5th Square Holiday Party, Transit Equity Day Meeting, Route for Change Meeting
5th Square is Philadelphia's urbanist political action committee, advocating for better transportation, land use, and public space policies, and the candidates who support them. Our weekly newsletter reaches nearly 12,000 subscribers with the news, events, action alerts, and opportunities our community needs to know about each week. Become a member and get involved with our 2019 organizing and issue advocacy work, or make a donation.
ACTION
The urbanist holiday gathering of the season is THIS THURSDAY! Don't miss 5th Square's 2018 Holiday Party Fundraiser this Thursday, December 13th at Industrious, where we'll be celebrating another successful year of urbanist advocacy and growth for our organization with our volunteers, friends, and a few of our favorite 2019 Council candidates. Event proceeds will support our 2019 City Council campaign. RSVP for our Holiday Party Fundraiser. 
EVENTS
Monday, December 10th, 7:00 pm
Cedar Park Neighbors Transit Committee Kick-Off Meeting
Heads up, Cedar Park readers: CPN is launching a Transit Committee to work on transportation issues in Cedar Park. Come to the inaugural meeting to get involved. They'll be discussing a possible Neighborhood Slow Zone application, some University City District projects in the neighborhood, and more.
Tuesday, December 11th, 6:00 pm
5th Square Transit Committee - Transit Equity Day Planning
Our final Transit Committee meeting of the year will be a platform planning conversation about Transit Equity Day, happening this February. 5th Square Transit is working in partnership with Philly 350, POWER, and a host of other local organizations to raise issues to improve the lives of transit riders, and advance equitable and sustainable transit policies from SEPTA and City Hall.
Tuesday, December 11th, 6:00 pm
4601 Market Development - Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell's Meeting
3rd District Councilmember Jannie Blackwell hosts a community meeting about the redevelopment plan for 4601 Market. The Tribune just reported that the building is set to be sold for $10M, after the City sunk $50M into improvements. The land is assessed at $100M.
Tuesday, December 11th, 6:00 pm
Roosevelt Boulevard 'Route for Change' - Final Meeting (Rescheduled)
The final Route for Change meeting for Roosevelt Boulevard is rescheduled for this Tuesday, concerning long-term improvements to transportation on the Boulevard.
NEWS
5th Square supports Council President Clarke's push for civilian traffic enforcement officers, and will be asking the 2019 City Council candidates to get behind this important Vision Zero initiative.
Neighborhood activists: Check out the new Resources page on our website, featuring several useful maps and other research you can use to advocate for safer streets and walkable housing in your neighborhood. For those working on a Neighborhood Slow Zone application (due 1/18!) the neighborhood heat map of pedestrian crash hot-spots created by our volunteer David Corby may be the most useful. Become a 5th Square member to gain access to an even more comprehensive Activist Resources toolkit compiled by our members and volunteers.
Newly-released Census data show bike and subway commuting was up in Philadelphia in 2017, but bus policy reforms are needed to increase our sagging bus ridership, writes Jason Laughlin. Check out our Census tract map from volunteer Aaron Bauman with the non-car commuting mode share in each Census tract.
Minneapolis City Council just passed a new comprehensive plan that calls for ending single-family zoning citywide, and allowing three-unit buildings on any lot, as well as eliminating minimum parking requirements across the whole city.
The Zoning Board of Adjustment is making decisions about zoning variances based on their personal feelings, not due process, writes Jake Blumgart. "A request for permission to build a triplex got the developer a variance for a smaller duplex instead. In one case, where a property owner talked back to the board, his request was denied altogether."
Councilman Curtis Jones's Good Cause eviction protection bill passed City Council on Thursday, although in diminished form, only covering month-to-month leases
Why are we still waiting for electric buses? Angie Schmitt reviews the state of the technology and implementation by transit authorities.
A local version of a Green New Deal requires green zoning reform
OPPORTUNITIES
Penn Design announced the new Moelis Urban Scholars Program, a new scholarship and mentoring program for aspiring black and Latinx urban planners
SEPTA is hiring a Manager for Revenue and Ridership Analysis
The City of Philadelphia is hiring a Chief Data Officer and a Chief Geographic Information Officer
Fleischer Art Memorial is hiring a Director of Programs
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.