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  • 15 Jun 2020 2:47 PM | Travis Oliver (Administrator)

    The following is an open letter from the City’s Office of LGBT Affairs to Philadelphia’s LGBTQ communities and allies regarding 2020 Pride celebrations in the wake of COVID-19 and civil unrest in response to police violence. 

    To Philadelphia’s LGBTQ Communities and Allies,

    Every year, June marks an important opportunity to honor the resilience of the many intersections of our LGBTQ family. 

    Through Pride, we celebrate our right to love who we love and be who we are as our true, authentic selves. We also observe Immigrant Heritage Month, a national effort to bridge the divides across communities through the power of storytelling. We recognize disability pride, and challenge the systemic ableism and stigmatizing definitions of disability. We also commemorate Juneteenth, honoring to the end of slavery in this country. 

    All of these occasions are opportunities to honor and recognize the lives and work of our diverse communities, without which, Philadelphia would not be the dynamic city it is.

    The celebration of Pride has changed over many years, and as we adapted to changes from the global COVID-19 pandemic, we understood that this year’s Pride celebrations would look different than many in our community have grown accustomed to.

    Although it has been half a century since the fateful protests over many hot summer nights at the Stonewall Inn, we as LGBTQ communities know that the fight began long before and has endured much beyond that day. We see, with renewed clarity, the similarities between that summer 51 years ago, and the ongoing demonstrations across the globe today.

    Today, we say again, unequivocally, that Black Lives Matter. Not just during times of injustice, but every day. Always. 

    As we stand in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement and demonstrations for racial justice here in Philadelphia and across the country, we understand that these calls to action represent the complex overlapping struggles of many marginalized identities—queer and trans and Black and Indigenous people of color and beyond.

    Protest and activism has long been an essential part of LGBTQ Philadelphians’ identity. At the Dewey’s lunch counter in 1965, our communities boldly fought for our rights–years before that first brick (or shot glass) was ever thrown at Stonewall. We have persisted through years of revolution and evolution, challenges and victories, and now, we must again rise to the occasion.

    Too many people today are familiar with painful experiences of discrimination simply because of who they are—as a trans person, a person of color, an immigrant, a person with a disability, or any intersection of identities therein.

    In the face of continued racial injustice, and amidst a global pandemic, these experiences of historical and systemic oppression have been more pronounced while also feeling the pain and hardship of collective grief and loss. 

    We are called on again to be resilient in the face of adversity. Our community has persevered through crises before—from the indifference of many during the early days of the AIDS epidemic, to the ongoing acts of violence committed against our trans siblings of color, and yes, the acts of brutality committed against those in our community at the hands of law enforcement. 

    Just as we owe our present to the struggles of our elders and our ancestors fighting before us, we too, must do our part to ensure the path forward together, for the future of our LGBTQ family. We must also fight this battle alongside those of us who are most marginalized within our community. We carry on our ancestors’ legacy through Pride, and this year we weave another vitally important thread in the inclusive rainbow of the More Color More Pride flag. 

    This year—more than ever—we celebrate Pride as protest. This year, we have the opportunity to build community, to share in our collective experiences, to innovate, to adapt, and grow together as we have always done despite ongoing hardship and challenges. 

    This year, we honor and uplift the voices of those within our community who continue to be most marginalized; transgender and non-binary individuals, people of color, immigrants, people with disabilities, elders, youth, and those who live at the intersections of these many complex identities.

    Celebrate Pride Month in Solidarity

    Join the Office of LGBT Affairs as we celebrate #SolidarityPridePHL. In the eternal refrain of our community—we’ve come so far, but we know there is much yet left to do. Today, we recommit to the work of building a more just future for us all. 

     

    In Solidarity,

    The Office of LGBT Affairs


  • 13 Jun 2020 2:38 PM | Travis Oliver (Administrator)

    Here is a site that tells you time and place of protests in the Phila area.

    https://phillyprotest.com/


  • 12 Jun 2020 6:34 PM | Travis Oliver (Administrator)

    The Philly area will not be moving into the green phase of the State's reopening plan next week.  

