PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY | JULY 1 – 8, 2021

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FROM THE EDITOR

HIGH RENTS IN PHILLY AMPLIFY

RACIAL SEGREGATION

T

he focus of city governments, economic problem shows the foolishness in colleges, and activists in recent giving councilmembers the prerogative to apyears has shifted to diversity is- prove or veto local land-use decisions. It stops new residents from moving to the city, and it sues, yet almost every American city has become more segregat- makes life harder for locals struggling to keep ed by race compared to a few de- up with rent. The city has made it functionally illegal and economically impossible to build cades ago. affordable housing, and then people complain That is the concerning conclusion of a report from the Othering & Be- that only “luxury housing” is built.

High rents are a serious problem on their longing Institute at the University of Califorown, but housing segregation causnia-Berkeley. es more problems. It makes it hard“Out of every metropolitan reer for people to send their kids to gion in the United States with more good schools, get a good job, or have than 200,000 residents, 81 percent access to good health care. Crime is (169 out of 209) were more segreexpected in “bad neighborhoods,” gated as of 2019 than they were in so it’s taken less seriously. When 1990,” writes Stephen Menendian, people can’t move to a safer, wealththe Institute’s associate director ier neighborhood, their quality of and director of research. life is dramatically worse.

Philadelphia, sadly, is not an The problem is not so much genoutlier. City Council is repeating trification as it is division. Philathe same mistakes as most places, delphia is a city recovering from sitting on its hands as the problem decline after its peak. The best thing festers. Philadelphia is the 9th most the city could do is make it easier to segregated city, according to the build all sorts of apartment buildstudy. @ANTHONYHENNEN ings and housing units, attracting The study is short on proposed more capital and people whose cresolutions, preferring instead to explain the problem. But it does point in some ativity and wealth benefits established residents. specific directions. For one, it finds racial resiChange doesn’t have to destroy what aldential segregation, driven by the “redlining” ready exists. Sometimes, it’s building four of the past and exclusionary zoning restricstories instead of three, adding a bus route for tions of the present, to be a major issue. Those rules divided the city by race and now make an overlooked neighborhood, or creating protected bike lanes. Other times, it’s refusing the it harder to build more housing. Thus, richer absurdity that is downzoning areas like Gineighborhoods remain exclusive and local residents have the power to keep out any new rard Avenue, which Council President Darrell Clarke wants to do. Clarke hides behind vague construction they don’t like. “recent community concerns” over developIf the city is serious about expanding opment, as his spokesman told WHYY’s Ryan portunity and reversing de facto racial segreBriggs. But to downzone Girard is to embrace gation, our leaders need to legalize building more apartments across the city, not just in stagnation. Girard is a major traffic corridor: Adding buildings more than three stories high a few neighborhoods. Outdated zoning rules, should be seen as a priority, not a tragedy. burdensome license and permitting processes, A six-unit or eight-unit corner apartment and the ability of local groups to delay conbuilding isn’t destructive of neighborhood struction all tie up Philadelphia’s potential in character—it’s a sign of a better future. They a web of red tape. should be more common across the city and Making rich neighborhoods like Society not shuffled off to the periphery.

Hill off-limits to modest apartment buildings If Philadelphia’s leaders want to take didrives up rental prices and relegates new versity and opportunity seriously, they need construction to poorer neighborhoods that to take a hard look at the status quo. Demandaren’t organized enough to stop it. If city leading people ask for permission to better their ers were forward looking, they would realize lives and the city is a recipe for disaster. Risthat a growing city needs a growing housing ing costs and neighborhood inequality is a red stock—otherwise, only the rich can afford to flag; if city leaders ignore the problem, Philly stay. will self-sabotage its bright future.

The council’s apathy toward this basic

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PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY | JULY 1 - 8, 2021

STATE STATEOF OFOUR OURCITY CITY

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NEW BREW AT WAWA

CITY

TO FEATURE PHILLY ARTIST

Wawa and 2SP Brewing Company are continuing the tradition of brewing collaborative limited-edition beers – this time, with a summer twist. On the heels of three successful holiday brews, the collaboration between 2SP Brewing Company’s head brewer, Bob Barrar, and Wawa’s manager of concept development and beverage guru, Michael McLaughlin, brings about a brand-new brew – Sunfest Strawberry Lemonade Shandy, a crushable, light-bodied shore beer with a touch of strawberry sweetness and a delightful pucker finish courtesy of Wawa’s fresh lemonade. Fans can find the brew at select Wawas.

271

OF OUR

‘FIBER STORIES’ A new virtual exhibition and retail show spotlights almost 50 of the best fiber artists from across the country, showcasing their work and emphasizing the compelling stories behind the artform. “Fiber Stories,” created by the Society of Arts + Crafts, opens online July 16. The show highlights the full spectrum of fiber crafts, spanning traditional and avant garde materials and techniques related to the fiber arts and including knitting, weaving, basketry, felting and quilting. Artist Betsy Hershberg hand-knits fiber and beaded jewelry from her Philadelphia studio, using traditional knitted stitch making and her own original techniques to create one-of-a-kind pieces.

Check out societyofcrafts.org for details and to learn how to purchase items.

Image | Larry Berman Art Photography

Image | Courtesy of 2SP Brewing and Wawa

4

The current number of homicide victims year-to-date under Mayor Jim Kenney and District Attorney Larry Krasner’s leadership. This represents a 35 percent increase over the same time last year and is higher than the number of all homicides that took place in both 2013 and 2014.

Image | Von Cabando

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Contributors: A.D. Amorosi, A. Benjamin Mannes,Jesse Bunch, Paul Davis, Timaree Schmit, Ryan K. Smith, Stu Bykofsky, Eugene Zenyatta.

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STATE OF OUR CITY

KESHET KITCHEN LAUNCHES Image | Austin Ban

Keshet Kitchen, a new Israeli restaurant owned by Chef Sharon Shvarzman, is now open at 705 E. Passyunk Ave. A contestant on Food Network’s “Worst Cooks in America,” who then became a proud winner of the “Great Food Truck Race,” Shvarzman’s passion for cooking has brought him to this moment of opening his own restaurant. For more information about Keshet Kitchen, visit keshetkitchen.com

NEW MUSIC

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7Minutes24VR, the collaborative album/creative collective, consists of the dynamic producer crew 7Minutes2LA and burgeoning Dark Pop Duo 4VR. Their project and conglomerate, titled “7Minutes24VR” (pronounced Seven Minutes To Forever), dives into a bevy of dance music, spanning Garage, House, Jersey Club, as well as traditional pop and R&B showcasing a new blending of genres that will definitely prove all parties involved forces to be reckoned with. The project features contributions from Philly artist Miles Chancellor, R&B Band Rubber, RegoThereSheGo, AP The Plan, Rob Coard, Sad Marquise, South Jersey’s Ish Williams, and New York’s Nic Hanson. Follow them on social media: @7minutes2la and @weare4vr, and check out the album here: smarturl.it/724vr

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PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY | JULY 1 - 8, 2021

6

FOOD

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Eat up, Main Main Line Today Restaurant Week to debut

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JULY 1 - 8, 2021 | PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY

FOOD

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Image | Courtesy of Liberty Union Bar and Grill

BY EUGENE ZENYATTA

M

ain Line Today and Today Media have announced the debut of Main Line Today Restaurant Week, presented

by Firstrust Bank, running Aug. 23 and Sept. 5. The 14day culinary celebration will bring together and showcase the talents of top chefs, restaurants and purveyors in Montgomery, Delaware and Chester counties. Participating restaurants will offer special three-course prix fixe menus for lunch ($24.95, plus tax, beverage and gratuity) and dinner ($36.95, plus tax, beverage and gratuity). Restaurants can choose what works best for them, offering lunch, dinner or both – dine-in or takeout.

