๐ Book Club Today / ๐ New Vision Zero Report / ๐ Announcing Our Urbanist Award Winners
December 3, 2025
Weekly Newsletter #4 // December 03, 2025
5th Square Advocacy is an urbanist organization of grassroots advocates building a coalition for better transportation, land use, and public space policies. Our work is made possible through the support of a growing network of sustaining members.
๐ BOOK CLUB TODAY
Join us TONIGHT, Wednesday, December 3rd for a book club discussion
of Anna Zivarts’ book When Driving Is Not An Option. Discussion will be co-led by Anna Zivarts (author of the book!), Russell Richie (5th Square Advocacy), and Dave Talone (Philly Bike Action). Cheese pizza will be served for dinner.
Anna Zivarts is a disability justice advocate, a low-vision parent, and the founder of the Week Without Driving. She draws attention to the fact that 1/3rd of Americans do not have a driver’s license and says that our transportation systems must be inclusive of EVERYONE–not just people who drive cars.
This past week, the City released the Vision Zero Action Plan 2030, a new report highlighting the progress and challenges on the road to reaching zero deaths or serious injuries from traffic collisions.
Congrats to the winners of the 2025 Urbanist Awards!
๐๏ธ Urbanist Lifetime Achievement Award - Job Itzkowitz, Executive Director, Old City District ๐ Urbanist Changemaker of the Year - Joi Washington, Mayor-Elect, Media Borough ๐๏ธ Public Servant of the Year - Molly Hartman, Senior Policy Director for CM Landau ๐ด Advocacy Partner of the Year - Stephen Bronskill, Coalition Manager, Transit Forward Philadelphia ๐ฒ Neighborhood Champion - Ashlei Tracy, President, Fishtown Neighbors Association ๐๏ธ Best Development of the Year - Calder Gardens ๐๏ธ Best Public Space Improvement of the Year - Ashley Lepera, LeCount Street Reversal Organizer ๐ฐ Urbanist Media Champion - Alan Fisher, Armchair Urbanist Series Creator ๐ 5th Square Volunteer of the Year - Morgan Allgrove-Hodges, Transit Committee Co-Chair
Come celebrate the winners with us at our holiday party and awards ceremony on December 12th. Join us to celebrate with other Philadelphia built environment activists, neighborhood and community leaders, architects, planners, builders, and sustainability advocates at the urbanist holiday party of the season!
As a reminder, 5th Square Advocacy is a new, separate organization from 5th Square PAC which will focus on election-related activities while 5th Square Advocacy will be the new home for our issue advocacy and legislative efforts going forward. Should you have to choose which organization to support with your membership, we highly recommend choosing 5th Square Advocacy.
๐จ ACTION ITEMS
๐๏ธ Philly2050 Survey
The Philadelphia City Planning Commission is looking to hear from you
about what you want for the future of the city. We encourage you to respond in support of key urbanist issues like transit-oriented housing, walkable neighborhoods, expansion of transit options, protected bike lanes, and more.
๐ Support the Transit Access Fund
Transit Forward Philly is fighting for a Transit Access Fund to reduce financial barriers for low-income SEPTA riders. In addition to increasing ridership, the Transit Access Fund would help stabilize SEPTA's finances and protect riders from service cuts. Sign their petition here
and share your story in support of it here.
Book Club: When Driving Is Not an Option Wednesday December 3rd • 5:30 pm | Bicycle Coalition 8th Floor Amenity Room, 1500 Walnut St Join us, the Bicycle Coalition, and Philly Bike Action for a book club discussion of Anna Zivarts’ book When Driving Is Not An Option. Discussion will be co-led by Anna Zivarts (author of the book!), Russell Richie (5th Square Advocacy), and Dave Talone (Philly Bike Action) with pizza served for dinner.
5th Square Holiday Party + Annual Urbanist Awards Ceremony Friday, December 12th at 7 PM | Indy Hall, 709 N 2nd St Join 5th Square members and friends for our Holiday Party + Urbanist Awards Ceremony where we will be presenting awards to members of our community for their outstanding contributions to Philadelphia’s urbanist movement.
Transit Forward Philly: December Day of Action December 15, at 5:30pm - 7pm | 1500 Walnut, Suite 1107 Join Transit Forward Philly as they make care packages for transit workers and riders in Philly to share our gratitude for all that they do to help Philadelphians move around the region and make up our transit community.
Do you like this newsletter and our advocacy work?
We need your support to sustain Philly's Urbanist Movement (and get cool perks) Join us as a member TODAY!
5th Square Advocacy is a grassroots nonprofit organization driven to advance a vision for a more accessible, sustainable, equitable Philadelphia for all residents.
