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City Hall bike lane faces unclear future after Philadelphia City Councilmember Jeffery Young pumps the brakes on support

Reposted by Brett Sholtis

Jake Blumgart @jblumgart.bsky.social · 4d

Check out the story @brettsholtis.bsky.social and I published this weekend on last Monday's Street's Committee hearing, where bicycle advocates and the Parker admin faced a series of setbacks at the hands of City Council: www.inquirer.com/news/bike-la...

Councilmember Jeffery Young has hit the brakes on his bill authorizing a bike lane around City Hall after construction already started on the project.

Sheraton and Hampton hotel workers are on strike in Center City

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Brett Sholtis @brettsholtis.bsky.social · 5d

The union wants to lock in a new contract ahead of the 2026 tourist season in Philly, which they expect will drive up company profits and strain hotel staff. Approximately 190 union members are striking.

My latest @inquirer.com

www.inquirer.com/news/sherato...

Sheraton and Hampton hotel workers left their job sites and joined picket lines, seeking better pay and staffing levels ahead of an expected busy 2026 tourist season.

share.inquirer.com/dnBmAe

Reposted by Brett Sholtis

Lisa Scheid @lisafscheid.bsky.social · 11d

A ‘brazen’ Jeffrey Yass-backed mailer suggests the Pa. Supreme Court created the congressional map it actually threw out

“It’s probably the most shameless political ad I’ve ever seen,” said Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice David Wecht in a rare interview.

share.inquirer.com

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Brett Sholtis @brettsholtis.bsky.social · 24d

Tanisha Long shared her thoughts online, and "within hours, her phone was lighting up with notifications: people trying to hack her Instagram, calling her racial slurs, and wishing her dead."

My latest, a Ximena Conde collab @inquirer.com

www.inquirer.com/politics/cha...

They talked about Charlie Kirk’s death on social media. Now, they’re getting death threats.

In Pennsylvania and New Jersey, local officials, lawyers and other professionals, teachers, and even teens have been targeted.

A Philly landlord’s scheme to terrorize his tenants into moving out left two people dead

Brett Sholtis @brettsholtis.bsky.social · 24d

Stephen Wilkins shut off his tenants’ electricity, tossed a brick through a window, and even removed all of the doors and windows from their home, said former tenant Crystal Hall.

“And then Wilkins sent a man to the house with a gun. And he killed her mother.” @ellierushing.bsky.social

Jake Blumgart @jblumgart.bsky.social · 24d

insane story www.inquirer.com/crime/stephe...

Stephen Wilkins pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter in connection with the 2023 killing of Patricia Hall, a tenant he was trying to force out of his East Germantown property.

As SEPTA restores bus and rail service, here’s what you need to know

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Brett Sholtis @brettsholtis.bsky.social · 26d

State lawmakers still have not passed a budget, and the complex reasons behind the transit agency’s $213 million shortfall remain unaddressed. But for now, things are back to normal. Sort of.

www.inquirer.com/transportati...

Routes are returning, fares are increasing, and the underlying funding shortfall has not been addressed.

In Port Richmond, suburban developers seek to fill vacant lot with houses and apartments

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Reposted by Brett Sholtis

Jake Blumgart @jblumgart.bsky.social · Sep 10

some of the last large undeveloped lots in Port Richmond could be on their way to getting filled in www.inquirer.com/real-estate/...

The Jenkintown-based developers are proposing 162 houses and apartments.

Over $4M in real estate tied to ATM businessman Daryl Heller could get swept up in bankruptcy

Brett Sholtis @brettsholtis.bsky.social · Sep 4

Here's the last piece I wrote @lancasteronline.bsky.social on his bankruptcy before taking my new position at @inquirer.com.

bsky.app/profile/bret...

Brett Sholtis @brettsholtis.bsky.social · Jul 23

A luxury a-frame lodge, farmland, an active natural gas drilling site... part of over $4M in real estate, tied to ATM businessman Daryl Heller, that could get swept up in bankruptcy. My latest @lancasteronline.bsky.social

lancasteronline.com/news/local/o...

