November 2: Firehouse Park revamped | Behavioral science and city gov | Voting rights

Ashley Hahn

November 2, 2016

The city transit strike meant SEPTA's regional rail trains were crowded. | Emma Lee / WHYY — (Emma Lee / WHYY)

Day 2 of the SEPTA city transit strike is upon us, and our Jim Saksa is posted at the Sheraton where negotiations are taking place. NewsWorks has the latest on today’s snarled commutes and wants to hear your story – tweet it at @NewsWorksWHYY using #SEPTAstruggle. If you’re a TWU worker, we want to hear your about experiences too.

Mike Newall spent Day 1 of the SEPTA Strike driving stranded strangers around Philly, talking about their lives in this city.

Firehouse Park in Old City has been refreshed and officially reopened Tuesday. The park, near 4th and Arch, has new furniture, Wi-Fi, and its fountain has a new filtration system, reports the Business Journal.

The city’s new sustainability agenda will officially be released this afternoon (and our Catalina Jaramillo will report what’s new about Greenworks), and in today’s paper Mayor Jim Kenney explains why the agenda is about building a sustainable future for Philadelphia, for and by all of us.

Julia Terruso reports on ways Philly government is using behavioral science to boost participation in Indego bike share, a water rebate program, and an employee wellness plan. Indego is considering staffing bike share stations to help people sign up and clarify misconceptions about city biking.

The Washington Post explores how big election maps tell small lies.

White nationalist groups say they’re planting hidden cameras at Philly polling places to monitor voting. “We also have some teams going in to the ghettos in Philly with 40s and weed to give out to the local residents, which we think will lead to more of them staying home. We have had success with this in the past,” wrote a representative of an alt-right website, to POLITICO. Experts note, however, fringe white supremacy groups are also known to grossly exaggerate.

Preparing to vote on Tuesday? It’s time to make a plan. If you need an assist, NewsWorks put together a Voter Guide. You can confirm your polling place and see a sample ballot online. Also – be sure you know your voting rights.

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