🗳️ Election cheat sheet

🎃 Hi, Tuesday! Welcome to October.

• Today's weather: Foggy to start the day, then cloudy. High near 69.

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Today's newsletter is 921 words, a 3.5-minute read.

Philadelphia is seeing its poverty rate dip to its lowest level in a decade, but it remains the poorest big city in the U.S.

Why it matters: Poverty is a lifelong condition for some Philadelphians, leading to negative health, employment, and educational outcomes.

The big picture: Addressing poverty could play a big role in the November election as negative perceptions about inflation fuel a sour mood about the economy.

By the numbers: Poverty levels in Philly continued to trend downward by hitting 20.3% in 2023, per newly released Census Bureau data.

• That's down more than a percentage point from the previous year and from a rate of 26% in 2014, per Census data.

Context: Philly's poverty rate outpaces other big U.S. cities.

• Houston, Texas, has the second highest poverty rate among the largest cities at 19.5%, followed by New York City (18.2%) and San Antonio (17.5%).

Zoom in: Philly's Hispanic or Latino residents have the highest poverty rate in the city at 26%, despite seeing a year-over-year decrease.

• That's followed by Black Philadelphians, with a rate of 24.5%. The poverty rate for white residents was 12.5%.

Zoom out: The four-state Philly metro increased slightly in 2023 to 11.5%, per Census data.

• Statewide, poverty reached 12% last year, up from 11.8% in 2022.

Meanwhile, people in Philadelphia proper are earning more money.

• The city's median household income topped $60,302, a first since the late 1970s, per the Inquirer.
• Yes, but: That's still below the average national median household income of more than $80,610, per 2023 data.

Election Day is a little over a month away, and early voting is getting underway in Pennsylvania.

Why it matters: Pennsylvania votes are among the most highly prized in the upcoming presidential election and could determine whether Democrats or Republicans take the White House.

📍With mail-in ballots now available in Philadelphia and Montgomery counties, the following is a list of key dates to keep on your calendar as the election approaches.

🗓️ Key dates

Oct. 21: The last day to register to vote.

• Check if you're registered to vote and that your information is up to date on the Department of State website.

Oct. 29: Final day for your county election office to receive your application for a mail-in ballot.

Nov. 4: The final day for military and overseas ballots to be sent and postmarked.

Nov. 5: Election Day. Mail-in ballots and civilian absentee ballots must be received by county election offices by 8pm.

Nov. 12: The final day for county election officials to receive completed military and overseas absentee ballots.

👀 What to know: State senators in odd districts are up for election.

• All state representatives are on the ballot.

Save this voter guide

Hundreds of Axios readers say the Sixers' arena deal that includes $50 million worth of investments isn't right for Philadelphia, per our informal poll.

🧮 By the numbers: 74% of more than 375 votes cast in our poll say the deal for a new $1.5 billion Center City arena falls short.

• Meanwhile, 26% voted in favor of the agreement hashed out with Mayor Cherelle Parker's administration.

Context: Parker unveiled the deal last month, which would funnel millions of dollars into city programs for years.

• If legislators ultimately approved the deal, the Sixers would remain in Philly for the next 30 years.

🗣️ What they're saying: Here are our favorite comments from voters who took our poll.

• Answers were lightly edited for clarity.

👍 Pro-arena: "This is an excellent deal for a really cool, innovative project that is set to replace a dead, dormant, waste of space."

👎 Anti-arena: "The potential congestion, chaos and damage to Chinatown are enough to make me give it a thumbs down."

More responses

Responsible Care companies have a track record of increasing safety in our facilities and in the supply chain.

Key numbers: Responsible Care companies have a worker safety rating 4x better than the U.S. manufacturing sector and 3x better than the business of chemistry overall.

Learn more.

🏀 Hall of Famer Dikembe Mutombo died of brain cancer at the age of 58 on Monday. The 7-foot-2 former center played two seasons for the Sixers, including the 2000-1 team that went to the Finals. (ESPN)

• Pete Rose, who helped the Phillies win a World Series in 1980, also died yesterday. He's baseball's all-time hits leader but was banished from baseball for gambling on the sport. (ESPN)

🍿 The first vice presidential debate between Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) and Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) is tonight at 9pm on CBS and carried by other networks and platforms. (Axios)

🗣️ Quote du jour:

Former President Jimmy Carter celebrates his 100th birthday today.

• We're reflecting on Carter's legacy here as he becomes the only former president to reach the centenarian club.

✈️ Flashback: During a presidential visit to Philly in 1980, Carter hosted a town hall meeting at Temple University and gave a speech on foreign policy to the World Affairs Council of Philadelphia, according to archives.

• He also stopped by Philly that same year while campaigning for re-election.

📚 More recently in 2015, he visited the Free Library, where he posed for photos with then-Mayor Michael Nutter and signed copies of his memoir, "A Full Life: Reflections at Ninety."

What's ahead: Celebrations are planned in his hometown of Plains, Ga., but his son says Carter only cares about living long enough to cast his absentee ballot.

Responsible Care companies believe in the power of community.

The proof: Nearly 30 facilities participate in over 20 Community Advisory Panels in the tri-state area, working hand-in-hand with local partners to help build safe and sustainable communities.

Learn more.

🥝 Mike's favorite new fruit is hardy kiwis.

🌴 Isaac is OOO.

Today's newsletter was edited by Alexa Mencia.