5th Square Announces its Endorsement of Kendra Brooks

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

Grays Ferry Avenue Bridge Petition Update - Westbound Protected Bike Lane

Thanks so much for signing our petition calling for a westbound protected bicycle path on the Grays Ferry Avenue Bridge. We have new developments we'd love to share with you! Continue reading

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 Continue reading

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. Continue reading

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! Continue reading

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. Continue reading

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! Continue reading

Grays Ferry Bridge Update

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

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. Continue reading

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.   Continue reading

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. Continue reading

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.  Continue reading

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. Continue reading

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. Continue reading

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! Continue reading

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. Continue reading

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. Continue reading

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   Continue reading

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?” Continue reading

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. Continue reading

5th Square Endorses "Yes" Vote for Charter Change Question #4

We endorse a "Yes" vote for Proposed Charter Change Question #4 in the upcoming May 21st election, establishing the title of "Public Safety Enforcement Officer" to assist the Police Department in regulating the flow of traffic. Continue reading

Newsletter: Johnson May Oppose 22nd St Protected Bike Lane Petition, Squilla Takes up Italian Market Driveway Issue

Weekly Newsletter, Issue 83 The 2019 Election is in just three weeks!Check out 5th Square's 2019 City Council slate and vote for a pro-transit, pro-bike, pro-housing City Council on Tuesday, May 21st. We're supporting Lauren Vidas for District 2, Jamie Gauthier for District 3, and Helen Gym, Justin DiBerardinis, Eryn Santamoor, and Adrian Rivera-Reyes for At-Large.  Not able to make it into the polls on Election Day?  Click here to get an absentee ballot which must be received by the County Board of Elections by Tuesday, May 14th.   Continue reading

Most Council Incumbents Tell the Inquirer They Support More Bike Lanes. We Checked the Record

City Council candidates weighed in on bike lanes in the inquirer’s 2019 primary survey, with almost all saying they support more bike lanes. But some of these candidates are incumbents who have wielded some real power over Street apportionment for many years, so rather than ask them about this in the abstract, we can actually check the record to see what they’ve done in practice. Continue reading

Newsletter: Candidate Events Galore, Block Party Glitches, Making SEPTA Family-Friendly

ACTION We are deep into Election Season here in Philadelphia, with less than a month to go before the big day on May 21st.  Check out who all is on the ballot using Committee of Seventy's ballot tool and look up your polling place to see where you vote. This week, we are featuring a huge array of candidate events so you can get involved with supporting our endorsed slate of candidates for a more accessible, sustainable, equitable Philadelphia for all residents! Take a look at the following events, pick a few to check out, and sign up with a campaign to help get out the vote in the final weeks of the campaign!  Continue reading

Newsletter: Pedestrianize the Italian Market, Register to Vote Online by April 22

ACTION Are you registered to vote? Have you recently moved or are new to Philly? Make sure you Register to Vote right now!  In order to participate in the upcoming primary election on May 21st, you MUST register to vote (and select a party affiliation) by April 22nd! -- You can register online!   Continue reading

For immediate release: Our Citizens Shouldn’t Be Part of a Trash Experiment

With the City’s ill-conceived rollout of an untested, dirty, and inefficient ‘leaf blower’ program to blow trash around our streets, 5th Square calls on the city to restore what our citizens deserve: consistent, citywide curb-to-curb mechanical street sweeping. Continue reading

Newsletter: Washington Ave and Riverwards Street Improvement Meetings Tonight, City Council Challengers Making News

ACTION TONIGHT: South Philly and Riverwards neighbors can attend one of three local meetings happening tonight to voice their support for safer streets for biking and walking.  Continue reading

Newsletter: Protecting a Walkable Italian Market, 2nd Council District Debate, Weekend of Action for Jamie Gauthier

ACTION Pedestrian priority is under threat in Philadelphia's iconic Italian Market, if Midwood Investment gets its way. Will you sign the petition opposing driveways in the 9th Street Market? Continue reading

Newsletter: Party in the Concourse THIS THURSDAY to support our 2019 City Council slate

ACTION Come to our dance party fundraiser THIS THURSDAY to support 5th Square's 2019 candidate slate!   Continue reading

Newsletter: 22nd Street Protected Bike Lane Meeting, Party in the Concourse for our 2019 Slate

ACTION A protected bike lane could be coming to 22nd Street in Center City, but only if you show up to support it! Continue reading

Newsletter: Party in the Concourse for 5th Square's 2019 Council Slate, SEPTA's Bus Map Upgrade

Come to a dance party fundraiser in the Concourse, and help raise money to support 5th Square's 2019 City Council slate!Meet the candidates and other 5th Square supporters and volunteers who are getting involved to elect a pro-transit, pro-bike, pro-housing City Council on May 21st. Continue reading

Newsletter: Omar Woodard Challenging Darrell Clarke in Council District 5

ACTION The 2019 City Council primaries are less than 3 months away and this is our best chance to elect a new City Council that will bring about a more accessible, equitable, and sustainable city! Continue reading

Newsletter: Help collect signatures for 5th Square's candidate slate, Transit Equity Day, Vision Zero Conference 2019

ACTION Last week 5th Square announced several early endorsements for the 2019 City Council elections, including Lauren Vidas (2nd Disrict), Jamie Gauthier (3rd District), and At-Large candidates Justin DiBerardinis, Helen Gym, Adrian Rivera-Reyes, and Eryn Santamoor. Visit our 2019 Election Center to read their questionnaire responses and sign up to volunteer.  Continue reading

