coronavirus – Page 49 – Broke in Philly

Another COVID Victim: City Kills Zero Waste and Litter Cabinet & Director Position

May 29, 2020

The Zero Waste and Litter Cabinet has been instrumental in a 41% reduction in illegal dumping, creating a community composting network, planning Philly’s first urban composting facility at Rising Sun, and supporting the plastic bag ban passed last year. Additionally, the cabinet’s Litter Index quantified the city’s litter problem, which costs the city $48 million annually to clean up. Plus, litter adversely affects low-income communities. | From: Green Philly (Read more.)

COVID-19 testing opens in North Philly community clinic

May 28, 2020

Philadelphia has added more COVID-19 testing capacity, opening a new site at the Health Center 5 community clinic on North 20th Street in the city’s Stanton neighborhood. Health Commissioner Thomas Farley pointed to the disproportionate effects of the coronavirus on Black communities, as well as low-income communities, as reasons why the city had chosen North Philadelphia for testing availability. | From: WHYY (Read more.)

Heat adds deadly risks to coronavirus pandemic in Philly

May 28, 2020

As with heat, low-wage workers and communities of color have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19. Without safeguards against the heat in place, the compounding risk factors could lead to an increase of fatalities within these vulnerable communities, epidemiologists say. | From: WHYY (Read more.)

Homeless People Being Moved From Philadelphia International Airport, Tested for Coronavirus

May 28, 2020

Officials at Philadelphia International Airport had initially planned Friday to remove the between 50 and 100 homeless people who have been sleeping at a baggage claim area underutilized during stay-at-home orders. But airport and city officials agreed to wait until Tuesday after homeless advocates threatened to file a lawsuit if the people were moved to shelters without being tested. | From: NBC 10 Philadelphia (Read more.)

Union drive at Philadelphia Museum of Art

May 28, 2020

Workers at the Philadelphia Museum of Art have filed a petition with management with the intent to form a labor union. Organizers claim the petition was filed by a majority of eligible employees across many departments. | From: WHYY (Read more.)

Kids need to go to school online. Why isn’t the internet a public utility?

May 26, 2020

The public utility of the internet is especially clear now during the pandemic when most of the city’s official communications and resources are accessible only online. | From: The Notebook (Read more.)

Philly school families get pandemic cash bonus for food, so those who don’t need it plan donation drive

May 26, 2020

Under the federal Families First Coronavirus Response Act, Pennsylvania is distributing more than $300 million in SNAP benefits to families whose children are eligible for free lunch. Because all Philadelphia public school students receive free lunch at school, this means all families are eligible to receive an extra $365 in pandemic aid — even those that are financially secure. | From: Billy Penn (Read more.)

WorkReady, Philadelphia’s youth jobs program, to move online for the summer

May 22, 2020

Philadelphia Youth Network will work with businesses and organizations to think through how to design and maintain virtual internships. | From: The Notebook (Read more.)

Philadelphia voters most likely to vote in person live in coronavirus hot spots

May 21, 2020

As Philadelphia prepares for the June 2 primary amid the coronavirus pandemic, neighborhoods with low-income residents and communities of color are requesting absentee ballots at rates that far lag other parts of the city. | From: The Inquirer (Read more.)

In Philly, just over half of students participate in remote school during coronavirus pandemic

May 21, 2020

In the Philadelphia School District’s first week of graded teacher-led instruction since schools were shut down in March by the pandemic, 57% of students participated in school remotely, officials said Thursday. | From: The Inquirer (Read more.)