The Why: Philly Explained

Philadelphians are demanding answers after police appeared to allow a group of mostly white men, many carrying baseball bats, gather in Fishtown after curfew Monday night. At least three people say they were assaulted by members of the group, who said they were protecting the police — yet none were arrested. Residents want to know why police are treating this vigilante group and Justice for George Floyd protesters differently. WHYY’s Aaron Moselle breaks down how the night unfolded and what the police department says it’s doing about it.

It’s now day four since Philadelphia has been rocked by a series of protests that started in Center City on Saturday and has now spread to neighborhoods across the city. But what started as a collection of peaceful demonstrations protesting the killing of George Floyd, who died after a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes, has given way to escalating vandalism, looting and an increasingly aggressive police response. WHYY reporters Alan Yu, Ximena Conde, Avi Wolfman-Arent, Miles Bryan and Community Engagement Editor Chris Norris chronicle how we got here, taking us deep into what they’ve seen, heard and experienced on the ground.

After protests, looting and a heavy police response rocked the 52nd Street business corridor in West Philly on Sunday night, City Councilmember Jamie Gauthier was able to calm tensions with just one phone call. Gauthier spoke to The Why’s Annette John-Hall about why she got Mayor Jim Kenney on the phone with protestors and what they plan to do next to continue the conversation.

Before the coronavirus pandemic, Philadelphia’s Health Department was probably best known as the agency shutting down unsanitary restaurants. Turns out, it was also training to respond to a major public health crisis. Now that Philly has moved past the initial surge of COVID-19 patients, reporter Max Marin of WHYY’s Billy Penn breaks down how the department’s adapted to keep cases down.

Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware are all moving to partially reopen. But health experts say only a COVID-19 vaccine can get us back to life (mostly) as we knew it, so scientists and pharmaceutical companies around the world —including some right here in the Philly area — are racing to make one ASAP. Dr. Paul Offit, who directs the Vaccine Education center at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, is on a national panel overseeing vaccines being developed by American companies. He explains why vaccines take years to develop safely and why he urges companies “crowing” about their latest developments to be more humble.

At 139 years old, Lucy the Elephant has seen many things from the shores of Margate — from presidential visits to the threat of the wrecking ball and Hurricane Sandy. In March, the six-story wooden pachyderm was listed on Airbnb, only to close because of the coronavirus pandemic. She’s stood the test of time — and we’re sure she’ll get through this, too. So on this Memorial Day, The Why takes you down the shore for one of our favorite episodes from last summer. WHYY’s Joe Hernandez explains how Lucy became a beloved Jersey Shore icon and why she’s still a hit.

The 35th anniversary of the MOVE bombing, which killed 11 people, 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 would it mean for the city to apologize for the MOVE bombing? And if that did happen, what could forgiveness look like? The Why put those questions to Solomon Jones, WURD host and Philadelphia Inquirer columnist, and to MOVE member Mike Africa Jr.

Residents at nursing homes and other longterm-care facilities make up at least half the COVID-19 deaths in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. And yet, some of these facilities are knowingly admitting patients recovering from the virus — deeply worrying residents and their loved ones. And while there are compelling financial and legal reasons for doing so, many nursing homes say they’re actually reluctant take these patients in.

Guest: WHYY health reporter Nina Feldman

New Jersey says all beaches can reopen on Friday, just in time for Memorial Day weekend. As for the rest of the shore — the restaurants, the amusement parks and the rentals — those experiences could be very different as the pandemic continues. And if summer at the Jersey Shore is about close experiences with family, friends and crowds at the boardwalk, how will social distancing change that culture?

Guest: Andrew Lewis, NJ Spotlight

As Congress debates whether to extend the unemployment benefits it passed after the coronavirus pandemic began, here’s a deeper look at why the system isn’t working for many of the nearly 2 million Pennsylvanians who’ve lost their jobs. And why in some cases, the help is coming with unintended consequences that may actually make it even harder for businesses and employees to weather the crisis.

Guests: Laura Benshoff and Miles Bryan, Keystone Crossroads