For Immediate Release: 5th Square Issues Early Endorsements to Six City Council Candidates

5th Square political action committee is excited to announce several early endorsements for 2019 City Council seats, including challengers Lauren Vidas and Jamie Gauthier in the 2nd and 3rd Districts, and At-Large candidates Justin DiBerardinis, Helen Gym, Adrian Rivera-Reyes, and Eryn Santamoor.Visit our 2019 Election Center page to read the candidates' questionnaire responses, or sign up to volunteer with a campaign. Continue reading

Newsletter: PennDOT's Role in Philadelphia's High Injury Network of Streets

ACTION 5th Square's mission is to achieve a more accessible, sustainable, and equitable Philadelphia for all residents through better mobility, public space, and built environment policies. The upcoming 2019 City Council election can be a watershed moment to make this mission a political reality. Continue reading

Newsletter: Jamie Gauthier Running for 3rd Council District, Bicycle Coalition Social with Kelley Yemen, TransportationCamp

ACTION   Thanks to everyone who came out for one of last Tuesday's dueling events! We had a great time co-hosting the Funding the Civic Commons discussion with Knight, and were glad to see the huge turnout for the City's open house for bike lane infrastructure improvements in Old City and Northern Liberties. Continue reading

Newsletter: Old City/No Libs Protected Bike Lane Open House, Philly's Weird Street Sweeping Pilot, 'Funding the Civic Commons' Event

ACTION Help advocate for safer streets by attending an open house with the City's Office of Transportation, Infrastructure, and Sustainability (oTIS) in partnership with several neighborhood organizations in Northern Liberties tomorrow. There we can learn more about and advocate for protected bicycle lanes on N. 2nd, N. 5th, & N. 6th Streets between Market Street and Spring Garden Street. Continue reading

Newsletter: 5th Square 2019 Elections Organizing Kick-Off, Kenney's Street Sweeping Pilot Problems, No Libs/Old City Bike Lane Meetings

ACTION 5th Square members are invited to attend a members-only meeting on January 23rd where we'll be kicking off our 2019 City Council organizing efforts with a special briefing on the state of the campaign landscape, and an informal straw poll of members to help focus our 2019 endorsement process. Become a member today or sign up at the meeting, and get involved to help us organize for the 2019 Council elections! Continue reading

Newsletter: Slow Zone Happy Hour, Protected Bike Lanes for Old City/No Libs, Speed Cams to City Council

ACTION Slow Zone Applications are due this Friday, January 18th!  Check out the advocacy tools on our 'Neighborhood Slow Zone' Campaign Resources page, and get your application in for a slow zone in your neighborhood. Continue reading

Newsletter: Support Protected Bike Lanes at Public Meetings TONIGHT, Philly's Vision Zero Misses, 5th Square's January Meetings

ACTION TODAY! Protected Bike Lane Double Feature at Center City RCOs. Support protected bicycle lanes in Philadelphia by attending one of two RCO meetings tonight, both starting at 7pm.   Continue reading

Top 10 Vision Zero Opportunities that Philadelphia Missed in 2018

Citizens of New York City rejoiced this week as their Transportation Department announced that motor-vehicle deaths will be at their lowest rate in a century. Through December 26th, 196 fatalities were recorded, an 11% reduction since 2017. The City attributes this to their long-term dedication to Vision Zero, a strategy to eliminate all traffic-related deaths and severe injuries, while increasing safety, health, and mobility for all. Continue reading

5th Square's Response to oTIS Route for Change (Roosevelt Boulevard) November 2018 Workshops

The Office of Transportation, Infrastructure, and Sustainability has released their first long-term vision for a major Philadelphia corridor, Roosevelt Boulevard! Read all about 5th Square's response here... Continue reading

Newsletter: Our 2018 Year in Review, Revisiting the Chestnut St Transitway, SEPTA Key Leaves Some Behind

We had an amazing time at the 2018 Holiday Party Fundraiser last Thursday! Thank you to everyone who supported us! We had awesome turnout, with over 60 people in attendance, including 8 candidates running for City Council and other seats in 2019. Thanks to your generous support, we're well on our way to amassing the resources we'll need to support urbanist champions for local offices in 2019.  Continue reading

2018 Year in Review

2018 was a banner year for 5th Square political action committee in which our all-volunteer organization achieved tremendous growth in our volunteer power, advocacy capacity, and impact on the public conversation about issues surrounding our mission of a more accessible, sustainable, and equitable Philadelphia. Continue reading

5TH SQUARE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER: December 10, 2018

5th Square Holiday Party, Transit Equity Day Meeting, Route for Change Meeting Continue reading

In Support of Clarke’s Public Safety Enforcement Officer

We endorse the Council President’s amendment and appreciate his efforts to bring about structural change to the way we enforce the laws that govern our city’s streets. Continue reading

5TH SQUARE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER: December 3, 2018

5th Square Holiday Party, Mayor Kenney at Design Advocacy Group, Continue reading

5TH SQUARE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER: November 12, 2018

Washington Ave Meeting, ‘10-Minute Communities” event, Women Led Happy Hour Continue reading

5TH SQUARE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER: OCTOBER 31, 2018

Neighborhood Slow Zone Campaign Resources, Center City Transpo Survey, Reviving Vine report Continue reading

5TH SQUARE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER: October 23, 2018

Neighborhood Slow Zones, Meet-and-Greet with Councilwoman Helen Gym, Vision Zero One Year In Continue reading