On a chilly night in February, a group of young people gathered on the steps of City Hall, armed with hand-painted artwork, prepared speeches, chants and community speakers; the Philly Thrive interns had organized a press conference to support housing justice in Grays Ferry. They were calling on City Council to support affordable housing legislation
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You don’t need to be an urban planner to appreciate the inherent good of public space. This is what Dena Driscoll, co-chair of the all-volunteer grassroots organization and urbanist political action committee 5th Square wants Philadelphians to know as they reimagine the city beyond the pandemic. Formed in 2014, 5th Square supports candidates for local
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On February 9 and 10, Philadelphia artists and creatives held the Digital Rally for Philly Arts, a livestream event spanning more than 24 hours designed to highlight the value of arts and culture in the city ahead of City Council’s budgeting decisions for the next fiscal year. The budget for the 2020-2021 fiscal year closed
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WASHINGTON D.C. – On January 6, a mob of angry Americans marched on Washington and successfully stormed the United States Capitol Building. Two weeks following the insurrection, on the eve of Joe Biden’s inauguration, it was evident that a repeat to the violence and conflict at the Capitol was not possible. Approaching the White House
MoreEditorial Assistance from Cory Clark On January 4, 2021, one of the world’s largest security companies, G4S, published an intelligence report detailing the potential risks to Washington, DC, leading up to inauguration. In the report titled “January 2021 Washington, DC, Security Outlook,” G4S warns specifically about the security threats to the United States Capitol on
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When Jerome Shabazz started Overbrook Environmental Education Center (OEEC) in 2002, he set about transforming a former EPA brownfield site into a community space where the neighborhood could connect with nature. Today, it’s a verdant oasis on Lancaster Avenue’s commercial corridor. “It’s the intersection of environment, public health and community,” Shabazz says. But OEEC doesn’t
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In the weeks and months leading up to any election, campaign signs begin to crowd lawns, medians, and planters, and all roads can seem like battleground interstates. The 2020 elections were no different in Philadelphia, with rival campaigns for Senate and House seats, PA Attorney General, PA Auditor General, and State Treasurer adding to the
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Eager to put the last four years in America’s rear view, President-elect Joe Biden and his transition team have published their first batch of plans for their time in the White House, some of which include exciting news for bicycling, public transit and walking. Pledging to allot federal funding for alternative transportation modes, the Biden
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Well into the eighth month of a mismanaged pandemic that caused Great Depression-level unemployment, lame duck President Trump and members of his party are posturing toward a coup to remain in office. The general tone surrounding the “soft coup” is the same tone America has had towards climate change and the coronavirus, “if we ignore
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Organizers and residents of Philadelphia were one step ahead of Donald Trump’s call to “STOP THE COUNT.” Armed with boxes of mustard yellow hoodies with “Count Every Vote” printed across the chest, as well as street-sized banners with the same message, Philadelphia was prepared for the president’s false cries of voter fraud. “While some including
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Philadelphians celebrate the results of the 2020 presidential election today. Photographs and video by Aaron Salsbury.
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