First Read PA – Oct. 10, 2023

WEATHER: Philadelphia: mostly sunny, high of 66; Harrisburg: mostly sunny, high of 63; Pittsburgh: sunny, high of 61.

FROM CITY & STATE:

* The Working Families Party kicked off its first-ever national convention in Philadelphia last Friday for a weekend-long event that brought lawmakers, labor leaders and organizers to the Downtown Sonesta hotel to celebrate the party’s growth. 

NEW THIS MORNING:

* More than 1,000 people, including Gov. Josh Shapiro, gathered outside a Jewish community center in Wynnewood last night in a show of support for Israel after the country was invaded by Hamas, The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

* By publicly supporting a school voucher proposal during this year’s budget negotiations, Shapiro has crossed a partisan divide on school choice – an issue that has emerged as a political flashpoint in the commonwealth, The Associated Press reports.

* President Joe Biden will visit Philadelphia on Friday to discuss his “Bidenomics” agenda in a trip that will mark his eighth visit to the city this year, the Pennsylvania Capital-Star reports. 

* Pittsburgh’s citywide ban on plastic bags will go into effect on Saturday, and while it will ban most plastic bags, exceptions exist for produce bags, meat packaging and other uses, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.

 * Fresh off an unsuccessful mayoral bid and six-year stint on Philadelphia City Council, Allan Domb wants to continue his efforts to improve the city in the private sector, including through his $400 million real estate portfolio, Billy Penn reports.

* Ditching his designation as a Democrat, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. declared his intent to run for president as an independent during an appearance at Philadelphia’s Independence Mall yesterday, the Inquirer reports.

 * U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick said during a recent TV appearance that it is “ridiculous” that the U.S. House is unable to act due to a speakership vacancy, and accused Democrats of choosing to punish then-Speaker Kevin McCarthy for calling up a bipartisanship vote, Fox News reports. 

* U.S. Sens. Bob Casey and John Fetterman are part of a growing group of lawmakers who are returning political contributions from Sen. Bob Menendez – who is currently facing bribery charges, The Hill reports.

* PennWest University, an institution formed by the merger of California, Clarion and Edinboro universities, saw another decline in its enrollment figures, though other schools in the state-owned system saw enrollment growth, the Tribune-Review reports. 

* Officials in Chester County have launched the Whole-Home Repairs program – a state initiative that will allow eligible homeowners and landlords to apply for grants of up to $25,000 to fund home improvements, WHYY reports. 

EDITORIAL PAGES:

* The Inquirer editorial board writes that the attack on Israel comes at a precarious time in the U.S. and across the globe – and that a new world order is “needed to confront terrorist organizations and dictators.”

* The Tribune-Review writes that a recent shooting at the Chevy Chase Community Center in White Township, Indiana County shows that gun violence is not just a problem that affects cities. 

NATIONAL POLITICS:

* As a president who ran on steady leadership, the outbreak of violence in Israel – and the potential for a larger war – presents one of Biden’s most difficult foreign policy challenges to date and could define his legacy, Politico reports.

* A new survey from the Public Affairs Council found that public support for corporate involvement in major social and political issues is dropping, Axios reports.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: To state Rep. Dan Moul … to former U.S. Rep. Joe Pitts … to Philadelphia City Councilmember Mark Squilla … to former state Sen. Andrew Dinniman … and to Ron Boston, senior government affairs manager at Duane Morris … Want to wish someone a happy birthday in our newsletter? Email their name, job title and upcoming birthday to editor@cityandstatepa.com.

TODAY’S SKED:

10 a.m. – The Pittsburgh City Council meets, Council Chambers, City-County Building, Pittsburgh. Watch here. 

2 p.m. – The Philadelphia City Council Committee on Children and Youth meets, Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church, 2800 West Cheltenham Ave., Philadelphia.

5 p.m. – The Allegheny County Council meets, Allegheny County Courthouse, Fourth floor – Gold Room, 436 Grant St., Pittsburgh. 

To have your events included in Today’s sked, please email the information to editor@cityandstatepa.com.

KICKER: 

“I think it’s going to take everybody a little time to get used to it.” – Vickie Pan, the owner of Kawaii Gifts, on Pittsburgh’s plastic bag ban, via the Tribune-Review