Welcome to Friday, Philly. The heat remains, but starting today, you can cool off
in one of the city’s public pools
.
Philadelphia City Council held its final session before summer recess. Read on for a breakdown of
the newly approved $6.8 billion budget
, two bills meant to bring relief to renters, and a vote to preserve the city’s oldest community garden.
And these father and son Philly sports diehards paint the cleats that their favorite players wear. Find out how the Stevens
brought a hobby all the way to the Hall of Fame
.
— Julie Zeglen (
[email protected]
)
P.S. Friday means trivia. Our latest news quiz includes questions on
a $50 million donation, a South Philly estate sale, and more
.
If someone forwarded you this email,
sign up for free here
.
What’s in Philly’s newly finalized budget
At City Council’s final session before summer recess on Thursday, councilmembers approved a city budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year, along with other legislative moves.
Breaking down the budget:
Workers will see minuscule tax cuts with the new $6.8 billion budget. Small-business owners will get a mixed bag of pain and relief. And many of the most important parts of the next city budget won’t come to fruition
until long after the next fiscal year
.
Relief for renters:
City Council passed a bill to allow renters to pay part of their security deposits in installments, with a goal to reduce up-front costs. Councilmembers also voted to create an anti-displacement fund, though money
has not yet been allocated for it
.
Saving Summer:
The one-acre Summer Winter Community Garden in University City is one of Philly’s oldest, but was vulnerable to development. Council voted to preserve the garden via a resolution that grants the property’s title to
the nonprofit Neighborhood Gardens Trust
.
Everything else:
The session also featured concerns about SEPTA’s subsidized fare program, legislation to create a protected bike lane around City Hall, and a bill that would provide some merchants a
tax credit for supporting the arts
.
In other local government news:
-
Philadelphia’s largest union of municipal workers says it will “shut this city down” if a
contract deal isn’t reached soon
. -
Mayor Cherelle L. Parker said Philly police Saturday will be focused on
“keeping the peace” at the planned anti-Trump demonstration
. -
The Save the Cecil B. Moore Library Coalition gathered at City Hall Thursday to urge Councilmember Jeffery Young Jr. to advance
renovations for the North Philly library
.
From a hobby to the Hall of Fame
🎤 Let’s pass the mic to sports reporter Matt Breen.
The metal cleats were not allowed in the ballpark, the security guard said, unless they were a birthday gift. Ryan Stevens and his dad, Ron, drove 14 hours in 2021 to deliver a pair of custom cleats to Andrew McCutchen before the Phillies played in Atlanta. McCutchen did not order the cleats — he simply liked one of Stevens’ social media posts — but Stevens knew this was his chance. He had to get them inside.
Ryan now works full-time customizing cleats and sneakers alongside his father. They take a plain shoe and bring it to life, painting it to perfectly match a uniform and adding personal touches for each player. Their company — NXT LVL Customs — has been commissioned by the players of the Philadelphia sports teams they live and die with. One of their pairs — the cleats Cooper DeJean wore for his Super Bowl pick-six — is even in the Hall of Fame.
But four years ago, the father and son were just trying to get noticed.
Here’s how the duo went from such “guerrilla-style” efforts to a high-profile career.
—
Matt Breen
What you should know today
-
Ahead of this weekend’s scheduled protests, Gov. Josh Shapiro said that he will challenge any attempt by President Donald Trump to
deploy federal troops to Pennsylvania
. -
In a crowded Democratic primary for the New Jersey governorship, U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill won by building a statewide
coalition to capture the nomination
. Sherill also got an endorsement this week from the state’s first woman governor,
former Republican Christine Todd Whitman
. -
Philly faith leaders call on city leaders to
speak out against ICE actions
. Plus: Will Lincoln Financial Field have an ICE presence
at Monday’s Club World Cup game
? -
State Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta will retain his vice chairmanship of the Democratic National Committee, after an internal party
quarrel had threatened his position
. -
Two former postal workers in Philadelphia and two other people have been indicted for allegedly stealing from the mail government
checks worth millions of dollars
. -
A group representing retired Chester workers filed a lawsuit Wednesday to open the sale of the bankrupt city’s
water assets to private companies
. -
Philadelphia’s school board raised concerns about six charter schools,
casting doubt about their renewals
. -
The University of Pennsylvania is exploring how to help about 200 students from 12 countries affected by a travel ban recently
enacted by the Trump administration
.
Plus: Are Philadelphians friendly?
Welcome back to Curious Philly Friday. We’ll feature both new and timeless stories from
our forum for readers to ask about the city’s quirks
.
This week, we have an explainer on the Philadelphian temperament. A Londoner who’s visiting soon wanted to know: Are we friendly?
Several residents who spoke to reporter Michelle Myers think so, though they acknowledged we might not come off that way at first. Even if we’re not always nice, we’re likely to be kind.
Or take it from Myers, once an international visitor herself.
Here’s the full explanation.
Have your own burning question about Philadelphia, its local oddities, or how the region works?
Submit it here and you might find the answer featured in this space.
🧠 Trivia time
Protesting “hostility” from new leadership, workers at which Philadelphia music venue walked off the job and launched a protest on Wednesday night that led to firings Thursday?
A) The Met
B) Solar Myth
C) Franklin Music Hall
D) World Cafe Live
Think you know? Check your answer
.
What we’re…
🥪
Remembering:
When Horn & Hardart kicked off
the fast-food revolution in Center City
.
🎉
Celebrating:
Juneteenth with these 12 local
concerts, parties, and educational events
.
🍛
Anticipating:
The Philly entrance of New York’s
most acclaimed Indian restaurant group
.
🏡
Ogling:
This Wynnewood cottage,
once part of the Clothier estate
.
🦅
Either horrified or thrilled by:
This naked Jason Kelce tattoo
.
🧩 Unscramble the anagram
Hint:
Famous mom and rumored reality show star
LENKA CONED
Email us if you know the answer
. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here.
Cheers to Joe Ciliberti, who solved Thursday’s anagram:
Fishtown
. After falling in love with the River Wards neighborhood’s “openness,” designer Katherine Lundberg
helped style Suraya, Kalaya, and more
.
Photo of the day
Take care this weekend. I’m out for the next few days, so Paola and Erin will have you covered.
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, including the grant of rights in Section 10.
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