🗳️ VOTE TODAY

Today is election day! Polls are open until 8 P.M.

Our Steering Committee recommends voting YES on Question 2. Check out our election center for more info.

5th Square is Philadelphia's urbanist political action committee, organizing and advocating for better transportation, land use, and public space policies. Our work is made possible through the support of over 400 members donating anywhere from $5 to $25 a month.

🗳️ VOTE TODAY

Today is election day! Polls are open until 8 P.M.

Our Steering Committee recommends voting YES on Question 2. Check out our election center for more info.

Still deciding how to fill out your ballot?
See this guide from Billy Penn: Procrastinator’s Guide to the 2025 primary election in Philly

Voting by mail? Don't mail it!
Make sure to DROP OFF your ballot at any drop box by 8 PM TODAY.

Already voted by mail?
Make sure you're not on this list of 550+ voters who need to cure their ballots!

📣 TOMORROW: SEPTA CAPITAL HEARING

Thank you to everyone who came to the rally and testified at SEPTA's Operating Budget Hearing yesterday. 

JOIN us at the SEPTA Capital Budget Hearing
TOMORROW, May 21st at 10AM & 4PM
SEPTA HQ - 1234 Market St

Speak about the importance of the following defunded projects:

• ADA Improvements to BSL & Regional Rail Stations
• Project Metro Wayfinding program
• Purchases of Cleaning Equipment
• Dedicated Bus Lanes
• Trolley Modernization

CAN'T MAKE IT TO TESTIFY?

• Leave a voicemail at 215-580-7771 (Capital Budget) or 215-580-7772 (Operating Budget). Please include your name, zip code, and message.

• For the Operating Budget (fare increases & service cuts), email [email protected]

• For the Capital Budget (cuts to accessibility, wayfinding, dedicated bus lanes), email [email protected]

🤝 MEETUP ON THURSDAY

Join 5th Square organizers and volunteers this Thursday, May 22nd at 6PM for an informal, in-person meet-up over at Resurrection Philadelphia’s Annex! This is an indoor/outdoor, family-friendly event. Light refreshments, pizza, and beer will be served.

🚨 ACTION ITEMS

🚫 Grays Ferry Is Not a Parking Lot

The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) is proposing a 1,000-vehicle parking garage at 30th and Grays Ferry Avenue. This garage would be over 70 feet tall, reserved for employees, and would require a separate shuttle service. Sign our petition telling CHOP: Don't Treat Grays Ferry as a Parking Lot

✍️ DVRPC Vision Zero Survey (Respond by Friday)

DVRPC wants to hear from you! DVRPC and its partners are developing a Regional Vision Zero (RVZ) plan to make roadways safer for all users. Click here to log your safety concern on the map. Survey closes on 5/23.

🏛️ SURVEYS for Public Space, Bike Lanes & Trolleys

• The Chinatown Stitch project has a survey to gather community and public feedback on capping a portion of the Vine Street Expressway. SURVEY LINK

• The City of Philadelphia is looking to make roadway improvements to Market St, JFK Boulevard, and 20th St. SURVEY LINK

• SEPTA is modernizing trolleys, staring with T5 (route 36) SURVEY LINK

🛣️ 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, harming our access to the waterfront, and destroying sports facilities. To make matters worse, PennDOT has been deceitful about its engagement efforts.

Join us in telling PennDOT that highway expansion has no place in the core of Philadelphia by signing our petition.

EVENTS

2025 Fair City Challenge Pitch Competition
Wednesday, May 21 · 5 - 8:30pm | Center for DesignPhiladelphia, 1218 Arch Street 
More than a dozen teams will be pitching their ideas for revaluing properties in historically disinvested Philadelphia neighborhoods to a panel of expert judges and competing for 5 prizes of $10,000 and entry into the Fair City Challenge Accelerator Program.

21st Annual Ride of Silence
Wednesday, May 21st, 6:45 PM | North apron of City Hall
This year's Ride of Silence will honor the eight cyclists killed over the past year with a ceremony followed by a slow ride around the city in complete silence.

5th Square May Meetup
May 22, 6:00pm – 8pm | Resurrection Philadelphia’s Annex, 401 S 42nd St 
Join 5th Square organizers and volunteers for an informal, in-person meet-up! This is an indoor/outdoor, family-friendly event. These meet-ups are casual social gatherings, and are intended as a fun way for new and existing supporters to connect with other people involved with 5th Square and urbanist issues in Philadelphia.

Design Advocacy Group: One-on-One with Angela Brooks
Wednesday, May 28 · 5:30 - 7pm | 1218 Arch Street
Join DAG as they host Angela Brooks, Philadelphia's new Chief Housing & Urban Development Officer and Immediate Past President of the American Planning Association (APA), for a one-on-one conversation that will touch on issues related to affordable and accessible housing and community development.

PBA Citywide Meeting - with Rich Lazer (PPA)
June 2 @ 6:30-8:00 p.m. | Philadelphia Ethical Society, 1906 Rittenhouse Sq
Join Philly Bike Action for their monthly citywide meeting with PPA Director Richard Lazer on new safety and mobility projects.

Grassroots Lobby Day for Parking Protected Bike Lanes
Tuesday June 3rd • 8:00 am | Pennsylvania Capitol Complex in Harrisburg
The Bicycle Coalition will be meeting Families for Safe Streets and Bike Pittsburgh in Harrisburg for a day of advocacy and speaking with legislators about the safety benefits of parking protected bike lanes

We Want Transit for All PA! Rally & Lobby Day
Wednesday, June 4, 10am – 3pm | PA Capitol Building, East Wing Fountain
Join Transit for All PA! for a day of rallying and meeting with state legislators to share our stories and tell them: Pennsylvania deserves transit that moves all of us!

5th Square June Meetup
June 05, 6:00pm – 8pm | New Ridge Brewing Company, 6168 Ridge Ave
Join 5th Square organizers and volunteers for an informal, in-person meet-up where we will welcome Tarik Khan, State Representative for the 194th House District, and Jack Cusack, executive director of Roxborough Development Corp.

WHAT WE'RE READING

🏙️ HOUSING & LAND USE

🌳 PUBLIC SPACE

• Technical.ly / Philadelphia's civic tech powers key community projects — but it’s overlooked and underfunded

• Axios / One-of-a-kind pedestrian bridge opens in Philly

• Inquirer.com / New $48M pedestrian bridge connects Schuylkill Banks in Center City to Grays Ferry

🚌 TRANSIT

• NBC10 Philadelphia / 'Transit is vital': SEPTA workers rally at Pa. capitol in fight for funding

• audacy.com / Riders and elected officials sound off against SEPTA’s proposed service cuts

• Inquirer.com / Amid financial crisis, SEPTA is pushing ahead with a money-saving efficiency effort

• NBC10 Philadelphia / SEPTA trolleys getting new collision warning system

🚴 MOBILITY

• Inquirer.com / Parking lot plan would harm a South Philadelphia neighborhood | Opinion

• FOX 29 Philadelphia / 3-year-old killed trying to chase ball across street in Northeast Philadelphia

• WHYY / Philly is adding speed slots to Lincoln Drive to slow down traffic

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

City of Philadelphia

• Operations and Engagement Specialist (Office of Immigrant Affairs)
• Part-Time Project Manager – Philadelphia Reparations Task Force
  
• Executive Director of Training Curriculum and Professional Development
• Data Visualization Specialist

DVRPC / Transportation Safety Planning Intern

Ardmore Initiative / Director of Administration

Montgomery County / Business Analyst/Project Manager

Lehigh Valley Planning Commission / Director of Regional Planning

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 or more.