Weekly Newsletter, Issue 292 🏒 THE IMPACT OF I-95 RECONSTRUCTION PennDOT is working on a project to reconstruct (read: widen) I-95 in Center City and South Philly and they've not exactly been engaging with Philadelphians in good faith. Continue reading

Weekly Newsletter, Issue 291 🚲 INDEGO SINGLE RIDES ARE BACK Ever wanted to use an Indego bike to help you reach a spot that's tough to get to by SEPTA but didn't want to fork over $15 for a day pass for just wanted a single ride? Continue reading

Responding to a Right-to-Know request, PennDOT released the full results of their I-95 planning study survey for Center City and South Philly. Looking at the written comments in the released results, we found a majority of respondents oppose the plan in all of the survey areas. Continue reading

Weekly Newsletter, Issue 290 🔰 LAND VALUE TAX PANEL + MEETUP TONIGHT Tonight at 6:00 PM, we are hosting our July Monthly Meetup which includes a panel discussion on Land Value Tax co-sponsored by the Robert Schalkenbach Foundation.   Continue reading

Weekly Newsletter, Issue 289 💔 TRAFFIC VIOLENCE CRISIS This past Wednesday was an especially tragic day for traffic violence. A pedestrian on Allegheny Ave was killed in Kensington, a woman was left in critical condition by a hit-and-run in Germantown, and a pediatric oncologist killed while biking on Spruce St.  Continue reading

Press Release: Reaction to Traffic Violence Citywide and Fatal Rittenhouse Crash FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, July 18, 2024 PHILADELPHIA — Yesterday, traffic violence left two neighbors dead and a third critically injured. A 30-year-old woman was killed while biking in Rittenhouse in a high-speed car crash, a man in his 50s was struck and killed while standing on a corner in Kensington, and a 26-year-old woman was critically injured after being struck while crossing a street in Germantown. Continue reading

Weekly Newsletter, Issue 288 🏛️ SPRUCE HILL HISTORIC DISTRICT APPROVED After a long battle from housing advocates, the Philadelphia Historical Commission has voted to designate the southeast quadrant of Spruce Hill as a historic district. 5th Square and other pro-housing advocates opposed the district due to our concerns that it would increase rents and home prices. Continue reading

Weekly Newsletter, Issue 287 🔰 LAND VALUE TAX MEETUP Philadelphia and other cities across the US face a shortage of housing and yet our cities are also blighted by vacant or underutilized land -- in Philadelphia, there are about 30,000 privately owned vacant lots. What's more, oftentimes a 'speculator' will buy a vacant lot, wait for the neighborhood to gentrify, and flip the vacant lot for a profit without the landowner doing any work to increase the value of the land! What can we do about these related problems of housing shortage, blighted and underutilized land, and extractive speculation? Continue reading

Weekly Newsletter, Issue 286   🤔 SEPTA FUNDING STILL UNCERTAIN Pennsylvania's budget deadline passed and Harrisburg failed to pass a budget, but the SEPTA board recently approved a 2025 budget which is counting on PA's proposed transit funding. Continue reading

Weekly Newsletter, Issue 285 🚨 LAST CHANCE TO STOP SEPTA CUTS Harrisburg has until the end of this week to pass a budget, and SEPTA and other transit agencies throughout the state are depending on Governor Shapiro's proposed $282 million of transit funding to avoid drastic service cuts and fare increases.  Continue reading

Weekly Newsletter, Issue 284   🤝 MEETUP THIS THURSDAY This Thursday, June 20th at 6pm, join 5th Square organizers and volunteers for an informal, in-person meet-up over at the PHS Pop Up Garden at Manayunk!  Continue reading

Weekly Newsletter, Issue 283 🤝 JUNE MEETUP On June 20th at 6pm, join 5th Square organizers and volunteers for an informal, in-person meet-up over at the PHS Pop Up Garden at Manayunk!  This is an outdoor, family-friendly event where we will provide updates on our recent campaigns.  We will also be discussing mobility, safe streets, and access to transit specific to Northwest Philly neighborhoods. Continue reading

Weekly Newsletter, Issue 282 🤝 JUNE 5TH SQUARE MEETUP On June 20th at 6pm, join 5th Square organizers and volunteers for an informal, in-person meet-up over at the PHS Pop Up Garden at Manayunk!  This is an outdoor, family-friendly event where we will provide updates on our recent campaigns.  Continue reading

Weekly Newsletter, Issue 281 🥳 BUS REVOLUTION APPROVED It's been quite the journey, but this past week, SEPTA's board finally voted to approve Bus Revolution! Continue reading

Weekly Newsletter, Issue 280 🚏 SEPTA MEETINGS THIS WEEK There are two upcoming meetings hosted by SEPTA this week that we need volunteers to show up for and speak out: Continue reading

Weekly Newsletter, Issue 279 ✨ MAY 5TH SQUARE MEETUP THURSDAY Join 5th Square organizers and volunteers for an informal, in-person meet-up over at Resurrection Philadelphia’s Annex this Thursday, May 16th at 6PM! This is an indoor/outdoor, family-friendly event and light refreshments and pizza will be served. Continue reading

Weekly Newsletter, Issue 278 5th Square is Philadelphia's urbanist political action committee, organizing and advocating for better transportation, land use, and public space policies. Our work is made possible through the support of nearly 450 members donating anywhere from $5 to $25 a month. 🤝 FTWNB URBANIST MEETUP THURSDAY Calling all Femme, Trans, Women, and Non-Binary (FTWNB) urbanists!  Join us for a meetup at Indy Hall's 4th Floor Skyroom, this Thursday May 9th at 6pm.  Continue reading

Weekly Newsletter, Issue 277 🤝 FTWNB URBANIST MEETUP NEXT WEEK Calling all Femme, Trans, Women, and Non-Binary (FTWNB) urbanists!  Join us for a meetup at Indy Hall's 4th Floor Skyroom, May 9th at 6pm.  Continue reading

Weekly Newsletter, Issue 276 🗳️ VOTE TODAY Today is Election Day! Make sure you show up to your polling place by 8:00 PM. We endorse the following candidates: Continue reading

Weekly Newsletter, Issue 275 🗳️ ELECTION NEXT WEEK Election Day is NEXT TUESDAY, April 23rd. Make sure to turn in your mail-in ballot on-time or make a plan to show up to your polling place Continue reading