Hits and Misses
On Monday, the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved a seemingly anodyne resolution offering condolences to Turkey and Syria following the devastating Feb. 6 earthquake that killed at least 50,000 people. The resolution applauds “the heroic work” of humanitarian aid workers, praises the response of governments and nongovernmental agencies to the disaster and “urges the international community to support heroic disaster response efforts.” The support was so overwhelming, it received 414 votes in support across party lines. There were, in fact, only two “Nay” votes – they were cast by Rep. Thomas Massie, a Republican from Kentucky, and the tirelessly provocative Marjorie Taylor Greene, the Republican from Georgia. What was there to dislike about the bill? That sympathy was being relayed to people outside the United States’ borders? That it condemned the brutal, Putin-backed Syrian regime of Bashar al-Assad and its diversion of humanitarian aid? Or were they just trying to be headline-grabbing trolls? They should explain themselves.
March is Women’s History Month and the reality is that Pennsylvania has lagged behind other states when it comes to electing women to the commonwealth’s highest offices. Pennsylvania has yet to send a woman to the United States Senate or put a woman in the governor’s mansion. There has also never been a female mayor of Philadelphia. That could soon change, though, since several women are lining up to run for the top job in Pennsylvania’s largest city. And, this week, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives elected Joanna McClinton to be its speaker, the first time a female has held the post. McClinton, a Philadelphia Democrat, has been her party’s floor leader since 2020, and said, “I’m grateful for all who fought before me … so that this day was possible. It is only on their shoulders I stand here today.” McClinton will have her work cut out for her in a closely divided House and we wish her the best.
It’s always good news when an empty downtown lot is going to be put to productive use, and it’s particularly good news that a food and kitchen incubator will be arriving on the corner of North Main and East Chestnut streets in downtown Washington. It will include three kitchens and give the public the chance to sample fare from prospective restaurateurs. It will be just across the street from Ignite Business Incubator, a Washington & Jefferson College program that is designed to boost start-up enterprises and small businesses that need a little more room. Groundbreaking on the food and kitchen incubator is set for September with the goal of it opening in the summer of 2024. Washington Mayor Scott Putnam described it as “a great collaboration for downtown,” adding, “It’s an opportunity to teach the skill of owning and operating a restaurant without all the upfront costs that oftentimes bite restaurant owners.” It will also be good that downtown Washington will have even more dining options.