Roughly 3 in 10 people in wealthier downtown areas have already received their first dose. A few miles away, in a predominantly Black pocket of Southwest Philly, the rate plummets to only about 3 out of 50 residents — the lowest ratio among the city’s ZIP codes, as of this week. | From: Billy Penn (Read more.)
The row of porta-potties installed in Center City during the pandemic is being scaled back and moved down the block. Advocates call the move “concerning” in light of what happened last summer, when they say human waste filled the streets around City Hall. | From: Billy Penn (Read more.)
The Philadelphia school district stands to receive almost $1.3 billion from the American Rescue Act that passed Congress Wednesday and is expected to be signed by President Biden on Friday. | From: Chalkbeat Philadelphia (Read more.)
Forty-five of the 594 businesses listed in the Beech Companies’ Black Business Directory in 2020 have since closed, either temporarily or permanently — a decline of about 8%. | From: WHYY (Read more.)
As vaccines started flowing, immigrant-led community organizations and even individual people started acting as connectors between people isolated by language or lack of computer access, and the life-saving shots. | From: WHYY (Read more.)
Patricia Codina, co-director of community development at Impact Services, a nonprofit organization in Kensington, said conditions at the station made it virtually inaccessible to some riders even before the elevators ceased working, but closing the station could have even bigger repercussions for people who rely on transit to get to work, school, medical appointments, and other destinations. | From: PlanPhilly (Read more.)
The goal is to evaluate how race impacts everything from homeownership and wealth trends in the city to the demographics of neighborhoods. The hearings will explore all ways in which race plays a role in the appraisal system. | From: PlanPhilly (Read more.)
Shannon Roche and Meagan Benz have opened a storefront to bring all of their staff back from the COVID-19 pandemic. | From: AL DÍA (Read more.)
The moratorium will lift April 1 for the state’s lower-income utility customers, but the commission also required all of its regulated utilities — including electric, natural gas, water, sewer and telephone — to give them additional payment plan options. | From: NBC10/Telemundo62 (Read more.)
Congress just allotted a much-needed windfall to post-pandemic Philly. Now it’s time, Philly 3.0’s engagement director urges, to decide on our priorities | From: The Philadelphia Citizen (Read more.)
© Resolve Philadelphia
