As gun violence in the city remained at record high levels last year for the third consecutive year, several local non-profit organizations have been awarded more than $9.5 million in state funding to help develop or sustain violence intervention and prevention programs. Among them are Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Drexel University, the University of Pennsylvania and YEAH Philly. The announcement was made by State Rep. Rick Krajewski’s office on January 19.

Here’s the full list of the grant recipient organizations and some details on their violence prevention/intervention programs.

• Anti-Drug & Alcohol Crusaders Inc. was awarded $169,000 to provide evidence-based violence prevention education and positive alternative activities for students participating in their Safe Haven Out-of-School Time (OST) program located at Hardy Williams Elementary Mastery Charter School. The school is located in Southwest Philadelphia where violence/gun violence has increased. Funds will support salaries and benefits for personnel; program curricula, supplies, and materials; training on the evidence-based curricula; incentives and alternative activities such as dance, music, art therapy, drama, martial arts, and sports; field trips; celebrations; and indirect/administrative costs. Continue Reading

The City Council will hold a public hearing Monday on SEPTA’s Bus Revolution project, the plan to overhaul its bus network, which has drawn criticism from residents and elected officials.

The council’s Committee on Transportation and Public Utilities will hold a virtual public hearing beginning at 10 a.m. “to examine the approach and expected impacts of SEPTA’s Bus Revolution service reconfiguration.”

SEPTA’s plan cuts several routes and prioritizes high-use routes – like the 52 through West Philly – with promises of shorter wait times and more direct routes. But riders have complained that the changes will leave some residents, including some in Southwest Philly, with diminished service. Continue Reading

The deadline to apply for the Neighborhood Slow Zone Program has been extended to February 15. The program, run by the Philadelphia Office of Transportation, Infrastructure, and Sustainability (OTIS), invites neighbors to apply for traffic calming in an entire zone of residential streets. The City will work with successful applicants to bring traffic calming to an entire “Slow Zone,” which will include:

• Developing a plan for traffic calming that responds to critical safety issues;

• Lowering speed limits to 20MPH;

• Installing traffic calming tools, like speed cushions, and more. Continue Reading

An artist’s rendering of the planned six-story office building with a ground-floor McDonald’s at 40th and Walnut.

A six-story mixed-use building is planned for the northeast corner of 40th and Walnut Streets, where a neighborhood fixture, McDonald’s, is currently located, according to an announcement by Penn’s Office of Facilities and Real Estate Services. The new, 50,000-square-foot facility will include a fully-modernized McDonald’s on the first floor of the building. Continue Reading

Many local organizations and groups are hosting MLK Day events and volunteer projects throughout the city on Monday, Jan. 16. Here’s a list of events and volunteer opportunities in West and Southwest Philadelphia (please feel free to add your event in the comments below). More events can be found on the Global Citizen website.

MLK Job Fair

Parks and Recreation District 8 and the 16th Police District are hosting an MLK Job Fair on Monday, Jan. 16, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Lucien E. Blackwell Center, 761 N. 47th St.

Click to enlarge

Lancaster Avenue MLK DAY 2023 “Freedom Now Edition”

9 a.m.-5 p.m. at 4000 Lancaster Ave.

Mural Arts Philadelphia and Full Court Development are partnering to place the existing mural onto the facade of the new building, which would make it one of only a handful of lighted murals in Philadelphia. The mural was commissioned in 2010 to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King’s “Freedom Now Speech” which drew over 10K to 12k people to the site. In addition, there will be other events throughout the day at 40th and Lancaster, sponsored by local organizations. See the flyer for more details.

Day of Service at Hand 2 Hand Farm

11 a.m.-3 p.m. at 5317 Westminster Ave.

Hand 2 Hand Farm will be clearing debris, reconstructing stalls and fences, and tending livestock.

Day of Service at the Mantua Civic Association

8 a.m.-4 p.m. at 3543 Fairmount Ave.

The Mantua Civic Association will be cleaning, painting, greening, and plating in the morning. In the afternoon, they will host a fair with art, panels, resources, food, and giveaways. Continue Reading

The following is a guest submission from Alice Wells, a member of Friends of Clark Park, about the master plan for Clark Park.

The park we know today is the result of a series of master plans executed by the Friends of Clark Park over the past 45 years. When I first moved across from the park, in 1979, plans focused on tree and grass planting, trash pickup, lighting, a never-agreed-upon enclosed dog park, and working with the City to spread permits for large and loud events to alternating sides of the park, to preserve grass and the good will of neighbors.

Then 25 years ago, beginning with numerous community meetings, and with organizing and fundraising support from University City District and surrounding schools, a Master Plan for ambitious physical changes to the park was developed. There would be brand new play areas in B Park and resurfacing of the basketball court. Park A’s then cracked and mud-covered, sinking walkways would be rerouted, also diseased trees would be removed and a gravel circle with tables and chairs created in Park A (along Baltimore Ave), which was closed for the year it took to complete the renovations. As a neighbor, I was skeptical: who needs a gravel circle? The huge increase in park usage was testament to its success! Continue Reading