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• Should schools cut staff because enrollment is down?
The Philadelphia School Board has approved a preliminary budget for next year. It’s slightly higher overall, but assumes enrollment will be around 7,000 fewer children and adjusts staff accordingly. Principals called the plan a “massacre”, saying more teachers were needed, not fewer. (Students are dropping out at a higher rate — stay tuned for our story on this with the Hechinger Report.) Meanwhile, the district rolled out a plan to begin renovating its aging buildings, which average 70 years. [Chalkbeat/Inquirer$/Capital-Star]
• Soldiers killed on highway in drunk driving tragedy
In a gruesome twist, the two Pennsylvania state troopers killed by a drunk driver on I-95 in South Philly last week reportedly arrested her earlier on suspicion of impaired driving. They then received a call to investigate someone walking on the motorway and had to leave – so the driver resumed what would become a deadly journey. Beware, if you receive a call to donate in memory of the soldiers, there is a scam going around. [Billy Penn/NBC10/PhillyVoice]
• 52nd Street Revitalization
Positive move for West Philly’s commercial corridor, once known as Philly’s “Black Broadway”: The Enterprise Center secured $1 million in federal funding to help small businesses along 52nd Street, and chef Omar Tate is getting closer to the opening of the Honeysuckle grocery store. You can order boxes of honeysuckle now to make what might be Philadelphia’s best new breakfast sandwich. [WHYY’s PlanPhilly/Billy Penn/Billy Penn]
• Boot & Saddle gets a makeover
The emblematic brand will be ablaze again: Boot & Saddle returns under new ownership, a year and a half after its closure. New owners are Mark Christman of Ars Nova Workshop and Evan Clancy of Fountain Porter, who have not announced firm plans for the venue other than keeping the name and neon sign. Seems like a perfect place to serve canned Fishtown iced teas. [Billy Penn/Inquirer$/Billy Penn]
• Kenney’s budget address
Mayor Kenney is due to present his budget proposal to city council this week, kicking off months of debate before the May 31 deadline. Expect council members positioning themselves for a mayoral race to take the opportunity to highlight their priorities, from violence prevention and schools to police and libraries. [Citizen/Tribune]
• A wealth tax for Philadelphia
As President Biden proposes a federal tax on billionaires, council member Brooks is plans to introduce a “Philadelphia wealth tax”, aimed at obtaining gains on stock market holdings. Brooks, elected as part of the Working Families Party, will be joined by Senator Warren and council members Gym and Gauthier. [Bloomberg/@KendraPHL/Billy Penn]
• Meet the winners of the Philadelphia Spelling Bee
On Saturday, Billy Penn and WHYY hosted the regional competition that will send three elementary school students to Washington DC for the Scripps National Spelling Bee. Stay tuned for mini-profiles of the impressive young winners. You never know, they might become Harvard librarians like Philly’s 1975 spelling champ. [Billy Penn]
• March Madness unfolds
Does Villanova count as a school in Philadelphia? As the perennial debate resurfaces, Nova clinched a spot in the Final Four (and lost a key player to a bad leg injury.) history at the Wells Fargo Center. Here’s a look at some of the best moments from the Philly March Madness lore. [Crossing Broad/Yahoo/Billy Penn/Billy Penn]