Civic and Community Engagement

Philadelphia’s Managing Director’s Office releases a partially-funded action plan for Kensington

The city’s Restore Kensington Action Plan, which was shared with Kensington Voice on July 28, echoes most of the councilmember’s plan. The city’s action plan is broken up into four goals with 15 action items: connect individuals to services, increase access to housing, increase public safety, and increase quality of life. | From: Kensington Voice (Read more.)

coronavirus

Temple Hospital workers demand hazard pay

About 40 members of District 1199C, National Union of Hospital and Health Care Employees, were joined by state and local officials Tuesday morning on the steps of Temple University Hospital at Broad and Ontario streets to demand hazard pay for the 800 patient-care technicians, attendants and administrative assistants 1199C represents at Temple. | From: WHYY (Read more.)

coronavirus

City releases COVID-19 racial equity plan

Racial disparities have been evident, in Philadelphia and elsewhere, since the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. On Monday, the city’s Department of Public Health released its “Coronavirus Interim Racial Equity Plan” in an attempt to eliminate or shrink those inequities. | From: Metro Philly (Read more.)

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Philadelphia Housing Authority is failing unhoused city residents

PHA’s aggressive, short-sighted response –– to threaten the organizers with legal action, and intimidate protesters off the property with its private police force –– has crystallized what those facing housing instability have said for years. Neither it, nor Philly lawmakers, have a sound plan for helping low-income or homeless residents find safe housing, or for keeping Black and Brown residents in the neighborhoods they’ve long called home. | From: The Philadelphia Inquirer (Read more.)

coronavirus

About 90,000 Pennsylvania workers are still waiting for answers about their unemployment claims

90,000 people in Pennsylvania have filed for benefits between March 15 and June 20 and still haven’t gotten paid — or even denied. Complaints about the stubborn backlog, which amounts to 8% percent of claims filed during that period, prompted a Philadelphia congressman to suggest this month that the state call in the National Guard to help process claim. | From: The Philadelphia Inquirer (Read more.)

Civic and Community Engagement

Philly Landlord Tenant Officer married to city judge

Like many valuable functionary positions orbiting city government, the current Landlord and Tenant Officer, lawyer Marisa Silberstein Shuter, has family ties: She is married to Municipal Court Judge David C. Shuter, who personally presides over certain eviction cases, and is the daughter of that court’s former President Judge, Alan K. Silberstein. Legal observers say the arrangement is reflective of a larger culture of nepotism within the courts and presents a serious conflict of interest. | From: PlanPhilly (Read more.)