❄️ FEEL THE PHREEZE

The chill of winter may make us long for a summer day by the pool, but our public pools are still in jeopardy. Parks and Rec needs more lifeguards and updated buildings, otherwise pools will have to stay closed.

Well maintained public spaces are vital to curb violence, but are also fun for everyone in a neighborhood. This is where you come in--5th Square will match your donation here dollar-for-dollar up to $2,500, and we only have $1200 more to go!

• Donations $60 and above will get you 5th Square membership for 12 months, which gains exclusive access to vote on our candidate endorsements.

• The first 10 people who donate over $100 will be invited to join us in jumping into a phreezing Kelly Pool on Saturday, February 25th!

🤝🍻 CANDIDATE MEETUPS

If you're a new member but jumping in an outdoor pool sounds too cold, come warm up with two events! We will be joined by candidates for the Mayor and City Council running in the upcoming primary on May 16th. This will be a great opportunity to come and get to know the candidates and start conversations around roadway safety, public space, public transit and housing. These events will kick off our membership voting period to determine our endorsements for the 2023 election cycle.

• Thursday, March 2nd at 6:30 PM, at Buffalo Billiards in Old City

• Thursday, March 9th at 6:30 PM, at Attic Brewing in Germantown

Are you a candidate that wants to attend this meetup? Consider filling out our candidate questionnaire, too! It's mostly yes/no questions based on our platform, with space to elaborate if the issue is more complex.

🍴 STREETERY RECAP

5th Square member Asia Mieleszko wrote a great article about the streetery debacle for the Strong Towns blog. Strong Towns is a group that advocates for more human-centric city design. Mieleszko talked to two local establishments, Stina Pizzeria and Good Dog Bar. It was difficult for both of them to deal with the difficulty of the new streetery guidelines, and resulted in loss of business. The piece is a great recap of what went down and for those elsewhere to learn from the City's missteps.

From Stina Pizzeria, streetery before and after the ordinance.

"Even for those in the approved districts, the regulations mandated design standards and, according to several restaurant owners, offered too tight of a timeline to build everything up to code. According to the Streets Department, permit processes could take up to 30 days before approval, and that includes paying over $1,700 for a license, in addition to making necessary structural changes." [Read more...]

If you are thinking about becoming a member, now is the perfect time to join! Join us and help choose our endorsements in this important election cycle. Become a 5th Square member today!

WHAT WE'RE READING

🏙️ HOUSING & LAND USE

Harper’s Magazine / No Vacancy (Philadelphia land trust)

NPR / The U.S. needs more affordable housing – where to put it is a bigger battle

NPR / There's a push to change zoning laws to create more affordable housing

NPR / This doctor wants to prescribe a cure for homelessness

Philadelphia Business Journal* / Paul Levy to step down as Center City District president and CEO

*Note: Philadelphia Business Journal is available through the Free Library. Use this link and log in with your library account. More info on the library blog.

🌳 PUBLIC SPACE

WHYY / Opinion: The 76ers arena in Center City would be a strategic city planning mistake

PhillyVoice / Years of exposure to air pollution can increase your risk of depression or anxiety, experts say

🚌 TRANSIT