| NEW DIRECTOR OF SUSTAINABILITY APPOINTED | | | VOLUME III,
ISSUE XIV | | | 
| | | | | | | | | | http://nextgreatcity.com/node/1112 |
| Next Great City applauds Mayor Nutter for appointing Katherine Gajewski as the new director of the Mayor's Office of Sustainability. We are very pleased to see that post will continue to be a cabinet position, reporting directly to the Mayor. Greenworks Philadelphia, the city's sustainability framework set the bar high for what Philadelphia is going to have to achieve to meet the Mayor's goal of being the greenest city in America. We all have a lot of work ahead to meet the ambitious targets laid out in the framework. Next Great City looks forward to working with Gajewski in realizing these objectives. | |
| GREENEST CITY... AFTER NINETEEN OTHERS | |
| The Natural Resources Defense Council recently released its list of smarter cities, based on ten criteria scores, including green buildings, air quality, and water quality. How'd we do? One spot worse than Vegas. The data NRDC used to perform its assessment is a year out of date, so if like us, you think we deserved to stack up better, become a Citizen Reporter and let NRDC hear from you. | |
| NEW BIKE LANES ON SPRUCE AND PINE STREETS | |
| Cycling in Center City may be getting a whole lot easier and safer. As early as this coming Labor Day, the city plans to introduce new, wide bicycle lanes to Spruce and Pine Street. These lanes are a much-needed addition to Philadelphia's cycling infrastructure, creating a bike-friendly east-west route for the ever increasing number of cyclists in the city. But beware, this is currently only a pilot program. According to the Inquirer, "the city will begin evaluating the response after about six weeks. Then, next spring, when the two streets are scheduled to be resurfaced, officials will make a decision about whether to keep the bicycle lanes, go back to two vehicular lanes, or try something else." As the old saying goes, "use it or lose it," so get out there and into the bike lane. And if improving the city by riding your bike isn't a good enough reason, try saving the planet. Check out the Brita Climate Ride, where you can pedal your way towards a clean energy future. | |
| URBAN INFRASTRUCTURE FORUM | |
| With infrastructure and sustainability being discussed both locally and in Washington, our region has the opportunity to create a model for an economically competitive city that successfully leverages its transportation and natural systems for growth. Wednesday, July 29 Reshaping the City: New Visions for Urban Infrastructure will bring together national leaders in a number of areas, including transit, urban design and infrastructure, and an exciting panel of local experts to discuss how the Greater Philadelphia region should think about its long-term infrastructure investment strategy. Please RSVP to attend this exciting event. | |
| DVGBC ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS TO THE BOARD | |
| The Delaware Valley Green Building Council is seeking nominations for its upcoming board of director elections. This incoming class of board members will serve for a three year term from November 2009 until November 2012. Six new Board Members will be elected. More information and nomination applications are available online. Deadline for submissions is August 4, 2009 at noon. Also if you know of a company or organization that has been instrumental in leading the implementation of sustainable design in the Delaware Valley, don't forget to submit your nominations for the 2009 DVGBC Leadership Awards. They are due Friday, July 31.
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| NEWS | |
| · Recycling rates go up up up. · Clean Air Council, Zip Car, and the Bicycle Coalition help Philly residents ditch their cars for a month. If they stay car free they will get to enjoy the new Center City bike lanes · Bi-partisan bicycling cyclists hit the road. · Environmental groups breath a sigh of relief with the announcement of the new Director of Sustainability; former director Mark Alan Hughes weighs in on the new director · The Philadelphia Daily News explores the challenge of tackling environmental issues in the inner city, and an example of reconnecting with nature in North Philly. · Sandy Shea of the Philadelphia Daily News makes the case in support of the parks merger. · A look at what makes a clean green lawn. · SEPTA set to become the 'smartest' transit system around. · DCNR gives Philly the shaft in Smart Cities rankings. · Navy Yard becoming energy campus.
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| EVENTS | |
| · Wednesday, July 29 3:00 - 6:00 p.m. - Green Building Basics: Materials and Indoor Air Quality at the Center for Buisness and Industry at 1751 Callowhill St, Room c3-5 · Wednesday, July 29 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. - Reshaping the City: New Visions for Urban Infrastructure at the Academy of Natural Sciences at 1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway · Saturday, August 1 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. - Herbal Medicine in the Garden at Mill Creek Farm at 4901 Brown St. · Sunday, August 2 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. - Introduction to Permaculture at Preston's Paradise at 839 N. Preston St. · Wednesday, August 5 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. - Green Drinks Philadelphia at Standard Tap at 2nd and Poplar St. | |
