Emily Rizzo is the Accountability Reporter for Kensington Voice. She mostly covers the city’s response to the opioid and housing crises in Kensington, with a focus on how new policies and initiatives affect the community.
Accountability
After a four-day trial in federal court, a jury found the city violated Louis Jung Jr.’s constitutional right to medical care while incarcerated and awarded the family $1.67 million in damages.
Community Life
The Kensington Tigers, representing four Kensington area high schools, opened the season with 13 straight wins while building a new team culture and boosting school morale.
Accountability
A Philadelphia school district official admitted the district has neglected Stetson’s building for decades. Students and educators questioned the district’s data and scoring of the school’s capacity.
Arts & Culture
Over 25% of West Kensington residents don’t have a high school diploma. Embedded advisers and support could help students overcome poverty and other systemic barriers, experts say.
Accountability
Despite declining enrollment, parents and City Council member Quetcy Lozada describe Conwell and Stetson as community anchors and resource hubs.
Accountability
Kensington Voice collected and verified data on 87 people who were arrested during the first months of the program and tracked their journeys through the court. Most ended up with Wellness Court bench warrants after the city lost contact with them.
Arts & Culture
The Harrowgate area will see increased funding as part of the City of Philadelphia's celebration of America's 250th birthday.
Housing & Shelter
As of September 1st, people receiving SNAP benefits are required to work, volunteer, or be in an employment training program a minimum of 20 hours a week in order to continue receiving assistance. If they don’t comply and aren’t exempt, their benefits will terminate December 1st.
Accountability
Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker’s administration plans to allocate more to Riverview than to all other opioid settlement money initiatives combined.
Accountability
An ordinance that expands a business curfew currently in effect in a section of Kensington will be enforced in much of North Philadelphia and more of Kensington in 60 days.
Accountability
The Philadelphia Board of Health unanimously approved a regulation relating to Councilmember Quetcy Lozada’s mobile services ban in Kensington. The health department will now oversee a permitting process for all mobile medical providers in the city.
Arts & Culture
Organizers and community members marched from Huntingdon Station to Prevention Point Thursday in memory of those who have died from overdose. The annual event is part of International Overdose Awareness Day.
Accountability
The Philadelphia Board of Health postponed a vote on Councilmember Quetcy Lozada’s mobile service regulations, citing legal, policy and equity concerns about a district-specific law affecting Kensington.
Accountability
After seeing the redesign plans for McPherson Square Park and Library, residents asked for more shade, and requested the library stay open during construction.
Accountability
Council member Quetcy Lozada’s bill that bans mobile service units from most of Kensington’s 7th District will not take effect on the expected date — Sunday, July 27.
Clean Streets
In Kensington, a neighborhood already grappling with public health challenges related to the decades-old open-air drug market and opioid crisis, residents say the AFSCME District Council 33 strike exposes longstanding problems including illegal dumping, homelessness and a lack of city support.
Arts & Culture
Kensington’s first Queer Circus brought neighbors together for a day of queer joy, performance, and self-expression to close out Pride month.
Arts & Culture
The Special Committee on Kensington, made up of council members Quetcy Lozada, Mark Squilla, Mike Driscoll, Nina Ahmad, Curtis Jones
Accountability
The bill imposes strict permitting, time, and location limits on medical providers offering wound care and addiction treatment as well as any organization offering basic necessities like food, water, and clothes.
Accountability
The bill would authorize police and crisis lines to initiate a 302 — an involuntary psychiatric hold of up to 120 hours for people considered a danger to themselves or others.
Accountability
Students from Gloria Casarez Elementary School in Kensington lined up to testify in support of the legislation, carrying handmade signs that read: “No needles,” “Don’t sell drugs,” “I just want to be a kid,” “We want to be able to play outside,” and “I want to feel safe.”
Accountability
The bill, which would ban mobile services from most of the 7th District, is up for a final vote on Thursday.
Accountability
The amendments, approved in a 12-3 vote, would require mobile providers to obtain permits while also imposing strict location and time limits on their operations.
Accountability
As Philadelphia City Council considered Mayor Cherelle Parker’s $3.7 million request to expand the new Kensington Wellness Court