“Main Line Today Restaurant Week will be a 14-day celebration of our region’s top chefs, restaurants and purveyors,” said Main Line Today Associate Publisher Marie Edwards. “We want to make a real and genuine

p n Line

difference to the smaller and independent mom-and-pop restaurants that have been profoundly affected by the pandemic. We spent months talking to our culinary community and gathering input to see how we can best offer our support. We’re proud to have the community’s support as we present something we hope will be truly memorable and impactful – not just this year but in years to come.”

For its inaugural year, the Main Line restaurant community joins forces with local media and businesses to showcase the culinary talent that makes the Main Line and western suburbs such a diverse and rich dining destination. Efforts are designed to rally diners and foodies from around the region to support the most notable restaurants, bars, eateries, BYOBs and takeout spots. While all restaurants in Delaware, Chester and Montgomery counties are invited to participate, there is a special focus on independent and locally operated restaurants.

The early list of participating restaurants includes:

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

333 Belrose Bar & Grill Al Pastor Alessandro’s Wood Fired Italian & Bar Amis Trattoria Avola Kitchen + Bar Cornerstone Bar & Grill DiFabios Harvest Seasonal Bar and Grill Jasper's Backyard La Cabra Brewing Liberty Union Bar and Grill Lola’s Garden NECTAR Pizzeria Vetri Pomod'oro Pizza and Italian Restaurant Rams Head Bar & Grill Revival Pizza Pub Ryan Christopher’s BYOB Stove & Tap Lansdale Stove & Tap Malvern Stove & Tap West Chester Terrain café The Desmond Hotel and Conference Center Malvern The Gables at Chadds Ford The Goat's Beard Victory Brewing Company

In addition to the restaurants, the program also supports the local farmers and purveyors hit hardest by the pandemic. The latter will have a chance to shine at the first-ever Purveyor Showcase, held on Aug. 17. Participating eateries will receive tickets to this exclusive event, so they can connect with purveyors, network with other chefs and restaurants, and get energized for the days ahead.

Restaurant and purveyor registration is now open. The first-year goal is more than 50 participating restaurants, and organizers have already confirmed 30. Look for the full list of restaurants, chefs and menu teasers in early July.

Main Line Today Restaurant Week is supported by presenting sponsor Firstrust Bank, with additional support from Ferguson Bath, Kitchen and Lighting Gallery, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Visit Delco, PA, Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board, Chester County’s Brandywine Valley, Metro US, Yelp Philly, Philly Chit Chat and Aversa PR Save the dates and follow @mainlinetoday #MLTrestaurantweek on social media for updates and previews. For more information and registration forms, visit MainLineToday.com/ Restaurant-Week or call (610) 325-4630.

PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY | JULY 1 - 8, 2021

8

CRIMEBEAT

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2020

Retired Police Deputy Commissioner Joseph P. Sullivan said officers were undermanned and under-equipped while responding to last year’s protests. Image | Courtesy of Joseph P. Sullivan

PROTESTS Retired official talks about police response to Philly protests

I

first met and interviewed Joseph P. Sullivan in his office back in 2013 when he was a chief inspector and the commanding officer of the Philadelphia Police Department’s Homeland Security and Counter Terrorism Bureau.

He was promoted in 2017 to deputy commissioner for Patrol Operations, and he oversaw 4,658 police officers and civilian personnel. He was also responsible for most of the department’s $750 million budget. He retired in February 2020.

It’s been a tough time for the Philadelphia Police since he retired. I reached out to Sullivan and asked him what he thought of the Philadelphia Police response to the violent protests last year in the city after the death of George Floyd.

“I really felt horrible for those officers that were out there, especially during the first few days,” Sullivan replied. “The officers were severely undermanned, under-equipped, and there was a lack of command control. There was a terrible lack of personal protective equipment, and a lot of officers were injured.

They did the best they could but, as City Controller Rebecca Rhynhart’s valuation noted, it was a failure to plan, a failure to acknowledge existing intelligence and act upon it, and it was a failure to execute at the upper levels of

JULY 1 – JULY 8, 2021 | PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY

the heart and blood of your city. It is where the department.” people go for jobs, where they go to spend He said the poor response demoralized the police department. And the shame of it was it money, and it impacts tourism, so I hope we see Center City rebound.” happened a second time later in West Had you been in command, I Philadelphia, which indicated the asked, would you have ordered leadership didn’t learn any lessons tear gas to disperse the protesters from the first response. on I-676?

“I know some great commanders “If I had been in command that in the department who were trying day, we would have had in place a to give sound advice, but it wasn’t ramp blocking plan. The plan exlistened to. We have always been ists and is documented. The plan successful at anti-protests in Phildetails the necessary manpower, adelphia. We followed the template vehicles, barricades and other and we always had plenty of resourcequipment to block the on-ramps es on hand,” Sullivan said. “There and off-ramps in Center City,” was a failure to coordinate with our Sullivan said. “The way to not put partners as well. I will never be able yourself in a position like that is to thank the State Police for the supto prevent it from happening in port they gave me during demonthe first place. strations. Never once did I use them, “I can’t offer a judgment if tear but they were there if something ocPAULDAVISONCRIME.COM gas was necessary, as I wasn’t curred, and having that confidence there, but I will say that those in my back pocket, knowing that a ramps should have been secured.” large group of trained and supervised troopHe said that the commanders and officers ers were ready to respond if needed.” on the line that day didn’t have the resourcSullivan noted that Center City has still not es they needed to do that. He also noted that recovered. He said that small business owners who were already struggling from COVID had the protesters were wrong for taking I-676, as blocking a major highway puts lives at risk. to rebuild their businesses twice.

“You could see that there were going to be “In any large city, the downtown district is

PAUL DAVIS

contentious demonstrations. That’s why you need meticulous, coordinated planning. You need to get everyone in the room a couple of times. Get everyone’s input and walk through the plan and put it up on the big screen and ask what’s wrong, how would you change it?

When I did that process, I didn’t care if you were a police officer or a chief inspector. If you had an idea, I wanted to hear it.

“Obviously, the existing plans were not utilized. Every bike officer in the city should have been working on that first Saturday.

