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The atmosphere inside the West Philadelphia barbershop was decidedly casual, with Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro wearing sneakers, a bomber jacket, a white shirt and no tie.
Later, Shapiro sat in a barber’s chair and had a candid conversation with small business owners Darryl Thomas, Gina Johnson Patrick, and Ann Turner, leaders of the Pennsylvania Professional Image Alliance. Ta.
Before the public forum, Mr. Shapiro spent time with a select group of barbers on the second floor of Philly Katz’s store. They are all small business owners themselves, renting chairs and bringing their own customers into the shared space.
A public discussion with hair industry leaders discussed state-level deregulation with additional support for small businesses, what Shapiro can do to save SEPTA from decline, and what could be enacted during President-elect Donald Trump’s term. Three important topics emerged from policy: how governors can protect vulnerable residents. .
As for SEPTA, Shapiro had little to say in Thursday’s response other than that he helped keep workers from striking. He promised to provide further information soon.
A press conference is scheduled for Friday morning at the Frankford Transportation Center in Philadelphia.
Shapiro said the administration has participated in negotiations with Transportation Workers Union Local 234. Transit Union Local 234 is SEPTA’s largest union, representing bus drivers, streetcar and subway operators, who have threatened weeks of strikes.
“We will not allow SEPTA to fail,” Shapiro told WHYY News.
Additionally, the governor previously served as the state’s attorney general during Trump’s first term and promised on Thursday to protect civil rights. He said he would not hesitate to sue if the federal government overstepped its bounds.
And when small business owners told Mr. Shapiro about fellow business owners who might be doing business with potentially unscrupulous insurance companies, Mr. Shapiro didn’t hesitate to respond to state insurance regulations. It offered full support for consumer protection through the authorities.
Thomas, the head barber, owns Philadelphia Cuts, which he says is the center of his community and has been since the mid-1990s.
“This is a black man’s country club,” Thomas said. “All the issues that are going on are discussed. And here, most of the time, we make a plan of action and implement it.”
So when Shapiro sat down to talk about the shop, sports and public policy, the barbers leaned in to talk.
The Shapiro administration has already shortened the time required to become a licensed barber from two weeks to same-day approval.
“One of the ways to create more opportunities is to break down all the silos that exist within government. Cutting out red tape allows people to work faster,” Shapiro said. advertised.
But Thomas is worried about the future. That’s because his community relies on the social safety net, and Philadelphia is home to many mixed immigrant families, including Jamaicans and Haitians.
“I’m a little nervous. That was one of the things I talked about with the governor,” he said. “People who need SNAP benefits, people who need affordable health care; [who] If affected [Trump] I will faithfully keep my promise made before I was elected. ”
The store, located in the 4400 block of Chestnut Street, featured portraits of notable historical figures, including boxers Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier, and political activists Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. Recent portraits of politicians included a poster of former President Barack Obama.
President Obama did not visit Philadelphia Katz. Instead, he stopped by a barbershop on 52nd Street while campaigning in Philadelphia.
But this year, Democratic presidential candidate Vice President Kamala Harris recently visited Thomas and his barbershop.
In response to a question about the economy, Thomas said some voters aren’t reflecting on history enough this election day.
“If you voted for the economy, you know that the economy that Trump got was because of Obama. What we’re experiencing is a holdover from when Trump was president. [during his first term]” he said. “And we’ll see how this economy really plays out. One thing’s for sure: The Philadelphia Cut. [will be] Immediately doing what is necessary to stop the bleeding in the trenches. [from Trump’s federal policy trickledown] And the governor has already said he will do what it takes to protect Pennsylvanians. But the time has come for closure. ”
