Thursday, April 30, 2020

CCRA Newsletter


Weekly E-Newsletter
News and Updates
Covid-19 Updates

Wear It--Or Not 

Several members have asked that we clearly state the need to wear masks when outside, especially if you are biking or running. Although it seems like common sense and common courtesy, I have had several somewhat heated conversations about this topic.   CCRA has looked into the regulations regarding mask wearing outside. Consistent with everything else we know about the Covid-19, the policies at the local, state and federal levels are consistently vague. While mask wearing outside, for any activity, is encouraged, it is not required if you are socially distant.

Philadelphia says you don't need a mask outside if you are staying six feet away from others.

 Pennsylvania recommends but does not mandate wearing a mask outdoors

Federal policy (CDC/FEMA) says wear a mask or face covering when you go outside. (NOTE, this guidance expires as of tonight, April 30, at midnight)

The Bicycle Coalition
(citing CDC guidelines--about to expire tonight) recommends that bikers wear masks and practice social distancing when riding. 

I could not find an organization comparable to the Bicycle Coalition for runners but Philadelphia Runner, a long time CC running supply shop, sponsors several running clubs. On their blog, they cite CDC guidelines (again, about to expire tonight) for mask wearing and share directions on making your own mask.
 
https://philadelphiarunner.com/blog/how-to-make-a-face-mask-with-a-race-tshirt
 
Bottom Line - although clearly a best practice, wearing a mask outdoors is not required.   Philadelphia guidance stipulates that you must be socially distanced (at least 6' from others) but with no enforcement, this is meaningless.  CCRA will continue to recommend mask wearing but that is all it is, a recommendation.
 
FAQs about homemade masks

- Here's an updated list of   area restaurants and businesses.  Thank you for the suggestions and updates! If you know of any restaurants that are open (or have suspended service), please notify Travis Oliver

Visit our special Covid-19 page on our website for more news and info.

 Hats Off to CCRA's Amazing Zoning Committee
 
Tuesday night the CCRA zoning committee hosted a zoom meeting and heard three cases for variance requests.  Even more complicated that recent meeting we conducted for CDR, it went off smoothly.  Coordinating three presentations, three sets of concerned neighbor comments, and then voting, co-chairs Sam Gordon and Janice Woodcock made it look easy.  They deserve a big thanks for keeping our responsibilities to the neighborhood moving ahead. 
RIP Russell Meddin
 
Russell Meddin was not a CCRA board member, did not even live in the neighborhood, but I am marking his passing (on April 14) because he had a profound effect on our neighborhood.  A longtime resident of Logan Square Neighborhood and member of that association, Russell played an instrumental role in advocating for crossings over the CSX tracks into the Schuylkill Banks (at Locust and Race streets). For those who don't remember (or don't know) starting in 2004, CSX was threatening to wall off the Banks. Russell along with several neighbors formed the Schuylkill River Park Alliance. The organization ran an effective beta-digital campaign that achieved the seemingly impossible-- a legal settlement between the City and CSX to allow for the construction of electronic control gate rail crossings (the first of their kind in North America) and a pedestrian bridge from Schuylkill River Park.  Today over 1 million people/year use these crossings safely.  Russell had many more accomplishments, but none had a bigger effect on our neighborhood.  He will be missed.  (for more about Russell, click here). 
Applying for a free street tree!  


PHS is processing on-line for the fall planting.  The application can be found 
hereThanks to a generous donor a limited number of $100 grants are available to be used for stump grinding. 

Questions? Email Susan Kahn - Susan.v.kahn@gmail.com
 
-Friends of Schuylkill River Park PHS Tree Tenders
 
Keeping our Neighborhood Clean and Safe During the Pandemic

Please, help keep our neighborhood clean, beautiful, open and safe with a donation to CCRA's Keeping our Neighborhood Clean, Safe and Green Campaign.
Thank you for everything you do to make our neighborhood better!

Congratulations to our Facebook Photo Winner
Drew Silverman


He's the winner of a $25 Di Buno's gift card and a 6-month membership to CCRA. Thank you all for participating.  Be on the lookout for the next contest.
For Laughs:  


Would you like to be a member of CCRA?  It's easy to join.
  Like us on Facebook              Follow us on Twitter
For more information about neighborhood events, check out CCRA's Community Events Calendar
Community Info
Greenfield Auction Online
May 2 - May 9

From the Dept of Environmental and Occupational Health at Drexel University

In these difficult times, when everyone's lives are being affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, you can do something important for your family, friends, neighbors and community.  Please take time to participate in our survey of the impacts of COVID-19.  We need reliable information on the impact on work and health (physical and mental health) to effectively assess the needs of communities and support them better.  We all have shown great solidarity toward one another and we hope that this extends to taking part in this study. Thank you for helping us help you! Do not hesitate to share this survey link with your friends, family and colleagues.  Your responses will be kept confidential and anonymous.
Please clink on the link the complete the survey



Useful Links





CCRA Merchant Member Discount Program
Support our local merchants and save money too. These local merchants will provide a discount (described here) to any member who shows a current CCRA membership card and personal identification.

