🎉 HOLIDAY PARTY THIS THURSDAY!
We are pleased to announce the Holiday Party and Awards Ceremony, now scheduled for this Thursday, May 5th! It's a great opportunity to meet community leaders and like-minded folks. We will be announcing the winners of the 2021 Urbanist Awards. We will have beverages and snacks, and children over 5 are welcome. Proof of vaccination is required. Tickets are $30 online and $40 at the door (children are free).
🚌 🛣 BUS ONLY LANES
The bus network is about to undergo an entire rework. Many of the preliminary reports for each bus route mentioned having to deal with city traffic. Lots of cities implement bus only lanes and city planners here have their eyes on a few key corridors. The best way to guarantee that we will have fast bus travel in the city is to tell the City that we want bus lanes!
🗳 5TH SQUARE ENDORSEMENTS
Did you get your mail in ballot? Check out our election center to see which candidates we've endorsed.
We still need your help. Every dollar helps us work with elected officials and candidates to make the case for structural improvements for a more sustainable, walkable, and bicycle-friendly Philadelphia!
Become a 5th Square member TODAY
5TH SQUARE IN THE NEWS
KEY ADVANTAGE
5th Square transit advocate and steering committee member Camille Boggan was on WURD Radio's Reality Check with Charles Ellison last week to talk about the commuter benefits bill. She explained the backround of the Key Advantage program and eventual goals, and a bit more about her role with 5th Square.
Boggan speaking on the commuter program: "It's a way of getting people on transit [...], not just local [riders] but people that are coming in, put more money into the system that gets allocated to low income programs. [Do] we want that money going towards rideshare like Lyft and Uber, or do we want people using SEPTA, paying those fares? That money then going towards paying for our low income program, and that pays for lower income Black riders." Listen to the full show on SoundCloud.
SURVEYS & EMAIL ACTIONS
PennDOT is holding a virtual meeting room for the Interstate 95 Central and South Philadelphia (I-95 CSP) Planning Study from April 15 through May 15. The Planning Study will provide Philadelphia residents and stakeholders the opportunity to explore the study materials and share their comments, questions, and concerns with the project team. Those who are unable to access the virtual meeting room materials at home or the local public library, who have special needs that require individual attention or require translation services, please e-mail [email protected] or call the Construction Helpline at 215-513-1399.
WHAT WE'RE READING
🏙️ HOUSING & LAND USE
Philadelphia Inquirer / Councilmanic prerogative makes city a bad landlord | Editorial
The New York Times / The Extraordinary Wealth Created by the Pandemic Housing Market
Philadelphia Inquirer / Philadelphia is giving away land and subsidizing mortgages in a plan to build 1,000 affordable homes
Bloomberg / Here’s How America Uses Its Land
🌳 PUBLIC SPACE
Fox 29 / Philadelphia opens Delaware River Trail, along the riverfront at Penn's Landing
WHYY / Philly’s carbon emissions are dropping — but the city has a long way to go
Billy Penn / About 1 in 7 Philly neighborhood libraries can’t fully open each day, on top of already reduced hours
PhillyVoice / LINK trail from Philly to Jersey Shore is part of Camden's $100 million parks plan
EVENTS
Friends of the Free Library City Council 101: Workshop & Strategy Session
⚠️ Tuesday, May 3 (tonight), 7-8 p.m. (virtual)
Join the Friends advocacy team for an overview & strategy session as we prepare for meetings with Philly councilmembers before the budget vote. We are hosting a training for anyone who wants to learn about (and hopefully join in) visits with City Councilmembers. Zoom link: tinyurl.com/FriendsOfWhitman
Transit for All PA Statewide Summit
Wednesday, May 4th, from 6:00-7:30 pm (virtual)
Transit for All PA, a coalition of transit advocates across the Commonwealth, is working on getting all of the transit agencies the money and support they need to strengthen their systems. You'll be hearing about the transit funding horizon in Pennsylvania in the wake of Act 89's sunset, and the federal infrastructure bill.
Bridging Blocks: Should I Park Here?
