Our Sponsor:
William Penn House
Robin Apartments
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CCRA Supports
Proposed Police Reform and Requests That FOP Be Asked To Renegotiate Its
Contract And That Council Convene Over the Summer
On June 8, Councilmember Kenyatta
Johnson sent a letter to Mayor Kenney, signed by 13 other supporting
Councilmembers, containing 15 relatively specific recommendations for police department reform. On June
9, Mayor Kenney issued a document titled: "Actions for change: No
budget increase, new use-of-force policies, changes to union contract,
and more." It responds, affirmatively, to each of the
15 recommendations in Johnson's June 8 letter, and actually goes much
further. It also ties in the previously announced Police Reform Working
Group and a newly created "Reconciliation Steering Committee." (View document here.) Over
the past several days, the CCRA Board voted to endorse the reforms set
forth in these documents, and to so advise the Mayor and City Council.
Equally important, given the centrality of the City's contract with the
Fraternal Order of Police to the implementation of several of these
reforms, CCRA is requesting that the Mayor and Councilmembers ask the
FOP to renegotiate its contract now. Furthermore, given the urgency of
the moment, CCRA is also requesting that Council convene over its
traditional summer recess (from now until mid-September) in order to
hold hearings and enact the legislation necessary to effectuate the
proposed reforms. We look forward to the responses of Mayor Kenney and
all Councilmembers to our requests. The text of our letter, which is
going out today, is as follows:
To The Mayor and City Council:
In
the aftermath of George Floyd's murder, the Center City Residents'
Association (CCRA) agrees with Councilmember Johnson's June 8th letter,
signed by 13 other Councilmembers, which asserts that "police reform cannot wait" and that the City must "act decisively." We also support Mayor Kenney's June 9th agenda for police reform and his commitment to "seize this moment" and "move quickly, because too many lives are being lost." Both documents are laudable. However, because "police reform cannot wait," because now is the time to "move quickly," CCRA
implores the Administration and Council to immediately call upon the
Philadelphia Fraternal Order of Police to renegotiate its contract so that these necessary reforms can be realized. And because "police reform cannot wait," because now is the time to "move quickly," CCRA implores
Council to do three things: (1) swiftly draft bills necessary to
implement the proposals already endorsed by a great majority of Council
and the Mayor; (2) promptly hold public hearings on the proposed new
laws; and (3) convene no later than August to enact the necessary
legislation.
In keeping with the urgency of the moment, we look forward to a speedy response.
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Southern Land Company's Proposed Mixed-Use Building at 1608 Sansom Street
Virtual Meeting Information
Southern
Land Company's public meeting will hold a live stream in lieu of an
in-person meeting given the CDC's guidelines on gatherings on:
Thursday, July 9th, 2020, 7pm EDT
Phone Number: 646 558 8656 US
Meeting ID: 843 0114 6540
Password: 700717
A copy of the CDR presentation can be found here.
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Covid-19 Updates - Reopening
- Philadelphia Remains in the "Yellow Phase" of reopening.
The Kenney Administration says the "earliest to go to 'Green Phase' is
July 3." Some businesses are allowed to open beginning June 26.
Businesses include salons, barbers, spas,and other personal services.
- SEPTA
requires all riders to wear face covering and to practice social
distancing when you can. All SEPTA services are running normally on
their summer schedule except the Regional Rail. Starting
Monday, June 29, Regional Rail will run hourly weekday service on most
lines, with the Airport and Paoli/Thorndale Lines operating every 30
minutes throughout the day. The Chestnut Hill West and Cynwyd Lines will
remain suspended.
- Philadelphia Zoo will reopen on July 9 - the Philadelphia Zoo will open for members only July 6-8 and will open to the general public starting July 9. Reservations are required for ALL GUESTS, including members.
Visit our special Covid-19 page on our website for more news and info.
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Would you like to be a member of CCRA? It's easy to join.
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Petition to Rename Taney Street
The neighborhood is alive with efforts to decry America's racist past, as reported in the Inquirer
on 6/22. Protestors on Fitler Square's Taney Street expressed their
commitment to change the name of the street, named after former U.S.
Supreme Court Justice Roger Taney. Justice Taney wrote the majority
opinion in
Dred Scott vs. Sandford, in 1857. The decision held that
Africans, enslaved or free, did not have standing to sue in federal
court and that slaves were the property of their owners. Neighbors want
the street renamed "to
honor someone who has united the country rather than divided it, and
who recognizes the important contributions of all Americans".
Click here to add your name to the Petition to Rename Taney Street
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Free Virtual Tour at the American Revolution Museum
Celebrate Independence with a Week of Free Virtual Experiences for All Ages. Saturday, June 27 to Saturday, July 4.
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Fourth of July Live Fireworks Show Has Been Cancelled
The City spoke with the Inquirer and said the firework shows, " encourage
people to gather in close proximity, which is not recommended at this
time due to potential spread of COVID-19." Instead, the city will
broadcast a recording of last year's fireworks display over the
Philadelphia Museum of Art, the paper reports. You'll be able to tune in
on TV and online. |
The Friends of Philadelphia City Institute Library (PCI) on Rittenhouse Square want to know why you love the PCI library.
Now through July 4, 2020,we invite you to tell the world I Love PCI Library Because...
Participate by clicking here. Library
patrons of all ages are encouraged to submit any item from a few words
to a picture that illustrates why you love PCI library. Your responses
will be made into a slide show on PCI Friends website, and, once the
library reopens, the slide show will be shown on the wall where the
mural used to be.
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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.
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.
Astral Artists - Use promo code "CCRA" to receive a $10 flat rate on all tickets to their concerts.
East West Acupuncture, 419 S. 19th St (415-758-1057)
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