Astral Artists - Use promo code "CCRA" to receive a $10 flat rate on all tickets to their concerts.
Di Bruno Bros., 1730 Chestnut St, (uses separate card, see info here)
Dom's Shoe Repair, 203 S. 20th St (215-972-0098)
East West Acupuncture, 419 S. 19th St (415-758-1057)
Eye Candy Vision, 218 S. 20th St (215-568-3937)
Home Helpers Philly, 1835 S. Broad St., Ste 2 (215-334-2600)
Good Karma Cafe, 331 S. 22nd St, (215-546-1479)
Jason Matthew Salon, 1735 Chestnut St, 2nd Fl (215-665-8030)
Koresh Dance Company, 2002 Rittenhouse Sq St. (267-687-1769)
Nature's Gallery Florist, 2124 Walnut St (215-563-5554)
NextMove Dance - Get $10 off  Dance Performances with your CCRA Membership.  Members use  promo code SAVE10.
Philly Foodworks - Use the code "CCRA" when signing up for home delivery and receive a $20 discount on delivery charges.
Photo Lounge 1909 Chestnut Street (267-322-6651)
Twenty-Two Gallery, 236 S. 22nd St, (215-772-1911)
Raven Lounge, 1718 Sansom St. (215-840-3577)
Rim's Dry Cleaners & Tailors,2203 South St. (215-546-1889)
Rittenhouse Hardware, 2001 Pine St. (215-735-6311)
Ursula Hobson Fine Art Framing, 1528 Waverly St (215.546.7889)
Alimentari Restaurant at Di Bruno Bros., 1730 Chestnut St, 2nd Floor 
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Monday, April 27, 2020

CCRA Newsletter


Keeping our Neighborhood Clean and Safe During the Pandemic
Dear Neighbor:

As I write this, we are in a time that none of us has
ever experienced or would have predicted even a few months ago. Most of us are staying safely at home and socially distant when going outside- giving our sidewalks a strange, deserted look. So it is more important than ever that our streets are clean and safe, with an abundance of public space for us to enjoy. CCRA makes a major contribution to this effort. We have a $30,000 contract with the Center City District to clean neighborhood sidewalks after weekly trash collection, which is not covered by membership dues. A look at the city's Litter Index Map shows our neighborhood is among the cleanest in the city. In addition to diligence from our terrific residents, who take pride in keeping the neighborhood clean and green, the sidewalk cleaning is a big part of this. It's an expensive, but extraordinarily successful program
 
CCRA's Neighborhood Clean Safe and Green Campaign supports many initiatives - tree planting, historic preservation, the Schuylkill River Park Community Garden and oversight of neighborhood development. Just recently, the developer of a major new office building on Market Street negotiated a very favorable Community Benefits Agreement with CCRA, which includes $14,000 to replace trees which will be lost.
 
CCRA is also particularly active at this time on issues of neighborhood safety. In response to two close-by murders over the winter, we convened two community meetings, organized a neighborhood safety committee, and established heightened liaison with the police and the many organizations dealing with increased panhandling and homelessness. Through these continuing efforts, the police have been particularly responsive to moving unmasked panhandlers away from open food stores and pharmacies and preventing large groups from re-establishing themselves in or near Rittenhouse Square, which was the source of at least one (as-yet unsolved) stabbing.
 
CCRA is also attentive to the current need for more useable outdoor spaces and has spearheaded an effort with other community organizations to lobby the city to permit use of certain streets for pedestrians, joggers, and bicyclists at a time when such space is not being used by cars, but could be a welcome outlet for exercise.
 
These efforts are not free. Like many other non-profit organizations, we had to cancel our spring fundraiser, the popular House and Garden Tour, which has left a large hole in our budget. We also can't plan on repeating our successful Casino Night in the fall. We know there are many unmet needs right now and social and charitable organizations of every kind are competing for scarce dollars in a scary and uncertain time. But we also need to ask for your help. Support in any amount helps and is tax deductible. To make your online donation, click below or download the form below to mail it in.
 
Please, help keep our neighborhood clean, beautiful, open and safe with a donation to CCRA's Keeping our Neighborhood Clean, Safe and Green Campaign.

Thank you for everything you do to make our neighborhood better!
 
Maggie Mund
President
215.546.6719 | centercity@centercityresidents.org |  www.ccraphilly.org