Faran Savitz, Author at Grid Magazine

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Faran Savitz
#190 March 2025/News

Efforts to ban plastic bags in the Philly region are working — and gaining momentum

We’ve all had the frustrating experience of seeing a plastic bag caught in a tree or a plastic bottle lying in the gutter. We’ve seen the jarring images of seabirds caught in six-pack rings or turtles with straws up their noses. Sadly, these images shouldn’t be surprising. Over 35 million tons of plastic waste is

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March 1, 2025
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🚜 Sustainable agriculture projects on 143 farms 🚜 Sustainable agriculture projects on 143 farms in the mid-Atlantic region have ground to a halt after a climate resiliency grant was paused by the Trump administration’s federal funding freeze. The Pennsylvania-based nonprofit Pasa is administering a $59 million United States Department of Agriculture grant to develop climate-smart practices and increase revenue streams to hundreds of farms across 15 states. But Pasa’s executive director, Hannah Smith-Brubaker, says that the sustainable agriculture organization has lost access to those funds and is out of money to disburse to farmers who have begun projects. “We didn’t want any of our farmers to not get reimbursed for their expenses, so we used our last $500,000 from that [grant money disbursed in advance of the quarter] to make sure that all of our farmers were made whole who were owed any money,” she says. That doesn’t account, however, for more than 650 other farms with projects either shovel-ready or in the contract procurement process that now cannot move forward with plans, according to an impact statement from Pasa. ➡️ Read the full story at gridphilly.com ✍️ Gabriel Donahue 📸 Photo courtesy of Pittsburgher Highland Farm #philadelphia #agriculture #urbanfarming #urbanfarmers #sustainableagriculture #supportfarmers
Events happening in and around Philadelphia this w Events happening in and around Philadelphia this weekend! ➡️ Raise Up: Learn how to Raise money for your Non-Profit without grants from local fundraising professionals. When: Saturday, March 15th (1:00 PM - 3:00 PM) Where: Masterminds Daycare Center 6154 Ridge Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19128 ➡️ A Deeply Rooted Trolley Tour by Harriett’s Bookshop: A deeply rooted Trolley Tour is our three hour, hop on-hop off tour that celebrates local food, culture, history, music, and deeply rooted tradition by visiting new and seasoned spaces throughout Philadelphia. When: Saturday, March 15th (11:00 AM or 3:00 PM) Where: Harriett’s Bookshop 258 East Girard Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19125 ➡️ Now + Then Marketplace’s Late Blooming Lovers Market: Love really did hurt this Valentine’s Day after we had to cancel our annual Make Love Market, because in this city, we’re eagles fans first and lovers second. If you’re like us and blooming a little late in celebrating love this year, we invite you to join us at Love Park for a Late Blooming Lovers Market. When: Saturday, March 15th (12:00 PM - 5:00 PM) Where: JFK Plaza (Love Park) Arch Street Philadelphia, PA 19102 #philadelphia #philly #phillysupportphilly #shopphilly #phillynews #philadelphianews #eventsinphilly #phillyevents #phillyevent #philadelphiaevents
Expanding electric vehicle infrastructure isn’t Expanding electric vehicle infrastructure isn’t the only Philadelphia initiative that’s taking a hit from the Trump administration’s halt to federal funding, the ultimate ramifications of which are being worked out in courts across the nation. Key projects tackling climate change, public health and even the City’s program to eliminate traffic deaths are now in limbo, awaiting word on how to continue. We’ve compiled updates on projects from: 1️⃣ Philadelphia Parks & Recreation | Goal: Restore Philadelphia’s tree canopy through the 2023 Tree Plan 2️⃣ PA Flax Project | Goal: Reestablish the state’s fiber flax industry 3️⃣ Schuylkill River Development Corporation and Philadelphia Department of Streets | Goal: Close critical gaps in the Schuylkill River Trail 4️⃣ The Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Centers | Goal: Train underserved, overburdened communities Learn more at gridphilly.com ✍️ Gabriel Donahue #philadelphia #sustainability #environment #environmentalpolicy #environmentalissues #politics
🚨 JOB OPPORTUNITY ALERT: Circular Philadelphia 🚨 JOB OPPORTUNITY ALERT: Circular Philadelphia is seeking an Executive Director to drive its next phase of growth as it builds the organization’s capacity and impact, and expand its role as a leader in Philadelphia’s circular economy. Circular Philadelphia’s next leader will: • Increase the visibility and credibility of CP’s impact in and for the city • Increase Circular Philadelphia’s funding, solidify the funding model, and increase memberships/sponsorships, • Ensure the circular economy serves the entire city through the creation of an environmental justice framework for our work and engagement with Black and Brown communities, and • Grow staff capacity ➡️ Visit https://tinyurl.com/CP-job-openings to learn more and apply #philadelphia #phillyjobs #circularphiladelphia
