🚌 Rising fares amid SEPTA’s ‘decline’ | Morning Newsletter
And Philly Dems point fingers.
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The Morning Newsletter
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Hi, Philly. The good news: It finally rained after 42 extra-dry days. The bad news: The drought isn’t over, and we’re not really sure when it may rain again.
SEPTA is proposing to increase its fares by more than 20% in 2025, as well as to introduce severe service cuts next July. The transit agency’s budget director described the actions as the potential start of “managing the decline of the system.”
And Bob Brady’s feud with Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign reignited long-held criticisms of the Philadelphia Democratic Party — but the chairman says he isn’t going anywhere.
Read on for the latest.
— Julie Zeglen (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)
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As of late Monday, negotiators for SEPTA and its largest union are continuing contract talks and — so far — avoiding a strike after the union’s members authorized one last month.
🚌 But the beleaguered transit agency faces other serious challenges amid a $240 million annual structural deficit. And with its suggested solutions, riders will feel the pinch.
🚌 SEPTA is proposing to raise fares by 21.5% across the board starting Jan. 1. The system is also planning severe service cuts, including reduced frequency and eliminated routes, starting in the next fiscal year that begins in July.
🚌 The agency’s leaders acknowledge that the combination of fare hikes and service cuts risks a “death spiral” that will likely cost it ridership and revenue.
Transportation reporter Tom Fitzgerald has details on the proposed changes.
A week after Harris lost the presidential election, long-simmering tensions between her campaign and the Democratic Party in Philadelphia — where President-elect Donald Trump performed better than he did in 2020 — appear to have come to a boil.
For some critics, the main target of ire is Bob Brady, who has led the city party for 40 years.
Criticizing efforts: Members of Harris’ campaign were quick to respond last week when Brady said they hadn’t done enough to help local Dems get out the vote, calling his City Committee ineffective, insular, and out of touch.
Notable quote: Harris’ senior adviser in Pennsylvania wrote in an Inquirer op-ed Monday that the party “resemble[s] more of a social club for political has-beens than a functioning organization designed to grow and build power for working people.” He also called for Brady to resign.
The defense: Brady and his many allies in the party say he’s not responsible for a nationwide rightward shift, nor the overall decline in voter turnout, and that he has no plans to step down.
What you should know today
Authorities are investigating the death of a 47-year-old man who was shot and killed by police responding to a report of a domestic disturbance in West Philadelphia on Sunday night.
Two men have been charged with attempted murder and related crimes in the shooting of a school bus in Coatesville last month.
The three major wildfires in South Jersey have been controlled, and an arrest was made in one that authorities say began at gun range.
Billionaire Elon Musk’s “Tony Stark” energy helped excite Pennsylvanians for Trump, and Republicans are now chasing his rising star power. Plus: Trump’s gains in the state were most dramatic in northeastern counties.
A year after American Rescue Plan Act funding ran out, Pennsylvania childcare providers remain in a staffing crisis and say they are forced to pass higher prices onto families.
Ten local towing companies are claiming in a new lawsuit that the Philadelphia Parking Authority has an unconstitutional monopoly over the business of towing abandoned vehicles.
A third of the Philly-area rental homes available in October — a typically slow period for the market — offered free rent or some other perk to attract residents.
At the eco-friendly Passive House apartments in Exton, renters won’t have electric bills thanks to solar panels. Take a peek inside.
🧠 Trivia time
Backed by preliminary research, as well as grassroots advocates in our area and beyond, people who suffer from cluster headaches are finding relief through which psychedelic chemical?
A) Psilocybin
B) Mescaline
C) LSD
D) Ibogaine
Think you know? Check your answer.
What we’re...
🧔🏻♂️ Singing along to: “Maybe This Christmas” featuring Jason Kelce and Stevie Nicks.
🍞 Buying: Bread from Ursa Bakery, where it’s made in an old gas station.
✈️ Filling out: This form to call out airlines for delays and cancellations.
🧩 Unscramble the anagram
The Old City oyster house that chef Jose Garces founded nearly 10 years ago on the former site of Old Original Bookbinder’s
ABLE ROD
Email us if you know the answer. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here. Cheers to Stacie Newton, who solved Monday’s anagram: Jared McCain. The Sixers rookie and 16th pick in June’s draft is living his best NBA life after playing well and receiving LeBron James’ jersey in Friday’s game against the Lakers.
Photo of the day
👋 See you back here tomorrow morning. ‘Til then, be well.
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