Looking back at 2025: A year in photos from Kensington
A year in photographs from the neighborhood, made close and over time.
Jillian Bauer-Reese
Jillian Bauer-Reese is an educator, journalist, and social worker. She leads Kensington Voice and teaches at Temple University, where she studies media harm reduction practices in stigmatized communities.
Accountability
Family of Fishtown man who died in police custody after Kensington arrest demands answers from City Council
As of Dec. 19, Joey Gabor's family said the city has shared little information about his death.
Accountability
Lifelong Fishtown resident dies in police custody after Kensington narcotics arrest, family wants answers
This marks at least the second death this year of a person arrested for drug possession in Kensington and held in a Philadelphia jail.
Accountability
Philly police, former Kensington cop sued over sex abuse, imprisonment of girls ages 9 and 11
The civil suit, filed Wednesday, claims the city’s “blatant, conscious, and reckless disregard for the safety of the public” allowed Heron to harm the two plaintiffs, identified as Jane Doe and Jane Smith, as well as dozens of other women and girls.
Guides & Resources
How Kensington voted in the 2024 presidential election: Republican support increases, turnout drops
Kensington-area voter turnout decreased and Republican support increased by 13%.
Accountability
Women inside Philly jail banged on cells for hours before Amanda Cahill died, “reiterating her calls for help”
Women incarcerated near Cahill at the Philadelphia Industrial Correctional Center said “the banging was so loud that people couldn't sleep."
Accountability
Here's what addiction experts had to say at Kensington's latest hearing.
Local health experts emphasized system-wide challenges, ranging from 16-hour assessment wait times to a lack of coordination among service providers, shortages of medically monitored treatment beds, and insurance policy limitations.
Housing & Shelter
Police close Kensington's Somerset section for city’s unannounced “quality of life” effort, causing distress for some residents
Streets were closed from Kensington Avenue to Emerald Street and Orleans to Somerset streets.
Guides & Resources
Get arrested for drugs in Kensington? Here's a chart that explains the process.
A very long chart for a very long process.
Accountability
As city leaders eye jail to clean up Kensington, Philly jails say they’re stretched too thin.
Prison staff say the staffing shortage makes it impossible to deliver timely, high-quality care for the approximately 4,700 people incarcerated in Philadelphia’s jails daily – a majority of whom present with substance use disorder.
Accountability
Philly police to begin “active enforcement” in Kensington: “We will be making arrests”
Philadelphia Police Commissioner Bethel named gun violence and illegal drug activity as top priorities, plus other crimes “that have kept that community pretty much imprisoned for a long time.”
Accountability
Kensington residents wonder if sweep, increased police presence will lead to lasting change in the neighborhood
Some residents feel safer, while others say the spillover from the sweep and increased police presence has caused problems on side streets.
Accountability
‘Who falls through the cracks?’: Philly’s sexual assault exam system creates barriers for survivors, skirts state rules
State law requires Pennsylvania hospitals to provide rape kit exams on site. Still, Philly's three largest hospital systems have protocols for transferring sexual assault survivors to a facility that is co-located with law enforcement, receives no city funding, and is about $400,000 under budget.
Accountability
Mayor Parker’s five-year budget and strategic plan mentions Kensington 16 times. Here’s what it says.
The 761-page document mentions Kensington a total of 16 times – more than any other neighborhood, including Center City.
Community Life
El presupuesto y el plan estratégico quinquenal de la alcaldesa Parker mencionan a Kensington 16 veces. Esto es lo que dice.
El documento de 761 páginas menciona a Kensington un total de 16 veces, más que cualquier otro vecindario, incluido el Centro de la Ciudad.
La “Casa del Sol” de la Avenida Kensington abrirá a pesar de las amenazas de una represión en la reducción de daños
El espacio ofrecerá varios servicios, incluyendo prevención de violencia armada y sobredosis, y un “centro de mensajes” donde la gente puede hacer y recibir llamadas y recolectar mensajes de casa.
Small Business
Kensington Avenue “Sunshine House” to open despite threats of harm reduction crackdown
The Sunshine House will offer various services, including gun violence and overdose prevention, and a “messaging center” where people can make and receive calls and collect messages from home.
Los residentes de Harrowgate muestran su apoyo a la policía de Filadelfia y la idea de los “centros de triaje” del caucus de Kensington: “La gente tiene un verdadero sentimiento de esperanza”
Para algunos, la idea de “triage” del caucus demuestra “acciones que coinciden con la gravedad de nuestra situación”.
Accountability
Harrowgate residents show their support for Philly police, Kensington caucus “triage centers” idea: “People have a real feeling of hope”
For some in Kensington and Harrowgate, the “triage” idea demonstrates “actions that match the gravity of our situation.”
Community Life
La “gran presencia policial y militarizada” de la semana pasada fue de la oficina del fiscal general, no una iniciativa de Parker o del caucus de Kensington
En cambio, la operación fue una incautación de drogas y armas a través de la oficina del fiscal general, según Brett Hambright, portavoz de la oficina del fiscal general.
Housing & Shelter
Last week’s “large, militarized police presence” was the attorney general’s office, not a Parker or Kensington caucus initiative
The operation was a drug and firearm seizure through the attorney general's office, according to spokesperson Brett Hambright.
Community Life
Philly health commissioner, a leading voice in city’s opioid efforts, to step down after three-year post
In a statement released on Friday, Philadelphia Health Commissioner Dr. Cheryl Bettigole announced she is stepping down from her post effective Feb. 15.
Community Life
Aquí tienes una mirada a la política de comunicaciones de la alcaldesa Parker, que requiere que todas las declaraciones pasen por su oficina
Todas las entrevistas con los medios, publicaciones en las redes sociales y declaraciones públicas deben ser aprobadas por el equipo de comunicaciones del alcalde Parker.
Accountability
Here's a look at Mayor Parker's communications policy, requiring all statements go through her office
All media interviews, social media posts, and public statements must be approved by Mayor Parker's communications team.