🚴 BIG WIN FOR GRAYS FERRY BRIDGE
Remember that petition for a westbound protected bike lane on the Grays Ferry Avenue Bridge we published last year?
PennDOT and the City heard our request and is making it happen!
This means that both westbound and eastbound sides of the Grays Ferry Avenue Bridge will have protected bike paths!
This photo is an example of type of protection we won for the westbound side of the bridge:
These new protected lanes plus the imminent opening of the Swing Bridge along Schuylkill Banks means there will soon be several new safe pedestrian and bicycle crossings across the Schuylkill!
🏙️ WHAT IF URBANISTS RAN THE CITY?
Philadelphia Magazine ponders what Philly would look like if more people from our community were in charge!
If we can never dream, we can never do. This list of gutsy, enterprising ideas for Philadelphia comes from some of the city’s most steadfast visionaries: urbanists.
Several 5th Square members contributed to the list, which featured some of our favorites:
- Make Center City a Pedestrian Utopia
- Rethink our City's Systems from a Woman-Led Perspective
- Sweep Streets, Plant Trees, Fix Sidewalks
- End Single-Family Zoning in Center City
- Make Regional Rail run like the Subway
Join 5th Square as a Supporting Member to help make these ideas come true for a more equitable, sustainable, and accessible Philadelphia.
Help us grow Philly's urbanist political movement, help us shape our advocacy, help decide which candidates for office to support, and, for a limited time, get a free gold logo shirt!
NEW MEMBERSHIP OPTIONS
🏞️ PETITION FOR A SAFER COBBS CREEK PARKWAY
WHYY recently ran the story Racism and Deadly Traffic on Cobbs Creek Parkway, a timely and important radio piece about the ongoing problems with this perennially terrible road, which is a product of institutionally-racist transportation policies and priorities at the city and state.
For far too long, Cobbs Creek Parkway has been a deadly highway weaving through the residential western edge of West and Southwest Philadelphia.
Area elected officials Councilmember Jamie Gauthier, Rep. Joanna McClinton, and Senator Anthony Hardy Williams have joined the call, and released a statement announcing early steps, and committing to more transformational changes. The Inquirer editorial board also weighed in Wednesday in support of quick action to save lives. A forthcoming virtual meeting is being organized by neighbors, and we will share details with petition signers in due time.
Sign the petition to join the Cobbs Creek Neighbors Association and 5th Square in demanding PennDOT & the Philadelphia Streets Department immediately implement life-saving road safety measures. Learn more about the issue on our campaign page and take action.
🏀 SIXERS' ARENA REBUFFED FROM PENN'S LANDING
The city and the Delaware River Waterfront Corporation, a non-profit steward and planning body for the Delaware waterfront, underwent a process to choose a developer for Penn's Landing that was "deliberative and driven by clear policy goals" writes Inga Saffron, praising the process for respecting the resident-driven waterfront plan. Saffron writes:
In choosing Durst, and in resisting the siren call of the 76ers and their politically influential minions, the city and DRWC demonstrated a true grownup moment.
We agree, and this is why 5th Square has frequently sponsored local actions for RCO meetings and the ZBA, activating supporters in waterfront neighborhoods to stand up for the Delaware waterfront plan's vision at key moments, like when two Super Wawa gas stations were proposed in the last few years, and when the Spring Garden-Christian trail segment was under consideration.
We encourage supporters of the plan to join Registered Community Organization boards for waterfront neighborhoods. There are upcoming board elections for Queen Village Neighbors Association and Fishtown Neighbors Association in November.
Unsure if you already applied to vote by mail in the November Election?
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Head to the Pennsylvania Department of State's online ballot status lookup.
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If your status says "Pending" then you will be mailed a ballot.
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Any registered PA voter can request a mail-in ballot for any reason: either online (need PA ID) or by mail.
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You can also register to vote or update your voting address online.
VisionZero - Seeking Focus Group Participants
Are you a driver? Help Philly reduce traffic deaths! The City's #VisionZeroPHL initiative is looking for participants for a set of focus groups about effective traffic safety messaging. To qualify, just answer a few short questions: https://ethn.io/23088
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?
URBANIST EVENTS
Daily Events Today through Sunday, September 27th
Virtual Greenfest | Clean Air Council
2020 marks the 15th annual Greenfest Philly. Taking place over a 16-day period, Greenfest will continue to give environmentally conscious individuals in Philadelphia and beyond a chance to interact with climate leaders and experts, providing even greater access to a community of like-minded people, businesses and groups.
Wednesday, September 16, 2020, 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
Locatecture in the City with Witold Rybcynski | Athenaeum of Philadelphia
Witold Rybczynski, two-time winner of an Athenaeum Book Prize, will give an illustrated talk about his book, Charleston Fancy: Little Houses and Big Dreams in the Holy City. The talk describes a contemporary example of what Christopher Alexander calls organic urban growth
Wednesday, September 30, 2020, 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
Whose History Is It? The Democratization of Preservation | Design Advocacy Group
Join DAG at a virtual Zoom event with a panel of activists, architects, preservationists, scholars, and citizens to talk about the role of historic preservation in upholding or dismantling structural racism.
WHAT WE'RE READING
🌳 PUBLIC SPACE
🚴 MOBILITY
🏙️ LAND USE
⚕️ PUBLIC HEALTH
RCO OPPORTUNITIES
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South of South Neighborhood Association - SOSNA is accepting nominations for board members until September 30 https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSda2Iz8XBIHb6y-OVuQr4Izs_DUOBFwKJ6uxSQ3kmGvVYXjxQ/viewform. There are five open positions in the upcoming election!
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Queen Village Neighbors Association – QVNA's board election is November 16, 2020. The ballot will include six positions. https://qvna.org/2020/09/10/board-of-director-nominations-now-open/
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Bella Vista Neighbors Association - BVNA elections are Oct 5th. Email [email protected]; a 3-member nominating committee will review applications
GRANT / PROJECT OPPORTUNITIES
Community Design Collaborative | Outdoor Learning Competition
How can communities turn underutilized schoolyards into outdoor classrooms that could enable students to safely return to school? Submit your idea to the Design AID: Outdoor Learning Spaces Competition! (Due 9/26)
The Basic Systems Repair Program (BSRP) provides free repairs to correct electrical, plumbing, heating, structural and roofing emergencies in eligible owner-occupied homes in Philadelphia.
JOB OPPORTUNITIES
Fairmount Park Conservancy | TreePhilly Coordinator, Development Manager, Community Program Coordinator, Facilities and Landscape 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 | ,
City of Philadelphia | COVID-19 Planning and Logistics Coordinator
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