When president Donald Trump signed an executive or When president Donald Trump signed an executive order to halt federal spending on January 27, its impacts hit close to home. Despite the decision being rescinded two days later, the fate of funding for environmental work remains murky due to the vague language and unclear legality of the sweeping order. It left sustainability-focused groups, including the Philadelphia-based Clean Air Council, unsure of what’s to come, whether their work can continue and if previously agreed-upon contracts will be fulfilled. As of February 24, federal funding due to Pennsylvania was restored after Governor Josh Shapiro sued the administration, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported. Yet leaders like Clean Air Council’s executive director Alex Bomstein are still concerned for the future of their work. Bomstein sat down with Grid on February 6 to explain what it has actually been like for the nonprofit — which focuses on protecting and preserving air and water quality, public health, environmental justice and clean energy and transportation — to weather the decisions made in Washington. ➡️ Read the full interview at gridphilly.com ✍️ Gabriel Donahue 📸 Photo courtesy of Clean Air Council #philadelphia #sustainability #environment #environmentalpolicy #environmentalissues #politics
📝 Publisher’s Notes: Speak Up 📝 Grid is a 📝 Publisher’s Notes: Speak Up 📝 Grid is a monthly magazine, so we are not equipped to report news. Sure, we occasionally cover some stories as they happen, but mostly we stay away from breaking stories — especially national news. However, the dramatic changes at the federal level deserve at least some commentary. I think just about every Trump-related story can fall into one of three buckets. First is the consolidation of power. President Trump has systematically removed, or attempted to remove, every mechanism our government has to prevent autocratic rule. If he has his way, which is a very distinct possibility, his power will be unchecked and without balance. The Great Experiment of a government based on democratic principles is on the ropes. ➡️ Read the full note from our publisher at gridphilly.com ✍️ Alex Mulcahy #philadelphia #politics #socialjustice #climatechange #diversity #diversitymatters
🐝 There aren’t as many American bumble bees ( 🐝 There aren’t as many American bumble bees (Bombus pensylvanicus) as there used to be in the state the insect is named after. The big black and yellow bees are in decline, with the International Union for Conservation of Nature rating the species as vulnerable. Although the American bumble bee might need protection in Pennsylvania, there is currently no government agency able to coordinate its conservation, or that of any other land-dwelling invertebrate (animal without a backbone). This could change if legislation introduced by Chester County State Representative Chris Pielli becomes law. House Bill 441 would task the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) with conserving and protecting Pennsylvania’s “wild native terrestrial invertebrates.” DCNR would also be required to investigate the status of these invertebrates to determine whether they need protection. ➡️ Read the full story at gridphilly.com ✍️ Bernard Brown 📸 Photo courtesy of USDA #philadelphia #endangered #endangeredspecies #bees #bumblebees #savethebees
🌳 Twelve million federal dollars granted to Phi 🌳 Twelve million federal dollars granted to Philadelphia’s tree canopy expansion efforts are caught in the Trump administration’s federal funding freeze, officials said at a City Council hearing on Wednesday, March 5. Philadelphia Parks & Recreation Commissioner Susan Slawson told Councilmember Jamie Gauthier that the department does not have access to the funds. PPR declined further comment. The money was allotted for the city’s Tree Plan, which ambitiously aims to expand each Philadelphia neighborhood’s tree canopy to 30% in 10 years, Grid reported. It came from a U.S. Department of Agriculture grant. The project joins a growing list of environmental departments and organizations in the region that have lost access to funds after the federal funding freeze. ➡️ Read the full story at gridphilly.com ✍️ Gabriel Donahue 📸 Chris Baker Evens #philadelphia #treecanopy #urbantrees #plantmoretrees #urbanecology #politics
