Hazardous land seeks redevelopment, campaign workers unionize, gerrymander fight continues | Morning Newsletter
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Happy Monday, Philadelphia. Hope you had a restful weekend as there's plenty of news to catch up on this morning. The fight over Pennsylvania's congressional map continues and political campaign workers are looking to unionize as we inch closer to midterms. Plus, hazardous Superfund sites are becoming unexpected redevelopment hot spots in the area. Ready for more? Read on.
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— Aubrey Nagle (@aubsn, morningnewsletter@philly.com)
» READ MORE: Would you buy 10 acres of poisoned land? One man just did
There are at least 70 Superfund sites — land contaminated by hazardous waste identified by the Environmental Protection Agency to be in need of cleanup — in the Philadelphia region. As they roll back environmental rules, the EPA is focusing on redeveloping these sites, too.
So, Jon Wybar decided to buy the one next to his recycling firm, Revolution Recovery, in Holmesburg. He's hoping to use the site to expand recycling operations and the artistic operations of the Recycled Artists in Residency program.
But he isn't alone. Redevelopment companies have their eyes on several sites in the Philly area and New Jersey.
» READ MORE: Campaign workers look to unionize ahead of midterm elections
The Campaign Workers Guild, a new nationwide union, recently went public ahead of the 2018 midterm elections. Their goal? To combat what they describe as the exploitative nature of a field many join for love, not money.
Local politicians aren't sure the CWA will work. So far, three campaign teams have signed collective-bargaining agreements with their employers.
Workers' unions are in the spotlight in D.C. today, too, as the Supreme Court hears arguments in a case that could have far-reaching implications for organized labor nationwide. Gov. Tom Wolf and Mayor Jim Kenney have voiced their support of unions in the case.
» READ MORE: Taxpayers to foot the bill in costly gerrymander fight
A federal panel of judges has declined to issue an emergency order blocking the new congressional map Pennsylvania's Supreme Court issued last week for the state. Instead they scheduled a hearing for March 9; a similar legal challenge is pending in the U.S. Supreme Court.
In the meantime, the uncertainty has scrambled state politics. Despite the challenges, congressional candidates are preparing to get on the ballot for the May primaries. If the map remains, state Democrats are poised to make serious gains in the U.S. House.
The cost of all this uncertainty? Around $4 million so far, as tax dollars fly to the law firms handling the gerrymandering cases.
What you need to know today
In a late-night Facebook post that name-dropped Robert Frost, Robert Kennedy and President Trump, State Sen. Daylin Leach announced he is no longer running for Congress.
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy has vowed to sign gun control bills following this month's school shooting in Parkland, Fla. Congress returns to work this week after a 10-day break, but any plans to respond to an outcry over gun violence remain to be seen.
A Cherry Hill native was a survivor of the Florida shooting and spoke to students at a Penn Valley Hebrew school yesterday via Skype, urging them to take action against gun violence.
Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel said yesterday he would not resign following accusations his department mishandled tips related to the shooter who killed 17 at his former high school. The FBI has also acknowledged it failed to investigate a tip about the shooter it received in January.
The domino effect of a corporate tax cut implemented during December's tax overhaul could mean a greater shortfall in affordable housing for Philly, just as the Philadelphia Housing Authority braces for White House budget proposals they say would cause "a huge increase in homelessness."
The ranks of babies exposed to addictive drugs while in the womb are exploding, but lawmakers, public health experts and child welfare advocates disagree about how to count them and why.
Researchers are looking for answers to a complicated question facing the medical community: why is breast cancer deadlier for black women?
Last week, Pennsylvania's medical marijuana program launched with few problems as dispensaries sold out of many products. The biggest complaint? Prices were shockingly high.
The Sixers ended their seven-game winning streak last night against the Washington Wizards. It was their first loss since the Super Bowl. The Flyers, meanwhile, maintain an Eagles-inspired winning streak.
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That’s Interesting
The Philadelphia Flower Show returns this weekend, but it won't just fill the Pennsylvania Convention Center with blooms. Expect to see big water features alongside a focus on water conservation.
Local students are getting the chance to see the international hit Black Panther for free thanks to crowdfunded screenings.
Noticed more of those little plastic tooth flossers scattered around the city? My colleague Samantha Melamed has, and she's got the photographic evidence to prove it.
Eagles center and motivational speaker extraordinaire Jason Kelce donned a Mummers costume once again for special appearance in Manayunk Sunday.
The Academy Awards air this Sunday. Need to catch up before joining the office pool? Here's how to stream this year's nominees.
In a take over of Philly.com's Instagram account, Philly rapper and music ambassador Chill Moody explores two of his biggest influences: his grandfather, and his (and Wilt Chamberlain and Will Smith's) alma mater.
A dreary Saturday was made brighter for many in Camden as a nonprofit dedicated to connecting men in need with free business attire took to the streets with dozens of suits to give away.
A new condo and apartment high-rise tower is headed to Rittenhouse Square, and hotel-style accommodations have been added to the plan.
HBO has announced that its Al Pacino-starring Joe Paterno biopic will debut this spring.
Opinions
Following the mass shooting in Parkland, Florida and the subsequent outcry over gun violence, columnist Helen Ubiñas writes that everyday gun violence in our cities should be part of the national conversation.
Democrat State Rep. Leanne Krueger-Braneky asks voters to hold Republican State Rep. Daryl Metcalfe accountable for joining conspiracy theorists in insulting the survivors of the Parkland shooting.
What we’re reading
- Former Comcast employees have told Jezebel about sometimes years-long experiences with sexual harassment at the company's call centers in a must-read report.
- You'll want to follow the new Instagram account that's chronicling Philly's construction boom. Billy Penn dug into why it's fascinating followers.
- An interesting new report at Philadelphia Magazine explores how new policies at the University of Pennsylvania may be infringing on students' right to party while failing to handle a mental health crisis.
- Following media coverage of the teen survivors' activism after the Parkland, Fla., shooting, Teen Vogue is reminding readers that black teens have been fighting for gun reform for years.
- Texas Monthly has published a riveting story about the children whose accusations of a parent-orchestrated child sex ring shook their community a decade ago — and how they're now saying it never happened.
Your Daily Dose of | Heroics
Four-year-old Michael DeMasi Jr. is no average big brother. He's getting ready to donate bone marrow to save his twin baby brothers' lives.