Tuesday, August 28th, 5:30 pm
PlanPhilly and CityLab Happy Hour at the Rail Park
Self-recommending. Walking tour of the Rail Park with PlanPhilly and Friends of the Rail Park, followed by a panel discussion featuring CityLab's Kriston Capps, Inga Saffron (Inquirer), Kathryn Ott Lovell (Parks & Rec), and Ellen Ryan (Fairmount Park Conservancy).

Wednesday, August 29th, 2:00 pm
Zoning Hearing: 1314-1332 Spring Garden Street
The proposed self-storage facility at 1314-1332 Spring Garden goes before the Zoning Board of Adjustment. 5th Square is opposing this project because it would create a large new curb cut right on the future Spring Garden Greenway, and because a storage facility is not the best use of a prime location less than a block from the Spring Garden Street station on the Broad Street Line. This would be a big missed opportunity for more transit-oriented housing if the ZBA approves it.

Wednesday, August 29th, 6:30 pm
5th Square Transit Committee Kick-off
Get involved in building a new transit rider advocacy organization for Philadelphia at our new Transit Committee kick-off meeting. The Transit Committee will combine rider organizing and leadership building with advocacy for service changes to make SEPTA more convenient, frequent, and dependable for riders.

Thursday, September 6th, 6:30 pm
'Building the Bicycling City' Book Launch Party
5th Square is hosting a book launch party at Firth and Wilson Transport Cycles with Modacity principals Melissa and Chris Bruntlett, to celebrate the release of their book "Building the Cycling City: The Dutch Blueprint for Urban Vitality." Free beer!

NEWS

D.A. Larry Krasner announced his office will not file criminal charges against Julian Angelucci's killer, who hit the 11-year-old boy on his bike while rolling through a stop sign at over 20 mph in South Philly. 5th Square chair Dena Driscoll and other Vision Zero advocates were disturbed by Krasner's decision, and challenged his staff about it on social media. Krasner's office has agreed to meet with advocates to discuss their position in the coming weeks. If you have a relationship to this issue and are interested in attending this meeting, email us at [email protected].

Opposition to housing is broadly popular among political partisans of all stripes, according to new research covered by Emily Badger at the New York Times, and this zeal for restrictive zoning is an important reason why urban housing prices are soaring across the country. You can get involved in pushing back on these toxic politics by joining our new Philly YIMBY ('Yes In My Back Yard') initiative, or finding a project to support in your neighborhood on our running YIMBY Project List.

Even the few people fortunate enough to receive one of a limited number of housing choice vouchers are often still rejected by landlords, reports Julia Terruso. "In Philadelphia, the [Urban Institute] study involved calling 422 listings and asking whether the landlord accepted Housing Choice Vouchers, formerly known as Section 8 vouchers. Researchers selected apartments that matched what an average voucher holder pays. Two-thirds of the time, the landlord would not accept a voucher."

Conrad Benner at Streets Dept sounds the alarms about the threat to Philly's block party culture from Mayor Kenney's new policy expanding police discretion to reject block party applications

The TTC in Toronto is the latest transit agency to make transfers free, changing their fare policy so one fare allows free transfers within a two-hour window. Learn more about why SEPTA should be next on our Free Transfers action page.

Nominate an outstanding young professional in Philly real estate for Billy Penn's Who's Next in Real Estate listicle. 

Benefits Data Trust is hiring for several positions, including a Director of Development, Benefits Outreach Specialist, Policy Attorney and Privacy Officer

DVRPC is hiring a Transportation Modeler/Engineer, and a Project Implementation Engineer

Keep Philadelphia Beautiful is hiring a new Executive Director

The City of Philadelphia is hiring a Recycling Program Director

NV5 is hiring for two positions, an Active Transportation Designer and a Green Infrastructure and Water Resources Designer

Philadelphia Unemployment Project is hiring a Reverse Commute Transportation Manager

University City Science Center is hiring a Program Associate for Venture Cafe

Design Advocacy Group is hiring a part-time Fellow to coordinate communications, monthly meetings and events, advocacy, and administration

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5th Square is Philadelphia's urbanist political action committee. We're an all-volunteer grassroots organization advocating for safe and affordable transportation, abundant housing, and more and better public spaces. You’re receiving this email if you signed up via our website, attended one of our events, or supported one of our advocacy campaigns. Support our advocacy with a recurring monthly contribution of $5 or more.