July 26: Know-Nothings of today | Reality tour of Kensington | Homeless outreach

DNC Day 2, Philly. Stay cool and stay tuned to NewsWorks’ Decision 2016 page for all things convention week — from street protests to politics in the hall. 

Speaking at the Democratic National Convention yesterday Mayor Kenney returned to a favorite theme: the nativist riots of 1844. Catholic churches in Philadelphia were burned by the anti-immigrant Know-Nothings, and Kenney sees parallels to today’s ramped-up anti-immigrant rhetoric. Talking to Chris Matthews on MSNBC after his speech, Kenney called the Republican party the Know-Nothings of today. (Hit up the Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia to learn more about the 1844 riots.) 

In Northwest Philly six elementary schools planning green schoolyard overhauls thanks in large part to volunteers, Water Department funds, and planning support from the nonprofit Big Sand Box, reports the Daily News. What’s missing from the formula? Much material support from the School District of Philadelphia, which has more fundamental costs to cover.

Could the outreach in advance of the DNC be the first step for some of the city’s hundreds of homeless individuals? ThinkProgress heard from Project Home’s Laura Weinbaum who said that short-term interventions can be a different way to reach people. “Once people are into the system, if they are interested in the next step and the next step and the next step hopefully that will be made available to them.”

Green Party candidate Jill Stein went on a “reality tour” of Kensington with Cheri Honkala of the Poor People’s Economic Human Rights Campaign. The Spirit of the Riverwards reports that Stein talked policing, poverty, and politics as usual.

Was it a good idea to start Eagles camp at the same time as the Democratic National Convention? The Philadelphia Inquirer checked in on these very different interests clustered around FDR Park.

WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Please give today.

Want a digest of WHYY’s programs, events & stories? Sign up for our weekly newsletter.

Together we can reach 100% of WHYY’s fiscal year goal