A group of 30 community gardening organizations and allies have issued a letter asking the Philadelphia Land Bank to change how it preserves properties for community gardening. At issue is the land bank’s practice of attaching a 30-year mortgage to properties that it gives to garden organizations. The “self-amortizing” mortgages are for the market rate
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In Johanna Dunn’s Belmont Hills studio, rich upholsteries abound: lush reds, animal prints and houndstooth mingle with florals, tweeds and blackout curtains. Her slow-fashion company, City Totes, specializes in artistically crafted bags made from reclaimed fabrics. Dunn, 55, loves finding materials destined for the trash and designing a new life for them. Over the past
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DeLeon served as a municipal court judge for 34 years before resigning to run for mayor. He worked as an attorney before becoming a judge. On protecting trees and natural spaces My plan to protect Philadelphia’s forests and natural areas from further decline and support the growth of an equitable urban forest for future generations
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Having served as an at-large City Council member since 2016, Green resigned to run for mayor in 2022. He previously served as an attorney, including as special counsel for Councilmember Marian Tasco. On protecting trees and natural spaces Philadelphia established an Urban Forest Strategic Initiative in 2020, which was a crucial step in formalizing efforts
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After leaving the financial industry in 2008, Rhynhart served as city treasurer and budget director. She then served as city controller for four years, resigning in 2022 to run for mayor. On protecting trees and natural spaces Tree canopies help produce clean air, reduce C02, provide shade from the sun and actually reduce temperatures. Studies
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Gym served as an at-large City Council member from 2016 until 2022, when she resigned to run for mayor. Gym is a former public school teacher who rose to prominence as a community organizer before running for City Council. On protecting trees and natural spaces We should think about increasing Philadelphia’s tree canopy through the
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It is with great honor and excitement that we present our voters guide for the Philadelphia mayoral election. As you might expect, we focus on the candidates’ sustainability platforms. The winner will likely guide the city for the next eight years, so it’s critical we choose well. Rather than ask broad questions that might elicit
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Despite having a balky knee, mayoral candidate James DeLeon forgoes the inconveniently located elevator and takes the stairs to our third-floor office. DeLeon needs a minute to rest his knee, and he mentions that he first injured it decades ago on the basketball court, landing badly after a slam dunk. Though I never scaled those
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Quiñones Sánchez served as the 7th district City Council member from 2008 until 2022, when she resigned to run for mayor. She came to City Council after a career as a nonprofit leader and community activist. On protecting trees and natural spaces In my administration, the Water Department will take responsibility for our environmental justice
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Brown is the founder and CEO of Brown’s Super Stores, Inc., which runs 12 supermarkets. On protecting trees and natural spaces One of Philadelphia’s greatest and most important resources is our green space. While the Fairmount Park system is perhaps the crown jewel, I am committed to building out and protecting green spaces in neighborhoods
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