks about breathing in wildfire smoke.
I’d like to start something new — well, new to me while I’ve been writing the newsletter — and bring back the section that will feature your personal stories.
Tell me your Philly story, and I’ll feature the most entertaining in the newsletter in a section called Your Philly story. Share whatever you’d like but I’m looking for no more than 75 words about something that could only happen here. I want to hear it all whether it’s hopeful, weird, or just fun. This week’s “Boob Garden” sculpture story I told you about yesterday is a good example. 📮 Email me your Philly story for a chance to be featured here.
Our lead story today is something you probably already knew, but now there’s undeniable evidence. Drivers regularly block SEPTA bus lanes. Since late April, buses outfitted with AI-driven cameras have found more than 20,000 violations.
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.
— Taylor Allen (@TayImanAllen, morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)
AI-driven cameras on seven SEPTA buses have been monitoring bus lanes and stops along two Center City routes for illegally parked vehicles for over a month.
They’ve documented an average of 4,000 blockages per week. It’s a test so no tickets or warnings have been issued as a result of the images along Routes 21 and 42.
Every year, congestion in Center City causes 1.7 million hours of passenger delays and adds $15.4 million to operating costs.
Pay attention: The pilot program is scheduled to be finished by the end of the month. After that, SEPTA will assess the data and other cities’ experiences with the technology to decide whether it will establish an enforcement program.
Click on the article for video footage of the cameras.
The effects of Canadian wildfire smoke blowing into the Philly region is reigniting a familiar question from the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic: Who is an essential worker?
This time around, the greatest concern is for outdoor workers who have to work in hazardous air quality. It raises questions about what functions are crucial enough to put the health of workers at risk.
Several construction jobs throughout the region have been shut down for the rest of the week, said Ryan Boyer, business manager of the Philadelphia Building and Construction Trades Council.
Sanitation workers in Philadelphia were pulled from their collection routes on Thursday because of the air quality concerns.
The Philadelphia Zoo closed to the public on Thursday and employees who were able to do work from home were encouraged to do so. Essential on-site staff had a shortened schedule.
Continue reading to learn how various industries in the region are grappling with the risk to their workers.
What you should know today
Donald Trump says he’s been indicted on charges of mishandling classified documents.
Philly had its worst day for air quality on Thursday since fine particle pollution records began in 1999.
Philly schools will close today because of air quality issues. Classes will be held virtually.
Speaking of Philly schools, it’s going to be a strange last few days because grades are closed. Because of this, large swaths of students don’t show up which is problematic for the school district’s already shaky student attendance.
The friends and family of Anthony Allegrini Jr. gathered for his funeral as they push for a transparent investigation into his death. The 18-year-old was shot and killed by a state trooper early Sunday on I-95 in Philadelphia.
Philadelphia City Council members gave initial approval Thursday to a more than $6.2 billion budget deal. Wage and business taxes will be cut.
Pixar Putt, a Disney-themed miniature golf course, is coming to Philadelphia’s riverfront.
Republicans and Democrats in Congress have found a common goal — stopping the spotted lanternfly.
From Philly to down the Jersey Shore, young people can’t do much without supervision lately.
Curfews and bans have swept the region so teenagers can’t go to stores, malls, or boardwalks on their own.
Columnist Helen Ubiñas is not a fan of this mass crackdown. She points out that teens aren’t able to freely do the things previous generations could. This includes playing outside until the streetlights come on, going to the mall with friends, and spending entire days and nights at the beach.
In her own words: “What isn’t fair is that older generations, those who benefitted from those very same youthful freedoms, now seem to be punishing younger generations for their own failures to create an infrastructure for young people to be, well, young people,” she wrote.
Ubiñas recognizes there’s been dangerous, and in some cases, deadly behavior, but argues there’s a difference between youthful indiscretions and illegal activity.
Continue reading to learn why she believes this one-size-fits-all approach is not the answer.
🧠 Trivia time 🧠
Philly-based mixologist Tony Maloney won a James Beard award for his book, The Bartender’s Manifesto: How to Think, Drink, and Create Cocktails Like a Pro.
How many James Beard awards does he have now?
A) 10
B) 2
C) 5
D) 1
Think you know? Check your answer.
What we’re...
👀 Watching: Whether the latest trouble at huge Philadelphia-area mall owner PREIT could be a sign of a sale to come.
💭Wondering: What the likely new maps are going to look like in Alabama and Louisiana now that the Supreme Court issued a surprise ruling in favor of Black voters in a congressional redistricting case.
📷 Viewing: Your pictures of the smoky haze surrounding the Philly region. Thank you for sending them to us.
🧩 Unscramble the anagram 🧩
Hint: Sixers broadcaster
ETTA STOCK
We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here. Send us your own original anagram to unscramble if you’d like. Cheers to Karinn Goode, who correctly guessed Thursday’s answer: Charles Barkley. Email us if you know the answer.
Photo of the day
Have a good day! Paola will be back on Sunday to give you the latest news. I’ll see you next week 👋🏽