A West Philly gang, and a grieving mother | Morning Newsletter
And the city’s growing income gap
The Morning Newsletter
Start your day with the Philly news you need and the stories you want all in one easy-to-read newsletter
Welcome to Thursday! The weekend is within reach. Today is looking mostly cloudy, with a high near 43.
Our lead story follows the journey of Emily Johnson, whose only child, K.J., was shot and killed in 2021. In the months that followed, she was thrust into the middle of an escalating gang war and fought to defend her son’s legacy. Then, in a twist of fate, she was blessed with a second chance at motherhood.
— Erin Reynolds (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)
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When teen best friends K.J. Johnson and Tommie Frazier were shot and killed in 2021, their deaths made waves across the city.
Emily Johnson, K.J.’s mom, lost her only son and “best friend.” The two had been inseparable.
She also found herself in the middle of an ongoing gang feud.
K.J. and Frazier were not the intended targets of the shooting, but the gang the shooters belonged to nevertheless mocked the cruel circumstances of the boys’ deaths and fueled a misconception that they were involved in something to warrant being shot.
For the past two years, Johnson has fought against this, seeking to preserve her son’s legacy as a funny, empathetic, and athletic child. She’s also had a baby — something she never thought possible at age 40 and amid crushing grief. Ryder Koi Johnson-Dispensa was born on Jan. 4, 2023. As Johnson sees it, he’s a gift from K.J.
Read on for a detailed look at Emily Johnson’s journey — one that illustrates many of the central themes of Philadelphia’s gun violence crisis: teen victims and shooters, a gang feud fueled by trivial disagreements, and grieving families who grasp at the past and hope for the future.
New data from the U.S. Census Bureau show a six-figure gap in median household income between Philadelphia’s lowest-income neighborhoods and its wealthiest community.
By the numbers: From 2018 to 2022, households in Mantua, North Philadelphia East, East Germantown, Allegheny West, and Fairhill took in at least $100,000 less than residents in Fishtown/Northern Liberties.
The census data also showed that Philadelphia’s poverty rate shrunk by a single percentage point from 2021 to 2022. It remains the poorest big city in the nation.
What’s driving these economic disparities? And how does Philly compare to similar cities? We unpack the data here.
What you should know today
Two workers said they were recently fired for wearing Palestinian flag pins while working at Goldie, the falafel restaurant that was the target of a high-profile protest on Sunday.
The Center City Macy’s reopened Wednesday, two days after two security guards were stabbed, one fatally. While the incident did give shoppers pause, many said they were eager to resume their holiday traditions.
Jurors finished the second day of deliberations in the trial of former labor leader John Dougherty without reaching a verdict. Discussion resumes Thursday morning.
With no bathrooms, hard-to-read signs, and bumpy cobblestones, Philly’s new Spring Garden bus terminal is hard to navigate. For people with disabilities, “it’s honestly ridiculous,” advocates say.
The city budget has been a source of pain for past Philly mayors. But the last eight years under Mayor Jim Kenney have put it in a better position.
Hospitals are charging patients to message their physicians. We surveyed Philadelphia-area health systems to see if they’re joining the trend.
Tecmo Bowl was released for the original Nintendo system in 1989. This group of Philly friends is keeping the classic video game alive.
Want to buy a bird sanctuary? New Jersey Audubon is selling its 25-acre Cape May Bird Observatory, set on 25 acres of wildlife habitat along tidal marshland.
🧠 Trivia time
Bradley Cooper recently teamed up with a Philly restaurateur to raise money for a nonprofit that helps feed New Yorkers in need. Who was it?
A) Mike Strauss of Mike’s BBQ
B) Danny DiGiampietro of Angelo’s Pizzeria
C) Frank Olivieri of Pat’s King of Steaks
D) Stephen Starr
Think you know? Check your answer.
What we’re
🗓 Planning: A visit to one of Philly’s hottest holiday bars. But scoring a seat is trickier than you think. Here are some tips on how to get in.
🏠 Touring: This couple downsized from 6,500 square feet to about 2,200 — but still found room for their prized art collection. Take a look at their new space.
🧩 Unscramble the anagram
Hint: Berks County woman. Also, Time’s 2023 Person of the Year.
FLOATY WRIST
Email us if you know the answer. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here. Cheers to Maria Francesconi, who correctly guessed Wednesday’s answer: Dick Allen.
Photo of the day
Thanks for reading. Enjoy your day!