✅🚲🏙️ JOIN US FOR THE 2022 ELECTIONS
Help us decide which Philly-area candidates to support for 2022 races in the PA State Senate and PA State House.
Members will gain exclusive access to vote on our candidate endorsements and can join our discussion to shape our priorities for the upcoming election cycle.
Become a 5th Square member TODAY
Kick off 2022 by helping us advocate for a more sustainable, walkable, and bicycle-friendly Philadelphia!
RUN FOR A COMMITTEE PERSON SEAT IN 2022
Want to take the next step up toward neighborhood political leadership, and help 5th Square support great candidates for office in the 2022 and 2023 elections?
Philadelphia's political parties are holding local elections at the precinct level in 2022, and you can run for and win a seat in your neighborhood with just a few dozen votes. The next ward committee election is in May of 2022, and petitions start around Valentine's Day. It only takes 10 signatures to get your name on the ballot.
Why does this matter? 5th Square's mission is all about reforming Philadelphia's planning politics around transportation, housing, and public space, and elected officials really listen to grassroots community leaders on these topics. That could be you!
Sign up for more info about how to get involved in running where you live
5TH SQUARE IN THE NEWS
🏘️ AFFORDABLE HOUSING OR PARKING
WHYY's PlanPhilly featured an op-ed by 5th Square member Will Tung who wrote against the inclusion of a parking lot over 70 affordable homes in a development proposed for his West Philadelphia neighborhood.
The 70 affordable homes lost here is the same number of homes at the University City Townhomes threatened for demolition. The community has rightly battled to preserve these existing units. But at 5000 Warrington, these were erased without protest.
City zoning determines so much of our built environment, and elected government officials who control the zoning process need to consider the future harm caused by trading affordable homes for a parking lot. We can build a better, more sustainable future, as long as we prioritize people over parking.
🩹 NEW ROAD, BROKEN SIDEWALK
Feet First Philly supports using city funds to repair sidewalks the same way the city repairs streets. It’s time pedestrian infrastructure was funded the same way we fund streets, so we want to see your pics of streets where the road is new, but the sidewalk is old. Feet First Philly is collecting them and will reshare them on social media to draw awareness to this safety issue.
Send your pictures to [email protected] or tag @FeetFirstPhilly on social media with the location.
☃️ HOLIDAY PARTY POSTPONED
Out of an abundance of caution, we are rescheduling our holiday party for the last week of January. We are evaluating venues with both outdoor and indoor space. Please stay tuned!
EVENTS
New Jersey Trails Action Network / Happy Trails: From Vision to Implementation
Thu, January 13, 2022, 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM EST
Join leaders of the NJ Trails Action Network and invited guests to learn more about plans to accelerate the process of planning, engineering, funding and constructing ambitious networks of trails for all purposes. With the arrival of expanded federal transportation funding, it’s time to think big in setting the stage for a new era in trails development. Share your vision for trail networks in the state and be a part of NJTAN as we develop a vision to connect existing trails and build new ones across New Jersey!
SURVEYS
WHAT WE'RE READING
🌳 PUBLIC SPACE
🏙️ HOUSING & LAND USE
The Philadelphia Inquirer /
GRANT & FELLOWSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
Community Design Collaborative / Literacy Rich Neighborhoods - Request For Proposals
The Community Design Collaborative has received funding from the William Penn Foundation to support four community organizations in the development of conceptual designs for the Literacy-Rich Neighborhoods Initiative: Indochinese American Council, Mt. Airy CDC, Puentes de Salud, and the Village of Arts and Humanities. The EXTENDED deadline to apply is January 10th, 2022:
Robert Schalkenbach Foundation / Progress of Ideas Scholarship
JOB OPPORTUNITIES
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.
Support our advocacy with a recurring monthly contribution of $5.