May 12: Convention Center labor | Church repair at 43rd and Chestnut | Art for cash | City slogans | Help new Philadelphians

Welcome to the working week, Streeters. Drexel will host the final gubernatorial debate before the primary (May 20th) tonight at 7pm. Drexel will host a webcast, and local TV and radio will broadcast live.

The Carpenters Local 8 and Teamsters Local 107 opted not to sign a new labor agreement at the Pennsylvania Convention Center last week. Now the unions want in, but the Convention Center management says no thanks, the Inquirer reports. An international biotech conference opens at the Convention Center today, which means 1,100 conventioneers could be greeted by protesting Teamsters and Carpenters.

At 43rd and Chestnut streets, Christ Memorial Reformed Episcopal Church is finally seeing extensive roof repairs. West Philly Local checked in on the work ahead at the church, which houses the Media Mobilizing Project and Christ the King Prayer Chapel.

What is really being traded when institutions swap art to make building repairs? The Inquirer’s Stephan Salisbury takes a look at the ethics, costs – dollar and emotional – and benefits of moves made by several area institutions to auction off important artworks to pursue other art, fix buildings, and pay bills. 

Philly has two underwhelming slogans: “PHL: Here for the Making” and “With Love, Philadelphia, xoxo.” Inquirer columnist Karen Heller invites you to make up a better Philly slogan.

Immigrants are helping to fuel Philadelphia’s growth, and it’s time to help new Philadelphians adjust to life here. NewsWorks reports that too few city documents and services are accessible to immigrants because of language barriers. In an editorial the Inquirer suggests schools need to do more to help immigrant children who are having a hard time transitioning.

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