Hey there, Monday!

☀️ Today's weather: Sunny, with a high of 77 and a low of 56.

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Today's newsletter is 1,113 words, a 4-minute read.

Anti-data center fervor has arrived at Philadelphia's doorstep.

The big picture: The artificial intelligence gold rush has driven demand for large data centers.

• Now, as public sentiment has swiftly shifted against Big Tech on the issue, former boosters — including Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro — have made eyebrow-raising U-turns.

Why the hate: Data centers are often big warehouses, offer few long-term jobs and use vast amounts of electricity.

• They can emit noise and vibrations, and many plans for data centers are coming together behind closed doors.

Driving the news: The coalition group No Data Centers in Philly is kicking off a campaign Monday calling on Mayor Cherelle Parker and elected leaders to impose a moratorium on data centers.

• The group — backed by groups like People's Tech Project, Thrive Philly and the Amistad Law Project — is also pressing for new rules around their development.

What they're saying: Anti-data center advocates want time to work with city lawmakers to create tighter restrictions for building the facilities so Philadelphia doesn't become an "extraction zone" for Big Tech companies, Alex Bomstein, member of No Data Centers in Philly and executive director of Clean Air Council, tells Axios.

• "This is a case of Big Tech wanting to come into Philly and make lots of money out of it, while providing few jobs, polluting the neighborhood and not paying taxes," he says.

Worth noting: Parker hasn't publicly shared her stance on data centers, and a spokesperson for her administration declined Axios' request for comment on the mayor's position.

Context: Moratoriums on data centers are the brass ring for anti-tech groups — and, increasingly, politicians.

• In Bucks County, Democrat Bob Harvie running in the 1st congressional district this November released an campaign ad last week calling for such a pause.

Worth noting: Philly currently has about eight operating data centers — and anti-tech advocates fear that number could explode in the coming years.

• Case in point: 401 N. Broad St. in Center City, a multi-use building that includes office space and a data center that supports onsite gaming.

Yes, but: Philly's existing data centers are much smaller than the massive facilities needed in the AI age.

Zoom in: Philly proper only has a few locations that are large enough to house a massive data center.

Per the Planning Commission, two sites opponents fear could become data centers include:

1. South Philly's Bellwether District, a multibillion-dollar project remaking a former oil refinery,
2. And a city-owned site in Northeast Philly near the airport (2600 Grant Ave.).

Meanwhile, data center opposition is raging in Philly's suburbs.

• Residents in Plymouth Township, Upper Merion Township and Falls Township have mobilized against proposed projects in their communities.

What we're watching: Whether anti-tech sentiment around data centers becomes a potent election issue in Philly's mayoral and City Council elections in 2027.

• And whether City Council or the mayor put forward their own legislation imposing any citywide restrictions on data centers.

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The Pop Up Garden in Manayunk will close for good on Oct. 5.

Why it matters: The Northwest Philly neighborhood is losing a popular outdoor bar, restaurant and meet-up spot that's been there since 2020.

State of play: The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, which operates the garden hangout, decided not to renew its lease because it's not in the group's current business plan, spokesperson Lauren Scully tells Axios.

The intrigue: PHS is exploring other neighborhoods for a potential new garden pop-up, she added.

Option No. 2: Those looking for open-air vibes this fall can still check out the PHS Pop Up Garden on South Street, which will operate through Halloween.

• Plus, the South Street location will reopen in the spring.

Autumnal events and workshops at both gardens get going this week, including:

• 🪴 Plant Swaps: Monday in Manayunk and Tuesday at the South Street location from from 6-7pm.
• 🎨 Saturday: Paint and sip class in Manayunk from 4-6pm. Tickets: $44.52.
• 🌱 Seed saving workshop: In Manayunk on Sept. 28 and at South Street on Sept. 29 from 6-7:30pm. Cost: $30-$35.

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🌊 Clementon Park and Splash World has permanently closed and is up for sale, per a post on the park's Instagram. No word yet on the price tag for the nearly 120-year-old park.

👀 The Philadelphia Wings lacrosse team is no more. The National Lacrosse League revealed late last week that the Wings will discontinue operations and not participate in the upcoming season.

• This comes months after we told you that Philly sports titan Comcast Spectacor dropped its ownership of the franchise.

⛔ A Main Line art dealer is accused in a lawsuit of helping sell fake Andy Warhol works to a Florida family.

• Nathan "Nicky" Isen, whose gallery was raided by the FBI this summer, denies wrongdoing. (Inquirer)

Just over 16% of Americans read for pleasure on an average day last year, according to new government data.

Why it matters: America's reading slump is sticking — remaining near the lowest level in at least two decades.

• Researchers say reading, even for fun, comes with a host of benefits for emotional intelligence, employment, health and more.

Zoom in: Not only has the share of leisure readers fallen, but so has the time spent doing it.

• Americans spent an average of 16 minutes per day reading for pleasure in 2025, seven minutes less than a decade ago, according to the data.
• For comparison, people spent an average of 2.6 hours watching TV daily last year.

Reality check: People are still buying books. Barnes & Noble and independent bookstores have mounted a comeback, opening new stores and reporting higher sales.

• And "romantasy" — steamy fiction that mixes romance and fantasy — is now a billion-dollar business.

The Eagles opened the season with a 24-22 win against division rival Washington.

Driving the news; The Birds' defense preserved the win by coming up with a huge stop of the Commanders' 2-point conversion late in the game.

The bottom line: In other words, they turned Lemon into lemonade.

• Makai Lemon looks like he's basically telling the camera, "I'm too sexy for this helmet."

Yes, but: What do you think, Eagles nation?

• 📬 Email your funniest one-liners to us by hitting reply to this email. The best ones get a shoutout in the newsletter.

🙏 Isaac had a fun weekend with his homie, Henry. Need more of these!

👋 Have a good day!

Today's newsletter was edited by Jen Burkett.