There should have been an ‘all-hands-on-deck’ plan. This is why everything goes back to the initial planning. We always had a large contingent of officers who were capable of controlling crowds. Several hundred bikes really make a difference. The bikes create a barrier between the police and the protesters,” Sullivan explained. “We have commanders with the expertise and the knowledge to properly respond. They have done it successfully many times during the large events we’ve had in the city.”

Next week, Sullivan’s views on the defund the police movement, why he supports Chuck Peruto for DA race, and other issues.

Paul Davis’ Crime Beat column appears here each week. He can be contacted via pauldavisoncrime.com.

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VOICES OF OUR CITY

PHILADELPHIAWEEKLY.COM @PHILLYWEEKLY

VOICES

OF OUR

CITY

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NBC10 reported recently that SEPTA has introduced “leaner” rails at some hubs in a pilot program. Officials say the rails improve foot traffic, are easier to clean and, obviously, don’t allow people to sleep on benches, but some riders say the elderly and disabled need the benches.

Your turn: Do you support the “leaner” rails, or should SEPTA stick to benches?

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Send your thoughts to voices@philadelphiaweekly.com PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY | JULY 1 – JULY 8, 2021

10

VOICES OF OUR CITY

PHILADELPHIAWEEKLY.COM @PHILLYWEEKLY

Without Trump, we’d all still be donning masks Masks came off last month in Philadelphia and around the Delaware Valley. People could look each other in the face (whether we wanted to, or not) and start greeting neighbors and strangers with something other than suspicion. The days of feeling like a Taliban prisoner wrapped in cutesy, quilted designer masks were over.

I was free.

And who was the first person I thanked for my liberation? Donald Trump.

That, of course, makes me anathema to the people who think that our last president bungled the pandemic and killed over 600,000 of our fellow citizens. That crowd will never give him credit for “Operation Warp Speed,” a program that in its breadth and historic impact rivals the race for the polio vaccine. First, I thank Trump. Then, I thank science.

Some people think I have the order wrong there. To be honest, some people don’t even think that Trump should be included in the roll call of pandemic heroes or, at the very least, that he should be far at the bottom of a list behind health care workers, trash collectors, fast food servers, Uber Drivers, Chris Cuomo, Anthony Fauci, and the secular savior: Science.

The irony is not lost on me. Were it not for Trump’s political efforts and organizational skills, Anthony Fauci would have been presiding over a wasteland that makes the Taliban-infected hills of Afghanistan look like Disney World (pre-mask mandate, of course.)

Because to harness the power of science, you need structure and impetus. Trump provided both of these, in spades.

Fauci, on the other hand, reaped many of the benefits because instead of presenting himself like the pseudo-politician that he was, he wrapped himself in the mantle of science.

When the Left hears “science,” they bow down and pray. It is, for most of them, the divinity they worship to the exclusion of all others, except of course when science tells them that the fetus is a human child, in which case they prefer to worship in the Church of Choice.

But I digress. Anthony Fauci was clearly a politician, because you don’t survive in the

cutthroat world of medical research unless you know how to schmooze, comfort, and appeal to the people who have the most influence. As the director of the National Institutes of Allergies and Infectious Diseases, he’s had to deal with egos even bigger than his own, and has become quite adept at surviving, a skill he should have taught to his colleague Debra Birx.

That’s not to say Fauci hasn’t been heroic in his own way. This is not a hit job on him, and while much of the shine has worn off of his reputation in many circles since the release of those emails earlier this month, he helped bring us to the point where we are now able to take off those masks (the same ones he told us weren’t effective until they suddenly were), shake hands, go back to the gym, and just breathe again. Republicans shouldn’t hate him just as Democrats shouldn’t canonize him. He’s a man, with a mission, and he exe-

cuted it about as well as could be expected.

But he didn’t do it alone, and he could not have done it without Trump, who provided him and his colleagues with the tools to develop the vaccines that have made it possible for us to open up. We were like those cicadas, existing in the damp underground darkness for 15 months only to emerge into the glowing orange sunlight.

And while I’m relieved that we are coming out of that tunnel, and while I am cognizant of the contributions the scientists have made (and the damage that egomaniacal politicians like the totalitarian troika of Andrew Cuomo, Phil Murphy, Tom Wolf have wrought), I’m annoyed that so many on the Left refuse to give credit to Donald Trump for getting us to this point. It’s ridiculous to see them touting “the science,” while ignoring just who it was that enabled science and scientists to create a vaccine with a speed that Chuck Yeager would

CHRISTINE FLOWERS | PHILADELPHIA

JULY 1 – JULY 8, 2021 | PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY

envy.

Those who say “trust the science” only want us to do so on their own terms, apparently. Science (as opposed to “The Science”) is how we learn facts about the natural word, but it cannot tell us the right thing to do with those facts. When science tells us that the unborn child feels pain, can survive at increasingly earlier stages in his development and has all of the human DNA it will ever have milliseconds after conception, the progressive poobahs scoff.

But they will cling to the less-than-credible statistics that show common drug store masks will prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus as if it were floating debris and they were watching the Titanic take a nosedive in the North Atlantic.

It’s all about politics, perception, and posturing.

And the conservatives aren’t free from blame, either.

We, who should be celebrating the success of Operation Warp Speed and croaking about how a Republican president ended up saving the Republic, are instead questioning the advisability of getting vaccinated.

I’m not talking about those who have legitimate objections, which can be discussed and possibly resolved with a review of the … science.

No, I’m referring to people on Twitter and in real life who are sticking pennies to their foreheads, convinced that the vaccine has magnetized their innards and they are now like the Marvel Hero Iron Man. These people exist, and they say they are conservatives, but they are nothing other than the flip side of the folks who deny the humanity of the unborn child.

So, while throwing my mask in the air and twirling like a vaccinated Mary Tyler Moore earlier this month, I was thinking of, in no particular order: 1. Anthony Fauci’s brain 2. Donald Trump’s business acumen 3. Debra Birx’s feelings 4. Tom Wolf’s arrogance 5. Chris Cuomo’s chutzpah 6. The Science

VOICES OF OUR CITY

PHILADELPHIAWEEKLY.COM @PHILLYWEEKLY

Under H.R. 3, pharmacists would not be able to fill every prescription As a pharmacist and pharmacy researcher, I watch cutting-edge medicines save and improve patients’ lives every day.

And as the father of a daughter with Ulcerative Colitis – an autoimmune condition that causes severe bowel problems, and potentially life-threatening bleeds – I’ve seen firsthand why it’s important for patients to have access to a wide variety of treatments. UC often requires trial and error to find the right medication that works for the patient. I shudder to think what would happen if my daughter could not access the drugs her doctor prescribes.

That is why I’m so concerned about a recently introduced bill.

In a well-intentioned effort to make medicines more affordable, lawmakers are considering legislation that would base U.S. drug reimbursements, in both Medicare and private insurance plans, off of drug reimbursements in other developed countries.

