Three years ago, Mayor Kenney “reestablished” the department’s civilian oversight board. So, WURD’s afternoon host wonders, what’s so different this time? Every big city mayor, hand forced in the moment, has to act big. In Philadelphia, that act is Groundhog Day. Pushed publicly to do something dramatic—in the wake of George Floyd, Philly police violence and [...]
Ryan Briggs | WHYY.org Mayor Jim Kenney’s administration has come under fire for failing to support more Black-led organizations in the battle against the coronavirus. One such group, the all-volunteer Black Doctors COVID-19 Consortium, which garnered national attention for operating mobile testing sites in underserved communities, held a press event at Salem Baptist Church on Thursday to draw [...]
In Philly, the poorest big city in the country, low-income communities of color were already faced with unequal access to healthcare, a broken social safety net, and one of the highest eviction rates in the country long before COVID-19 hit. As the pandemic has progressed, rampant inequality, the digital divide, and the affordable housing [...]
Annette John-Hall | WHYY.org The 35th anniversary of the MOVE bombing, which killed 11 members of the radical Black liberation group, has prompted some current and former leaders to call on the city of Philadelphia to formally apologize. That includes Wilson Goode Sr., who was mayor at the time and has apologized four times for the role he played. What [...]
The City, like the country, was unprepared for Covid-19, WURD’s midday host contends. How do we do better now? At the time of publication, Pennsylvania has made its way into the top five states with the most coronavirus cases (just below Michigan) and it’s still in the top ten with the most Covid-19-related deaths. For [...]
This story is part of the SoJo Exchange of COVID-19 stories from the Solutions Journalism Network, a nonprofit organization dedicated to rigorous reporting about responses to social problems. By Jenn Ladd | THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER A line of dutifully distanced Philadelphians wrapped around the 1700 block of South Broad Street on a recent Thursday morning. [...]
There are a lot of things many native Philadelphians, because of their rabid sports team loyalties, won’t tolerate seeing in their city. From people wearing Dallas Cowboys and Washington “Deadskins” jerseys, or maybe flaunting Boston Celtics gear, there are a number of unofficial refractions that will get you at best a Philly side-eye or, at […]
For Michael Cogbill, getting engaged in the electoral process is the best way an individual can help to eliminate community violence. Cogbill, a resident of the Mount Airy section of Philadelphia, was one of many that attended WURD’s Transmit Transform event held at Bartram’s Garden highlighting the documentary “Quest” about life in North Philadelphia. “I […]
Starbucks COO Rosalind Brewer sat down with the Wake Up With WURD morning team to address the controversial arrests at the Starbucks location at 18th and Spruce Street in Philadelphia, PA.
REALITY CHECK: REINVENTING THE POLICE ADVISORY COMMISSION WHEEL
Charles Ellison
June 10, 2020