Next Great City: Philadelphia - Volume IV, Issue VII

Citizens for Pennsylvania's Future (PennFuture)

 

 

 

Next Great City  

NEWSLETTER
Next Great City: Philadelphia

 

CELEBRATE EARTH DAY IN HARRISBURG   

VOLUME IV,
ISSUE VII

 

 Testify at Council to support  Parks and Recreation facilities
Podcast
Listen to the PennFuture podcast at http://www.pennfuturepodcast.org/

Includes interviews with Urban Sustainability Forum speakers and more!

 
Questions or Comments?
Email Christine at:knapp@pennfuture.org or call 215-545-9692

Don't forget to visit our website at: http://www.nextgreatcity.org/
  
 

Attend a rally to save our forests on Earth Day, Thursday, April 22, in the Main Rotunda of the Pennsylvania State Capitol in Harrisburg.

The state legislature is moving forward with a budget plan that relies on new natural gas drilling leases on state forest land to cover the budget shortfall threatening our precious natural resources and compromising public access to our forest land. We need forest heroes - our legislators and Governor Rendell need to enact a gas extraction impact fee to pay for the damage to natural resources and communities that drilling causes and support the Save our Forests legislation (HB 2235), which puts a five year freeze on new deep natural gas drilling leases in state forests.

Gather your friends, your postcards, and your signs and join us in encouraging our legislators to protect Penn's Woods. If you'd like to talk with your legislator or their staff, we can help you arrange a meeting.

While you're visiting Harrisburg, take the Earth Day 40 Challenge at the Happy Earth Day Party. The event will be held adjacent to the Capitol complex in the atrium of Strawberry Square at 1:00 p.m. Enjoy the inspiring songs of the Earthtones, enter to win prizes, and partake in some delicious treats. Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary John Quigley will be your host.

   
ZONING CODE COMMISSION SEEKS PUBLIC INPUT ON MODULE TWO  

The Zoning Code Commission will be holding four community-based meetings in the next few weeks to seek input on its recently released proposals on:

  • Module Two, draft zoning code text on zoning districts and uses;
  • Change Memo for Module 1, including:
    • requirements for developers to provide notice to and meet with community groups, and
    • Civic Design Review.  

Check out a meeting in your area, or help by filling out a survey to share your thoughts.

 
PHILADELPHIA APPOINTS RECYCLING COORDINATOR   

David Biddle has been appointed to the position of Recycling Coordinator in the Streets Department.  This position has been open for over a year, with an acting coordinator filling in. David previously worked for the Greater Philadelphia Commercial Recycling Council where he helped businesses and commercial establishments set up comprehensive waste and recycling programs.

The appointment of a new coordinator was recommended by the RecycleNOW campaign during the Mayoral election. The position is largely paid for by Department of Environmental Protection funds, and will help the city meet its Greenworks goals.

 
TESTIFY AT COUNCIL TO SUPPORT PARKS & REC  

On April 12, over 160 individuals representing over 70 organizations came to City Council Chambers to hear Commissioner Michael DiBerardinis, Commissioner Susan Slawson and Executive Director Mark Focht testify before City Council on the proposed Fiscal Year 2011 operating budget.

Now it's your turn! To ensure that City Council supports the proposed $3.3 million operating increase, the $5 million in capital funding for recreation and the $5.4 million in capital funding for parks for the Department of Parks and Recreation, citizens must speak out in support.
To sign up to testify, call Sharon Ortiz (in Council President Verna's office) at 215-686-3407 to testify at one of the following times:
Tuesday, May 4, 2010 1:30 - 4 p.m. or 5:30 - 7 p.m.
Friday, May 7, 2010 10 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., 1:30 - 4:30 p.m.  or 5:30 - 7 p.m.
Saturday, May 8, 2010 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Click here if you would like some talking points.

Click here for tips for presenting your testimony!

  
ENJOY LOCAL ART AND SUPPORT PENNFUTURE  

Multi-media artists Jebney Lewis and K.R. Wood, and Mathematical Biologist Todd Parsons tackle the difficult task of explaining the complex theories behind environmental collapse in their new show Bifurcation, Hysteresis, Catastrophe, on display now through May 8 at the Nexus Foundation for Today's Art located at 1400 N. American St. in Philadelphia.

Through gorgeous, translucent sculptures amassed out of thousands of carefully sewn and distressed plastic bags, the artists put to image what happens when ecological systems hit their tipping point. Suddenly, forests become dustbowls and waterways can no longer sustain aquatic life.

Join us on Earth Day, April 22 at 7:30 p.m. to hear from Todd Parsons about the fascinating, terrifying dynamics behind hysteresis, bifurcation, and environmental collapse. It'll be a veritable potpourri for the mind and ears.  Plus, there will be beer and snacks!

Admission is free, but suggested donation will go to PennFuture to support our fight against global warming.

 
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