Beer deli bill approved, what's next for net neutrality | Morning Newsletter
Happy Friday, Philly. Hope you like snow, because we’re about to get some more. Look out for icy roads and snow on your evening commute. Not into it? Turn on this playlist, it might just put you in the holiday spirit.
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— Aubrey Nagle
Most of Pa. forests are privately owned, and endangered
Nearly three-quarters of Pennsylvania’s forestland, which covers more than half the state, is privately owned. Hundreds of acres of it are lost each day.
But it’s not loggers and lethal pests the woodlands have to worry about. It’s parcelization — the divvying up of properties into smaller and smaller bits by aging owners. Don’t miss reporter Jason Nark’s special report on what’s next for Pennsylvania’s forestland.
FCC repeals net neutrality laws. What’s next?
Yesterday the Federal Communications Commission voted along party lines to deregulate the internet and roll back Obama-era net neutrality protections. The protections had stopped telecom companies (like Comcast and Verizon, which lobbied hard for the repeal) from throttling internet traffic and blocking websites.
So what’s next? The decision will likely lead to challenges in federal court (New York’s attorney general already plans to lead a multistate lawsuit) and some say Republicans and Democrats may come together to regulate the internet with new legislation.
The decision comes after the FCC’s public comment system has been criticized for being flooded with fake comments and emails.
City Council approves controversial beer deli bill
City Council approved a controversial bill yesterday that instructs the Department of Licenses and Inspections to regulate “the use or removal of any physical barrier” like bullet-resistant windows in large food establishments.
This means the beer delis, which are required to have at least 30 seats for customers and sell food in order to sell alcohol, may need to remove their windows. Many beer deli owners, who are largely Asian American, oppose the bill because they say without their windows they could be killed.
Supporters of the bill include African American residents who say beer delis prey on black and brown communities and sow distrust. Mayor Jim Kenney is expected to sign the bill.
What you need to know today
The School Reform Commission is cracking down on low-performing charter schools. It has voted to shut down one and is preparing to close two more.
Today is the deadline to enroll in Affordable Care Act health insurance coverage. Here’s how to get help in the Philly area.
The Eagles face off against the Giants Sunday, their first game since Carson Wentz tore his ACL. Columnist Bob Brookover takes a look back at the rivalry’s best five moments, ranks the four miracles at the Meadowlands, and explores how the competition came to be.
Israel-based Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, which has its North American headquarters in Montgomery County, is cutting 14,000 jobs. Teva has 2,000 employees in Pennsylvania.
Are you one of the 200,000 homeowners in the area who could be overpaying their property taxes? You could be subsidizing your neighbors’ tax bills.
Phil Murphy hasn’t taken office yet as New Jersey’s next governor, but he’s already knee-deep in opposition. Intra-party feuds threaten to undercut campaign promises like $15 minimum wage and free community college.
The Flyers are on a roll — a good one, this time. They won their fifth straight game last night against the Sabres.
Eight months ago the city paid $1.25 million to settle a sexual harassment lawsuit against Chief Inspector Carl Holmes. Is the police department changing the toxic workplace culture that allowed this to go on?
Through Your Eyes | #OurPhilly
We want to see what our community looks like through your eyes. Show us the park that your family walks through every weekend with the dog, the block party in your neighborhood or the historic stretch you see every morning on your commute to work.
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 to build those followers!
That’s Interesting
For whatever reason, D.C. officially has the world’s largest Wawa now. Feel free to be a little bitter about it.
Loved Craig LaBan’s top 25 Philly restaurant picks? Here’s how he made them (and who almost made the list).
Disney has brokered a deal to buy much of Rupert Murdoch’s 21st Century Fox empire, a huge consolidation of Hollywood power. Yes, superhero fans, this means the the X-Men, Fantastic Four, and Deadpool could join the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Watching “A Christmas Story Live!” this Sunday? Ardmore’s Benj Pasek, one half of Broadway’s hottest writing duo, explains how they approached the holiday classic.
Migraine sufferers may soon find relief in an immunotherapy drug. A new study shows it reduces chronic migraines, making it the first specific drug for the condition.
It’s a sad day for the internet: AOL Instant Messenger is shutting down forever today. We asked readers for their best AIM stories and boy, did they deliver.
Just another reason to trust the process: yesterday Sixers star rookie Ben Simmons surprised four families with a holiday shopping spree at Target.
Hate shoveling snow? Fill your driveway with concrete that melts snow by itself before the next big storm.
Opinions
“In a #MeToo age, it’s as though your hashtag should be #MeNeither. Where are the women?“ — Regional columnist Maria Panaritis compares the lack of female feedback she received after her debut column to the male-dominated Pennsylvania House passing a new abortion bill.
That this abortion bill, Senate Bill 3, is controversial at all, columnist Christine Flowers writes, is outrageous and pro-life activists are out of patience.
Architecture critic Inga Saffron criticizes Bart Blatstein’s plans to develop a site on the Delaware waterfront into an autocentric shopping mall, despite it technically being against the zoning rules.
What we’re reading
You’ve heard his voice on the radio hyping up the Roxxy and Club Onyx and now, thanks to Philadelphia Weekly, you can learn how Tarrell “Luckee” John perfected his well-known style.
I can personally confirm that this 79-year-old spin instructor who teaches in Society Hill will kick your butt, just as Philadelphia Magazine says. Trust me on this one.
Billy Penn put together a bucket list of Philly holiday selfies to perfect by year’s end. Will you be taking the challenge?
It’s easy to get caught up in Facebook and Instagram, but across the globe it’s Meitu’s mobile apps that are changing Chinese beauty standards one selfie at a time, as The New Yorker writes.
When Kevin Spacey was accused of sexual assault, director Ridley Scott had to tear apart an almost-done film to replace Spacey with actor Christopher Plummer. The New York Times pulls back the curtain on how they did it and it’s riveting.
