Newsletter: Recovery Streets Platform 🚘💥🚗 Help Fix Washington Ave 🔎 Look Up Your New Polling Place
Weekly Newsletter, Issue 113
Primary elections are now on June 2nd due to COVID-19 -- request your mail-in ballot today and get it in by next Tuesday, May 26th!
SUPPORT THE RECOVERY STREETS PLATFORM
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Newsletter: Q&A w/ ⭐Vanessa McGrath⭐ Endorsed State Rep Candidate for 175th | 🛣️ Our FOMO for Open Streets During COVID | 🚘💥🚗 Spiking Road Fatalities
Weekly Newsletter, Issue 112
Primary elections are now on June 2nd due to COVID-19 -- request your mail-in ballot today!
📫 DID YOUR MAIL-IN BALLOT ARRIVE?
Many of our members got ours in the mail last week!
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Newsletter: Our 2020 Candidate Endorsements | 🌰 Permanent Changes to Chestnut St | 🚲 Free Bikes for Essential Workers | 🎤Zoom Q&A with Nikil Saval
Weekly Newsletter, Issue 111
ENDORSEMENTS
5th Square is pleased to announce our 2020 endorsements for PA State House! The primary election is coming up on June 2nd and we are encouraging everyone to maintain social distancing by requesting their mail-in ballot today.
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Newsletter: 📤 Winning Fair Fares in 2020 | 📫 Sign up to Vote by Mail | 🛣️ Opening Space for People on our Streets |
Weekly Newsletter, Issue 110
ACTION
🚇 Sign TODAY to Support our Fair Fares Agenda! 🚍
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Endorsements for 2020 State Representative
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEWednesday, April 22, 2020
5th Square is proud to announce its endorsement for the following candidates for State Representative in this year's 2020 Democratic primary elections.
Vanessa McGrath for the 175th District
Malcolm Kenyatta for the 181st District
Brian Sims for the 182nd District
Elizabeth Fiedler for the 184th District
Morgan Cephas for the 192nd District
Darisha K. Parker for the 198th District
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Newsletter: 📣 Our Fair Fares Platform 🚇🚍🚆 | April Virtual Meet-Up 🤝 | Improving Public Input During a Pandemic ✋
Weekly Newsletter, Issue 109
ACTION
🚇🚍🚆 Last week 5th Square released our 2020 Fair Fares Platform and we want you to show your support to help win these important changes when SEPTA votes this May.
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Newsletter: 🚨 Tell Congress to Save Transit 🚨 | 📮 Sign Up to Vote by Mail | 🚴🏽🏃🏿 MLK Drive Open to the People
Weekly Newsletter, Issue 108
ACTION: Save Public Transportation!
Contact your members of Congress and tell them to save public transportation
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Newsletter: Free Transfers WIN | Politics From Home: Vote By Mail + Take the Census 💻 | Mobility During Coronavirus 🏃♀️
Weekly Newsletter, Issue 107
EVENTS
Out of an abundance of caution, 5th Square is indefinitely postponing all our scheduled events and meet-ups. Thank you for your interest and we hope to resume these meetings soon!
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Newsletter: Big Announcement 🚌 Transit Forward Philly 🚌 | Say it Louder 🎤 #YIMBYforSIS ⚕️🏥 | PennDOT Looking at Congestion Pricing 🛣️
Weekly Newsletter, Issue 106
BIG ANNOUNCEMENT
Come to the big launch event this Thursday to kick-off Philly's new transit advocacy coalition Transit Forward Philadelphia!
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Newsletter: Let's Win Free Transfers 🚍🚇🚊 | Concourse Scavenger Hunt 🏹 | Ban Cars on Chestnut 🚫🚗🏙️
Weekly Newsletter, Issue 105
ACTION
SEPTA is considering making transfers free when they vote on their new fare policy this spring, but it's not a done deal just yet.
