How To: Qualify To Receive Financial Assistance For A Water Bill
When Councilwoman Maria D. Quiñones-Sánchez saw her constituent’s water bills, she knew she needed to act. Despite a new assistance plan in place, there were still people who owed thousands of dollars in late and overdue payments. “This is crazy,” Quiñones-Sánchez said. “This is a government owned utility. How did people get into this debt?” […]
Social Issues: Councilwoman María Quiñones-Sánchez Talks Income Inequality
María Quiñones-Sánchez took office 10 years ago representing District 7 in Philadelphia City Council. Long considered a party outsider, it is not uncommon to find her battling politically with Latino leaders in her own neighborhood, as well as other council members. Her sprawling council district is comprised of a wide area, covering all or parts […]
How To: Start A Community Garden
Finding a place to care for plants or harvest crops in an urban setting like Philadelphia may not be easy. However, throughout the city there are more than 60 community gardens at the public’s disposal. If none of the established gardens are close enough to home, or the waiting list to join is too long, there’s […]
How To: Recycle, And Get Rewarded For It
Every month, Philadelphia throws out enough glass jars to fill the Municipal Services Building to the brim – you know the one, the 17-story building on 15th Street and JFK Boulevard. If not recycled properly, those glass jars will go to a landfill where they will take more than 4,000 years to decompose. The city […]
Point Breeze: Clean Point Breeze Streets Gets Ready To Enter Its Second Phase
Philadelphia is a city laden with litter on its streets and sidewalks. While the Philadelphia Streets Department outlines its sanitation expectations online, including penalties for not complying with these expectations, residents continue to leave trash on the ground. “There’s a lot of trash, and it needs to be picked up,” said Christopher Lillis, director of […]
How To: Become A Block Captain
The City of Philadelphia provides support for citizens who’d like to become active in their community. While anyone can round up their neighbors to keep their street clean, the city can help by providing supplies and special trash pickups. The Philadelphia More Beautiful Committee (PMBC) runs a Block Captain program, and all you have to do […]
How To: Have A Free Tree Planted
TREE PHILLY Feeling a lack of green in your neighborhood? TreePhilly can fix that. Since former Mayor Michael Nutter’s Office of Sustainability set the goal for each neighborhood in Philadelphia to receive 30 percent tree canopy coverage, TreePhilly has planted more than 17,000 trees throughout the city. You have the option to get a tree planted […]
South Philadelphia: Local Tree Planters Breathe Life Into Community
Finding the time and energy to maintain one’s property can be a daunting task in a city like Philadelphia. In certain neighborhoods, having “curb appeal” can be as simple as not having a pileup of trash on your sidewalk. For the many local groups involved with the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society’s Tree Tenders program, beautification takes […]
Chestnut Hill: Safety, Community Enhancement are Top Priorities for Business District Executive Director
Martha Sharkey is the executive director for the Chestnut Hill Business Association and is one of the primary people leading the way in bringing new businesses, programs and community safety projects to the local community. Sharkey, who has held her current position for three years, believes that helping bring new people to the neighborhood will ultimately […]
Mount Airy: Five Places to Grab a Bite on Germantown Avenue
Mount Airy is a quiet neighborhood in the Northwest portion of Philadelphia. Situated between Germantown and Chestnut Hill, Mount Airy is undergoing a “revival” of sorts with many new businesses and restaurants coming to the area. Historically, it has been one of the most diverse and safe communities throughout Philadelphia, allowing it to be a […]