The problem is that the government-run health-care systems in those countries – France, Germany, Canada, Japan, Australia, and the United Kingdom – centrally set drug prices while failing to take into account those drugs’ value and cost-benefit, while also failing to cover certain cutting-edge medicines. Patients in those nations cannot access certain lifesaving drugs. Fewer than twothirds of new medicines created worldwide from 2011 to 2018 are available in the United Kingdom, Germany, and Japan. Fewer than 50 percent of them are accessible in Canada and France.

In the United States, meanwhile, the competitive marketplace ensures that patients have greater access to medicines than anywhere else. Nearly 90 percent of medicines

created over that seven-year period are available here.

Mimicking other countries’ reimbursement policies would inevitably slow down, or entirely prevent, drug launches here in the United States.

The bill in question, designated H.R. 3, would also make patients worse off in the long-run by discouraging lifesaving research.

It costs $2.6 billion, on average, to develop a new medicine. That price tag is largely due to drug developers’ high failure rate – fewer than 12 percent of experimental medicines in clinical development ultimately receive FDA approval and reach pharmacy shelves.

Instituting price controls would make their potential investment into research & development that much more risky. A study by Vital Transformation, an international health economics firm, found that there would have been at least 60 fewer drugs available to patients over the next decade if H.R. 3 had become law.

America boasts some of the world’s brightest scientific minds, as well as current capacity to foster innovation. There is nothing to gain in the short- nor long-term by starving scientists of the R&D funding they need to find new treatments for Crohn’s disease, cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer’s and other serious ailments. But even more importantly, it makes no sense to stifle treatments that can cure and promote a better quality of life for people like my daughter.

None of my fellow pharmacists ever wants to tell a patient, “sorry, we can’t fill that prescription.” But that’s exactly what we’ll be saying if Congress passes this misguided bill.

Shane Desselle, Ph.D., is president of Applied Pharmacy Solutions.

11

We can’t wait for the next pandemic for a better PPE plan Right now, Americans can purchase nearly limitless quantities of masks, hand sanitizer, and other personal protective equipment.

But this time last year, it was an entirely different story. Even hospitals and doctor’s offices were running out of PPE. The shortages almost certainly cost some health-care workers their lives.

COVID-19 won’t be the last pandemic we face. We need to be much better prepared next time – with ample stockpiles of PPE ready to distribute to areas in need.

Last spring, the virus laid bare the vulnerabilities in our health-care supply chains. Prior to COVID-19, China supplied 90 percent of America’s medical masks and half of the world’s PPE. But China’s strict lockdowns shuttered factories in January and February, leaving America unable to acquire enough supplies to prepare for the coming surge of infections.

The shortages hit hospitals in disadvantaged communities the hardest.

These hospitals disproportionately serve older, sicker, minority patients who are more likely to be on Medicare and Medicaid – or uninsured entirely. These patients require more care and need to be readmitted more frequently.

As a result, these institutions operate on razor-thin margins and struggle to keep their doors open even in normal times. So they can’t always afford to keep months’ worth of PPE on hand.

Hospitals in wealthier urban and suburban neighborhoods, by contrast, often have storerooms full of supplies.

When doctors and nurses in disadvantaged hospitals lack PPE, it affects patient outcomes too. If providers don’t have adequate protection from an airborne virus, they’re more likely to contract the infection and pass it to patients – who were already at higher risk due

to their incomes, ages, and ethnicities.

It’s a vicious, self-reinforcing cycle.

Fortunately, there’s a way to break it – and potentially save thousands of lives in the inevitable next health crisis.

The supply challenge has been addressed.

Domestic PPE manufacturing know-how and capacity means that the next crisis can be met with masks and other critical PPE made here in America.

But matching supply with demand will require more effort.

Establishing a federal data sharing network would allow public health authorities and hospital administrators to track which facilities have adequate PPE stockpiles – and which don’t. No such network currently exists, which makes it difficult to know which hospitals and clinics are close to running out of supplies.

The Biden Administration’s Department of Health and Human Services can take action now to bridge these supply and demand gaps. HHS can start by conducting outreach to state health and emergency response agencies, informing them of CARES Act funds that can support state-level stockpiles. Pre-deploying more supplies locally would increase awareness and resilience during the next pandemic.

Congress should play a role as well by authorizing and funding the FDA’s ability to collect and share standardized information on state and local PPE and crucial medicines supplies. Such data sharing would help public-private partnerships disseminate supplies where they’re needed, when they’re needed – and re-route those supplies during localized emergencies.

Doctors and nurses should never have to reuse old PPE or worry about supply shortages, no matter what communities they serve.

With the right planning, they won’t have to.

Dr. David Bray is inaugural director of the Atlantic Council’s GeoTech Center. He served as IT chief for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Program from 2000-2005 and responded to 9/11, anthrax in 2001, West Nile Virus, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, monkeypox in 2003, and other outbreak events. Originally published in the International Business Times.

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GOSSIP

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Cradle of liberty?

Image | Bill Oxford

How about freedom from fear and crime?

T

ICEPACK JULY 1 – JULY 8, 2021 | PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY

he hate starts from the head. The rotted wrong begins with the root. I’m starting Icepack this week with existential dilemmas and grave gravity (and right before Independence Day, yet; Welcome America my ass) because, over the weekend, Sleepy Joe Biden’s approval ratings, as per the 2021 YouGov poll, began the quick slip from top dog to bottom feeder as everyone – not just the smartest ones – among Democrats and Republicans woke up and suddenly realized that violent crime is really bad; that legislative over-talking and merely trying to get rid of guns means absolutely nothing to the criminally inclined who aren’t really paying too much heed to laws or orders in the first place. Are you listening, Kenney, Outlaw and Krasner?

More people are finally freaked out than previously when it comes to looking at their Citizen apps and seeing savagery all around them on a minute-by-minute basis – and they don’t want government to come up with, to paraphrase Krasner’s words, imaginative ways to regulate or prosecute crime. Any crime.

We do love Biden and his local ties and even his druggy son seems fun at times, but we’re really looking forward to our President, my President, in the words of Joe Strummer, working on the clampdown. And if Philly really wants to celebrate its cradle of liberty origins, and its true right to freedom for all, that ALSO means freedom from fear and crime.

Any crime. Now, let’s see those fireworks.

Plastic bag law Speaking of a crime of another rhyme, Philadelphia’s ban on plastic bags begins this week. Ugh. I have a dog so I’m all about plastic bags and have been stockpiling them to the point of having a room in my home solely dedicated to neatly folded, and-or rolled, bags by the score. The strict and actual enforcement of such (because it is Philly, where NO LAW IS ENFORCED), though it goes into effect July

BY A.D. AMOROSI 1, won’t happen for nearly another year. That said, imagine a place where you are hardballed illegal on plastic bag laws, but are pretty pretty cool to shoplift or stab somebody.