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Newsletter: ELECTION SPECIAL🎆 | Join Our Endorsement Conversation 📱 | Read Candidate Questionnaires 🗒️ | 5th Square in the News 📰
Weekly Newsletter, Issue 104
ACTION
5th Square kicks off our candidate endorsement process starting TODAY. Our endorsement process is only open to our membership.
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Newsletter: Meet-up This Thursday with 2020 Candidates 🗳️ | SEPTA needs Transparency 🚇 | Candidate Questionnaire Responses 📋
Weekly Newsletter, Issue 103
ACTION
We are gearing up for the 2020 Election Season! Pennsylvania's primary is early this year on April 28th because of the Presidential election, and candidates running for state office will be on the ballot too. Learn about the state of the primaries and meet some of the candidates running at our monthly meet-up.
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SEPTA Needs More Transparency about its Problems, Like it has Done in the Past
SEPTA Market-Frankford train by Ben Schumin / CC BY 2.0
The Market-Frankford El is, once again, afflicted by new cracks in the steel beams inside the subway cars. SEPTA spent over $3 million on a specialized repair facility for this issue last fall, and another $15 to $18 million is needed for a permanent fix. The repairs are slated to take several years, negatively impacting the number of trains available for service. Why is the public just finding out about it now?
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Newsletter: It's Time to Win Free Transfers
Weekly Newsletter, Issue 102
5th Square will be holding our 2020 candidate endorsement votes in mid-February. Become a member today for as little as $5 a month to vote on our candidate slate in this year's state legislative primaries. Primary elections are on April 28th this year, so make sure to register to vote online or update your voting address.
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Newsletter: Come to our January 2020 Kick-off Meeting on 1/15, Kenney to Keep His Street Sweeping Promise, Urbanist Jobs Board
ACTION
Join us Wednesday, January 15th for 5th Square's first monthly meet-up of the year, at Dock Street Brewery South from 6-8 pm.Our monthly meet-ups are a great way to get to know 5th Square members and volunteers, hear from guest speakers on urbanist topics, and start to get involved in transportation and planning politics with us and in your neighborhood.
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⭐💯⭐ The 100th Issue of 5th Square's Weekly Urbanist Newsletter ⭐💯⭐
Weekly Newsletter, Issue 100
RETROSPECTIVE
Welcome to the 100th edition of 5th Square's newsletter, our first of 2020. In this special edition, we want to take a pause to reflect on some of our accomplishments as a team over the past year and offer a peek at our plans for 2020.
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First Annual 5th Square Urbanist Awards - 2019
Thank you to everyone who attended our year-end Holiday Party and Urbanist Awards ceremony at Radio Kismet on December 18th!
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2019 Year in Review
2019 was a banner year for 5th Square, Philadelphia's urbanist political action committee. As we celebrate our fifth year as an organization and our second City council cycle, we reflect on the impact we've made around important urbanist causes for better mobility, housing, and public space.
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Newsletter 99½: ☃️ 5th Square Holiday Party on 12/18 ❄️ Get Discounted Tickets Today! 🏆 1st Annual Urbanist Awards, 🚗🚗 The Free Holiday Parking Fallacy 🚗🚗
Weekly Newsletter, Issue 99½
ACTION
Get your tickets today for our 2019 Holiday Party + Awards Ceremony
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Newsletter: Nominate Your Faves for our 1st Annual Urbanist Awards, ZBA Votes on Waterfront Sprawl, Protected Bike Lane Bill Stuck in PA Senate
Weekly Newsletter, Issue 99
ACTION
Help Save the Delaware Waterfront from More Suburban Sprawl
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Urbanist Candidates Won Big in 2019! Let's Keep Up the Momentum in 2020.
What an amazing Election Day! Three out of three of our endorsed candidates, Helen Gym, Jamie Gauthier, and Kendra Brooks won their races and are headed for City Council!
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Newsletter: ELECTION DAY IS TOMORROW -- Cast Your Vote For Gym, Brooks and Gauthier for City Council
Weekly Newsletter, Issue 98
ACTION
Tomorrow, November 5th is Election Day!