Events happening in and around Philadelphia this w Events happening in and around Philadelphia this weekend! ➡️ First Fridays: Welcome to First Fridays at Velojawn Bike Shop! Join us for a fun-filled evening of live music, food, and good vibes. Don’t miss out on the chance to kick off your weekend in style! When: Friday, March 7th (6:00 PM - 11:00 PM) Where: The Velojawn Bike Shop 3946 Lancaster Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19104 ➡️ Art and Climate Change Educator Workshop: How have artists sought harmony with the environment? How can art help us reimagine our relationship to the natural world? In anticipation of Earth Day 2025, we will explore these questions—and ask others—through close-looking in the galleries as well as an art making activity with a focus on organic materials. When: Saturday, March 8th (10:00 AM - 1:00 PM) Where: Philadelphia Museum of Art 2600 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy Philadelphia, PA 19130 ➡️ 2025 Philly Bike Expo: Mark your calendars, the Philly Bike Expo celebrates the bicycle like no one else! Now in its 14th year, the Expo offers inspiration, information, and entertainment to cycling aficionados and novices alike. Held at the PA Convention Center, the Expo features exhibits by artisans and manufacturers from around the country and the world, demos, workshops, seminars and kids activities that include a spacious indoor test-ride area. Rides, food, and parties round out the fun-filled weekend. When: Saturday, March 8th (10:00 AM - 5:00 PM) - Sunday, March 9th (10:00 AM - 4:00 PM) Where: Pennsylvania Convention Center 1101 Arch Street Philadelphia, PA 19107 #philadelphia #philly #phillysupportphilly #shopphilly #phillynews #philadelphianews #eventsinphilly #phillyevents #phillyevent #philadelphiaevents
🔌 Over the past year, Philadelphia has received 🔌 Over the past year, Philadelphia has received over $21 million in federal funding to expand its electric vehicle charging network. EV ownership has boomed in the city — the number of registrations increased from 475 in 2018 to 5,870 in 2023, according to PennDOT — but there are too few charging stations to meet demand. With the help of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the City aims to install EV chargers in underserved neighborhoods, plus a charging hub at the Philadelphia International Airport. These plans are likely already under contract, according to a February 6 email from Zachary Appleby, PennDOT’s deputy communications director. The City also has plans to add 200 charging ports in City- and Philadelphia Parking Authority-owned lots. Additionally, the legislation funds a training program for EV supplies and equipment workers called Plug In Philly, a partnership between the City and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 98 to expand the industry’s clean jobs workforce. Yet the future of these projects is now uncertain after the Trump administration, which shows a continued hostility toward climate-focused initiatives, froze and then unfroze federal spending on grants. ➡️ Read the full story at gridphilly.com ✍️ Gabriel Donahue 📸 Chris Baker Evens #philadelphia #electricvehicle #electricvehicles #electricvehiclecharging #sustainabletransportation #politics
🚐 As climate change caused flooding and extreme 🚐 As climate change caused flooding and extreme heat in the region and elsewhere, Mayor Jim Kenney’s administration set its sights on reducing Philly’s emissions. Before the pandemic, the City of Philadelphia operated a fleet of approximately 5,500 vehicles — everything from sedans and SUVs to street sweepers and garbage trucks. These spewed over 50,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere annually. Then, in 2021, the City released its first plan to electrify its light- and medium-duty fleet over the course of the following decade. If every benchmark were hit, its vehicle operation-related emissions would drop by 42.7%. There are now 300 light-duty electric vehicles in use in the City’s departments, up from just 34 when the transition was first announced. That translates into an estimated 670 tons of carbon dioxide saved. But, while these reductions are on track to meet the 2030 goals, they represent only a little over 1% of the City’s total. ➡️ Read the full story at gridphilly.com ✍️ Allison Beck 📸 Chris Baker Evens #philadelphia #electricvehicle #electricvehicles #sustainabletransportation #emissions #reduceemissions
🚌 Nearly two decades ago, in 2006, SEPTA bought 🚌 Nearly two decades ago, in 2006, SEPTA bought its very first hybrid bus with hopes of eventually transitioning the region’s public transit system to clean energy. The agency attempted to go all-electric in 2016, when its board approved the purchase of 25 electric buses from Proterra, one of the largest electric bus manufacturers at the time. Despite the roughly $25 million price tag, the vehicles were taken out of service after just three years because of performance issues and cracks in their frames. Then, in 2020, one of the buses — one of many Proterra vehicles that had a fatal radiator software malfunction — caught on fire while sitting in SEPTA’s southern depot. Although no one was injured, it would be years before the agency deployed another all-electric bus. After the incident, SEPTA changed its strategy and ordered 220 diesel-electric hybrid buses. The switch, while only reducing emissions by 30%, made Philly’s transit system one of the cleanest in the nation. SEPTA retired its last all-diesel bus in 2024, but officials have their sights set on an even higher target: eliminating emissions by 2040. As part of that effort, the agency is set to test new bus technology once again. ➡️ Read the full story at gridphilly.com ✍️ Allison Beck 📸 Photo courtesy of SEPTA #philadelphia #electricvehicle #electricvehicles #publictransportation #sustainabletransportation #cleanenergy