Thursday, May 12th from 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Di Silvestro Rec Center (1701 S 15th St)
WHYY, in conjunction with the Free Library of Philadelphia, is presenting a "Bridging Blocks" conversation about a perenially contentious topic--parking. With people parking in the Broad Street median, illegally reserving spots on the street with lawn chairs, blocked sidewalks, and PPA being a public enemy, this is a topic worth discussing. Registration is required. Masks are mandatory.
Reimagining Regional Rail Virtual Public Meeting
Wednesday, May 18, 2022 at 6:30 PM
SEPTA and the Regional Rail staff will be discussing new rail options and are looking for comments and suggestions from riders and non-riders. Direct registration link here.
Wednesday, May 18 at 6:30pm – 9:30pm
Spirit of Philadelphia at Penn's Landing (401 S Christopher Columbus Blvd)
Join members of 5th Square for a casual social dinner cruise. Dine, dance and take in the amazing views aboard Spirit of Philadelphia. Departing from Penn’s Landing, this dinner cruise on the Delaware River lets you relax and enjoy the beauty of Philly’s historic waterfront. If you have any food allergies or dietary restrictions, please tell us ahead of time so we can inform the boat coordinator. Tickets are $30 for members and $60 for non-members, which includes a year membership.
The Ride of Silence Philadelphia
Wednesday, May 18th, 6:45 P.M.
Meet at the North side of the Philadelphia City Hall at the intersection of North Broad Street and JFK Blvd.
The purposes of this silent ride are to honor cyclists killed/injured in motor vehicle related accidents and to raise awareness about the rights of cyclists to ride the roads. A brief pre-ride dedication ceremony will take place at 6:45 PM and the 10 mile per hour ride will start promptly at 7:00 P.M. It will circle City Hall, continue to Independence Hall, through Center City, and head over to West Philly via the Walnut St. Bridge. The ride will then end in the front of the Philadelphia Art Museum for the traditional bike lift in silence. The length of the ride is 7 miles long and is expected to be 1 hour. Helmets and appropriate COVID 19 prevention precaution measures are required and bicycle lights are encouraged. For more info, contact the BCGP at [email protected]
GRANTS, FELLOWSHIPS, CFPs
PHDC, on behalf of the Philadelphia Land Bank (“Land Bank”), is soliciting proposals from developers for the following projects:
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RFP for Strawberry Mansion North 31st Street Et Al (2 Sub-Areas)
The Project Site is split into two (2) development sub-areas (“Sub-areas”) bounded by Cecil B. Moore Avenue, Euclid Street, North 30th and North 32nd Streets, Master, North 27th and North 28th Streets. -
RFP for North Central Cecil B Moore Energy Efficient Homeownership Pilot
The site is located at 1625-41 N. 10th Street. It consists of a vacant lot that is approximately 26,352 square feet. It is an integral part of current and future comprehensive redevelopment efforts within the target area. -
RFP for North Central North 10th Street et al.
This RFP is to develop three (3) parcels located in Philadelphia’s North Central neighborhood for affordable homeownership. -
RFP for West Poplar Melon Street Et Al (2 Sub-Areas).
The Project Site is split into two (2) development sub-areas (“Sub-areas”) bounded by Fairmount, Melon, Wallace, North 10th, and North 11th Streets. The subareas are specified below and composed of vacant lot properties owned by Philadelphia Land Bank (“PLB”); it does not include privately-owned land on these blocks. -
RFP for East Kensington East Orleans et Al.
This RFP is for developers to acquire and develop seventeen (17) parcels located in Philadelphia’s East Kensington neighborhood for affordable homeownership. To apply, click here.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Endorsed candidate Jonathan Lovitz, who is running for the 182nd district in Center City, is looking for people to help phone bank in time for the election on May 17th. It will be quite a tight race, so he will need all the support he can get. If you're unfamiliar with him or missed our candidate meet and greet, check out his questionnaire responses.
Another of our endorsed candidates, State Rep. Elizabeth Fiedler, has many opportunities to volunteer. There is a virtual phone banking with a training session via Zoom, canvassing days until May 15th, and a Get Out the Vote event on the 17th.
JOB OPPORTUNITIES
5th Square is Philadelphia's urbanist political action committee.
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