August 25: NPS at 100 | East Market’s second tower | FBI and Local 98

Today marks the National Park Service’s 100th birthday. Cynthia MacLeod, superintendent of Independence National Historical Park has an op-ed in today’s Inquirer on the centennial and the work NPS is doing in our city. WHYY’s Jennifer Lynn caught up with MacLeod for a walkabout. To celebrate the occasion, there are festivities around Independence NHP starting at 10am today. We also recommend Grist’s wonderful series about the Park Service’s centennial, who uses the parks, and what challenge the agency and park sites face.

The East Market development is getting a second tower. Jacob Adelman has an update on the project, reporting the residential tower would rise over the already underway retail podium, and shared some tidbits about several design-oriented tenants: Design Within Reach, Bohlin Cywinski Jackson, and several businesses from the old Marketplace Design Center. The project will go before Civic Design Review in September.

After nagging by 5th Square and others, the Kenney administration agreed to selectively enforce the South Broad Street median parking ban to target the “worst” offenders among all who park there flouting city law. The rest of the offenders are OK, Jared Brey reports.

The plot thickens as more details emerge about the focus of the recent FBI raid on IBEW Local 98 offices, John Dougherty’s home, and Councilman Bobby Henon’s offices. The Inquirer reports that a warrant served to the state Attorney General’s Office reveals “federal agents are seeking evidence that union funds were embezzled and that contractors were intimidated by ‘use of economic fear.’ The warrant also cites possible extortion by an unnamed public official.” For his part, Henon is keeping his trap shut, but Johnny Doc is talking. Doc said the FBI is targeting the union, not him personally. He also took credit for Kenney’s election win and helping launch the Rebuild Philadelphia initiative. Life’s rich pageant, folks.

Among the signs summer in the city is drawing to a close: rolling pool closures continue. Here’s the schedule.

The best thing all week might just be the Cambodia Town/Controlla parody by Hella Chluy. If you’ve got something better, won’t you send it our way?

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