Pennsylvania polling places are open from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. Go to the Pennsylvania Department of State’s website to find your polling place.
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Newsletter: Vote for 5th Square's Slate on Election Day, This November 5th
Weekly Newsletter, Issue 97
ACTION
Make your voting plan for November 5th!5th Square is thrilled to support three champions for City Council who align with our organization's core values and advocate for a better Philadelphia with safe and affordable transportation, abundant housing and better public spaces.
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5th Square Announces its Endorsement of Kendra Brooks
5th Square announces its endorsement of Kendra Brooks for City Council At-Large!
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Your Weekly Dose of Urbanism: Council Punts on Regressive Parking Minimums, 'Should the Law Subsidize Driving?' Event, Momentum for car-free streets from NYC and SF
Weekly Newsletter, Issue 96
ACTION
Write Your Reps: City Council’s Parking Minimums Bill is an Assault on Affordability and the Climate
There was originally a hearing scheduled today for a bill (160710) first introduced by Councilmember Jannie Blackwell back in 2016 that would have increased minimum parking requirements
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Your Weekly Dose of Urbanism: October Meet-Up with Indie Council Candidates, Vision Zero's Progress, Help Legalize Car Free Living
Weekly Newsletter, Issue 95
ACTION
The November 5th election is just a month away, and at our next meet-up is on Thursday, October 10th, you'll have a chance to hear from the independent candidates running for City Council At-Large: Kendra Brooks and Nic O'Rourke from the Working Families Party and Independent candidate Joe Cox.
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Newsletter: Become a Member & Help Us Endorse Candidates in the November Election, 'Motherload' Documentary Screening This Weekend
Weekly Newsletter, Issue 94
ACTION
Join 5th Square as a Member TODAY and you can help us shape our endorsements for the general election in the coming weeks. Membership costs as little as $5 a month and comes with the ability to vote in our endorsement process!
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Newsletter: Indie Council Candidates Talk Transit, Streets, and Planning, ZBA Meeting for Waterfront Super-Wawa, Urbanist Jobs Galore!
Weekly Newsletter, Issue 93
ACTION
Lombard Street needs a protected bike lane!
Lombard Street is being repaved and the City doesn't have any plans to protect this vital stretch that connects cyclists with the South Street Bridge.
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Newsletter: Thank oTIS and Mark Squilla for S. 11th St improvements, 5th Square monthly meet-up, Debating a trolley expansion
Weekly Newsletter, Issue 92
ACTION
Help win a protected bike lane for Lombard Street!
Lombard Street is being repaved and the City doesn't have any plans to protect this vital stretch that connects cyclists with the South Street Bridge.
Sign our petition today to let Councilmember Johnson and The Philadelphia School know that you support a protected bicycle lane for Lombard!
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Newsletter: Grays Ferry Bridge Protected Bike Lane Petition, Transit Advocacy Opportunity, Resident Survey
Weekly Newsletter, Issue 91
ACTION
Take the 2019 Philadelphia Resident Survey to weigh in on quality of life in the city, and what your priorities are for the Kenney administration. Completed entries are entered to win one of twenty $50 gift cards.
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Newsletter: Help Win a Protected Bike Lane on Delaware Ave | Free T-shirt Offer | Pew on the Regressive Transfer Penalty
ACTION
Can you take 1 minute to add your voice for a safer Delaware Ave?Sign this petition calling on the City to add protections to the Delaware Ave bike lane
Delaware Avenue is being repaved and re-striped right now—and it needs a protected bike lane. That's why we're supporting the Bicycle Coalition's petition action to protect cyclists on Delaware Ave.
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Newsletter: Free T-Shirt Offer, Growing Calls for #FreeTransfers, Upzoning <3 Preservation
Weekly Newsletter, Issue 89
ACTION
Sign our Free Transfers Petition to demand that SEPTA to end the $1 transfer penalty when the SEPTA board votes on fares next spring.
