Photo Credit: Bradley R Maule
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IN THE SPOTLIGHTMayor's Proposed Budget Impacts on Sustainability Energy – Mayor Nutter has proposed a $500,000 budget line to make energy-efficiency improvements to city facilities. While the NGC recommendation is for the construction of energy-efficient facilities, energy-efficiency improvements of existing buildings is in line with that goal. Parks and Trees – A proposed $1 million increase in capital funds for tree planting would support Next Great City’s tree planting goal. An additional $2.5 million for the Department of Parks and Recreation's operating budget for new staff will be a boon for fostering healthy parks with improved maintenance. Recycling – Mayor Nutter has proposed the “Keep Philly Clean Service Fee”, which would be $300 a year for most residents, or $200 for low-income households. While a “pay as you throw” system would help to incentivize recycling, a flat fee does not encourage people to produce less trash or to recycle more. However, residents that sign up with the Philadelphia Recycling Rewards program can earn up to $400 a year, offsetting the proposed trash fee. The “Keep Philly Clean Service” as proposed will be a benefit to the NGC vacant lot recommendation by providing more revenue for cleaning and greening. The funds would also restore leaf recycling, helping to increase composting. Riverfronts – The proposed budget includes over $6 million for riverfront improvements. Specifically, the allocations would go to:
Bold Action to Protect Water QualityThe Philadelphia Water Department has some of the most exciting and ambitious plans and regulations in the country to protect and improve water quality. Learn more about these cutting edge initiatives and how they might catch on in other parts of Pennsylvania at PennFuture’s Watershed Workshop on Saturday, April 17. Next Great City is a proud sponsor of the annual Go Green Expo in Philadelphia! Exhibit alongside hundreds of companies and grow your eco-friendly business April 16-18, at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center, co-located with the Good Housekeeping Research Institute Tour sponsored by Ikea, CBS Television, The Philadelphia Business Journal, The Home Depot & many more. Listen to speakers, eco-celebrities & authors such as Ed Begley Jr., Mariel Hemingway and many others. On display and for sale will be the latest green products & services for home, business, pets, fashion, food & beverage, automobiles, and much more. Philly Spring Cleanup SignUp Starts Today
The City of Philadelphia’s 3rd Annual Philly Spring Cleanup is coming up on Saturday, April 10, 2010 (rain date, Saturday, April 17, 2010). Thanks to the hard work of over 21,000 volunteer who helped out at the two previous Philly Spring Cleanups, 3.25 million pounds of trash at over 275 project sites were removed from our City’s streets, parks, and recreation centers. EPA Environmental Justice Video ConferenceThe U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is sponsoring an environmental justice video contest to create videos that capture the faces of the environmental justice movement. The Faces of the Grassroots contest is an opportunity raise awareness of the share environmental justice movement by sharing its stories.Videos can focus on any environmental justice activity, issue, or topic. Examples would be a music video about climate change, or a video recording a successful environmental justice project that has made a community a healthier and happier place to live. The videos will also be featured on EPA’s website and may be used as public service announcements. Entries must be received by 11:59 p.m. EST on Thursday, April 8, 2010. EPA will announce winners in honor of the 40th anniversary of Earth Day. For more information go to: http://www.epa.gov/compliance/environmentaljustice/events/video-contest.html. SPREAD THE WORD:We want every Philadelphian to learn about Next Great City! If you want to help us spread the word, invite a Next Great City representative to come speak at the next meeting of your civic association, church group or other community organization. |
Funded by the William Penn Foundation and made up of community, public health, environmental and civic organizations, the Next Great City initiative came together in the fall of 2005 to address the environmental and public health issues that are harming Philadelphia’s economy and quality of life.
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