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| |  | The new lawsuit is an example of recent tensions in the Gayborhood. (Tong Su / Unsplash) |
| Save Our Neighborhood for Tomorrow, a nonprofit with no visible online presence, wants a cease operations order on Bar X, a decade-old dive bar in the Gayborhood. In a new lawsuit, the organization accuses the bar of being a source of excessive noise, disorderly conduct, and violence. Lawyer Michael van der Veen, who is behind the suit, said he was assaulted leaving his office on the same block last month. | - Who’s on the Legal Team? William Brennan, who with van der Veen served on President Trump’s defense team during his second impeachment trial, incorporated the nonprofit. George Bochetto, who has been representing Spruce and Pine Street residents fighting against bike lane protections, filed the suit.
- Bar X Fires Back. In an interview, Bar X owner Tony Tsang questioned why his bar is the only one being targeted, despite its proximity to other bars in the area. Tsang believes it’s due to his Asian identity and the identity of his clientele, which is majority Black. Patrons on Instagram declared support for the bar.
- Policing in the Gayborhood. The lawsuit comes on the heels of a public hearing at City Hall following allegations of aggressive policing in the Gayborhood over Pride weekend back in June. In a conversation with City Cast Philly, president of Philly Black Pride Jacen Bowman said: “ What happened during the Pride festivities in early June is something that happens and has continued to happen ad nauseam, particularly at Black and brown spaces within the Gayborhood. The Gayborhood has a long-standing history of racism and division within our own community.”
- New Lawsuit, Old Tensions. In 2017, a report from the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations detailed discrimination in the neighborhood. Claims of racism and discrimination from area businesses were substantiated. Going back to the 1970s, even as the neighborhood was beginning to be viewed as an LGBTQ+ safe haven, reports of racism and sexism painted a different picture.
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| What Philly's Talking About |
| Could This New Design Make Broad Street Better or Worse? | The Avenue of the Arts has a new landscaped median that could expand along South Broad Street in the future. But is the new streetscape project an example of smart design, or is it messing with an iconic thoroughfare at an eye-popping price? And what will happen to the street’s iconic photoshoots and championship parade takeovers? [🎧 City Cast Philly] | | | Local Philly Lobbyist Investigated by Feds | Investigators have reportedly demanded the financial records of William F. Dunbar, Sr., who served as an informal advisor for Mayor Parker’s 2023 campaign. Sources say they’re not aware of an investigation into Parker herself, but The Inquirer noted that the mayor’s campaign spending increased its legal services spending last year with no details as to why. [🔒The Inquirer] | |  | Devil’s Pool has become a popular swimming hole despite its dangers. (Seaflour / Wikimedia Commons) |
| | Party’s Over at Devil’s Pool | Philadelphia Police are increasing patrols and issuing fines at Wissahickon Valley Park after an online petition demanded intervention. Residents and parkgoers have voiced concerns over noise, littering, and swimming at Devil’s Pool. [KYW] | | | Philly Underdog Wins UFC 330 | In what may be the biggest upset of the year, Frankford mixed martial artist Jeremiah Wells defeated the favorite-to-win Myktybek Orolbai at Saturday’s fight at Xfinity Mobile Arena. It’s a full circle moment for Wells, going once from setting up events at the arena to securing a win for the city. [Northeast Philly] | | Philly Takes Over Publishing Scene | Move over, New York. The Big Apple may be the hotspot for publishing, but literary agents, authors, and editors are now setting their sights on Philly. No longer considered New York’s quirky cousin of publishing, industry players are finding major success after moving here. [🔒 Philly Mag] |
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🧡 There’s nothing like meeting your heroes. Check out this sweet interaction between 7-year-old Khalib Townsend and Keith Russell, a conservation scientist at the Audubon Discovery Center in North Philly. The two talked about why birds matter and whether they’re truly evolved from dinosaurs. |
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