🗳️ Shapiro doesn’t want to talk 2028 | Morning Newsletter

Happy Friday, Philly. Temperatures may only hit the low 60s, but we’re still in for clear blue skies.

Today, with the midterms right around the corner, we’re starting with a look at the highest-profile race in Pennsylvania, and why every move Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro makes is viewed through the lens of 2028.

And, we cover the eye-watering price tag on one of Philly’s most recognizable office buildings.

Plus, why Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel took a dig at DA Larry Krasner, and more news of the day.

— Laura Benshoff (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

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Would you promise to fulfill another four-year term if reelected?

When Gov. Josh Shapiro sat down for a set of recent interviews with The Inquirer, he was ready. He smoothly sidestepped the question that gets at his long-rumored presidential ambitions, write Inquirer politics reporters Gillian McGoldrick and Michelle Baruchman.

With the midterms less than two weeks away, Shapiro is busy blanketing the airwaves with ads for his reelection campaign.

As polls showed him with a 20+-point lead over Republican State Treasurer Stacy Garrity, he has also expanded his focus to trying to flip several Republican-held U.S. House seats, as well as securing Democratic control of the Pennsylvania Senate.

But here’s the thing: Delivering in Pennsylvania could be perceived as another step toward building his case for a future presidential run.

Read on for Shapiro’s thoughts on Israel, his response to critics’ attacks that he flip-flops on important issues, and more.

And, if you missed it, read our profile of Garrity, who defeated an incumbent Democrat in an upset to win her current post.

The glossy black building at 2400 Market, stamped with Aramark’s logo, is for sale.

But in contrast to some recent Center City office towers that sold at a steep discount, this building’s target price is sky high compared to recent office sales.

Two industry sources familiar with the situation say that Lubert-Adler Real Estate Funds, which owns the building, is seeking at least $240 million.

One of that firm’s namesakes, Dean Adler, says it should sell for more — as much as $300 million.

These figures may not just be aspirations. Real estate services company CBRE, which is marketing the building, says it has received more than a dozen calls from investors, an unusual amount of inbound interest.

Read Inquirer real estate reporter Jake Blumgart’s full story on why this building could buck recent trends.

Welcome back to Curious Philly Friday, our forum in which readers ask about the city’s quirks and we report the answers.

This week, we’re bringing back an article from 2023 about where the name “Blue Route” (aka I-476) comes from and what other routes were proposed.

It turns out, the route gets its name from the colored pencils planners used to distinguish the different paths for a new highway to take.

There were also a red route, a yellow route, and a green route. Read on to see what they looked like on a 1956 map.

Have your own burning local question? Ask Inquirer reporters anything you want to know about the Philadelphia region.

After just over a year in business, Marsha’s, Philadelphia’s first women’s sports bar, has closed. Who was the bar named after?

A) Marsha A. Hunt

B) Marsha Beasley

C) Marsha Sharp

D) Marsha P. Johnson

Test your local news expertise and check your answer in our weekly quiz.

🚎 Riding. SEPTA has sped through a major milestone. September marked a new high in ridership across all modes of transportation, following improvements to cleanliness and service, reports The Inquirer’s Henry Savage.

📵 Preparing for. Pennsylvania is expected to enact a “bell-to-bell” cell phone ban in schools. Education reporter Maddie Hanna breaks down what that means.

🧥 Perusing. Looking for vintage furniture, Y2K togs, or secondhand kids clothes? Look no further than these South Jersey thrift stores, writes Inquirer contributor Jen Kinney.

🍕 Checking out. Backyard Cravings officially opens this weekend, but it already has a celebrity following after chef Sal Burgese began selling pizzas and cheesesteaks out of (where else) his backyard during the pandemic.

Hint: President of basketball operations for the Sixers who helped land LeBron James and Jaylen Brown.

SEEKING YAM

Email us if you know the answer. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here.

Cheers to Theresa Hafler, who was the first to correctly solve Thursday’s anagram: Elon Musk. U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R., Bucks) said Musk should be investigated after reports that the trillionaire directed the slowdown of a national security tool being used by Ukraine in its war against Russia.

Imagine this exercise ball is a nice, round pumpkin, ready to fly. Teams at Jefferson University will compete this weekend to see whose device can fling a five-pound gourd the farthest. One team has a crossbow; another, a trebuchet.

✌️ I’m taking inspiration from these pumpkins and flinging myself toward the weekend. Thanks for spending some time with The Inquirer this week. Have a safe and spooky one.

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