Local WOW wings WOW isn’t just an expression of exaggeration. In New Orleans, it means their beloved World of Wings chicken jawn. As of this summer, as a ghost kitchen operating out of Jose Garces’ The Olde Bar in the OC, Garces, Ideation Hospitality and Ballard Brands make an ideal power trio serving of menu of fresh (never frozen) wings, tenders and classic American snacks showcasing WOW’s Southern signature sauces and made-from-scratch spice rubs. Plus, the Garces culinary team has their own idea of dipping sauces and snacks like Vermont White Cheddar Mac and Cheese, and loaded Shanghai tater tots. Delivery begins July 5.

Special edition album Anyone from Philly who bought raunchy rap mistress Doja Cat’s new album, Planet Her, when it dropped fresh on June 24 needs to cough up even more ducats for its special edition released on Sunday. Our own Eve, the First Queen of the Ruff Ryders crew and recent Verzuz competitor, has a prominent feature on the new edition of Doja’s deluxe elpee with “Tonight.”

Hotel happenings What the what? Our city’s first micro hotel, Pod Philly, is longer the teeny tiny indie underdog respite it once was, as now they’re part of the Hilton Hotel family, and a new name, Motto. The Defined Hospitality folk from Pizzeria Beddia and Suraya bait-and-switched hotel ops in May, without going too, too corporate, as Motto manages to keeps its three Mexican-themed eateries intact, El Café, Condesa and my high rooftop fave El Techo.

Basketball moves Here’s a fun weird Hollywood-on-theSchuylkill fact I didn’t know until it was too late: the 76ers Joel Embiid just left CAA representation in its sports agency division. Was

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GOSSIP

he looking for gigs as a fumbler or roles where heard – COVID hit. “I developed a ton of new he could avoid team interactivity? Anyway, tech skills – first to transition my business we’re hearing that Embiid is seeking to create from live performance to online, and later to his own self-marketing team. Which is OK, but homeschool my daughters,” said Connaughwhat’s the pitch? And could Sixers assistant ton. Eventually, though, we needed to come coach Sam Cassell be looking for his own CAA out again, and that’s when the ocean called deal now that he is under heavy consideration and we packed up the family to spend the for the high-profile Wizards head coach posimonth in Cape May while I worked on develtion – which would make big sense as he was oping and launching a walking tour perforcoaching for the Washington ballers before he mance series in order to get our actors back in came to Philly? front of an audience. I’m pretty sure the move The Geator’s birthday saved my sanity, mainly because I stopped After having regaled the world with the stressing over how much flour I had on hand nearly-lost tales of yon teens whose love letwhen I also learned to bake bread. Now THAT ters he missed in 1962 was dangerous.” while streaming from Connaughton seemed WCAM-AM (last weekmore concerned about end’s The Lost Dedicathe mask for her daughtions with Ben Vaughn ters than for herself, at WXPN, hear it at but also went for a soundcloud.com), The sense of fashion conGeator with the Heatsciousness in her selecer, Jerry Blavat, gets tion with her favorite mask being part of a year. That ready to celebrate his set mom bought for her are hard- 81st birthday with us daughter over the sumt are pret- mere mortals come July 3 at his Jersey mer. “This was the only ebody. shore nightclub, Memkind I could find that fit her, and they only exaggera- ories in Margate, this came in summer prints: ir beloved long holiday weekend. rumflamingoes, flip flops, this sum- Restaurant and sunglasses,” says ut of Jose blings the Without a Cue CEO arces, Ide- With Saturday’s The Since she was headed nds make Lawn at Loveluck Popback to school in person u of fresh up Beer Garden at Love in the fall, I bought her nd classic Park from Chef Marcie about 20 of them to get W’s South- Turney and Valerie through the whole year. m-scratch Safran a success (and Image | Courtesy of Traci Connaughton I snagged this one from y team has running through Octoher stack so we could nd snacks ber), how far off could nd Cheese, their re-do of the vintage space age Welcome match when we went out, just like we match our flip flops at the beach. Since these are the livery be- Center, Loveluck, be? The Safran Turney Hospitality Group has held the note on the oblong only ones that fit her, she was wearing flaminflying saucer-like 200-seater from the Fairgo masks in the dead of winter. It was a nice reminder that summer was bound to come t raunchy mount Park Conservancy since 2019 with the m, Planet goal of going where no intergalactic culinary again.”

Along with waiting until the masks drop e 24 needs vessel has gone before, or with gravy. Here’s completely so to get a massage (“I know I its special hoping that the luck of Loveluck means an aucan do that now, but I imagine a mask-free n Eve, the tumn opening. experience will be much more pleasant”), w and re- Masked Philly: Traci Connaughton minent fea- In Icepack’s continuing saga of asking Connaughton is gearing up for her first season back to live performances – in Philly, in luxe elpee mask-donning local celebrities what they’ve been up to, beyond the pale, during C-19 – from Peddler’s Village (a Cocktail Murder Mystery lockdown to the current reopening, presShow through Aug. 28) and a summer season in Cape May, a choose your own ending show icro hotel, ent-day unmasking and worrying about Delindie un- ta variants – I reached out this week to Traci in which the audience votes as to what the actors will do on stage in real time during the ey’re part Connaughton. In her guise as executive direcew name, tor of Without A Cue Productions (and the performance. “The show is called “And Then from Piz- holder of one of the more sinister corporate They Were Dead,” an Agatha Christie parody,” says Connaughton. “Because Without a d-switched mottos in “We Kill. You Laugh”), ConnaughCue was mostly unable to perform its normal too corpo- ton runs a game on the beloved live, interacfare for an entire year, my team had the ophree Mex- tive “mystery theater” genre; mostly in the portunity to pursue some new projects, and , Condesa New Hope/Bucks County area and Cape May/ the Jersey Shore, but, as of 2021, in Philly we are super excited to open our first stage propah with a handful of diverse options for shows again. I’m also very excited to have the od-on-the- dependent death drama and communal crime first real vacation I’ve had in two years, once all of my shows are up and running.” it was too comedy found at withoutacue.com.

CAA rep- The big move to Philly for Without A Cue @ADAMOROSI ision. Was was scheduled to happen for 2020, until – shots

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MUSIC

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‘THE STRENGTH OF

YOUR

Like most bands, The Chairman Dances had its plans disrupted by the pandemic. But the group now is back to making music and performing. Image | Brooke Marsh

JULY 1 – JULY 8, 2021 | PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY

ARM’

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MUSIC

15

The Chairman Dances to drop its ‘most focused’ album later this month

P

hiladelphia alternative how it came together, both in terms of the rock band The Chairman inspiration for the songs and the producDances is dropping a new tion process itself. album, “The strength of Lyrically speaking, I wanted to write your arm,” July 23. And about selflessness and goodness. There are while the band has Philly many times in our lives when people act in roots, the album began to grand, munificent ways toward us, and for seemingly no good reason. The act does take shape on the west coast.

“The strength of your arm” was not redound to the doers glory; the kindness isn’t particularly deserved. I wrote the written by Eric Krewson while he songs in Philly and in Washington state, served as an artist in residence in Washington, in the remote Cascade where I was fortunate enough to do an artmountains, during the fall of 2019. ist residency.

