๐ Friday: Holiday Party / ๐ Speed Up Diverted Trolleys / ๐ฝ๏ธ Support Outdoor Dining
December 9, 2025
Weekly Newsletter #5 // December 09, 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.
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!
We will also be presenting awards to the winners of the 2025 Urbanist Awards!
We love our city's streeteries, but unfortunately extensive red tape
makes it difficult and expensive for a restaurant to offer outdoor dining.
You can help change that by coming to City Hall on Thursday, December 11th to speak in support of expanding outdoor dining in Philly.
๐๏ธ HOME PLAN
We are excited to see the HOME plan put a focus on housing investment and policy change and we have some thoughts to share about how the plan can be made even better.
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.
Inquirer.com / ‘How does the building not fall down?’: Philly second graders’ quest to learn about a project rising outside their classroom yields adorable answers
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.
