Newsletter 124 - 5th Square

Weekly Newsletter, Issue 124

🏞️ PETITION FOR A SAFER COBBS CREEK PKWY

For far too long Cobbs Creek Parkway has been a deadly thoroughfare weaving through the western edge of West and Southwest Philadelphia.

PETITION TO CHANGE THIS TODAY

Sign the petition to join the Cobbs Creek Neighbors Association and 5th Square in demanding PennDOT & the Philadelphia Streets Department to immediately implement road safety measures so no more lives are lost.

Sign the Petition

Seeing the tragic deaths of pedestrian, Avante Reynolds, in August and two motorists in July, we demand immediate action to make this road safe for all its users.

For more background, check out the article, Calls for safety on Cobbs Creek Parkway need to be answered collectively, once and for all written by co-founder of Cobbs Creek Neighbors and 5th Square volunteer, Larissa Mogano.

Courtesy Larissa Mogano

Also the following news articles:

Fast Company | ‘Certain streets are designed to kill’: How U.S. roadways target minorities and the poor

WHYY | Racist transportation policy killed Avante Reynolds — Cobbs Creek wants change

Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia | Hit-And-Run On Cobbs Creek Parkway Has Residents Demanding Change

🏛️ MEET-UP WITH COUNCILMEMBER GILMORE RICHARDSON

5th Square is hosting a virtual meet-up this Thursday, September 10th at 6pm -- welcoming special guest, Katherine Gilmore Richardson!

RSVP Today

Katherine Gilmore Richardson is serving her first term as Councilwoman At-Large for the City of Philadelphia. Gilmore Richardson’s demonstrated track record of service and leadership within the community helped her to become the youngest woman ever elected City-wide and the youngest African American woman ever elected to Philadelphia City Council.

As chair of the committee on the environment, she established Civilian Environmental Advisory groups focusing on issues of air quality, energy, green jobs and businesses, green space, transportation, waste, and water. Each group is tasked with centering their solutions around environmental justice. 5th Square is a participant in the transportation advisory group.

Since she took office in council, she has been vocal on our core issues of better transit, increased road safety, and improved green space - with a focus on racial equity. Look over her stellar answers to our 2019 Questionnaire for City Council Candidates and her recent editorials:

The Philadelphia Inquirer | Reducing Philly’s trash requires big change. Here’s how we can start. | Opinion

WHYY | Opinion: Philly needs to invest in green space to combat climate change, support communities

Also at the meeting: hear about 5th Square's ongoing campaigns, recent accomplishments, and the neighborhood victories of our membership.

🔎 CHECK YOUR MAIL-IN BALLOT STATUS

Unsure if you already applied to vote by mail in the November Election?

Head to the Pennsylvania Department of State's online ballot status lookup.
If your status says "Pending" then you will be mailed a ballot.

Any registered PA voter can request a mail-in ballot for any reason: either online (need PA ID) or by mail.
You can also register to vote or update your voting address online.

SURVEY

The Park at Penn's Landing

So, what do folks want to see/hear/experience in the new park at Penn’s Landing? We’ve heard everything from fun, free programming to hiring diverse staff and vendors. What do YOU want to experience?

Philadelphia Navy Yard Connected Community Plan

The Navy Yard is excited for the next chapter in it's development and wants your input in shaping this future.

You can also sign up here to receive news about the public engagement and outreach activities related to the creation of the Navy Yard's Connected Community Plan.

WHAT WE'RE READING

🌳 PUBLIC SPACE

The Philadelphia Inquirer | Is a Sixers arena at Penn’s Landing good for Philly? | Pro/Con

WHYY | Sixers’ $4B arena bid vows Black and brown inclusion — goals similar projects failed to meet

The Philadelphia Inquirer | Stick to the people’s preferences for the Delaware waterfront | Opinion

The MIT Press Reader | From Chaos to Order: A Brief Cultural History of the Parking Lot

The New York Times | Can Pools Help to Deter Crime?

The New York Times | How Decades of Racist Housing Policy Left Neighborhoods Sweltering

🚌 TRANSIT

DVRPC | SEPTA Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Policy Research

The Kinder Institute for Urban Research | Racism has shaped public transit, and it’s riddled with inequities

The Philadelphia Inquirer | SEPTA’s ‘social-distancing coaches’ are sticking around to boost mask wearing

The Philadelphia Inquirer | For CCT riders, booking a same-day trip is a hope. So is using a SEPTA Key card.