🚲 Bina Bilenky, the Philadelphia Bike Expo even 🚲 Bina Bilenky, the Philadelphia Bike Expo event director, believes deep down everyone is a cyclist. Since it launched in 2010, the expo has always taken an expansive view on who belongs in the cycling community. Are you a commuter who cycles a couple miles to work every day? A weekend fitness warrior training for your first 100-mile ride? A competitive cyclist seeking the latest innovations? A parent wishing for a leisurely ride with their children? All are welcome. Despite the come-one, come-all ethos underlying the event, Bilenky couldn’t help but notice that the message was not reaching everyone. Their audience, like the biking community in general, was dominated by white men. This is the result of a bike culture that has been catering to this demographic since its inception. A few years ago, Bilenky was discussing this reality with another woman in the industry when an idea was hatched to do something about the racial and gender disparity in custom frame building. The result, launched in 2019, is the PBE x SRAM Inclusivity Scholarships. ➡️ Read the full story at gridphilly.com ✍️ Alex Mulcahy 📸 Chris Baker Evens #philadelphia #citybiking #bikephl #phillybikelife #bicycle #bicycling #bicyclist #bikecommunity #diversity #diversitymatters
🚗 Are we in drive or reverse? The truth is that 🚗 Are we in drive or reverse? The truth is that sustainable technologies are nothing new. The chain-driven safety bicycle (safer than the precarious penny-farthing) grew popular in the late 1800s. Electric cars date back to the mid-1800s, and Philadelphia entered the EV history books towards the end of that century, when locals Henry G. Morris and Pedro G. Salom debuted their Electrobat, a battery-driven carriage intended to compete with horse-drawn taxis. The Electric Vehicle Company, founded to produce the electric taxis, had a good run before going out of business in 1907 thanks to lawsuits, poor business decisions and the success of fossil fuel cars. More than a century later, batteries are back in force, both for public fleets and private vehicle owners. The world desperately needs to leave internal combustion in the rearview mirror to avoid the worst global warming scenarios. We hope this transportation section gets you thinking about what we stand to gain, even as a retrograde administration does all it can to keep the country in the past, or at least in the president’s idea of it. ➡️ Visit gridphilly.com to read the full Transportation Issue now! 📸 Cover photo by Linette Messina #philadelphia #philly #transportation #publictransportation #publictransit #electricvehicle #electricvehicles #sustainabletransportation
Events happening in and around Philadelphia this w Events happening in and around Philadelphia this weekend! ➡️ BLK IVY Open Mic Event: One year ago, we set out to create a safe haven for self-expression and joy through our monthly open mic series, and there’s NO WAY we could’ve done it without you. Come celebrate #BlackJoyMonth with us, and one whole year together as a community! When: Friday, February 28th (6:30 PM - 8:30 PM) Where: Blk Ivy Thrift 3605 Lancaster Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19104 ➡️ Carnivorous Plant Bog Workshop: Indulge in a unique BYOB experience where you’ll craft your very own carnivores’ bog in an 8” bowl or “boggle!” When: Saturday, March 1st (6:00 PM - 8:00 PM) Where: Pretty Green Terrariums 1116 South Street Philadelphia, PA 19147 ➡️ Greenhouse Yoga at the Horticulture Center: Escape the winter blues and connect with your practice in the lush, tropical setting of the Fairmount Park Horticulture Center greenhouse. When: Sunday, March 2nd (11:15 AM - 12:15 PM) Where: Fairmount Park Horticultural Center 100 N. Horticultural Drive Philadelphia, 19131 #philadelphia #philly #phillysupportphilly #shopphilly #phillynews #philadelphianews #eventsinphilly #phillyevents #phillyevent #philadelphiaevents
5 Things Mayor Cherelle Parker Can Do For Bike Saf 5 Things Mayor Cherelle Parker Can Do For Bike Safety in Philly: • Make a stronger commitment to Vision Zero • Support HB1283 and legalize parking-protected bike lanes • Set a goal for new protected bike lanes • Back an initiative like Measure HLA • Begin daylighting intersections ➡️ Learn about Mayor Cherelle Parker’s current bike safety initiatives and what more could be done to protect bicyclists in Philly at gridphilly.com #philadelphia #citybiking #bikephl #phillybikelife #bicycling #bicyclist #bikesafety #bicyclesafety
When Mayor Cherelle Parker took office, she vowed When Mayor Cherelle Parker took office, she vowed to make Philadelphia the “cleanest and greenest big city in the country.” One year later, the results of her promise have sustainability advocates pushing for more. A Brief Timeline of “Clean” Initiatives Feb 2024: Streets Department Splits into Streets and Sanitation May 2024: First Citywide Cleanup Begins Nov 2024: Second Citywide Cleanup Begins ➡️ Learn more about Mayor Cherelle Parker’s “clean” initiatives at gridphilly.com #philadelphia #philly #cherelleparker #cleanandgreen #sustainability #environmentalpolicy #environmentalissues #politics
