First Read PA – Oct. 2, 2023

WEATHER: Philadelphia: sunny, high of 81; Harrisburg: sunny, high of 82; Pittsburgh: sunny, high of 82.

FROM CITY & STATE:

* A potential strike of 1,900 school district employees seems to have been avoided as leaders of Unite Here Local 634 reached a tentative four-year agreement with the School District of Philadelphia Thursday night. 

* Enforcement agencies like the Philadelphia Parking Authority are rarely popular in the public’s eyes. But the PPA’s newest executive director Rich Lazer, former deputy mayor for labor in the city, is looking to change that. 

NEW THIS MORNING:

* Gov. Josh Shapiro on Friday remained noncommittal on a strategy to reduce planet-warming greenhouse gases after a task force the Democrat appointed came to an uncertain conclusion over how to adopt carbon pricing over power plant emissions, The Associated Press reports.

* Donald Trump never stopped attacking court decisions on mail-in ballots during the COVID-19 pandemic, falsely claiming it as a reason for his 2020 loss in Pennsylvania. Now, the former Republican president is seizing on a decision by Shapiro to bypass the legislature and start automatic voter registration, the AP reports. 

* Shapiro received a rousing welcome from New Hampshire Democrats Saturday as he stumped for President Joe Biden and a pair of Granite State gubernatorial candidates ahead of next year's election cycle, LehighValleyNews reports. 

* As expected, Republican David McCormick received the endorsement of the Pennsylvania GOP on Saturday in his second run for the U.S. Senate, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports. 

* Pennsylvania lawmakers set aside $112 million to sustain and improve state parks and forests in this year’s budget, one of the commonwealth’s most significant investments in outdoor infrastructure in decades, Spotlight PA reports. 

* The family of an 8-year-old girl who was shot and killed by police gunfire near a high school football game in 2021 has settled its lawsuit against a Philadelphia suburb, its police chief and the three officers involved for $11 million, CNN reports. 

 * Philadelphia’s Democratic mayoral nominee Cherelle Parker wants to create advisory councils of industry heavyweights, faith leaders and policy stakeholders to help guide her administration if she wins the general election. But there’s an underlying message in this recruitment of stakeholders across the city: Get on board now – or forfeit your right to complain later, the Inquirer reports.

* Touting a lifelong commitment to the region and a classic immigrant success story, Bhavini Patel is launching a bid Monday to challenge 12th Congressional District Representative Summer Lee next year, WESA reports. 

* Far Northeast Philadelphia has for years been the exception that proves the rules of Philadelphia politics. In one of the only competitive elections on the Nov. 7 ballot, Gary Masino, a Democrat and a union leader, is challenging Brian O’Neill, a lawyer who has held the 10th District Council seat for a staggering 44 years, the Inquirer reports. 

* The Allegheny County Health Department has received a $14.5 million grant to help it reduce deaths from drug overdoses, WESA reports. 

EDITORIAL PAGES:

* PennLive has an op-ed from Penn State President Neeli Bendapudi, who writes that lawmakers must return to approve the school’s 2023-24 funding – and vows to be accountable over funding questions. 

* The Inquirer has commentary from Chris Matthews, who writes that seven months after Jimmy Carter entered hospice, the 39th president continues to beat the odds.

NATIONAL POLITICS:

* Gov. Gavin Newsom of California announced on Sunday night that he has chosen Laphonza Butler, the president of Emily’s List and a former labor leader, to fill the vacancy left in the Senate by the death of Dianne Feinstein, The New York Times reports.

* Florida U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz said yesterday that he is determined to try to oust Speaker Kevin McCarthy from his leadership position after McCarthy passed a stopgap measure to fund the government with Democratic support, The Washington Post reports.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: To Pam Witmer, vice president of government affairs for UGI Energy Services and former member of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission … 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:

9 a.m. – The House Game & Fisheries Committee meets, Room 523, Irvis Office Building, Harrisburg. Watch here. 

10 a.m. – The Senate Community, Economic & Recreational Development Committee holds a public hearing on gaming, Hearing Room 1, North Office Building. Watch here.

10 a.m. – The House Environmental Resources & Energy Committee holds a public hearing, Room G50, Irvis Office Building. Watch here.

10 a.m. – Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn, Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission Executive Director Tim Schaeffer, Bureau of Motor Vehicles Director Stephen Madrak and state Sen. Gene Yaw will celebrate the new Eastern hellbender license plate and the conservation efforts it funds, Capitol Media Center. 

10:30 a.m. – The House Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness Committee meets, Room 140, Main Capitol. Watch here.

11 a.m. – Pittsburgh City Council holds a briefing on smart loading zones. 

11:30 a.m. – Criminal justice reform advocates, community organizers and others rally to show their support for probation reform legislation, proposed this session as Senate Bill 838, Main Rotunda. 

Off the Floor – The Senate Appropriations Committee meets, Rules Committee Conference Room. 

Off the Floor – The House Appropriations Committee meets, Room 140 Main Capitol. Watch here.

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

KICKER: 

“When the nation's eyes were on Pennsylvania, we showed we could do big things again. That's who we are as Democrats.” – Shapiro, via LehighValleyNews