February 2021 – Page 12 – Broke in Philly

Can Window Fans Safely Ventilate Philadelphia Schools Amid Coronavirus?

February 3, 2021

The School District of Philadelphia is installing window fans as one measure to prevent spread of the coronavirus in buildings, before students in grades K-2 return for some in-person learning Feb. 22. The district and city leaders have vouched for the effectiveness of the fans at circulating air in a classroom while not bringing in too much wintry outdoor air. But some parents, educators and union leaders are questioning whether a window fan can be effective. | From: NBC10/Telemundo62 (Read more.)

Wolf Launches Budget Fraught With Deficits, Uncertainty

February 3, 2021

Gov. Tom Wolf will ask lawmakers Wednesday to raise income taxes on higher earners and give public schools a massive boost in aid, even as he faces a gaping deficit and uncertainty over how much more pandemic relief the federal government will send. | From: NBC10/Telemundo62 (Read more.)

For people with a disability, poverty rates are high and employment rates low. Can workforce development help?

February 3, 2021

Private nonprofits like the Sierra Group and JEVS run most of the city-wide disability workforce programs. But should the City of Philadelphia look to New York City’s model to expand its own disability workforce development efforts? | From: Generocity (Read more.)

How Germantown rallied behind Uncle Bobbie’s Coffee & Books amid COVID-19 and a series of burglaries

February 3, 2021

Without support from the surrounding community, General Manager Justin Moore says he doesn’t think the coffee and book shop would have survived. | From: AL DÍA (Read more.)

Comcast is doubling Internet Essentials speeds. The move comes amid ongoing digital equity initiatives — and calls to do more

February 2, 2021

Nearly a year into the COVID-19 pandemic that sent work and learning home for many, Comcast said Tuesday that it will double the download speed of its Internet Essentials service for low-income Americans to 50 Mbps and increasing its upstream speed to 5 Mbps, effective March 1. | From: Technical.ly (Read more.)