Accountability
City Council presses for data on Kensington Wellness Court, city leaves key questions unanswered
As Philadelphia City Council considered Mayor Cherelle Parker’s $3.7 million request to expand the new Kensington Wellness Court
Health & Wellness
Health news in Kensington, Philadelphia — covering the opioid crisis, addiction and recovery, mental health, harm reduction, healthcare access and food resources.
Accountability
City Council advances bill banning mobile services providers from most of Kensington and 7th District
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
Public Space
‘Basketball is the medium’: Kensington nonprofits launch free league to prevent violence among young men
The basketball league teaches men about teamwork while also helping them improve their game, coaches and players say.
Accountability
Parker administration ends community-led opioid settlement grants, leaving Kensington programs in limbo
The Overdose Prevention and Community Healing Fund, or Prevention Fund, used a community-led grantmaking process to distribute $3.1 million to 43 organizations in 2024.
Accountability
Mayor Parker spotlights Kensington, proposes major police spending, Riverview recovery house expansion in budget address
Parker’s spending plan includes $216 million over five years on the “wellness ecosystem,” mostly for the Riverview Wellness Village, a 336-bed recovery housing facility for people who have completed between 30 and 90 days of substance use treatment.
Accountability
Kensington committee scrutinizes cost, impact of Philly’s diversion programs at City Council hearing
The committee wanted to know three things: how the city-funded programs are spending their money, how effective those programs have been, and whether they need to change.
Accountability
Parker administration launches Kensington data dashboard with focus on crime, public safety
The new dashboard provides data on violent crime, property crime, police response times, overdose incidents, and emergency services efforts. It also monitors health, quality of life, and economic opportunity metrics.
Accountability
Empathy, common concerns break through tensions over Kensington mobile services ban bill
While there was some tension, there were also moments of empathy, vulnerability, and shared struggle. The conversation was not black and white, with many landing somewhere in the middle.
Community Life
Students, parents express anxiety over potential ICE arrests in Kensington
Although no ICE arrests have occurred at Kensington schools, the Trump administration’s decision to revoke school protections from immigration enforcement has stoked fears among students and parents.
Accountability
Six more arrested through Kensington “wellness court,” judge issues warrants for two who left treatment
The city’s new Kensington “wellness court” has led to nine arrests since its launch last week, but questions about its effectiveness remain as two participants left treatment and outreach workers are now searching for them.
Housing & Shelter
Puerto Ricans in Philadelphia battle historical inequalities in health services
For more than 80 years, health experts, scholars, and community advocates have emphasized the dire need for better access to physicians and health centers for Puerto Rican Philadelphians.
Arts & Culture
NKCDC opens new community engagement center on Kensington Avenue
The Kensington Engagement Center is a hub for community connection and better resource access as part of the organization’s “Co-Creating Kensington” process.
Accountability
Three arrested during Kensington “wellness court” launch; two diverted to treatment, one jailed
The fast-track court initiative targets people who use drugs by arresting them for summary offenses.
Accountability
Philly launches Kensington “wellness court,” summary offense arrests to begin Wednesday
Mayor Cherelle Parker signed an executive order Tuesday allowing police to take people into custody for certain summary offenses that were decriminalized under former Mayor Jim Kenney.
Accountability
Mayor Parker announces new addiction aftercare center, hundreds of recovery home beds for people completing treatment
The multiphase plan for opening Riverview will begin by offering 336 beds for people leaving short-term inpatient treatment programs.
Accountability
Kensington “wellness court” to launch in coming weeks, will offer treatment or criminal consequences
Those arrested will face same-day adjudication and be given a choice between entering a drug treatment program or facing criminal penalties.
Community Life
Autobuses a pie, un parque infantil, una verja a prueba de balas: Cómo las escuelas usan fondos del acuerdo por opioides
La crisis que enfrentan las escuelas del vecindario y que intentan corregir está traumatizando a los estudiantes.
Immigration
Community gardens build neighborhood connections. So why is it so hard to acquire land?
Access to green spaces have been shown to improve mental health and decrease neighborhood violence.
Clean Streets
Washington state has one-stop shops for addiction care and recovery. Could they work in Kensington?
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
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
Philly correctional officers arrested for selling cell phones, Suboxone inside Curran-Fromhold jail
The arrests come as Philadelphia jails face increased scrutiny over staffing shortages, healthcare delays, and unsafe conditions.
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
Prevention Point can’t have multiple medical practitioners, zoning board decides
The clinic provides HIV and Hepatitis-C testing and treatment, medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD), wound care, STI testing and treatment, and more.
Accountability
As Kensington narcotics arrests increase, residents wonder “who the hell is engaging them?”
Residents are questioning whether the increased enforcement has improved quality of life in their neighborhood.