June 2021 – Page 3 – Broke in Philly

Alternatives to calling 911 in Philadelphia

June 25, 2021

Philadelphia residents are more concerned about public safety than they have been in a decade. In a summer 2020 survey for The Pew Charitable Trusts, respondents listed “public safety” as the city’s top issue, with a little less than half of the 1,025 city residents surveyed saying they felt safe outside at night — at 49% this is the lowest figure Pew has recorded in over 10 years of polling. | From Kensington Voice (Read more.)

Philly faith leaders launch program to address vaccine equity

June 25, 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted much of life as we knew it. That held true for religious communities across the Philadelphia region, who couldn’t congregate during the quarantine, when many in-person activities were restricted in the wake of the coronavirus.

Rev. Naomi Washington-Leapheart is the director of Faith-Based and Interfaith Affairs in the Mayor’s Office of Public Engagement, where she and her staff advocate for faith leaders and religious communities throughout Philadelphia. Early in the pandemic, Washington-Leapheart said, it was important to provide COVID-19 guidance because religious gatherings had the potential to become sites for rapid spread of the virus. | From WHYY (Read more.)

Pa. Dems want to use stimulus funds to fix crumbling schools

June 25, 2021

Pennsylvania’s June 30 budget deadline is fast approaching, and Democrats in the legislature are pushing for a massive one-time investment in schools plagued with crumbling infrastructure and problems like exposed asbestos and flaking lead paint.

The commonwealth is expected to have a $3 billion budget surplus and more than $7 billion available in American Rescue Plan dollars, which Democrats say must be used to fix some of the country’s oldest school buildings. | From WHYY (Read more.)

‘Mi voz cuenta’: los jóvenes de Kensington y Fairhill saben cómo mejorar la seguridad en su comunidad

June 25, 2021

Un grupo de jóvenes de 14 a 24 años está liderando sus vecindarios en una serie de conversaciones y sesiones focales de grupo dedicadas a crear comunidades más seguras y equitativas en los vecindarios de Kensington y Fairhill, en Filadelfia. | From: AL DÍA (Read more.)

Wilmington Kitchen Collective aids culinary entrepreneurs

June 25, 2021

Grace Church on the west side of downtown Wilmington is not the place you’d expect to find a commercial kitchen pumping out barbecue sauce, vegetarian tacos, water ice, and other tasty fare.

The massive Methodist church, built in 1868 at Ninth and West streets, will soon become home to the Wilmington Kitchen Collective. The group of 11 entrepreneurs, including food truck operators and caterers, will share time in the kitchen starting later this summer. | From WHYY (Read more.)

Make CCP free and fully fund community college in Philadelphia | Opinion

June 25, 2021

In the proposed budget for next year, CCP is still not getting full investment. | From The Philadelphia Inquirer (Read more.)

Philly City Council is considering mandatory funding to boost affordable and accessible housing

June 25, 2021

Advocates for an increase in homes that Philadelphians can afford have been able to count on two truths: The city doesn’t have nearly enough affordable housing, and securing city funding to create more will be a battle. | From The Philadelphia Inquirer (Read more.)

Philly lifting all remaining COVID-19 limits Friday

June 25, 2021

Starting Friday, there will be virtually no coronavirus-related restrictions in effect in Philadelphia, for the first time in 15 months. | From Metro Philadelphia (Read more.)

Philly Council bill limiting landlord use of eviction records advances

June 24, 2021

The pair of bills, originally introduced in April, would prohibit landlords from denying housing based solely on eviction records and require them to provide another reason for denying prospective tenants. The coupled bills will also provide guidelines on how eviction records can be used when landlords review applications, if they pass. | From WHYY (Read more.)

Formerly incarcerated Philly rapper launches a sneaker biz for good

June 24, 2021

So you may not be totally surprised to learn that that fashion-loving little kid would go on to create a high-end sneaker and apparel line, the Philly-based, new-to-the-market Bungee Oblečení.

But first, on his way to getting there, he was a star in other realms: as a running back on the football field at Conestoga High School, college options within arm’s reach. And then on stages around the country, as a musically gifted rapper who, in lieu of playing college ball, signed to a record label in 1994, opening for acts like LL Cool J and Lil’ Kim. (His rap name: 4th Quarter. “The D for Darrell is the fourth letter in the alphabet, and when I came up with the name I only had a quarter in my pocket,” he explains. He vowed to never be broke again.) | From The Citizen (Read more.)