First Read – July 23, 2024

WEATHER: Philadelphia: chance of showers and thunderstorms, high of 89; Harrisburg: partly sunny, chance of showers, high of 89; Pittsburgh: patchy fog, chance of thunderstorms, high of 86.

FROM CITY & STATE:

* The political world is already speculating about a Kamala Harris-Josh Shapiro presidential ticket – here are four things to know about Josh Shapiro and the veepstakes.

NEW THIS MORNING:

* Gov. Josh Shapiro repeatedly declined yesterday to say whether he would accept an offer to be Harris’ running mate, telling reporters he would “not engage in hypotheticals,” ABC Philadelphia reports.

* The Pennsylvania delegation to the Democratic National Convention unanimously voted to endorse Harris’ candidacy during an emergency meeting yesterday, the Pennsylvania Capital-Star reports.

* After U.S. Sen. Bob Casey endorsed Harris for the democratic ticket, his opponent Dave McCormick argued that her policy positions would damage the Pennsylvania natural gas industry, the Delaware Valley Journal reports. 

* Despite support for vouchers from Shapiro, GOP leaders, state lawmakers and advocates (including Jay-Z) were prepared for a tough budget fight over school vouchers this year. But it fizzled out, PennLive reports.

* A dozen Philadelphia city workers, both unionized and not, spoke out about how the transition to full-time, in-office work played out last week under Mayor Cherelle Parker’s new policy, The Philadelphia Inquirer reports. 

* Pennsylvania Western University’s new president spoke yesterday about the struggles preceding him to merge three century-and-a-half-old institutions with proud histories into one, The Tribune Review reports.

* Tenant advocates have been calling on Pittsburgh to expand a program that provides free legal help to low-income renters facing eviction. A bill slated to be introduced to City Council today appears to answer that call, WESA reports. 

* Pittsburgh convinced the Pennsylvania Supreme Court yesterday to review a ruling striking down its tax on visiting athletes and entertainers, Bloomberg Law reports.

EDITORIAL PAGES:

* PennLive has an op-ed by Victoria Collazo, who writes that she was disappointed to learn that Sen. John Fetterman recently co-sponsored the misnamed Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, as whole milk does not belong in our schools. 

* The Inquirer has an op-ed by Will Bunch, who writes that President Joe Biden did what he promised in restoring sanity to America in the 2020s, but few will remember if a dictatorial Trump returns.

NATIONAL POLITICS:

* Vice President Kamala Harris has scooped up endorsements and wasted no time starting to build her new profile as the presumptive nominee for the presidential election, The New York Times reports. 

* House Democrats’ campaign arm raised nearly $1 million online in the first 24 hours after President Joe Biden announced he would not seek reelection – the group's single best online fundraising day of the cycle,  Politico reports. 

* Harris will not attend Benjamin Netanyahu’s joint address to Congress but will conduct a separate bilateral meeting with the Israeli prime minister this week at the White House, Politico reports.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY:  to former state Sen. Pam Iovino … to Vance Duncan III, deputy chief of training division at the Erie Bureau of Fire … to Rick Vilello, deputy secretary of community affairs and development at the state Department of Community & Economic Development … and to Anita Pritzio, Allegheny County Councilmember … Want to wish someone a happy birthday in our newsletter? Email their name, job title and upcoming birthday to editor@cityandstatepa.com.

MOVING ON: Three state college and university presidents have been chosen to begin new roles on the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Pennsylvania Board: Barbara Altmann of Franklin and Marshall College will be chair; Doug Lee of Waynesburg University will be vice chair and Elizabeth Meade of Cedar Crest College will be secretary/treasurer … Have a career change or life event to announce? Email us: editor@cityandstatepa.com.

TODAY’S SKED:

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

1 p.m. – The Pittsburgh City Council Executive Session meets, Council Chambers, City-County Building, Pittsburgh. 

1:30 p.m. – The Pittsburgh City Council Committee on Hearings and Policy meets, Council Chambers, City-County Building, Pittsburgh. Watch here. 

KICKER: 

“This is a deeply personal decision the vice president will make. She will make it on her own timetable and on her own timeline.” – Shapiro when asked if he will accept a possible VP nomination via ABC Philadelphia