The Why: Philly Explained

Republicans have dominated state politics in Harrisburg for decades. For Democrats, gaining control of the General Assembly has been something of a holy grail — elusive, but they’re inching closer. And this year, there’s a chance both chambers could be up for grabs.  WHYY political reporter Katie Meyer explains that while Democrats still face an uphill battle, their growing appeal in the suburbs could help them gain more seats in the Legislature.

Philadelphia is suing state of Pennsylvania so it can enact stronger gun control laws, as at least 391 people have been murdered in the city so far this year. Philly has tried this before — in 2007, the city sued the state for preempting local gun laws and failing to take action on gun violence, without success. There were 391 homicides in the city that entire year. WHYY criminal justice reporter Aaron Moselle and Billy Penn’s Layla A. Jones explain why attorneys hope a new legal strategy involving something called the “state-created danger” doctrine could help the city win this time.

It was a movement born out of the George Floyd protests for racial justice: Hundreds of people who had experienced homelessness camped out on the Ben Franklin Parkway, on Ridge Avenue and squatted in empty houses across Philadelphia to demand affordable housing. Finally, after months of negotiations with the city and federal housing officials, the two sides have come to an agreement that will clear the encampments and provide permanent housing for residents. WHYY’s Susan Phillips explains how this historic deal was struck, and whether it could make a dent in Philadelphia’s affordable housing problem.

Violence against transgender and gender non-conforming people has been on the rise for years. Here in Philly, three Black trans women have been attacked in the last six months — two of them were murdered. Michaela Winberg with WHYY’s Billy Penn explains their cases have called attention to the fact Pennsylvania’s hate crimes law does not include protections for LGBTQ people, and why advocates — including Kendall Stevens, a Black trans woman who survived a brutal attack this year — say that needs to change.

When the Philadelphia Orchestra paused live performances in March, violinist Booker Rowe didn’t expect it would be his final curtain call. Rowe, the first African American to play with the orchestra, retired in August after more than 50 years. He and his wife Dr. Patsy Baxter Rowe, a singer and musical scholar, discuss why his historic career illustrates that progress can be made to diversify the traditionally white world of classical music — and why that world still has a long way to go.

When Philadelphia Inquirer reporter Jonathan Tamari got a tip that Pennsylvania U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey would be leaving politics after his current term, he was surprised. If he didn’t run for reelection to the Senate, Toomey was widely expected to run for governor. Without him, Pennsylvania Republicans are scrambling. Toomey still has two years left on his term, but his announcement comes just weeks before the presidential election. Jonathan explains why the pick to fill Toomey’s shoes could depend on how Pennsylvania swings in 2020.

With nearly three months left to go, more people have been murdered in Philadelphia this year than in all of 2019 and 1,655 people have been shot. The violence is tearing families and communities apart — but many Philadelphians are also stepping forward with ideas to root out the epidemic. WHYY’s Community Contributors and Engagement Editor Chris Norris shares his takeaways from “Neighbors in the Crossfire,” his recent three-part TV series that explores the causes and possible solutions to the city’s gun violence crisis.

Less than a month away from Election Day, there’s a lot of anxiety hanging over voters’ heads: an unprecedented number of people voting by mail,  the coronavirus pandemic and President Trump sowing seeds of doubt over the integrity of the election. WHYY political reporter Katie Meyer walks us through a practical guide to ease the mind of a worried voter: how to properly fill out and send in a mail in ballot (make sure it isn’t naked!), what’s up with Philly’s satellite election offices, the security of in-person voting and more.

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Check out WHYY’s full 2020 election coverage here — including handy guides on key voting deadlines, how to vote in person safely, how to be a poll worker and what you need to know about your voting rights.

The pandemic has thrown SEPTA into a budget crisis. Ridership and revenue are both way down and the agency is considering service cuts. But that didn’t stop them from spending what experts say is an unusually large amount of money on overtime. One SEPTA police officer doubled his salary and made almost as much as the mayor of Philadelphia. Ryan Briggs with WHYY’s PlanPhilly and Michaela Winberg with WHYY’s Billy Penn uncovered this troubling pattern, which stands in stark relief next to SEPTA’s recent statement it can’t afford to pay additional death benefits to families of workers who died of COVID-19.

While surveys have found many Americans — particularly Black Americans — are wary of getting a COVID-19 vaccine if one were to become available soon, New Jersey public health doctor Chris Pernell has jumped in feet first, signing up as a subject for a Phase III clinical vaccine trial at Rutgers University. She says it’s important for Black people like her to be included in clinical trials to ensure the results reflect the general population, and because Black Americans have been hit the hardest by the virus. But her decision to enroll was also personal: a tribute to her scientist father who died of COVID-19.