🐿️ In 2003 former Tuskegee Airman and pioneer 🐿️ In 2003 former Tuskegee Airman and pioneering Black journalist Chuck Stone wrote “Squizzy the Black Squirrel,” about a Philadelphia boy who bonds with a black squirrel in Fairmount Park. Squizzy was the only black squirrel the boy had ever seen in the park, but visitors today still spot them gathering acorns and running up trees. As Stone wrote in “Squizzy,” black and gray squirrels are simply color variations of the same species, the eastern gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis). The darker squirrels (some are an intermediate chocolate-brown color) have more melanin in their fur, much as humans can have in their hair. Black fur absorbs more heat from the sun than the usual gray fur, helping the darker squirrels keep warm in the winter, an advantage balanced against dark fur offering worse camouflage against tree bark than gray. Today in the countryside the darker squirrels are easy to find in the north of the species’ range: around the Great Lakes, New England and southern Canada. Black squirrels are rare in the rest of their range outside of cities, but this might not always have been the case. ➡️ Learn more at gridphilly.com ✍️ Bernard Brown 📸 Courtesy of Kevin E. Fox/Flickr #philadelphia #philly #squirrels #squirrelsofinstagram #urbanwildlife #urbannature
📝 Editor’s Notes: No Power, No Justice 📝 📝 Editor’s Notes: No Power, No Justice 📝 I had never heard of the Philadelphia Art Commission back in 2022 when I tuned in to a Zoom meeting about plans to build a driving range at the Cobbs Creek Golf Course. When reporting on a public meeting of a City commission, it’s not uncommon to find yourself waiting impatiently through all the other proposals on the agenda ahead of the item you are there to cover. But in this case everything on the docket was absolutely fascinating to an environmental journalist like me. I watched commissioners tell developers and their architects what they needed to change in their designs; the objections ranged from the aesthetic (as I expected from an “art” commission) to the environmental. Commissioners insisted that landscaping include native plant species, that the risk of bird-window collisions be addressed. And the developers were deferential; many were returning with designs altered to comply with the commission’s demands. This was a commission with teeth. That same year the Kenney administration launched the Environmental Justice Advisory Commission, without any teeth at all. At the time, there was no clear way for the new commission to ensure that City plans advanced environmental justice. It’s hard to imagine a politician, a developer or a business heeding the advice of a commission without any power — especially one speaking for the under-resourced communities of color that come out on the losing end of pollution, flooding, short dumping and so many other environmental ills. ➡️ Read the full note from our editor at gridphilly.com ✍️ Bernard Brown #philadelphia #environmentaljustice #environmentaljusticematters #environment #sustainability #environmentalpolicy #environmentalissues #politics
Events happening in and around Philadelphia this w Events happening in and around Philadelphia this weekend! ➡️ Black History Month - A Celebration of Local Iconic Heroes/Sheroes: Join us at The Underground Railroad Museum of Burlington County in partnership with Rowan College at Burlington County for a memorable event honoring the remarkable individuals who have made a significant impact in our community. When: Friday, February 21st (5:00 PM - 9:00 PM) Where: The Underground Railroad Museum of Burlington County In Partnership with Rowan College at Burlington County 900 College Circle, Votta Hall Auditorium Mount Laurel, NJ 08054 ➡️ Yan Kama Yan Storytime: Join us for our second gathering, we will read the story بطريق أضاع الطريق (Batriq ada3a altariq; A penguin lost his way) by Palestinian Kuwaiti author Hooda Shawa Qaddumi. The story chronicles the journey of a penguin displaced by climate change as he roams the world in search for home. When: Saturday, February 22nd (10:00 AM - 11:30 AM) Where: Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture 310 Master Street Philadelphia, PA 19122 ➡️ Black History Culture Fair – Celebrating Black Authors: Join us at the Boys & Girls Club of Chester, where we have a lineup of authors, vendors, and delicious food. Admission is free, and all are welcome to join. When: Saturday, February 22nd (12:00 PM - 4:00 PM) Where: Boys & Girls Club of Chester PA 201 East 7th Street Chester, PA 19013 #philadelphia #philly #phillysupportphilly #shopphilly #phillynews #philadelphianews #eventsinphilly #phillyevents #phillyevent #philadelphiaevents
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