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| |  | Keith Haring intentionally chose the location at 2147 Ellsworth St., passing over bigger, busier streets for the residential neighborhood of Point Breeze. (Abby Fritz / City Cast Philly) |
| The Philadelphia Historical Commission will be hearing from the public today about whether or not the Keith Haring mural “We The Youth” in Point Breeze should be recommended for designation on the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places. | | - The Backstory. The world-renowned artist created this piece in collaboration with 14 high school students in the 1980s. This was at the peak of his career, and just three years before he died of AIDS-related complications. This work is the only one of Haring's collaborative murals that still stands at its original spot.
- Why Designate it? This would ensure the mural is maintained and protected.
- No Other Outdoor Mural Has Gotten This Designation. While Maxfield Parrish’s “Dream Garden,” an indoor mural located inside the Curtis Center, was awarded this designation after a Las Vegas casino owner tried to buy it, no outdoor mural has gotten the same treatment. In fact the mosaics by the late Philly artist Isaiah Zagar at the Painted Bride Art Center were passed over by the commission for this designation before the building was demolished.
- The Precedent. If the commission chooses to award this designation, other outdoor murals could get the same treatment. In a city with over 4,000 murals, the question becomes which ones deserve to be protected.
- Make Your Opinion Known. Join the commission's public virtual meeting today at 9:30 a.m.
- The Decision. A final verdict will be announced by the Philadelphia Historical Commission on Oct. 9.
| | Are there other murals in Philly that you think are worth saving? The team has some thoughts on this in today's episode. | |
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| What Philly's Talking About |
| | Mayor To Create Data Center Task Force | The move comes after a Monday rally where community organizers called on Mayor Parker to pause any future development of data centers within city limits, citing environmental and ethical concerns. The mayor responded by promising to create a task force to lay out guidelines on how the city will regulate potential data center development. [📝 City Cast Philly, NBC10] | - Related: National dialogue on the fast-moving push to build these centers that power AI has communities worried about the impact these warehouses could have on their neighborhoods. While Philly doesn’t currently have any formal proposals, some neighboring suburbs do. (🎧 City Cast Philly)
| | Philly's Weather Is Changing | Thunderstorms, flooding, and high temperatures culminated in a sticky, warm season that ranked among the hottest ever. This type of extreme weather is becoming more common worldwide. While certain areas are more affected than others, Northeast Philly is experiencing some of the biggest climate changes in the country. [Axios Philadelphia, Philadelphia Water Department] | | Center City Leads in New Development | Since the beginning of 2025, 40% of Philly's new housing has been built in the Center City area. The area has a 90% occupancy rate in multifamily buildings and 1,300 more units in development. A slowdown isn’t in sight; an analysis says 25,000 more units could be on the horizon. [🔒The Philadelphia Business Journal] | | Cop Fired After Leaving Injured Man on the Road | Eugene Beauford was injured and lying in the bike lane of a road in Olney last month when, according to a video that circulated across media platforms, a police officer came across Beauford and left him lying there. Not long after, Beauford was fatally run over by a car. The officer, who has not been named, will be fired for failing to investigate and not filing a police report. The motorist who struck Beauford has been identified, but charges have yet to be filed. [PhillyVoice] |
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| |  | Here's a hint: this is a great place to skate. (Abby Fritz / City Cast Philly) |
| We’re back with another “Where Is It?” challenge, our game where you name the location of street art and landmarks around the city. | | Do you know where this is? | | While you're looking around for this spot, you can: | |
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🎶 Philly knows a Jill Scott reference when they see it! So many of you guessed the Sept. 9 “Where Is It?” challenge correctly, but Stephanie from Francisville takes the cake as the fastest to respond! The artwork is at 18th and Fairmount Streets, on what used to be the Mortgage Security Trust Building, alongside other works dedicated to the Philly music icon. |
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