📣✅ 2022 ELECTION ENDORSEMENTS
Following the polls of our membership, 5th Square is proud to announce its endorsement for the following candidates for this year's 2022 Pennsylvania primary elections.
- Paul Prescod for the 8th Senate District
- Marylouise Isaacson for the 175th House District
- Joe Hohenstein for the 177th House District
- Jonathan Lovitz for the 182nd House District
- Elizabeth Fiedler for the 184th House District
- Andre Carroll for the 201st House District
For more information about the candidates and the 2022 election, head over to our election center.
🖤 TANYA SEAMAN: IN MEMORIAM
Local Vision Zero advocate Tanya Seaman passed away last week on March 17th, after a courageous battle with terminal cancer. Tanya was also the co-founder and past executive director of PhillyCarShare. In her role as co-chair of SOSNA's Vision Zero committee, she spearheaded multiple roadway safety projects in her community.
Her advocacy and leadership will endure in Philadelphia's built environment, with everyone who uses our streets enjoying a safer and more-equitable means of travel. We have posthumously published the op-ed she wrote advocating for a safer Washington Avenue on our website.
🚇 SEPTA VIRTUAL BOARD MEETING
SEPTA is holding its monthly board meeting this Thursday March 24nd at 3 PM via WebEx.
Our work isn't over yet... we still need your help come election season. Your insights and financial contributions will help hone candidates to advocate for a more sustainable, walkable, and bicycle-friendly Philadelphia!
Become a 5th Square member TODAY
5TH SQUARE IN THE NEWS
The Philadelphia Citizen interviewed co-chair Dena Driscoll about her start in urban issues in Philadelphia and her work with 5th Square.
"Driscoll’s tweets, in conjunction with her grassroots, boots-on-the-ground activism, are effective at actually getting city officials to make changes to city policy. Her commitment to staying in the city and making it a better place to live for people 'from age 8 to 80,' as she says, is part of what makes her one of The Citizen’s Generation Change Philly cohort."
SURVEYS & EMAIL ACTIONS
SEPTA is redesigning their main website, septa.org, and would like your thoughts about the kind of information you would like from the website and/or transit related apps. Click here for the survey.
NPR is looking for millennials experiencing buyers' remorse and what they think about homeownership for an upcoming story on All Things Considered.
Clean Air Council has a campaign to increase funding for sidewalks in the city. If you've encountered some sketchy sidewalks while strolling around your neighborhood, this is a good chance for you to encourage the Streets Department to repair the sidewalks.
WHAT WE'RE READING
🏙️ HOUSING & LAND USE
Philadelphia Inquirer / The Philadelphia Parking Authority sank millions into a new towing headquarters. Now it’s vacant.
Governing / Foreclosure Crisis Driving Black Flight in Chicago: Study
Pew Trust / As Rents Soar, States Take Aim at Local Zoning Rules
Philadelphia Inquirer / A ‘Mr. Fixit’ helps West Philly residents and businesses cut through red tape
MinnPost / In first months since passage of St. Paul’s rent-control ordinance, housing construction is way down
Curbed / UCLA’s Guaranteed Student Housing Plan Is Fast, Comprehensive, and Worth Copying
Metro Philadelphia / Home sales tumble; higher prices, mortgage rates eroding affordability
PlanPhilly / Philly hopes to lure new property owners to voucher program with bonus money
🌳 PUBLIC SPACE
Philadelphia Inquirer / Philly restaurants push to relax streetery regulations they say will kill outdoor dining
WHYY / City in settlement talks with disabled Philadelphians in suit over dangerous sidewalks
EVENTS
DAG Monthly Event: To the Future! Rail Park Feasibility Study Results and Next Steps
Thursday, March 24, 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM EST
The Rail Park is a vision for a three mile linear park and multi-use pathway connecting 10+ Philadelphia neighborhoods and 50 city blocks along the site of former Reading and Pennsylvania Railroad lines. Friends of the Rail Park commissioned a cost estimate and feasibility study in 2021 to determine a viable next phase of the Rail Park, and better understand how the Rail Park can contribute to comprehensive community development. Friends of the Rail Park’s Executive Director, Rebecca Cordes Chan, will share the preliminary results of this work and the path forward. Registration is required. Free.
