News & Brews August 16, 2024
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Trump, Harris ‘bombarding’ Pa. with ads
The Wall Street Journal reports that while “[p]residential campaigns are pouring millions of dollars into battleground state advertising … no corner of America has seen more money in the past three weeks—or received more ads—than Pennsylvania.” While ad spending by both major parties combined is less than $20 million per state in the swing states of Georgia, Michigan, Wisconsin, Arizona, North Carolina, and Nevada, in Pa., the Trump and Harris camps have spent more than $20 million each. Meanwhile, future ad reservations show the massive Pa. spending is on track to continue.
Casey, Fetterman condemn anti-Israel ballot initiative
Democrat Senators Bob Casey and John Fetterman are both condemning a Pittsburgh ballot referendum initiative that would have the city divest from Israel. The Post-Gazette reports, “A political firestorm has erupted around the move to get the referendum on the ballot in November.” Mayor Ed Gainey’s communications director, Maria Montano resigned following reports that she had signed the petition in support of the referendum. Meanwhile, “Gainey walked away during an afternoon event when pressed by media to answer questions regarding the referendum.” Fetterman stated, “I unequivocally condemn this referendum. It’s rank antisemitism and is an affront to the region’s Jewish community.” And Casey said he is “strongly” against the referendum.
Op-Ed: ‘Black voters demand school choice’
Pastor Joshua Robertson, senior pastor of the Rock Church in Harrisburg and Founder/CEO of Black Pastors United for Education, writes in the Wall Street Journal that black voters “encounter new disenfranchisement in the form of politicians who expect our support but deny our overwhelming desire for education freedom for our children.” He observes that while Kamala Harris and Tim Walz “are widely courting black voters,” they’re not listening to these voters “when it comes to education freedom.”
Feds drop extortion charges against Johnny Doc
Federal prosecutors said they will not re-try former Philly union leader John “Johnny Doc” Dougherty after a judge declared a mistrial in the latest case. The Inquirer reports, “Lawyers for the government offered little explanation for their decision,” which came just a few weeks before Dougherty is scheduled to report to prison. Feds do plan to re-try Dougherty’s nephew, however.
Has Philly’s ‘Center City’ moved west?
RealClear Pennsylvania Founding Editor Charles McElwee has a long-form story in the City Journal on how Philadelphia’s “University City … is becoming the vital economic core of the metropolitan region.” Charles writes, “The contrast in urban vibrancy is apparent when comparing University City with some blocks around City Hall, where the neighboring landmark Wanamaker Building entered receivership last fall, or Rittenhouse Square, Center City’s upscale residential district. For every law firm downsizing its skyscraper footprint in Center City, there’s a new office occupant in University City,”