Three such artists, Krewson (the lone My bandmates and I spent months armusician), a painter and a writer, ranging the songs. I can say with confidence lodged together and shared the occathat this album is our most focused. Figursional meal. The remainder of their ing out everything beforehand, we recordtime, they worked alone, Krewson in ed quickly, which is the norm for us. We a cramped, six-by-six foot shack that tracked the majority of the record live in contained only a desk and a small, failtwo days.

How will people be able to get the aling space heater.

Perhaps surprisingly, the lyrics bum?

Starting July 23, you can buy it via BandKrewson penned during this time of seclusion overflow with the warmth camp. I use that site to purchase music. Adand tenderness of human connection. ditionally, the album will be available on “While I don’t believe the songs streaming platforms. share characters, I do imagine all of The Chairman Dances has been a part the individual narrators assuming a of the Philly music scene for more than similar posture or tone of voice to tell a decade. Can you talk a little about their stories,” he said. “That shared the city’s music community? How has it stance or way of speaking is, for me, changed over the years? Are there any lothe crux of the record. It directs what cal artists you’d like to appear or collabis said or observed; it attends every acorate with? tion, every forbearance.”

So many great musicians call Philly home. It seems like every show I play or The Chairman Dances’ past recordings, including “Child of My Sorrow” attend, I’m introduced to at least one art(2018) and “Time Without Measure” ist I didn’t know and whose work interests (2016), earned the group a spot on me. In terms of dream collaborations: I CMJ’s Top 200 chart and introduced would love to sing with Miriam from Queen them to alternative press and radio, of Jeans. Miriam has one of the best voicincluding PopMatters, Magnet, the es I’ve ever heard; I don’t think she gets BBC6’s Tom Robinson, who called Philly alt rockers The Chairman Dances will drop a new album July 23, ‘The strength of your arm.’ Image | Heather Swenson enough credit or attention here. RegardThe Chairman Dances his “new faing the city’s local music community and “The Chairman Dances” (by John Adams), industry: it’s in a state of constant (and, at vorite band,” and Various Small Flames, who ed by Bob Sweeney (*NSYNC, Screaming Fewhich is a companion piece to the opera “Nix- times, erratic) flux. declared the group “writes some of the most males, Peach Pit). The video for their “Acme on in China.” I love that opera, both Adams’ interesting and thoughtful songs we’ve had Parking Garage” depicts songwriter Krewson How did the pandemic impact the band’s music and Alice Goodman’s words. My band, plans? Any cancelled shows? What do having an anxiety attack in a grocery store the pleasure of reviewing.” The band’s muThe Chairman Dances, started in earnest in things look like for The Chairman Dances sic has been included in year-end “best of” and its attached parking facility. Most recentlate 2010. I can’t say enough good now that pandemic restrictions are easing? ly, in July 2020, a short story by lists, including those curated by WXPN, KZSU things about my bandmates. They Krewson appeared in the journal (Stanford), CHIRP (Chicago Independent RaThe pandemic changed the lives of my are incredible musicians and great bandmates in dramatic ways. Their jobs and dio Project), We Are Mirrors, and Various “Earth & Altar.”

BY EUGENE people. We found each other via the home lives look a lot different now. Band-wise, The Chairman Dances includes Small Flames. Over the years, The Chairman ZENYATTA Philly arts community. our recording plans were delayed by four Dances has performed alongside Ten Fé, Rhett Dan Comly (keys), Dan Finn (keys), In terms of our music, how it’s Krewson (vocals, guitar), Will Miller (Old 97s), Work Drugs, Kopecky, Derek months, all of our shows were canceled. Fifchanged over the years: for me, each teen months later, we are healthy, back to reSchwarz (bass), and Kevin Walker Webb, and Hey Marseilles. (drums). PW recently caught up with Krewson album or EP is its own world with its own narleasing music; we’ve been performing, mostly In addition to their more traditional perforratives, its own concerns. In more concrete mances and albums, the group has worked in to talk about the band and the new album. outdoors, at a fairly quick clip. terms, we play our instruments differently Let’s go back to the beginning. How other mediums. They’ve contributed music What are the best ways for your fans to for a short film, “Jacob’s Ladder” (directed by did The Chairman Dances get together, than we used to. Our musical interests – what stay current with what you’re doing? and how did you come up with the band’s we’re excited about – guide us down different Jonathan R. Brown), and put on a show with People can follow us on Instagram, Twitter, paths. name? How has the band and its music avant-garde visual artist Bobby Pharaoh. FolBandcamp, songkick, etc. Additionally, our Your new album, “The strength of your website is a good resource: thechairmandanclowing “Child of My Sorrow,” they released a evolved over the years? arm,” drops in July. Talk a little about es.com.

The band is named after the composition number of art film-like music videos, direct-

PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY | JULY 1 – JULY 8, 2021

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THE RUNDOWN

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THE RUNDOWN Image | Nathan Ansell

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!

Independence Day is just around the corner, and we’ve rounded up some great ways to celebrate.

Art in The Age

Old City’s one-of-a-kind tasting room, home bar supply and bottle shop is hosting “Art in The Age All American Weekend” leading up to Independence Day in the birthplace of America.

Kicking off on Friday, July 2, Liberty Kitchen, the South Kensington & Fishtown’s locally-focused deli & market, will be grilling hot dogs for folks to snack on all afternoon long. Then on Saturday, July 3, Philadelphia’s own Milk Jawn will be on-site selling their locally-made, uber-popular ice cream – perfect for pairing with Art in the Age’s Black Trumpet Blueberry Cordial. 116 N. 3rd Street | 215.922.2600 | artintheage.com

Free beer at Dock Street

It’s been a long 16 months of lockdowns, masks and shuttered businesses, but brighter days are ahead as the nation heads into the summer months. To commemorate America’s Independence from King George III, our freedom from pandemic fatigue and the release of Dock Street Brewery’s summer beers, Philly’s OG Artisanal Brewery will celebrate with a free toast over the July 4th weekend. On July 2, 3 and 4, Dock Street will give away an 8-ounce glass of beer to anyone of legal drinking age who walks into the brewery. To learn more, visit dockstreetbeer.com.

