🏘️ MORE HOUSING, LESS PARKING
Parking mandates make housing more expensive and entrench car dependency by forcing businesses and housing developments to build parking spaces regardless of parking demand or proximity to transit.
Fortunately, there's a very simple solution: get rid of parking mandates altogether!
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.
🏘️ MORE HOUSING, LESS PARKING
Parking mandates make housing more expensive and entrench car dependency by forcing businesses and housing developments to build parking spaces regardless of parking demand or proximity to transit.
Fortunately, there's a very simple solution: get rid of parking mandates altogether!
Sign our petition to tell City Council: Abolish parking mandates in Philly!
🍻 MEETUP NEXT WEEK
Join us next Thursday, June 5th for our first meetup in Roxborough!
We will be welcoming:
- Tarik Khan, State Representative, 194th House District
- Jax Cusack, Executive Director of Roxborough Development Corp.
🚇 HARRISBURG RALLY & LOBBY DAY FOR SEPTA
Due to a funding crisis, SEPTA is planning to slash service by 45%, hike fares, and eliminate 50 bus routes and 5 regional rail lines.
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THIS Thursday 5/29 at 5:30pm
Save SEPTA Organizing Meeting
This is a great way for new folks to get plugged into our campaign for transit funding. There will be free pizza!
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NEXT Wednesday 6/4
RALLY & LOBBY DAY in Harrisburg
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!
Today is the LAST day to sign up and get a free Amtrak ride. -
SAVE SEPTA RIDER CANVASS
Talk with SEPTA riders and mobilize them to contact their elected officials. Transit Forward Philly will provide training, materials, and everything you need to help save SEPTA.
Want to become a volunteer leader to help lead canvasses and other save SEPTA events? Sign up here and we will follow up with more details. -
DONATE to help cover the costs of rider outreach
Every contribution helps our volunteers reach more riders and amplify our message with printed flyers & posters, postcards to elected officials, and transit fare for canvassers. -
CONTACT your elected official
- Use Transit for All PA's tool to contact your legislators.
- Use SaveSepta.com's tool to contact key PA State Senators as well as City Councilmembers, Governor Shapiro, and your State Representative.
- Use the PA House Democrats' form letter to contact Senate Republicans.
- Use SEPTA's own form to contact Governor Shapiro and your State Senator and Representative.
- Use Transit for All PA's tool to contact your legislators.
🚲 FIGHT FOR PARKING PROTECTED BIKE LANES IN HARRISBURG
Next Tuesday, June 3rd, 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.
The Bicycle Coalition has long been fighting in Harrisburg to legalize parking protected bike lanes and they made some encouraging inroads last year -- help them make it happen this year!
Grassroots Lobby Day for Parking Protected Bike Lanes
Tuesday June 3rd • 8:00 am
Pennsylvania Capitol Complex in Harrisburg
🏃♀️ PHILLY RUNNING ALLIANCE
A new group was recently started by Philadelphia runners who have watched as cyclists and pedestrians advocate for safer streets, and want to do the same for runners.
So if you're a runner, check out the Philly Running Alliance!
🗞️ 5TH SQUARE IN THE NEWS
Billy Penn:
Brandon Blue, a recent Temple grad who volunteers with the 5th Square advocacy organization, argued that legislators have long stymied SEPTA’s efforts to expand its services, and need to understand why the state would suffer if it is dismantled.
🚨 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
🏛️ SURVEYS for Public Space, Bike Lanes & Trolleys
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The Chinatown Stitch project has a survey to gather community and public feedback on capping a portion of the Vine Street Expressway. SURVEY LINK
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The City of Philadelphia is looking to make roadway improvements to Market St, JFK Boulevard, and 20th St. SURVEY LINK
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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
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 5, 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
🚌 TRANSIT
🚴 MOBILITY
JOB OPPORTUNITIES
10,000 Friends of PA / Policy Director
Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation /
World Trade Center of Greater Philadelphia / President
University City District /
City of Philadelphia
DVRPC / Transportation Safety Planning Intern
Ardmore Initiative /
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.