SEPTA leadership is still resisting calls from the Kenney administration's transportation team, and from within their own ranks, to eliminate the $1 transfer penalty.
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Newsletter: Monthly Meet-up Tonight with Alex Baca, Ben Franklin Parkway Pedestrian Survey, New SEPTA Bus Map
ACTION
Our July monthly meet-up is happening tonight at Craft Hall (901 N. Delaware Ave.) from 6-8 pm.We're excited to welcome special guest Alex Baca, Housing Program Organizer for D.C.-based urbanist advocacy organization Greater Greater Washington.
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Newsletter: Call Your State Rep Today to Support Protected Bike Lanes, Upcoming Meeting for PennDOT's Bike and Ped Plan, Good News for Graffiti Pier, Street Sweeping Pilot Snags
ACTION
Important street safety legislation is coming up for a general vote in the Pennsylvania State House. We are asking you to call your state rep today and tell them to vote in favor of House Bill 792,which would give cities and towns across Pennsylvania more flexibility to install protected bike lanes on our state routes in Philadelphia.
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Newsletter: 5th Square Beach Day, Roosevelt Blvd Meetings, Volunteer for Philly Free Streets
Weekly Newsletter, Issue 86
All aboard the beach train! To celebrate the return of the Atlantic City Rail Line service between Philadelphia and Atlantic City, we booked a limited-number of discount train tickets for a family-friendly group trip to the beach this Sunday, June 9th.
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Upcoming Events: Beach Train Trip + June Meet-up with Jamie Gauthier
Summer is here and 5th Square has two fun June events coming up that you won't want to miss!
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Thank You! The Big Urbanist Wins from the 2019 Primary
The 2019 election results are in, and we at 5th Square want to say THANK YOU for all the help and support Philly's urbanist community provided to us and to candidates during this primary election cycle. There was a lot at stake this year, and with your help, we were able to make our core issues of mobility, land planning, and public space policies an important part of the election season conversation.
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Newsletter: VOTE tomorrow for a pro-transit, pro-bike, pro-housing City Council
Weekly Newsletter, Issue 85
VOTE TUESDAY!
Tuesday's election is an opportunity that only comes once every four years to really shift the power at City Hall to elected representatives who can help us win more frequent and reliable public transit, safer streets for pedestrians and cyclists, and abundant and affordable housing for all Philadelphians. Read up on 5th Square's 2019 endorsements and vote for a pro-transit, pro-bike, pro-housing City Council tomorrow, Tuesday, May 21st.
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2019 Primary Election - 5th Square Endorsements
For the upcoming 2019 primary election on May 21st, 5th Square Endorses:
Council At-LargeAdrián RIVERA-REYES #54Helen GYM #56Eryn SANTAMOOR #60Justin DIBERARDINIS #80
District Council 2nd DistrictLauren VIDAS #84
District Council 3rd DistrictJamie GAUTHIER #85
Charter Change Question #4“Public Safety Enforcement Officer” - YES
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City Council Candidates Talk Public Transit in ‘Broke in Philly’ Questionnaire
Candidates for City Council and for other public offices had great responses on public transportation in the "Broke in Philly" questionnaire! Our endorsed candidates especially shined!
Most candidates favored family-friendly fares, discounted or free youth rates, expanding university pass programs, optimization of the bus system, and ending the $1 transfer fee.
Several Council candidates we didn’t endorse also had good ideas for transit, showing that the tide is turning on this issue.
Here are their responses to the question: “How will you increase access to public transportation in Philly?”
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Newsletter: Help Elect Urbanist Candidates for City Council next Tuesday!
Next Tuesday May 21st is Primary Election Day!
This election is a once-every-four-years opportunity to make a major difference for urbanist causes in Philadelphia, with local elected officials having outsized responsibility for whether our built environment, and especially our transportation and housing systems, are accessible for all residents.
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