Assembly Rooftop Lounge

Center City’s rooftop lounge with panoramic views of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway is the ideal venue to celebrate Independence Day considering its close proximity to Philadelphia’s noteworthy fireworks display. This year, five pods are available to be reserved from 6 - 11pm on Sunday, July 4. The pods can hold up to 12 people each, and require a $2,000 food and beverage minimum to be reserved for the evening. Snag a reservation by calling Assembly Rooftop Lounge, and enjoy a memorable night of sipping, mingling, and taking in the breathtaking fireworks. 1840 Benjamin Franklin Parkway | 215.963.2723 | assemblyrooftop.com Image | Courtesy of Dock Street Brewery

JULY 1 - 8, 2021 | PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY

Royal Boucherie

Old City’s American brasserie specializing in French-style cuisine boasts an impressive, truly unique Spritzer Bar concept this summer – fit with a three-step customizable process for crafting the ideal libation. To celebrate Independence Day, the talented in-house mixologists at Royal Boucherie will offer a host of $10 spritzy selections, crafted with local spirits producer Boardroom Spirits as the base of each libation. Imbibers are welcome to choose the modifier and topper for the tipple, and enjoy indoors at the newly reopened bar, or outdoors on the famed rooftop patio. 52 S. 2nd Street | 267.606.6313 | royalboucherie.com

East Passyunk Avenue

The home to over 150 independently owned businesses in South Philadelphia has the ideal purveyor for one’s 4th of July backyard grilling needs: Primal Supply Meats. The locally-sourced, pasture-raised butcher shop offers high-quality, sustainable meats, in addition to eggs, fresh produce, and prepared foods. Folks are encouraged to stop by the East Passyunk location or order online at primalsupplymeats.com to purchase hot dogs, burgers, steaks, and all the necessary grilling essentials for the holiday weekend.

THE RUNDOWN

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Wonderspaces installations

Wonderspaces in the Fashion District. has three new installations just in time for summer and July 4th: Erupture by Nicole Banowetz; Micromonumental Mapping: The Essence of Creation by Limelight; and Our Top 100 by Jody Servon. Tickets are for timed slots and are on sale now at philadelphia.wonderspaces.com.

Image | Erupture – Society Hill Films

Square 1682

The modern American kitchen located at the intersection of 17th and Sansom streets knows the proper way to celebrate a three-day holiday weekend is with a sensational brunch lineup. Guests may enjoy their famed weekend brunch service on Monday, July 5 from 9am – 2pm, in addition to Saturday and Sunday. Indulge in decadent dishes such as Sweet Potato Hash, Blueberry Ricotta Pancakes and Duck Wings & Waffles, and toast to Independence Day with a Mimosa, Bloody Mary, or one of their seasonal cocktails. 121 South 17th Street | 215.563.5008 | square1682.com

Independence Day Drag Brunch

Fabrika in Fishtown is preparing for a sizzling, explosive afternoon when LaLa Ri of RuPaul’s Drag Race fame lights up the circular stage on Sunday, July 4. The Atlanta-based dancing queen is the headliner for the raucous Independence Day Drag Brunch at the popular Fishtown venue. LaLa Ri, a contestant on Season 13 of RuPaul’s Drag Race, placed 10th and was voted Miss Congeniality by her fellow queens on the popular VH1 show. You can bet LaLa Ri will be here to slay!

Hosted by Philly’s “genderless glamour monster” and awardwinning drag queen Eric Jaffe, the entertainment will also feature Vinchelle, Mz. Peaches, Iris Spectre, Sapphira Cristal and Sir Donyx. For reservations, visit fabrikaphilly.com or call (215) 203-0202.

Fogo de Chão

Fogo de Chão is offering guests who dine in on the Fourth of July with a complimentary children’s Full Churrasco Experience (lunch or dinner) – with the purchase of an adult full priced Churrasco. In addition, Fogo is offering a special Fourth of July to-go package that includes everything needed to have a Brazilian-inspired celebration of Independence Day right at home. The fully cooked and ready to eat package serves six and features the choice of two fire-roasted meats, salads, Brazilian sides, pão de queijo cheese bread and dessert. Pre-orders are available now through Sunday, July 4, for pick-up over the holiday weekend. 1337 Chestnut Street.

For more information and details on the complimentary children’s meal, visit fogodechao.com.

Red Owl Tavern

The neighborly yet sophisticated tavern located on Independence Mall is extending its fan-favorite brunch service into the Monday following Independence Day for one weekend only, with the addition of specialty cocktail The Patriot ($15) composed of strawberry-infused tequila, blueberry-infused tequila, coconut syrup and sage agave, garnished with a small American flag pick. Locals and tourists alike are welcome to sip on this refreshing tipple and enjoy brunch staples such as buttermilk pancakes, steak and eggs and chicken and waffles on Saturday, July 3, Sunday, July 4, and Monday, July 5. 433 Chestnut St | 215.923.2267 | redowltavern.com

Image | Courtesy of Red Owl Tavern

PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY | JULY 1 - 8, 2021

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THE RUNDOWN

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MilkBoy Philly

MilkBoy Philly, the landmark locale of the iconic Philadelphia-born brand located in Center City, kicks off the return of live shows at the famed music venue with their “Welcome Back” show featuring performances

by Humilitarian, Post Sex Nachos and Pep Rally – led by Tommy Joyner, owner of MilkBoy – on Friday, July 9, in addition to a string of killer live shows scheduled well into 2022.

The highly anticipated return of live, in-person shows comes on the heels of over a year-long hiatus due to pandemic restrictions. milkboy.tv

Image | Courtesy of Post Sex Nachos

Live music returns and more Meg Stalter & Friends

Meg Stalter – ”sketch comedy’s newest star” according to The New York Times – returns to FringeArts for a special summer installment of Blue Heaven Comedy Festival. Join Stalter and some of her favorite girlies for a night of total chaos. Are you interested in mayhem? Would you like a taste of mischief? Then you’ll LOVE Meg and her friends! This event will take place live in-person inside the FringeArts theater. All patrons are required to wear masks for the duration of the event, and there will be no food or drink allowed in the theater. July 23 at 8pm. fringearts.com

Brian Sanders’ JUNK Presents Dragonbutter

Join Philadelphia-based, Fringe Festival favorite Brian Sanders’ JUNK to experience Dragonbutter, a thrilling and immersive performance that puts you deep inside a sci-fi adventure. The performance, limited to 12 people, will lead guests to explore a multitude of experimental themed rooms that include live dance performances, mazes, and puzzles, all leading up to the grand finale, a final fight against the “Boss.” Limited capacity; advance purchase strongly suggested.

July 9 at 10pm. 200 Spring Garden Street Unit C. briansandersjunk.com/dragonbutter

JULY 1 - 8, 2021 | PHILADELPHIA WEEKLY

CraftNOW

CraftNOW Philadelphia is hosting a walking tour to some of Old City’s most renowned galleries and studios on Thursday, July 8, at 5pm. The tour will lead participants to exciting new summer exhibitions from The Clay Studio, Pentimenti Gallery, Claudia Mills Studio, and The Center for Art in Wood. Tours will begin at The Clay Studio located at 139 North 2nd Street.

Tours will be limited to 10 participants and masks will be required. Tour starts at The Clay Studio. Cost: Paywhat-you-wish. Donations welcome. eventbrite.com

I love the shit out of you, kid

By Maci Kociszewski, this exhibit incorporates several forms of individual direct action, both as visual elements and participatory workshops.

Kociszewski asks for and invites collaboration, participation and vulnerability from those involved in the curation process, and from the audience.

