🎉 NEW YEAR, NEW MAYOR

As our new mayor and city councilmembers are sworn in today, we want to wish them the best of luck in representing Philadelphians and working to improve our city. We look forward to working with them to address the issues facing Philadelphia and seeing what new ideas they bring to City Hall.

🔮 5TH SQUARE IN 2024

We have a big agenda planned for 2024, here's a peak at what's on our mind for the coming year:

• We will continue to push the city towards a permanent, accessible, and indoor inter-city bus terminal so riders of Greyhound and other bus lines will have a sheltered place to wait in our nation’s sixth largest city.

• We will push for transit funding from the statehouse as part of Transit for All PA.

• We also have a fight on our hands as PennDOT is planning on spending millions to widen I-95 in Center City and South Philly to further enshrine our region in car dependency.

• We will join with many many other partners in pushing for statewide zoning reform by signing onto the PA Housing Choices Coalition.

• There are great, transformative upcoming SEPTA initiatives as well in wayfinding, Reimagining Regional Rail and Trolley Modernization.

• Of course, next year (and every year) is an election year, with important PA Senate and House races coming up. We are on the hunt for the next round of urbanist champions to support. Join 5th Square to vote on our endorsements!

🧭 VOLUNTEER ORIENTATION

Want to become more involved in advocating for urbanist causes in 2024? Become a 5th Square volunteer!

We will be hosting a volunteer orientation on January 29th which will be a great way to lean how you can get involved as a volunteer. We hope to see you at this meeting, but if you can't make it, don't fret! There will be a similar meetings in subsequent months.

🚇 BLVD SUBWAY IN 2024

The Inquirer's Daniel Pearson writes that his wish for 2024 is to see the Roosevelt Blvd subway become a reality.

What I wish for in 2024: The Roosevelt Boulevard subway

"I realize a subway line may not seem as consequential a thing to wish for as an end to international wars or bridging the political divide at home. But for Philadelphia, a Roosevelt Boulevard subway line would be transformational." -Daniel Pearson

EVENTS

Philly Bike Party No Fear Ride
January 6 at 8:00pm, Art Museum Steps
No Fear, 2024’s here! Join our annual cosmic burn party with a ride that leads to a fire in the woods! Bring something to burn ... perhaps a fear that you want to burn in the new year, or something from 2023 that you want to permanently leave behind by setting it ablaze!

5th Square Volunteer Orientation
January 29, 2024 at 12:30pm – 1:30pm, Virtual
Attend our virtual volunteer orientation meeting. At this meeting, we will:

1. Introduce our organization and recent campaigns.
2. Onboard folks with our tech.
3. Discuss and brainstorm upcoming 5th Square priorities and and volunteer opportunities.

WHAT WE'RE READING

🏙️ HOUSING & LAND USE

• The Atlantic / Why Isn’t the Government Doing More About the Housing Crisis?

• inquirer.com / How can Philly stop construction destruction? Here’s a bold idea from a city of rowhouses

• The New York Times / Opinion | I Want a City, Not a Museum

• WHYY / ‘Young, Unhoused and Unseen’ podcast from WHYY News, Temple University examines youth homelessness in Philly

• darrellowens.substack.com / Progressives Need To Get Real on Housing

🌳 PUBLIC SPACE

• The New York Times / In a City Defined by History, Chinatown’s Champions Fear New Arena for 76ers
  

• inquirer.com / Many people say Center City is unsafe, but Prema Katari Gupta wants to change that perception in her new role

• NBC10 Philadelphia / What to know about Philly’s plan to cap Interstate 676 in Center City: The ‘Chinatown Stitch’

• WHYY / Rubber has started hitting road for Sixers’ arena proposal. What’s next?

• inquirer.com / Philly’s ‘Night Mayor’ has had the job for a year. Here’s what he’s learned.

🚌 TRANSIT

🚴 MOBILITY

• NPR / The rules of the road are changing, but not fast enough for everyone

• usa.streetsblog.org / Feds, Advocates Talk About What's In The New MUTCD (And What Isn't)!

• Forbes / Want Safer City Streets? Make Traffic Lanes Narrower

• Climate One / (Podcast) Just a Walk or Bike Ride Away: The 15-Minute City

🏛️ POLITICS

• inquirer.com / Mayor-elect Cherelle Parker names Philly Fire Commissioner Adam K. Thiel as her managing director

• WHYY / How Philly’s 4 new City Council members plan to tackle climate change

• inquirer.com / Mayor-elect Cherelle Parker says Streets Commissioner Carlton Williams will lead new ‘clean and green initiatives’ office

GRANTS & OTHER OPPORTUNITIES

Community Spark Grants
In 2024, the League’s Bicycle Friendly America program will award Community Spark Grants, of $1,500 each, to 15 organizations for projects and programs that spark change and catalyze a community’s ability to create places where bicycling is a safe, easy, and more accessible option. Deadline February 1, 2024 at 5pm ET

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

DVRPC

• Internships
  • Capital Programs Intern
  • Data Analyst Intern
  • Transportation Planner Intern
• Transportation Planner
• Financial Reporting Senior Specialist
• Planning Data Specialist
• Planning Data Analyst

Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia

• Donor Relations Manager
• Events Coordinator
• ReStore Assistant Manager

CRC Watersheds / Director of Giving and Outreach

Tookany/Tacony-Frankford Watershed Partnership / Philadelphia Stewardship Assistant 

SEPTA / Project Manager

Councilman-Elect Jeffery Young's Office / Legislative Aide

Delaware Greenways / Trail Project Coordinator

City of Philadelphia

• Director, Commercial Investment
• Deputy Executive Director of Place-Based Initiatives
• Comprehensive Planning Research Intern
• Citizens Planning Institute Communications Intern
• Infrastructure Workforce Development Manager (OTIS)
• Fiscal Operations Manager (OTIS)

Philadelphia Housing Development Corp / Housing Rehabilitation Inspector III

Mayor-Elect Cherelle Parker's Office / Open Application

Councilmember-Elect Nicolas O'Rourke's Office / Open Application

WHYY / Transportation Reporter

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. 

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