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Sixers try to claw out series win over Raptors; Philly celebrates Mother’s Day | Morning Newsletter

Happy Mother's Day, Philly. We take a look back at how the history of the holiday is attached to our city. And it's also a big Sunday for the Sixers who could end the Raptors season tonight in a pivotal Game 7 showdown.

Jimmy Butler of the SIxers answers questions before the start of practice on May 11, 2019.  The Sixers are preparing for game 7 of the NBA Eastern Conference semifinals against the Raptors at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.
Jimmy Butler of the SIxers answers questions before the start of practice on May 11, 2019. The Sixers are preparing for game 7 of the NBA Eastern Conference semifinals against the Raptors at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer

    The Morning Newsletter

    Start your day with the Philly news you need and the stories you want all in one easy-to-read newsletter

The Sixers are in Toronto tonight with a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals on the line. The pivotal Game 7 will finally bring this back and forth series to an end. Back in Philly, homeowners are fighting to address a potential increase in their property assessments and taxes. Reporter Laura McCrystal has been following this saga as it’s flared tension across the region. She shared some insight on what she’s learned in this week’s Q&A.

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Tauhid Chappell, Ray Boyd (morningnewsletter@philly.com)

The week ahead

  1. It’s win or go home. That’s the situation both teams find themselves in as the Sixers and Raptors prepare to do battle in Game 7 of the conference semifinals tonight. And for Sixers coach Brett Brown, it could be win or find a new job. Our Sixers coverage team offers predictions for tonight’s crucial tilt.

  2. Today is also an important day for mom. We gather on this Mother’s Day to celebrate the hard work of mothers and to thank them for all they do. But have you ever wondered who we have to thank for the holiday itself? It turns out it was started by a Philly transplant who might not be a fan of what the day’s become.

  3. Commuters also have reason to celebrate today. NJ Transit has resumed rail service between Philadelphia and Atlantic City this morning following months of frustration and uncertainty.

  4. If you’re looking for a new job, Temple University’s Workforce Initiative is hosting what they call “Philly’s largest job fair” Thursday. More than 130 employers will be there, looking to hire.

  5. Who cares about some rain in the forecast? It’s Love Your Park Week, a nine-day long celebration of Philly’s parks. Residents are encouraged to get outside for tons of events including cleanups, hikes, tours, and clinics.

This week’s most popular stories

Behind the story with Laura McCrystal

Each week we go behind the scenes with one of our reporters or editors to discuss their work and the challenges they face along the way. This week we chat with Inquirer reporter Laura McCrystal, who covers taxes, government revenue, and how such policies impact people in Philadelphia and beyond.

You’ve been publishing regular updates on how the city plans to tax properties based on their new assessments. What has or hasn’t changed about this story over time?

This story has evolved over time because last year’s residential reassessment set of a chain reaction. City Council rejected a tax rate increase and commissioned an independent audit of the Office of Property Assessment (OPA), and Mayor Kenney caved into Council’s demands to begin searching for a new chief assessor. While political wrangling over how to improve OPA continues, the city this month released new assessments for 2020. And with that the story kind of comes full circle; thousands of people’s assessments and taxes will increase again, and many homeowners and Council members and mad about it. So in that sense, a lot has changed but a lot remains the same.

How do you get city departments like the Office of Property Assessment and Revenue Department to answer questions about their process and reasoning? Have they been transparent?

The city always provides responses to my questions, either in the form of emailed statements or by inviting me to interviews. As I’ve learned more about the topic, I’ve gotten a better sense of what to ask them. That said, as I’ve reported, OPA is not very transparent because it does not publicly explain exactly how assessors arrive at an assessment for each property.

Your latest story involves formulas to help readers understand what their new tax bill might look like. How did you figure out what math to include in your story?

I was inspired to write this story after hearing from readers who did not know how to look up their assessments or calculate their tax bills. Using the city’s online property database and crunching numbers to figure out tax bills is something I do all the time, so that I can offer real examples in my stories. But when I realized not everyone knows how to do this, I wrote a story basically just explaining the math I do in my own reporting.

What’s been the most challenging part of reporting on this topic?

When I started writing about assessments, it felt like learning a foreign language. Making sure I understand how it all works well enough to explain to readers can be a challenge.

In your reporting you often check in with homeowners about their assessment stories. How do you find residents to share their experiences? Are there commonalities between their stories?

Finding homeowners can be a challenge. Since property records are public information, I’ve cold called a lot of homeowners. Sometimes that’s successful but oftentimes it is not. I’ve also posted in neighborhood Facebook groups seeking people who are willing to chat. And as I continue writing about this topic, more homeowners reach out to me directly. One thing they all have in common is confusion and frustration about how the assessment system works. I’m always looking to get in touch with more taxpayers, so if you are reading this please feel free to reach out!

You can stay in touch with Laura by emailing her at LMcCrystal@philly.com or follow her on Twitter at @LMcCrystal.

Through Your Eyes | #OurPhilly

It’s time to take a trip to the beautiful grounds of Valley Forge! Thanks for encouraging us, @hswphilly.

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!

#CuriousPhilly: Have a question about your community? Ask us!

Have you submitted a question to Curious Philly yet? Try us. We’re listening to our readers and doing our best to find answers to the things you’re curious about.

Our readers’ latest question: How do judicial elections in Philadelphia work and why do we vote for judges?

The answer: Pennsylvania is one of a handful of states that hold partisan elections in all judicial races, from trial judges to Supreme Court justices. We broke down the process of how these elections work and why they’re held in the first place.

What we’re…

  1. Eating: a mouth-watering two-pound short rib at Fiore, whose owners are hoping to bring what they call an all-day Italian venue to Philly.

  2. Drinking: Dogfish Head, before they begin to merge with Boston Beer Company, maker of Samuel Adams, as the craft beer industry consolidates.

  3. Watching: Game of Thrones, without question. Well ... just one question: Are you team Cersei or Team Snow?

  4. Listening to: Jamila Woods’ latest “Legacy! Legacy!,” in which each song is titled in honor of a person of color who inspired her, including “Sonia,” named for Philly’s first Poet Laureate Sonia Sanchez. Woods will be performing at the Foundry on June 3.

Comment of the week

These folks and opportunities are all around us everyday. I am committed to keeping my eyes open and looking for these people, situations, and opportunities. I will use my time, talents, and financial resources to make someone’s day today. — pmccann_34826, on Living in her Mercedes with two dogs in a Target parking lot, homeless ex-pharmacist from King of Prussia reconnects with community.

A Daily Dose of | The UpSide

When she told her husband she was going to college to complete her education, he left her. Now the 60-year-old grandmother is graduating as a valedictorian at Cheyney University.