Reaction to supervised injection site is mixed; Philly-area Jews see values, complications in Bernie Sanders | Morning Newsletter
Plus, you can now live inside a wooden elephant.
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The Morning Newsletter
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The big news in Philly yesterday was the reaction to the announcement that organizers planned to open a supervised injection site, the nation’s first, in South Philly. The disagreements were felt both in the neighborhood and in City Hall. And if you’ve ever dreamed of sleeping inside a six-story wooden elephant, your dream could come true. A Shore icon is now up on Airbnb, complete with tusks and a trunk, but no bathroom.
— Josh Rosenblat (@joshrosenblat, morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)
Philadelphia has the nation’s worst big-city opioid crisis. And while supporters of a supervised injection site see it as potentially lifesaving, opponents have long derided the concept as sanctioning drug use. That disagreement can also be seen in City Hall, with Mayor Jim Kenney supporting the site as other Philly politicians remain angry.
How Philadelphia got to the point where the nation’s first supervised injection site would open has been a long process that included a mayoral commission, years of court battles, former Gov. Ed Rendell, and more.
Progressive Jews are trying to make the case that Bernie Sanders echoes Jewish values of justice and tikkun olam — repairing the world. But at the same time, his views about Israel and his outspoken support for the Palestinian people present a complicated picture for some Jews of varying observance, economic, and political leanings.
There was a time when Sanders seemed to avoid talking about being Jewish, as he referred to himself as the “son of a Polish immigrant.” But Sanders, who grew up in Brooklyn, has begun talking more about his Jewish roots, his view of the Bible as “a document of justice," and the family his father left behind that was murdered in the Holocaust. But some Jews say his other actions have “spooked” them.
[Winning Pennsylvania will go a long way toward winning the White House. And we’re launching a new weekly email newsletter covering how Pennsylvania is shaping the 2020 election. Sign up here, and don’t forget to share it.]
What you need to know today
Wharton has named its first female dean. Erika James will step in to lead Penn’s famed business school this summer.
While no one has tested positive for coronavirus in Pennsylvania, the state’s health secretary said yesterday that preparations are underway to deal with the “very serious health issue.”
Where’s damaged asbestos in Philly’s public schools? Look it up in our updated School Checkup tool.
The two top public defenders in Montgomery County were fired yesterday. A county spokesperson would not comment on whether their terminations were connected to their recent filing that criticized the county’s practices for setting bail in hearings without lawyers or considering ability to pay.
Mayor Kenney has hiked Philly spending in a big way. City Controller Rebecca Rhynhart wants you to know it.
A 2-year-old boy is getting cancer treatment in Philly. But his undocumented parents may be deported to Mexico.
Through your eyes | #OurPhilly
I like it: “William Penn Wednesday.” Does anybody have any suggestions on what to call Thursday? Thanks for the cool shot, @mcjw13.
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!
That’s interesting
🐘You can now rent Lucy the Elephant on Airbnb. You, yes, you, can live inside of a six-story wooden elephant in Margate, N.J., for a few days.
💰Penn’s athletic department has been placed on two years of NCAA probation due to the scandal involving a former men’s basketball coach who accepted $300,000 in bribes to get a man’s son into Wharton.
🗓️Here’s what to do in Philadelphia this week, from the Flower Show to comedy. (If you want these recs in your inbox each week, sign up for our free Things to Do newsletter.)
🌃The lights on Philly’s skyscrapers are often matching. That’s no accident.
🎮A new frontier in the world of art is virtual reality. Here’s a look inside UArts’ strategic commitment to being an innovator in creative fields.
🏆Philly restaurants — including new names and consistent competitors — were among the 2020 James Beard Award semifinalists.
Opinions
“As a young immigrant I dreamed for years about the day I would enter the voting booth and press that large green button. When I was a little girl, my father would take me to the polls on election day, whether the midterms, local elections, or the general election — he made sure I was there watching him do his civic duty ... Yet today, the right to have my vote counted is called into question.” — writes Luisa Suarez, a sophomore at Temple, about her worries that her first-ever vote won’t be safe.
Should the city give “extra credit” to technical school grads who apply for jobs in the government? Two Philly councilmembers debate a new bill.
The Inquirer Editorial Board says the opening of a supervised injection site in South Philly is good news for a bad crisis.
What we’re reading
If a New Jersey legislator has his way, beachgoers who don’t secure their umbrellas at the Shore could face fines, WHYY reports.
I am a sucker for heist stories. And GQ’s account of a legendary one in Buenos Aires was riveting.
AI vs. AI. Wired covers a technique that uses artificial intelligence to fool other artificial intelligence.
Your Daily Dose of | Afrofuturism
Afrofuturism, in a broad sense, takes black histories and realities and adds a dose of superpowers, magic, mysticism, or all three to create new worlds. The stories can take the form of sci-fi, horror, historical fiction, or a seemingly impossible future. They are stories of mystery and magic that pay homage to the black experience. My colleagues explored how Afrofuturism is now all around us.