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? Continue reading

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.  Continue reading

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. Continue reading

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. Continue reading

Thank you to everyone who attended our year-end Holiday Party and Urbanist Awards ceremony at Radio Kismet on December 18th! Continue reading

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. Continue reading

Weekly Newsletter, Issue 99½ ACTION Get your tickets today for our 2019 Holiday Party + Awards Ceremony Continue reading

Weekly Newsletter, Issue 99 ACTION Help Save the Delaware Waterfront from More Suburban Sprawl Continue reading

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!    Continue reading

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. Continue reading

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.  Continue reading

5th Square announces its endorsement of Kendra Brooks for City Council At-Large! Continue reading

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 Continue reading

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. Continue reading

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! Continue reading

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. Continue reading

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! Continue reading

Thanks so much for signing our petition calling for a westbound protected bicycle path on the Grays Ferry Bridge. I'm writing to share a few encouraging updates. We have reached over 500 signers and have some promising news to report! Continue reading

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. Continue reading