Updated 5/10/21 to include comment from Philadelphia L&I. For a city that’s known for its iconic rowhouses – by some counts, up to 70% of its housing stock – Philadelphia doesn’t have…
Author: Thomas Riese
Grassroots organizations demand funds for gun violence prevention 🔉
This week, grassroots organizations and community leaders demanded more city funding for gun violence prevention. Reclaim Philadelphia and CeasefirePA both held events ahead of Mayor Jim Kenney’s budget proposal on April 15th. …
Monroe County DA says lethal force justified; family lawyers dispute report 🔉
On Tuesday, a Monroe County district attorney found that the killing of Christian Hall by Pennsylvania State police was justified. Now, the lawyers for Hall’s family are disputing that finding and calling…
Activists call to disband housing police force at board meeting
At a monthly Philadelphia Housing Authority board meeting, two members of the public demanded that the organization disband its police force, something they say other major cities have done with success. Sterling…
Preservationists still have questions about Kensington church’s burial site
When a Kensington church on the city’s historic register was sold to a developer in March 2019, preservationist and archaeologist ears perked up. Doug Mooney, president of the Philadelphia Archaeological Forum, was…
Olde Richmond neighbors worry about industrial demolition
Riverwards residents voiced concerns about a three story abandoned textiles mill that is currently being demolished to make way for a seven story apartment building. On Tuesday, neighbors participated in a Civic…
Philadelphians protest in solidarity over Monroe County police killing
About 40 protesters gathered at Dilworth Park on Feb. 12 to protest another police killing, this time of a 19-year-old man in the Poconos, that felt all too similar to a police…
Development project threatens Fishtown shopping center
Updated 4/2/2021 to include additional information provided by the FNA. A small Fishtown shopping center would become a 53-unit apartment building if it receives zoning approval, a prospect some residents oppose amid…
Immigration advocates hope Biden makes good on promises 🔉
Immigrants and advocates are expressing cautious optimism after President Biden’s first two weeks in office. An estimated 11 million immigrants would benefit from his proposals to expedite a path to citizenship. BC,…