How to make SEPTA feel safer | Morning Newsletter
And a call for a ‘full, transparent investigation’
The Morning Newsletter
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We’re in for another warm day, and it should be mostly sunny with a chance at showers later in the day. Just be aware that the Philly region is under both flood advisories and fire watches. Blame the moon and a dry spell.
Crime on SEPTA isn’t a new concern. And although there have been recent high-profile shootings in and around some stations, most of the crimes passengers are likely to encounter aren’t violent. Still, passengers say they are uncomfortable with some behaviors such as the rising rates of substance use and conduct violations.
Our lead story explores how the transit agency grapples with how to make SEPTA feel safer. 🔑
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)
SEPTA’s ridership is below pre-pandemic levels and the transit agency needs those passengers back.
Reminder: Federal pandemic aid will run out by April 2024, and the agency depends on rider fares to make enough money to operate.
The types of crimes riders are most likely to encounter include things like smoking, turnstile-jumping, and public urination. Since 2019, citations for smoking or public urination rose by more than 200%.
According to interviews with multiple riders, these behaviors make many feel unsafe on the subway and El lines. Some avoid the trains, which is a problem for the transit agency that needs to grow ridership to financially survive.
SEPTA is struggling to manage these incidents but are pursuing a two-part strategy that mixes social work and more visible police patrols.
In spring 2021, the transit agency launched a project called SCOPE to deal with a rise in drug use, crime, and the number of unhoused people sheltering in stations. SCOPE sends out teams of outreach specialists to offer social services.
Police Transit officers were shifted from other beats to patrol trains — and a new class of 21 recruits is set to graduate from the police academy on June 9.
Note: The social problems plaguing SEPTA and other transit agencies raise hard questions about justice and equity in a nation that has institutions that are unable or unwilling to spend the money required to make progress against housing insecurity, emotional and mental health issues, and substance-abuse disorders.
Keep reading to learn more about how we got here and the roadblocks that exist. 🔑
What you should know today
Former New Jersey governor Chris Christie will announce his second presidential bid tonight in New Hampshire.
There’s only one family-owned bait and tackle store left in Philadelphia after Brinkman’s closure over the weekend.
Patti LaBelle will perform her first Philly concert in four years at the Met Philly in December.
Local 98′s battle for control heads to a runoff election as Johnny Doc rallies for an ally. 🔑
Tequilas restaurant is expected to come back later this year after a damaging fire back in February. In the meantime, the restaurant community is helping Tequilas’ 50 employees, many of whom are still out of work.
Villanova University alumni and others criticized the school for the lack of public response to a plan by Norristown’s council president to bus people experiencing homelessness to the campus.
Abbott Elementary’s Tyler James Williams shared a Pride Month message that also called rumors about his sexuality “dangerous.”
We chatted with a professional home painter to give you tips on how to pick a color and whether you should do it yourself.
An attorney for the family of Anthony Allegrini Jr., an 18-year-old who was fatally shot this weekend by a Pennsylvania state trooper on I-95, called for a “full, transparent investigation” into the incident.
Notable quote: “They want to make sure there’s accountability on all sides here,” Enrique Latoison, the family’s attorney, said. “This is not going to be something that’s just going to go away, [where] the truth is not going to come out, [or] the full investigation is not going to be done — we’re not going to be okay with that.”
A quick recap: The police shot Allegrini when he hit two Pennsylvania State Police troopers with his vehicle on I-95 near Penn’s Landing in Philadelphia early Sunday morning, according to officials. Authorities said the officers were responding to reports of illegal street racing and car drifting.
The attorney’s remarks came after law enforcement officials addressed the shooting at a news conference Monday afternoon. They didn’t identity the troopers involved, offer many new details, or answer a host of other questions.
Continue reading for the latest details about the case.
🧠 Trivia time 🧠
NBC’s flagship politics show, Meet the Press, will have Philly native Kristen Welker replace Chuck Todd as the new moderator.
Which neighborhood is she from?
A) Fairmount
B) Mount Airy
C) Society Hill
D) West Oak Lane
Think you know? Check your answer.
What we’re...
💭 Wondering: How many people agree with the new Michelin guide that calls Philly the “Frenchest American city.”
💻 Reading: The Atlantic’s “In Defense of Humanity.”
🧩 Unscramble the anagram 🧩
Hint: A Poconos town
JIMP OTHER
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 Morgan Flores, who correctly guessed Monday’s answer: The Fugees. Email us if you know the answer.
Photo of the day
And that’s your Tuesday morning news debrief. I’m starting my morning re-listening to Durand Bernarr’s Tiny Desk Concert. Thanks for beginning yours with The Inquirer.