The first game of the World Series is TODAY. The Phillies will face off against the Astros in enemy territory, so City Cast Houston host Lisa Gray is crashing our Friday news roundup for a “friendly” conversation about baseball. Plus, the City Cast Philly team unpacks the latest in the Philadelphia mayoral race, and offers up some Philly-themed Halloween costume ideas. 

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There’s really no competition: The biggest story in the city this week was the Phillies making it to the World Series. This hasn’t happened in 13 years, and the excitement on the streets has been palpable for days. But we wanted to know what it’s been like for the people working at the sports bars where fans have gathered, watching every pitch with bated breath, and where there will no doubt be pandemonium starting Friday when the World Series kicks off. So City Cast Philly host Trenae Nuri took a trip to Paulie Gee’s in Center City and met bar manager Brenton Wallace, a die-hard Phillies fan who’s been preparing for this weekend’s festivities. 

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Want to see photos of our visit to Paulie Gee’s? Head over to our Instagram and Twitter @citycastphilly. 

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Pennsylvania is expected to receive more than $1 billion from a major opioid settlement. More than 5,000 Pennsylvanians died from drug overdoses last year, with Philly accounting for 24 percent of those deaths. City Cast Philly host Trenae Nuri spoke with two people on the frontlines of opioid overdose crisis in the city—Nicole Bixler, from Operation In My Backyard, and Sarah Laurel, from Savage Sisters—who explained what harm reduction is, what they’d do with money from the opioid settlement, and their hopes for the future of harm reduction.

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Have a question or just want to share some thoughts with the team? Leave us a voicemail at 215-259-8170. 

We’ve been getting a lot of perspectives on the FDR Park Plan — a $250 million redesign project of the former golf course that would add a welcome center, new soccer fields, playgrounds, and more wetlands. Some people would like to see it remain an open green space, while others see a need for more athletic fields and recreation spots for the city’s youth. Today, City Cast Philly host Trenae Nuri talks with Anthony Meadows, president of the youth sports organization, South Philly Sigma Sharks, about how this master plan could benefit the kids he serves. 

If you’d like to hear why some folks in South Philly oppose the FDR Park Plan, be sure to check out yesterday’s episode: https://pod.link/city-cast-philly/episode/e190c95d60981436da8c4e13ce1eb4c0

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For folks in South Philly, the FDR Park Meadows is a respite from city life. People run along its pathways, walk their dogs, or enjoy the green space and wildlife. But in late August, construction began on a massive $250 million redesign project of this former golf course that would add a welcome center, new soccer fields, playgrounds, and more wetlands. But some residents have taken issue with the plan. In September, City Cast Philly host Trenae Nuri took a trip to FDR Park and chatted with members of the Coalition for a People’s Plan for FDR Park and the Save the Meadows campaign. Tune in tomorrow for a different perspective on this issue.

The full statement from a spokesperson at the Parks and Recreation department:

“When you say “residents calling for a pause,” we hope your reporting can reflect that a tremendous number of other residents are not calling for a pause. In fact, over 3,000 residents, speaking seven languages, helped create a vision for the future of FDR Park through a robust public engagement process. The resulting community-driven plan found a balance between the water, nature, and recreation that define FDR park. 

There are many communities that call this park home, and the FDR Park Plan seeks to balance all users’ needs while making sure the park doesn’t become unusable due to regular and worsening flooding. In addition, for the past 12 months, Fairmount Park Conservancy and Philadelphia Parks & Recreation have conducted over 50 hours of open, transparent public engagement through briefings, open houses, park walk and talks, and community association presentations throughout South Philadelphia. These engagements will continue throughout the implementation of the Park Plan.

Change is difficult for all of us. While we understand there are individuals who feel very passionate about the former golf course remaining in its current state, we know that is not sustainable. We also know there are other community needs and desires for park usage that have been expressed throughout the engagement process and it is our job to strike an equitable balance that serves the needs of all residents. 

This plan is vital, it is viable, and it reflects the priorities and concerns of thousands of Philadelphians whose voices have been heard through our public engagement process, even as a small number of opponents seek to drown those voices out.”

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Philly sports fans are having a good week, with the Eagles celebrating a major win and the Phillies inching closer to the World Series. In other news, there’s a librarian shortage in city schools. Plus, free avocados! City Cast host Trenae Nuri chats with producers Xandra McMahon and Abby Fritz about the week’s biggest news. 

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Have a question or just want to share some thoughts with the team? Leave us a voicemail at 215-259-8170. 

It’s good to be a Philadelphia sports fan right now. The Eagles are undefeated, the Phillies are inching closer to the World Series, and the Flyers and the Union are racking up some wins, too. City Cast Philly host Trenae Nuri is joined by sports contributor and co-host of the Bell and the Birdmen podcast John Barchard to discuss the recent wins among the city’s sports teams and what it means to be a fan during this moment. 

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Have a question or just want to share some thoughts with the team? Leave us a voicemail at 215-259-8170. 

Every October, the Philadelphia Film Society hosts the Philadelphia Film Festival. Now in its 31st year, the film festival brings together more than 25,000 people over their love of film. This year’s festival will showcase locally-produced and international movies, as well as cult classics like John Waters’ “Pink Flamingos.” City Cast host Trenae Nuri spoke with arts contributor Charles Tyson, Jr. about what to check out and more. 

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Tag us on Twitter and Instagram with the flicks you’re most excited to see at the Philadelphia Film Festival: @citycastphilly.

Have a question or just want to share some thoughts with the team? Leave us a voicemail at 215-259-8170. 

Many former prisons tap into spooky season by holding haunted houses and other types of Halloween fun. But is that ethical given that real horrors took place at these sites? City Cast Philly host Trenae Nuri spoke with journalist Hope Corrigan about the ethics of prison tourism and how these institutions could be doing better. Read Hope’s reporting on this for the Marshall Project. 

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For years the University of Pennsylvania touted itself as being on the right side of history. That’s what Penn student, VanJessica Gladney, thought, too. But when Gladney walked past the bronze statue of George Whitefield, she soon learned that the university’s founding story had deep connections to slavery. City Cast Philly host Trenae Nuri unpacks this story with Zoe Greenberg, journalist for the Philadelphia Inquirer’s A More Perfect Union series. This series that explores the roots of systemic racism in America through institutions that have been founded in the city. 

Read Greenberg’s latest story for the series here: https://www.inquirer.com/news/inq2/more-perfect-union-university-pennsylvania-history-slavery-research-20221011.html

And register for the Inquirer’s live event about “Indebted” on Nov. 3 here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/inquirer-live-a-more-perfect-unions-indebted-tickets-435693359567?aff=editorial

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