🔰 LAND VALUE TAX PANEL + MEETUP TONIGHT
Tonight at 6:00 PM, we are hosting our July Monthly Meetup which includes a panel discussion on Land Value Tax co-sponsored by the Robert Schalkenbach Foundation.
TONIGHT, July 30th, 6 - 9 PM
Indy Hall, 709 N. 2nd St, 3rd Floor
Could taxing land more and buildings less -- the so-called land value tax (LVT) -- encourage homebuilding, and discourage holding and speculating on vacant or underused land?
Our organizers will be on hand to also update on our recent campaigns, including a discussion of our work on Vision Zero and how you can get more involved with us.
Our panel discussion will be moderated by 5th Square board member and treasurer, Russell Richie, with panelists:
- Josie Faass, PhD, Executive Director of the Robert Schalkenbach Foundation
- Andy Toy, MPP, Public and Urban Policy Practitioner
- Joe Caisse, JD, former State Assessor for Alaska
🚲 SAFE STREETS RIDE RECAP
This past Friday, 5th Square members and volunteers joined hundreds of other Philadelphians on a protest ride to City Hall led by Philly Bike Action. These bicyclists were calling for immediately hardening protected bike lanes with concrete barriers throughout the city. Thank you to all those who joined the ride.
Source: Philly Bike Action
Read more in Billy Penn:
In the wake of a recent tragic bout of traffic violence, we have been fighting to make our streets safer. If you couldn't make the ride, we have plenty of opportunities to join the fight for permanent hardened barriers to protect our bike lanes.
1. ☎️ REACH OUT TO ELECTED OFFICIALS
Keep their phone lines HOT and their inboxes FULL.
- Use your own words & personal experience.
- Identify yourself as a constituent & include your name and address.
- Keep it short -- Two or three sentences is fine!
Council District 2 (map)
Council President Kenyatta Johnson
☎️ (215) 686-2070, (215) 686-3412, (215) 686-3413
📧 Email Link for District 2 Residents
Council District 1 (map)
Councilmember Mark Squilla
☎️ (215) 686-3458, (215) 686-3459
📧 Email Link for District 1 Residents
All Other Districts
📧 Email Link for All Other Districts
Mayor Cherelle Parker ☎️ 215-686-2181
Local RCO - Contact your local Registered Community Organization and ask that they issue a letter to the Mayor and Council with the ask for real protected bike lanes.
Share this Action - You can share using this link or forward this email
2. 📋 SIGN THE PETITION
The petition calls for real protected bike lanes and is co-sponsored by us, the Bicycle Coalition and Philly Bike Action. It will be hand-delivered to City Council and the Mayor's Office.
🤔 PUZZLING PENNDOT I-95 SURVEY RESULTS
Recently published survey results from PennDOT appeared to show that Philadelphians were open to, if not overly enthusiastic about, the proposed I-95 expansion plans in South Philly and Center City.
However a Right-to-Know request from Megan Shannon's Government Transparency Blog shows us results that paint a very different picture of the situation.
The RTK request results showed that for all three interchanges, the vast majority of respondents selected the "none" option, indicating a dissatisfaction with all of the options. This was also the option we advised our newsletter readers to choose. Yet somehow, PennDOT reported the results very differently. Take a look at the results and judge for yourself, and while you're at it, sign our petition opposing the I-95 expansion.
🚇 NEW L CARS
SEPTA has officially awarded a contract for its new L cars to Hitachi Rail and we're very excited.
Source: Hitachi Rail
The new cars feature improved wayfinding displays and open gangways. They will make their way to the Market Frankford Line as soon as 2029 and we look forward to seeing how they will improve SETPA's busiest line.
🚸 KEEPING SIDEWALKS CLEAR
Does sidewalk parking bother you as much as it bothers us? What might seem like no big deal to drivers can be an extremely frustrating and even dangerous obstacle to pedestrians, particularly those who with disabilities.
Fortunately, we have some good news to share. Recent PPA efforts focusing enforcement keeping our sidewalks have produced a 500% increase in sidewalk parking tickets which we hope will lead to less sidewalk parking and a safer experience for pedestrians.
Read more in WHYY:
📣 CALL FOR PROPOSALS: 5123-29 BALTIMORE AVE
🗞️ 5TH SQUARE IN THE NEWS
On a pleasant summer evening, Philadelphia’s biking community took back the streets.
Hundreds of Philly cyclists rode from the Philadelphia Art Museum to City Hall Friday night to protest Mayor Cherelle Parker’s inaction on road safety, after the recent death of cyclist Dr. Barbara Friedes, pedestrian Christopher Cabrera, and others this month.
...
🚨 ACTION ITEMS
🛡️ Protect Vulnerable Road Users
In the wake of a tragic week of traffic violence, we are calling on our leaders to make our streets safer by installing permanent hardened barriers across our city's bike lanes. Sign the Bicycle Coalition's petition for safer bike lanes and contact your councilmember and Mayor Parker.
✍️ Historic District Petitions
5th Square opposes the proposed historic district in Washington Square West because we believe it will raise rents by restricting the development of new housing as well as increase costs for existing homeowners by making home repairs more complicated, expensive, and time-intensive. We are instead calling to preserve historically significant buildings with individual historic designations. Learn more and sign the petition.
🛣️ Stop I-95 Expansion
PennDOT is planning to expand I-95 in Center City and South Philly by adding lanes and new ramps. This will threaten the well-being of our neighborhoods by worsening air quality, increasing noise pollution, and harming our access to the waterfront.
Join us in telling PennDOT that highway expansion has no place in the core of Philadelphia by signing our petition.
EVENTS
Panel on Land Value Tax + Meetup
July 30, 6:00pm – 9pm | Indy Hall 709 N 2nd St
Join us for a land value tax focused meetup with a panel discussion of experts, advocates, and policymakers. Pizza and drinks will be provided with time before and after for meet and greet.
Take the Lane for Safe Streets Broad Street Ride
Wed, July 31, 7pm | Broad and Cheltenham
Meet at 6pm at McMichael Park for a pre-ride to the ride by Northwest Night Rides. Meet at City Hall to do half ride.
NightCycle and Northwest Night Ride Ardmore Ride
Sat, August 10, 6:30pm meet, 7pm roll | Manayunk Bridge
Ride to Ardmore. Rock the bridge. Meet up at 5pm at the art museum for a ride to the ride. Actual ride meets at Manayunk bridge at 6:30pm, rolls at 7pm.
Bikepacking Roots Mid-Atlantic Bikepacking Summit
August 23-26 | Confluence, PA
Bikepacking Roots is hosting a bikepacking summit along the GAP Trail in Confluence, PA. Join them for a summit that's all about building a vibrant community, exploring the stunning Mid-Atlantic and Appalachian landscapes, and making bikepacking accessible to everyone.
Philly Naked Bike Ride
August 24 | Route TBA
A FREE, no-registration-required ride, with thousands of naked (or bare as they dare) cyclists, riding together to promote fuel-conscious consumption, positive body image, mutual aid, and cycling advocacy!
NABSA Annual Conference
October 7-9 | Convention Center
The North American Bikeshare & Scootershare Association will be holding its annual conference in town which will serve as a cross-sector gathering space for shared micromobility professionals.
WHAT WE'RE READING
🏙️ HOUSING & LAND USE
🌳 PUBLIC SPACE
🚌 TRANSIT
🚴 MOBILITY
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.
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