Spread the Word USA Book Tour: Black Champions In Cycling
Wed, Mar 30, 2022, 6:00 PM
The Tricycle Cafe & Bicycle Shop
1 Station Avenue
Conshohocken, PA 19428
Desire Discrimination Determination – Black Champions in Cycling is set to make a groundbreaking contribution of knowledge so desperately needed in international cycle racing. Taking on issues regarding access, diversity, inclusion, representation and anti-racism in policy and practice. This book will provide much needed insight and become a seminal reference point for cycling organisations, journalists, commentators, thought leaders and policymakers. Tickets are $20, register online.
Radical Adventure Riders (RAR) Philadelphia: Gear Swap
Saturday, April 2nd from 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
FDR Park Picnic Areas 1-6 (https://goo.gl/maps/n5CyWcRTpoDvjJ2BA)
RAR Philadelphia is a group for femme, trans, women and non-binary cyclists. You can bring used or unwanted (but still usable) gear or bike/camping/backpacking-related clothing to swap, trade, or donate. Anything left over at the end will be donated to the brand new RAR Philadelphia Gear Library for RAR community members to borrow in the future. This is not a yard sale and no monetary transactions are permitted.
This space is intended for folks of marginalized genders only. This is an outdoor event and masks are not required if you are fully vaccinated, but please have a mask handy in case of crowding.
GRANTS, FELLOWSHIPS, CFPs
The Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania is putting out a call for session proposals for the annual conference Dec 7-9 in Hershey, PA. If you or your organization have a topic you'd like to share in the biggest housing-related conference in PA, submit a proposal! If you have any questions, please reply to this email. Due April 15th.
Zero Waste Microgrant: City funding is available to help you reduce waste at your organization. Any business, nonprofit, or organization based in Philadelphia County can apply for a grant up to $1000 and personalized Waste Coaching. Deadline to apply is April 15, 2022.
The Transportation Undergraduate Research Fellowship (TURF) program is a unique eight-week (June 20 to August 12, 2022) summer fellowship for undergraduates to get experience in transportation research at Portland State University in Portland, Oregon. Students must be currently enrolled in a civil engineering, urban studies and planning, or transportation-related undergraduate degree program at any college or university. Preference will be given to applicants who have a strong interest in transportation and graduate education. Applications are due by April 14th, 2022 at 8:00pm Pacific.
Parks & Rec is now accepting applications for PlayStreets supervisors! This volunteer-led summer meal program is a great way to bring healthy food and safe recreation to children on your block. To apply to be a PlayStreet, call (215) 685-2719 or (215) 685-2720 or email [email protected].
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
NYC-to-PHL Ride 2022 Riders and Volunteers Wanted!
The East Coast Greenway Alliance is looking for riders and volunteers for the 2022 NYC-to-PHL Ride. The ride takes place May 14-15. Register, fundraise, and ride from New York City through the Garden State to Philadelphia in support of completing the East Coast Greenway, including many critical segments of the Circuit Trails! For more information on the ride and registration, check out www.greenway.org/nyctophilly
Not interested in fundraising but still want to support the ride? One-day volunteers are especially needed for the campsite in Princeton and the closing ceremony in Philadelphia. Additionally, volunteers can also join the Ride Crew for the full two days, which is a great way to meet home-grown users of the Greenway and Circuit Trails as well as visitors to the area. To learn more and register to be a part of the volunteer crew, click here www.greenway.org/ridevols. For any questions, please reach out to Jesse Pasackow at [email protected].
Feet First Philly / Steering Committee Member
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.