Trash, dumping, cleanups and sanitation in Kensington, Philadelphia. Reporting on the fight to keep neighborhood streets clean and safe.
After seeing the redesign plans for McPherson Square Park and Library, residents asked for more shade, and requested the library stay open during construction.
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.
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
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.”
Clean Streets
Community members lead a spring cleanup at Trenton and Auburn Playground, followed by a visit from Mayor Cherelle Parker in support of revitalization efforts.
Accountability
Around 2 a.m. on March 13, Frank Trout’s son was walking home from his boxing club when a car struck him near Richmond Street and Indiana Avenue. The driver fled the scene, so Trout turned to security footage for answers. But the street was pitch dark.
Clean Streets
An abandoned lot in East Kensington sparked a community-led movement to reclaim green space.
Clean Streets
The “health hub” model creates locations where anyone, regardless of insurance status, can walk in and access primary care, infectious disease care, mental health assessments and opioid use disorder treatments such as methadone and buprenorphine.
Accountability
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
Educators hope money from a legal settlement will provide students and families more support and opportunities.
Accountability
The legislation will proceed to a full City Council reading and, if passed, will require Mayor Cherelle Parker’s approval.
Clean Streets
Local musician and vocal coach shares her story of triumph in overcoming personal challenges while making a significant impact on Philadelphia's music scene.
Accountability
The Office of Prison Oversight would amend Philadelphia’s Home Rule Charter, which is like the city’s constitution.
Accountability
State Sens. Greg Rothman and Christine Tartaglione, along with most of the 13-member opioid settlement trust, voted “no” to Philadelphia’s spending on Kensington eviction prevention, home repairs, and improvements to schools and parks. The trust will hear the city’s appeal on Oct. 3.
Clean Streets
The new Pennsylvania Adult and Teen Challenge (PAATC) center is open Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with plans to eventually offer nighttime hours.
Accountability
If the legislation is enacted, those who violate the policy could receive up to a $500 fine.
Accountability
Police arrested 34 people for “narcotics violations,” including drug paraphernalia and possession, as well as outstanding warrants
Accountability
The cleanup was organized by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) “in conjunction with staff from the City of Philadelphia,” according to a PennDOT spokesperson.
Accountability
Police will be clearing people and trash for kids’ routes to school starting “probably in the next three weeks.”
Clean Streets
Researchers are studying whether therapeutic writing exercises and cash incentives help motivate women with a history of drug use to continue taking PrEP and decrease their illicit drug use.
Accountability
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.
Accountability
The Philadelphia Police Academy’s entire graduating class – a total of 78 new officers – will patrol Kensington “24/7” starting June 18. Their deployment will increase the neighborhood’s police force by almost 200%.
Accountability
In the weeks since the city dismantled the Kensington Avenue encampment, legal observers, harm reduction advocates, and service providers are wondering why the police gave Christian volunteers more access than others.
Accountability
Some residents feel safer, while others say the spillover from the sweep and increased police presence has caused problems on side streets.
