SEPTA cuts pose an ‘existential threat’ | Morning Newsletter
☀️ And 2025 Shore predictions.
The Morning Newsletter
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Good morning, Philly.
The next few days will bring a mix of clouds, sun, and rain, so pack all the layers if you’re traveling to the beach for Memorial Day weekend. You can further prepare with these 10 predictions for a summer at the Jersey Shore.
But first: Center City employers, workers, and small-business owners are “horrified” by the possibility of steep SEPTA cuts. Read on to learn how severe they expect the impact to be, if state funding doesn’t come through.
— Julie Zeglen ([email protected])
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SEPTA’s funding crisis-fueled doomsday plan to cut service on dozens of routes sent riders and city leaders reeling when it was announced last month.
Philadelphians who rely on the transit agency would likely see longer commute times and less convenience. But the businesses that rely on those Philadelphians’ dollars — say, Reading Terminal Market near Jefferson Station — expect to feel the hurt, too. And at the sprawling underground concourse of Suburban Station, where foot traffic and storefront occupancy had already been shrinking since the pandemic, shop owners may have even more to lose.
The cuts could also have a far-reaching negative impact on the professional return-to-office push.
Notable quote: “We don’t need any more deterrence to come into the city,” the chair of Philly’s Building Owners and Managers Association told The Inquirer. “We want to see something resolved, and sooner the better, so that there’s no disruptions.”
Reporters Erin McCarthy, Jake Blumgart, and Ariana Perez-Castells have the story.
Shore reporter Amy S. Rosenberg last summer predicted that the Kelces would “complete their total Sea Isle domination” by the time Labor Day 2024 rolled around. From their viral parking lot incident to surging post-retirement popularity, oh boy, was she right.
What does summer 2025 hold for the Jersey Shore? Here are some of the trends she’s watching.
🇨🇦 Canceled Canadian bookings already indicate our northern neighbors will show up in fewer numbers. But Rosenberg expects the spots will be filled by eager American beachgoers, including those who are skipping their own international travel for economic concerns.
☀️ Atlantic City will be renewed as a tourist hotspot, thanks to the air show’s return, a burgeoning weed culture, a slew of summer concerts, and a rebrand from casino hub to family friendly.
💰 As we shared over the weekend, homes in Wildwood — once known as a relatively affordable haven — are now selling for $1 million or higher. But Rosenberg thinks real estate and rental prices all over will flatten as the season gets underway.
See her full slate of 2025 predictions, including a nod to (why not?) Taylor Swift.
P.S. The seasonal Down the Shore newsletter returns today. Sign up for the free, weekly edition here.
What you should know today
Philly DA Larry Krasner has all but secured a third term, with crucial backing from Black political leaders and a focus on nationalizing the race. So, what will he do with it? Plus: Voter turnout in the city appeared to fall to one of its lowest points in a decade.
A 17-year-old boy has been arrested for killing a fellow student at Upper Darby High School this week, officials said Wednesday. In West Philadelphia, police said a suspect has been taken into custody after a shooting at a grocery store Wednesday killed one teenager and injured another.
Three teens who escaped from a Delaware County reform school are connected to an armed robbery in Washington, D.C., police say.
Who do Philly Democrats think is leading their party right now? Ask 10 and you might get 10 different answers.
Bucks County commissioners voted to reject their sheriff’s alliance with federal immigration agents.
A judge has dismissed a lawsuit that accused OCF Realty and a group of property owners of discrimination against people who rely on federal housing vouchers to pay for rent.
Some Republican lawmakers are pushing back on Pennsylvania State University‘s plan to shut down campuses. Could that jeopardize its state funding?
Philadelphia High School for Creative and Performing Arts will get a retired principal back amid ongoing turmoil that includes an intruder entering the building.
🧠 Trivia time
Which company is cracking down on rowdy house parties in Philadelphia ahead of Memorial Day weekend?
A) Vrbo
B) Tripadvisor
C) Airbnb
D) Kayak
Think you know? Check your answer.
What we’re...
💡 Sharing: Ideas about what Philly should do, create, or fix for 2026.
💻 Watching: Spy High, the docuseries about Lower Merion’s Webcamgate scandal.
🍨 Queuing for: Masala chai swirls and Tastykake twists at Center City’s new Malai.
🏈 Eagerly anticipating: The in-season edition of HBO’s Hard Knocks, to be focused on the NFC East.
🫁 Considering: This proposal to protect Pennsylvanians from fracking health risks.
🧩 Unscramble the anagram
Hint: Fake legal drama from the Parks and Rec team
SYLPHIC JULIET
Email us if you know the answer. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here.
Cheers to Victoria Wilson, who solved Wednesday’s anagram: Calder Gardens. Philly’s long-sought shrine to sculptor Alexander Calder will open in September on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.
Photo of the day
💪 One last smug thing: The Tush Push will live on after an NFL owners vote that would have banned it fell short. See some of the most memorable moments from the Philadelphia Eagles’ signature play, and enjoy the Philly Jelly.
Thanks for starting your day with The Inquirer. Have a good one.
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