A luxury A-frame lodge, a dozen mobile homes, hundreds of acres of farmland and an active gas drilling well pad are among the properties owned by businesses that Lancaster County

This Sea Isle City home is the most expensive ever publicly sold on the island

Brett Sholtis @brettsholtis.bsky.social · Sep 4

Heller was in bankruptcy in New Jersey, because his most valuable claimed asset was a Sea Isle beach house that sold in April for a record $6.4 million. (Federal authorities say he used investor/company money to buy it).
www.inquirer.com/real-estate/....

It has six bedrooms, 7.5 bathrooms, an elevator, and three oceanside decks, and was sold earlier this month for $6.43 million.

Daryl Heller indicted in Lancaster County ATM fraud that raised $770 million from investors

Brett Sholtis @brettsholtis.bsky.social · Sep 4

"FBI agents aided by local police arrested private-equity investor Daryl Heller outside his Lancaster County home Wednesday..." @inquirer.com Joseph N. DiStefano reports:

www.inquirer.com/business/dar...

Federal investigators can't yet say how much investors, which included Plain families, might get back of the $402 million they are owed.

Inside Callowhill’s Willow Street plant as it is transformed into apartments

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Reposted by Brett Sholtis

Jake Blumgart @jblumgart.bsky.social · Sep 3

My profile of the redevelopment of the Willow Street steam plant! www.inquirer.com/real-estate/...

The long neglected industrial building will see new life as an apartment building after a half-century of vacancy.

‘PA Fair Elections,’ tied to powerful conservative groups, pushes to remove people from voter rolls

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Brett Sholtis @brettsholtis.bsky.social · Aug 26

Link to the September 2024 story, '‘PA Fair Elections,’ tied to powerful conservative groups, pushes to remove people from voter rolls'

www.wesa.fm/politics-gov...

All three of the data sources of supposed ineligible voters pushed by PA Fair Elections attendees lead back to groups dedicated to reelecting Donald Trump.

www.wesa.fm

She Pushed to Overturn Trump’s Loss in the 2020 Election. Now She’ll Help Oversee U.S. Election Security.

Brett Sholtis @brettsholtis.bsky.social · Aug 26

After the 2024 election, I wondered if I had wasted my time tracking Heather Honey, whose group had been setting up lanes to claim the election was rigged if Trump lost.

Now, I'm glad we kept tabs on her and glad my story about efforts to remove voters from rolls was included in this piece.

Charles Ornstein @charlesornstein.bsky.social · Aug 26

Heather Honey, a 2020 election denier, has been appointed to a senior position in the Department of Homeland Security. State election officials and voting experts are concerned. @dougbockclark.bsky.social

Heather Honey has been appointed to a senior position in the Department of Homeland Security. State election officials and voting experts are concerned.

www.propublica.org

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Brett Sholtis @brettsholtis.bsky.social · Aug 26

With Lebanon County-based conservative activist Heather Honey newly appointed to oversee “election integrity” in Trump’s Department of Homeland Security, I’m re-sharing this thread from last year.

Honey spent the past few years organizing people who believed Dems rigged the 2020 election.

Brett Sholtis @brettsholtis.bsky.social · Sep 23

Heather Honey's group has also been involved in pushing Eagle AI:

‘PA Fair Elections,’ tied to powerful conservative groups, behind efforts to remove people from voter rolls

lancasteronline.com/news/politic...

‘PA Fair Elections,’ tied to powerful conservative groups, behind efforts to remove people from voter rolls

Editor’s note: This story is the second in a series about the “election integrity” movement of people who claim recent elections are illegitimate and are preparing to challenge the election

ATM businessman Daryl Heller hit with federal Securities and Exchange Commission claim

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Brett Sholtis @brettsholtis.bsky.social · Aug 19

Personal news: I have joined the Philadelphia @inquirer.com as part of its Inquirer Weekend team. I could not be more excited! Lancaster: Thank you for trusting me with your stories these past few years. Philly: Don't be a stranger, send me your story ideas, theories, etc.

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Brett Sholtis @brettsholtis.bsky.social · Aug 12

The SEC has staked a claim against embattled Lancaster County businessman Daryl Heller.

The federal agency said it has been investigating "certain pre-bankruptcy transactions and practices” involving Heller.

