Tuesday, August 28th, 5:30 pm
PlanPhilly and CityLab Happy Hour at the Rail Park
Self-recommending. Walking tour of the Rail Park with PlanPhilly and Friends of the Rail Park, followed by a panel discussion featuring CityLab's Kriston Capps, Inga Saffron (Inquirer), Kathryn Ott Lovell (Parks & Rec), and Ellen Ryan (Fairmount Park Conservancy).

Wednesday, August 29th, 6:30 pm
5th Square Transit Committee Kick-off
Get involved in building a new transit rider advocacy organization for Philadelphia at our new Transit Committee kick-off meeting. The Transit Committee will combine rider organizing and leadership building with advocacy for service changes to make SEPTA more convenient, frequent, and dependable for riders.

Thursday, September 6th, 8:00 am
Design Advocacy Group September Meeting
DAG's guest of the month is Northwest Philly developer Ken Weinstein, of Philly Office Retail and the Jumpstart Germantown program for developers in-training.

Thursday, September 6th, 6:30 pm
'Building the Bicycling City' Book Launch Party
5th Square is hosting a book launch party at Firth and Wilson Transport Cycles with Modacity principals Melissa and Chris Bruntlett, to celebrate the release of their book "Building the Cycling City: The Dutch Blueprint for Urban Vitality." Free beer!

NEWS

We should allow whole neighborhoods to opt into residential permit parking, argues 5th Square organizer Joe Celentano in a blog post for Eyes On the Street. Celentano makes the case that the current piecemeal, block-by-block petitioning approach is doomed to fail, and neighborhood organizations or elected officials who are really serious about fixing the problem need a tool that's up to the task.

The Sheraton Hotel on Dock Street in Society Hill has obtained zoning permits to build a 31-story, 273-unit tower by-right on their property, reports Jacob Adelman. Sign up for updates from Philly YIMBY, who will be monitoring the calendar for the required Civic Design Review meeting, and the Society Hill zoning remapping bill coming up this fall. 

The Philadelphia Police Department has 922 streets on their block party ban list, and they have unlimited discretion to ban even more under the Kenney administration's new, more complicated block party procedure.

A new multimedia exhibition 'A Dream Deferred' opens on September 21st and looks at the history and lasting scars of redlining and racist zoning and housing policies in Philadelphia.

Americans with Disabilities Act lawsuits against cities over poorly-maintained sidewalks are increasingly common, writes Adina Solomon.

The Inquirer Editorial Board wants federal and state agencies to allow Old City District to redesign the park behind Christ Church at 2nd and Market.

OPPORTUNITIES

Keep Philadelphia Beautiful is hiring a new Executive Director

The City of Philadelphia is hiring a Recycling Program Director

NV5 is hiring for two positions, an Active Transportation Designer and a Green Infrastructure and Water Resources Designer

Philadelphia Unemployment Project is hiring a Reverse Commute Transportation Manager

University City Science Center is hiring a Program Associate for Venture Cafe

Design Advocacy Group is hiring a part-time Fellow to coordinate communications, monthly meetings and events, advocacy, and administration

The Economy League is hiring a Project Manager

Fairmount Ventures is hiring a Program Manager

---

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.