West Philly City Councilmember Jamie Gauthier yesterday joined a dozen others on the City Council in formal apologizing for the 1985 MOVE bombing and called on the city to declare May 13th an annual day of “reflection, observation, and recommitment to the principle that all people are created equal and endowed with inalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”

Wednesday, May 13th, marked the 35th anniversary of the city-sanctioned police attack on the MOVE home at 6221 Osage Ave. Police fired thousands of rounds into the building in a siege that culminated in the dropping of two bombs on the building. Eleven MOVE members died, including children and dozens of homes were destroyed in an ensuing fire that consumed dozens of nearby homes.  Continue Reading

Pennsylvania’s primary election has been postponed to June 2.

Gov. Tom Wolf recently signed legislation to move the primary from April 28 to June 2 due to the COVID-19 emergency. The legislation also expands provisions for mail-in voting in case restrictions are still in place and allows counties to consolidate polling places to make up for possible shortages of poll workers and locations.

Absentee and mail-in ballots are due May 26.  Continue Reading

A sign on ReAnimator Coffee shop’s window this afternoon. The popular Garden Court cafe closed in compliance with Kenney’s directive.

Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney has called on all nonessential businesses to close for at least two weeks beginning today at 5 p.m.. Most retail stores will close through at least March 27.

The Philadelphia Inquirer is reporting that the city may invoke authority to close businesses or penalize those that remain open.

The city deems these businesses “essential”:

• Supermarkets and grocery stores  Continue Reading

Police from the 18th District are looking for information about a shooting on Sunday afternoon outside the El station at 52nd and Market Streets. A 50-year-old man was shot twice in the left leg, according to police. He was transported by police to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center and is listed in stable condition. No weapon was recovered at the scene.

Police say shots were fired after an altercation between two males at about 5:30 p.m. at the busy station, which is also a stop on the popular 52 bus route.  Continue Reading

The City of Philadelphia has posted locations where students can find free weekday meals and recreation opportunities over the next couple of weeks. The School District of Philadelphia announced yesterday that schools will be closed through March 27.

The full, citywide list can be found here.

The city is working with non-profits to identify locations like food pantries that will be open on weekends.

In West and Southwest Philly, up to two “shelf-stable” meals are available at the following schools Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to noon:  Continue Reading

Here are some of mutual aid and information dispersion efforts going on in West Philly to help out folks in need during these trying times. People will need everything from food and basic supplies to ideas about educating or entertaining children to caring for elderly folks.

Now is the time to step up if you are able.  Continue Reading