Bloomberg.com | Public Transit and the Postal Service Have the Same Problem

🚴 MOBILITY

The Philadelphia Inquirer | Teens and older motorists are more likely to get into crashes but drive less safe cars, CHOP study finds

Press, News & Media Coverage | Where Remote Work Saves Commuters Most

CNET | Google Maps will let you pay for parking within the app. Here's how to do it

Curbed | Walking Is Increasingly Deadly, and Not Because People Are on Their Phones

🏙️ LAND USE

The Philadelphia Inquirer | CDC’s eviction moratorium is critical relief, but it doesn’t let states off the hook | Editorial

The Philadelphia Inquirer | ‘Missing middle’ homes could ease affordability squeeze, architect says

WHYY | ‘Do you know anywhere I can go?’: Evictions go on as city, CDC tries to halt wave

Pennsylvania Capital-Star | Here’s what the CDC eviction ban means for Pennsylvania

CityMetric | How the pandemic is magnifying structural problems in America's housing market

⚕️ PUBLIC HEALTH

The Philadelphia Inquirer | Overdose deaths during COVID-19 is a disaster within a disaster | Editorial

Volunteer with 5th Square

GRANT / PROJECT OPPORTUNITIES

⭐ PPA - RFI Curb Management System – Pilot Program

This request for information is being issued by the Philadelphia Parking Authority (the “Authority”). The Authority is soliciting written responses from qualified companies regarding products, service and technology relating to Curb Management Systems. (Due 9/14)

Request for Proposals: Facilitation Services for Historic and Cultural Resources Survey Pilot

The City of Philadelphia Department of Planning and Development (DPD) has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) to support an initial planning effort in advance of a citywide historic preservation survey. The selected consultant will assist DPD to develop criteria and processes for the citywide survey that ensures equity and identifies means to engage populations and histories not currently reflected in the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places. (Due 9/15)

The Philadelphia Housing Development Corp. (PHDC) - Professional Services RFPs

RFQ for Restore, Repair, Renew – Participating Lenders
RFP Germantown/Mount Airy Properties, Property Management Services
RFQ for Village Square on Haverford Public Art

The Champions Institute

Smart Growth America (SGA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity are now accepting applications for the Champions Institute, a new initiative for elected officials focused on safe streets and healthy communities. The Champions Institute will serve to prepare mayors, city council people, tribal representatives, and other local elected-officials to act as champions supporting plans, policies, and funding that promote activity-friendly routes to everyday destinations, as part of the Active People, Healthy Nation Initiative. (DUE 9/10)

Art is Essential Projects

From the pandemic to systemic racism and inequality, the Philadelphia Housing Development Corporation is asking artists to explore our present reality. 100 artists’ proposals will be awarded $1,000 each for community-based art projects. (Due 10/7)

Multimodal Transportation Fund

Multimodal Transportation Fund grants up to $3,000,000 are available for projects with a total cost of $100,000 or more. Funds may be used for the development, rehabilitation and enhancement of transportation assets to existing communities, streetscape, lighting, sidewalk enhancement, pedestrian safety, connectivity of transportation assets and transit-oriented development. Submissions are due 9/30.

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

Philadelphia Housing Development Corporation (PHDC) | Program Analyst, Philadelphia

Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia | Regional Organizer

Fairmount Park Conservancy | TreePhilly Coordinator, Development Manager, Community Program Coordinator, Facilities and Landscape Manager

Schuylkill River Greenways | Trail Project Manager

The West Philadelphia Cultural Alliance | Executive Director - Paul Robeson House & Museum

The Alliance for Watershed Education of the Delaware River | Managing Director

PennDOT's Office of the Secretary | Civil Engineer

Azavea | Temporary Research Specialist, People Operations Coordinator

Reinvestment Fund | Portfolio Manager, Lending Department

City of Philadelphia | COVID-19 Planning and Logistics Coordinator

City of Philadelphia | Assistant Budget Director of Capital

Dragonfly Partners LLC | Administrative Assistant (P/T)

Philabundance | Senior Vice President - Chief Financial Officer

Philadelphians Organized to Witness Empower & Rebuild (POWER) | Director of Development, Communications Director

City of Allentown | Historic Preservation Planning Officer, Chief Planner

City of Philadelphia | Deputy Revenue Commissioner - Water Revenue

Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia (SBN) | Manager of our GSI Partners initiative

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.

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Newsletter: 🏞️ Demanding a Safer Cobbs Creek Pkwy | 🏛️ Meet-up THURSDAY w/ Councilmember Gilmore Richardson