@lancasteronline.bsky.social

lancasteronline.com/news/local/a...

Another federal agency has staked a claim against embattled Lancaster County businessman Daryl Heller.

Why is it so hard to know what Daryl Heller owns? A law professor explains.

Brett Sholtis @brettsholtis.bsky.social · Jul 23

Why is it so hard to know what Daryl Heller owns? A law professor explains. @lancasteronline.bsky.social

lancasteronline.com/news/local/w...

As a federal bankruptcy judge mulls whether to appoint a trustee to oversee former ATM network owner Daryl Heller’s personal Chapter 11 bankruptcy, legal experts say that real estate owned

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Brett Sholtis @brettsholtis.bsky.social · Jul 23

But now, as 2,700 investors seek their share of a $140 million judgment against Heller’s collapsed ATM network and Heller fends off lawsuits from banks and lenders, his lawyer says Heller does not have ownership stakes in those businesses.

Brett Sholtis @brettsholtis.bsky.social · Jul 23

A luxury A-frame lodge, a dozen mobile homes, hundreds of acres of farmland and an active gas drilling well pad are among the properties owned by businesses that Lancaster County entrepreneur Daryl Heller claimed as part of his personal wealth less than two years ago.

Over $4M in real estate tied to ATM businessman Daryl Heller could get swept up in bankruptcy

Brett Sholtis @brettsholtis.bsky.social · Jul 23

A luxury a-frame lodge, farmland, an active natural gas drilling site... part of over $4M in real estate, tied to ATM businessman Daryl Heller, that could get swept up in bankruptcy. My latest @lancasteronline.bsky.social

lancasteronline.com/news/local/o...

A luxury A-frame lodge, a dozen mobile homes, hundreds of acres of farmland and an active gas drilling well pad are among the properties owned by businesses that Lancaster County

Cyber charter school fights PA law on student wellness checks

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Brett Sholtis @brettsholtis.bsky.social · Jul 3

Strike art at Thomas F. Donatucci, Sr. library, Philadelphia ☠️

A decorative Halloween skeleton sits outside the Thomas F. Donatucci, Sr. library, where it holds a sign reading “waiting for my contract still…”. Another sign says kids need to learn to spell and makes a joking reference to an incident where Philly Mayor Cherelle Parker led an Eagles chant and misspelled Eagles. Philadelphia city workers are on strike, leading to the closure of some libraries and other city services.

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Brett Sholtis @brettsholtis.bsky.social · Jul 2

The bill requiring cyber charter schools to see students online once a week came after the 2024 death of a 12-year-old attending Commonwealth Charter Academy who was allegedly tortured and starved. CCA faces a wrongful death suit. @katiemeyer.bsky.social

www.spotlightpa.org/news/2025/07...

Facing a wrongful death suit, Commonwealth Charter Academy says it’s “unreasonable” to expect its staff to see and hear from all 30K students weekly.

www.spotlightpa.org

Welcome back to Instagram. Sign in to check out what your friends, family & interests have been capturing & sharing around the world.

Brett Sholtis @brettsholtis.bsky.social · Jun 2

Here's a short video explainer I put together on the story. These have been fun to make. Unfortunately a preview doesn't appear here. You have to click into Instagram.

www.instagram.com/reel/DKVLiuk...

Login • Instagram

www.instagram.com

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Brett Sholtis @brettsholtis.bsky.social · Jun 2

ICYMI: a couple years before Amish-born Lancaster businessman Dave Zook was involved in Daryl Heller's $500 million+ ATM scheme, Zook was involved in a $181 million Ponzi scheme originating in Texas.

Brett Sholtis @brettsholtis.bsky.social · May 22

What do an Amish shed maker from Lancaster, a dentist from the Philly suburbs, and the mayor of a small town an hour south of Dallas have in common?

For the answer, you must travel to Fairfield, Texas . . .

lancasteronline.com/news/local/a...

ATM investment promoter Dave Zook also led Lancaster investors to Texas Ponzi scheme

About an hour south of Dallas, among the gas wells and pump jacks that dot the Texas prairie, there was a business venture some investors from Lancaster County couldn’t pass