Crossing the lines between art and harm reduction, art as harm reduction, and art about harm reduction, the exhibit offers peeks into the practice of individual and community care. Peeks that look into the lines of private and public spaces. Gallery 1 at Da Vinci Art Alliance. On-view in-person through July 20 by appointment. Davinciartalliance.org

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Dogs

Our beloved best friends are back! Dogs returns to explore the powerful bond between humanity and dogs in four new intimate, heartwarming episodes. Whether it’s the story of an astronaut, a priest, a military contractor, or the handler of a legendary university mascot, Dogs shows us how these beautiful animals occupy the same place in all of our hearts – one reserved not just for pets, but for family. Season 2. July 7.

Here are some of the new offerings on Netflix in July that we’ll be checking out, along with the dates they’ll be available. For more shows and details, visit netflix.com.

Netflix in July Sexy Beasts

Ready to say goodbye to superficial dating?

Sexy Beasts is the dating show that takes looks completely out of the equation using fantastical, cutting-edge prosthetics to transform the daters – giving them a chance to find love purely based on personality! July 21.

We the People

Combining music and animation to educate a new generation of young Americans about the power of the people, We the People is a series of 10 animated music videos that covers a range of basic U.S. civics lessons in not-sobasic ways. Set to original songs performed by artists such as H.E.R., Janelle Monáe, Brandi Carlile, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Adam Lambert, Cordae, Bebe Rexha, KYLE, Andra Day, and poet Amanda Gorman, with a groundbreaking mix of animated styles – each episode of We the People is an exuberant call to action for everyone to rethink civics as a living, breathing thing and to reframe their understanding of what government and citizenship mean in a modern world. July 4.

Cat People

Dogs may get credit for being humanity’s best friend, but to many people cats are just as much our loyal partners – even though if you asked cats they might not admit it. Cat People explores our fascinating relationship with cats through the lens of some of the most remarkable and surprising “cat people” in the world, defying the negative stereotypes of what it means to be a cat person while revealing the fundamental truths of what it means to have deep bonds with these fiercely independent, mysterious creatures. July 7.

Biohackers

After being abducted, Mia finds herself with no recollection of what happened since. But when she discovers a message she has written to her future-self, she comes to understand that her life is in imminent danger if she doesn’t solve the mystery of her disappearance. In order to do so, she has to team up with the woman she trusts the least, Prof Lorenz. Season 2. July 9.

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While many Republican male politicians and we’ll throw in an IUD.” But in the meanand pundits have treated insurance coverage time, they send out hormonal pills, patches for contraception as some kind of and vaginal rings. indulgent luxury, Dr. Sophia Yen In the future, it could be conceivsays it’s more of a basic human able that doctors could even train rights issue. “The number one patients to put in their own concause of missed school and work” traceptive implants, she says. “My for girls and women is period-relat11-year-old could put in an implant ed symptoms, she explains. if we trained her,” says Dr. Yen. “If you want women in the work“It’s not that hard, it’s not rocket force and full participation, we science.” What is critical is having a can’t do that if we’re rolling on the doctor who is knowledgeable about ground from menstrual cramps the variety of hormonal options and and bleeding out,” she says, adding, which ones are best for which pa“If dudes were being blood-let one tients. week out of four, they would have A joke in medicine is that most of covered birth control years ago.” the research on side effects and efThis idea of reproductive medifectiveness of a medication is based cal care-as being central to empowon the “70-kilo white male,” accord@TIMAREE_LEIGH erment is at the core of Dr. Yen’s ing to Dr. Yen. But not all pills work work and the company equally well for every she co-founded, Pandia body size, age or ethnicHealth, which she deity, a fact of which she scribes as the only docsays many physicians tor-led and woman-led are unaware. “Norgesbirth control telehealth timate is what we were company. Pandia Health all taught in med school, just launched its teleand what we’ve seen is if medicine service in you’re a person of color Pennsylvania, making it and it’s not working for one of 13 states in which you, maybe consider trythey can do online docing Desogestrel.” tor’s visits. They can deDr. Yen also mentions liver birth control to all that she would recom50 states, however. mend different dosages “We only prescribe of estrogen for people what we can deliver,” under 30 years old, and she says, “If you ask me issues a warning that for what the best birth control is out there, I’d say folks with a BMI over 26, Plan B and its generIUDs and implants, but we can’t deliver those. ics won’t work but there are other options for Maybe someday we’ll have a drone and drop a morning after pills, like Ella. This is the kind robot and we’ll be like ‘ding dong, spread em’ of personalized care that every patient should

TIMAREE SCHMIT

“If you don’t get to the pharmacy, there will be a dire consequence. You will either have a baby you don’t want to have, be pregnant, or you’ll bleed when you don’t want to bleed.”

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SEX WITH TIMAREE

Dr. Sophia Yen co-founded Pandia Health, which she describes as the only doctor-led and woman-led birth control telehealth company. Image | Nicole Scarborough

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expect to receive while discussing contraceptives, she says.

If you’ve ever been on hormonal birth control, you may know the fear of realizing you are low on pills and short on time to get a refill. Not being able to get a new pill pack on time is arguably a bigger deal than having a dwindling supply of toilet paper, and we saw in the last year what that kind of chaos that threat can cause. Dr. Yen refers to this stress as #PillAnxiety.

“If you don’t get to the pharmacy, there will be a dire consequence.

You will either have a baby you don’t want to have, be pregnant, or you’ll bleed when you don’t want to bleed,” she explains. This is why she says it’s important to provide the option of what she calls “set it and forget it” contraceptive delivery and to remove barriers to access.

“To cover birth control is fiscally smart and morally right,” Dr. Yen says. “Birth control pills are so inexpensive. Abortion is $800, a vaginal delivery is $10,000 and a C-Section is $40,000 and that’s not including the pre and postnatal care, the ultrasound, the doctors’ visits, and the impact of an unplanned pregnancy on a family who might have lost their job and insurance during COVID.” Additionally, Dr. Yen also cites that 70 per-

cent of hormonal birth control users are taking these medications for additional reasons besides preventing pregnancy. These meds can be used to control heavy periods and treat conditions like anemia, acne, and menopause side effects. The steady level of hormones can be beneficial for asthma, depression, seizure disorders and diabetes and even reduce the risk of certain types of cancer.

Further evangelizing the liberating powers of birth control, she has an entire TED talk about the upsides of rescheduling periods or eradicating them entirely.

Preventing periods has not only a huge impact on the lives and performance of patients, but preventative health benefits, she says. “And not to mention the landfill. We use 10,000 to 13,000 menstrual products in our lives,” she says.

Skipping periods means reduction of waste products and lots of savings in time and money.

“If you’re economically smart and you want to do good in this world, you absolutely should cover birth control,” she says, adding, “and it is a public health good that nobody is pregnant that doesn’t want to be pregnant.”

Have a question for Dr. Timaree? Send an email to asktimaree@philadelphiaweekly.com.

“If dudes were being blood-let one week out of four, they would have covered birth control years ago.”

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