City officials said that the postponement affords additional time for outreach teams and service providers to engage the encampment's residents, who number as many as 150. The ultimate goal is to offer housing and other social services.In a nearly last-minute decision that caught much of the city by surprise, Philadelphia officials postponed the closure of the homeless encampment on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway that had been scheduled for Friday.Talks between the city and organizers of the five-week-old of 100 to 150 people had broken down last week, but were revived after Mayor Jim Kenney...…City officials said that the postponement affords additional time for outreach teams and service providers to engage the encampment's residents, who number as many as 150. The ultimate goal is to offer housing and other social services.In a nearly last-minute decision that caught much of the city by surprise, Philadelphia officials postponed the closure of the homeless encampment on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway that had been scheduled for Friday.Talks between the city and organizers of the five-week-old of 100 to 150 people had broken down last week, but were revived after Mayor Jim Kenney...WW…

Richard P. Nicoletti is the second cop to be arrested for alleged misconduct during protests over police brutality that coursed through the city after the death of George Floyd.The Philadelphia SWAT officer pulling down protesters’ masks and pepper spraying them as they knelt on the Vine Street Expressway turned himself in Wednesday to face criminal charges — the second officer to be arrested for alleged misconduct during that coursed through the city in May and June.Richard P. Nicoletti, 35, will face charges of simple assault, reckless endangerment, official oppression, and possession of...…Richard P. Nicoletti is the second cop to be arrested for alleged misconduct during protests over police brutality that coursed through the city after the death of George Floyd.The Philadelphia SWAT officer pulling down protesters’ masks and pepper spraying them as they knelt on the Vine Street Expressway turned himself in Wednesday to face criminal charges — the second officer to be arrested for alleged misconduct during that coursed through the city in May and June.Richard P. Nicoletti, 35, will face charges of simple assault, reckless endangerment, official oppression, and possession of...WW…

Mayor Kenney called what he knows about the group "rephrensible" and said he was looking into their attendance at a party hosted by the Fraternal Order of Police after Vice President Mike Pence's rally in Northeast Philadlephia on Thursday.A day after members of the alt-right group the Proud Boys were seen openly mingling with officers outside a party following Vice President Mike Pence’s Thursday visit to Philadelphia, the head of the city’s police union said he had not invited them — though he stopped short of condemning their presence at the event.About 10 men who identified themselves...…Mayor Kenney called what he knows about the group "rephrensible" and said he was looking into their attendance at a party hosted by the Fraternal Order of Police after Vice President Mike Pence's rally in Northeast Philadlephia on Thursday.A day after members of the alt-right group the Proud Boys were seen openly mingling with officers outside a party following Vice President Mike Pence’s Thursday visit to Philadelphia, the head of the city’s police union said he had not invited them — though he stopped short of condemning their presence at the event.About 10 men who identified themselves...WW…

They were greeted near City Hall by counterprotesters who were on foot and aimed to stop the caravan.The protests against the government-mandated business closures that have taken place across the country came to Philadelphia on Friday, as several dozen people drove their cars repeatedly around City Hall, creating a chorus of honking and snarling traffic.The caravan started in South Philadelphia and was led north on Broad Street by a pickup truck with a flag promoting President Donald Trump’s reelection in the bed. Other cars had American flags poking out the windows and signs reading...…They were greeted near City Hall by counterprotesters who were on foot and aimed to stop the caravan.The protests against the government-mandated business closures that have taken place across the country came to Philadelphia on Friday, as several dozen people drove their cars repeatedly around City Hall, creating a chorus of honking and snarling traffic.The caravan started in South Philadelphia and was led north on Broad Street by a pickup truck with a flag promoting President Donald Trump’s reelection in the bed. Other cars had American flags poking out the windows and signs reading...WW…

The Postal Service’s statement came amid false attacks on mail voting by President Trump, and as concerns mount about how the coronavirus pandemic could disrupt the election.The U.S. Postal Service has warned Pennsylvania that some mail ballots might not be delivered on time because for its “delivery standards,” prompting election officials to ask the state Supreme Court to extend the deadlines to avoid disenfranchising voters.The warning came in a July 29 letter from Thomas J. Marshall, general counsel and executive vice president of the Postal Service, to Pennsylvania Secretary of State...…The Postal Service’s statement came amid false attacks on mail voting by President Trump, and as concerns mount about how the coronavirus pandemic could disrupt the election.The U.S. Postal Service has warned Pennsylvania that some mail ballots might not be delivered on time because for its “delivery standards,” prompting election officials to ask the state Supreme Court to extend the deadlines to avoid disenfranchising voters.The warning came in a July 29 letter from Thomas J. Marshall, general counsel and executive vice president of the Postal Service, to Pennsylvania Secretary of State...WW…

Protesters called on Philly officials to put an end to the area’s open-air drug market and dedicate resources to making the surrounding neighborhoods safer.Several dozen people blocked the intersections of Kensington and Allegheny Avenues on Wednesday afternoon to call on city officials to put an end to the area’s open-air drug market and dedicate resources to making the surrounding neighborhoods safer.Organized by the Harrowgate Civic Association, demonstrators held signs that read “Send help” and “This protest is not about Black or blue lives, it’s about our children’s lives.” Over the...…Protesters called on Philly officials to put an end to the area’s open-air drug market and dedicate resources to making the surrounding neighborhoods safer.Several dozen people blocked the intersections of Kensington and Allegheny Avenues on Wednesday afternoon to call on city officials to put an end to the area’s open-air drug market and dedicate resources to making the surrounding neighborhoods safer.Organized by the Harrowgate Civic Association, demonstrators held signs that read “Send help” and “This protest is not about Black or blue lives, it’s about our children’s lives.” Over the...WW…

The encampment sprung up during the protests over the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis and has been labeled by its inhabitants as a “no cop zone.”Philadelphia officials say they are nearing an agreement that could disband by the end of the month, but some organizers of the encampment caution that a deal is far from certain.“We’re hopeful that we’ll reach agreement this week around the timeline for the camp to voluntarily dissolve,” Eva Gladstein, the city’s deputy managing director of health and human services, said Tuesday of the encampment of more than 100 people. “From the...…The encampment sprung up during the protests over the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis and has been labeled by its inhabitants as a “no cop zone.”Philadelphia officials say they are nearing an agreement that could disband by the end of the month, but some organizers of the encampment caution that a deal is far from certain.“We’re hopeful that we’ll reach agreement this week around the timeline for the camp to voluntarily dissolve,” Eva Gladstein, the city’s deputy managing director of health and human services, said Tuesday of the encampment of more than 100 people. “From the...WW…

Further troubling homeless advocates was the camp organizers’ decision to oust city outreach workers who had shown up Monday afternoon to offer services.Declaring an encampment of more than 100 homeless people on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway “a pandemic waiting to happen,” a leading advocate for the homeless in Philadelphia condemned the formation of the tent city by local activists last week as an “irresponsible” and “stupid” act in the time of COVID-19.“I think it is the most insane activity during a pandemic that I can ever imagine,” said , executive director of the Homeless Advocacy...…Further troubling homeless advocates was the camp organizers’ decision to oust city outreach workers who had shown up Monday afternoon to offer services.Declaring an encampment of more than 100 homeless people on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway “a pandemic waiting to happen,” a leading advocate for the homeless in Philadelphia condemned the formation of the tent city by local activists last week as an “irresponsible” and “stupid” act in the time of COVID-19.“I think it is the most insane activity during a pandemic that I can ever imagine,” said , executive director of the Homeless Advocacy...WW…