Applications are open through Dec. 31 on the Merchants Fund website. Priority will go to small, locally owned retailers operating in low-income neighborhoods.
During the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce’s annual Mayoral Luncheon last week, Mayor Cherelle Parker voiced her support for 7th District Councilwoman Quetcy Lozada and offered attendees another glimpse into her plans for Kensington.
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.
Of the 186 people the program has served since September 2021, 67% reported full-time employment at the time of graduation, and only 5% of participants had been rearrested in the first year after graduating.
In a statement released on Friday, Philadelphia Health Commissioner Dr. Cheryl Bettigole announced she is stepping down from her post effective Feb. 15.
A coalition of City Council members who have described themselves as “the Kensington caucus” say they’re working to create a “triage” system for people who are unhoused and living with addiction in the neighborhood.
Previously, the streets surrounding the intersection were split between Districts 1 and 7, each represented by one council member. Now, the area is divided into Districts 1, 6, and 7 and is served by three representatives.
The managing director, a position currently held by Tumar Alexander, directly oversees various city departments and programs responsible for addressing quality-of-life concerns in Kensington.
The new Hug the Block data speaks to something called “routine activity theory,” which is the idea that crime occurs when there are motivated offenders, “suitable” targets, and the absence of “capable guardians” who can either witness the crimes or intervene.
The School District of Philadelphia has shared 24 locations where students and teachers could be temporarily moved if damaged asbestos and other environmental hazards force schools to close.