    It was speculated that southeastern PA would join the other counties and move to green, but the Gov. announced today, it's not happening. 

    Restaurants are now allowed outdoor seating.

  • 12 Jun 2020 12:48 PM | Travis Oliver (Administrator)

    Conversations on Race and Racial Justice

    Since 2014, Presiding Bishop Michael Curry has called the Episcopal Church to look at the roots of racism within the Episcopal Church, and to begin to do the reconciling work of healing and honest conversation within our congregations. Six years later, the calls for the church and people of faith to do this have been magnified, and the need for honest, hard, and reconciling conversations around the issues of systemic, institutional, and individual racism is pressing. The Church of the Holy Trinity has committed to making space for these conversations and connections. We are asking for you to fill out the following survey to gauge interest and receive feedback and resources. Thank you in advance.

    Click here to take survey



  • 11 Jun 2020 4:46 PM | Travis Oliver (Administrator)

    NEW GUIDANCE FOR OUTDOOR DINING

    The City is committed to ensuring that all Philadelphia restaurants—across all neighborhoods—have an equal opportunity to reopen safely and earn a living by offering outdoor dining. 

    Restaurants that have patio areas on their properties or already have sidewalk café licenses will be able to offer outdoor seating starting Friday, June 12, as long as they follow COVID-19 safety precautions and have current, valid restaurant licenses. 

    New outdoor dining registration forms will be available online by 5 p.m. on Friday, June 12 and the City will begin review of sidewalk cafe applications on Monday, June 15. 

    Businesses without existing permits are encouraged to apply for our new outdoor dining options. Registration and approval is required for outdoor dining prior to opening. Learn more here.


  • 11 Jun 2020 4:18 PM | Travis Oliver (Administrator)

    At Tuesday's Board Meeting, the CCRA board agreed to hold the 2020 Annual Meeting in two phases, the first phase being an online election of new board members and the second phase consisting of a President's Report, speaker of interest, and questions and answers from the membership.  This will allow us to continue addressing neighborhood concerns and orienting our new board members in this challenging year.

    The first phase, the board elections, will be conducted electronically as follows:

    1. The slate of nominees for open board seats advanced by the Nominating Committee will be published to all members;  (Please see nominees' link here)

    2.  Any member wishing to nominate another member for an open seat shall respond to the published slate within 48 hours, supplying the member's name and biographic details and a picture, if possible;--Accordingly, please submit a name, bio and photo of any additional nominee to centercity@centercityresidents.org by Monday, June 15, 5 PM

    3. Voting on the revised slate shall be open thereafter for a period of two weeks for all members electronically;--CCRA will send out the final list of nominees on Thursday, June 18; voting will remain open until Thursday, July 2. Please note that ONLY ACTIVE CCRA MEMBERS will be permitted to vote.  If your membership has lapsed, please contact Travis Oliver and he will help you reestablish your membership.

    4. CCRA shall publish the names of the successful candidates promptly thereafter.

    In other Board news, it was reported:

    • that the City was making slow progress on the Recovery Streets proposal, endorsed by CCRA
    • the CCRA Budget for the next fiscal year was adopted, (link here) recognizing a need to raise $32 K in new way
    • the board voted to support the Historic Commission application of 1810 Chestnut Street, otherwise known as the Freeman building, (see letter here)
    a Major Development Task Force for 2012 Chestnut Street, the former Philadelphia Housing Authority building, will be meeting with the developer soon


  • 08 Jun 2020 4:09 PM | Travis Oliver (Administrator)

    COVID-19 Business Assistance

    Process to Reopen Pennsylvania
    The COVID-19 pandemic has been an unprecedented event that has impacted every part of the globe. All Pennsylvanians – businesses, communities, neighbors – have been affected and the Commonwealth has responded aggressively to the spread of COVID-19.

    As stabilization starts to occur, Pennsylvania plans to proceed with returning to work cautiously. On April 22, Governor Tom Wolf announced his detailed plan for reopening Pennsylvania, categorizing the reopening with three phrases: red, yellow, and green. Phases are based on the conditions in the county, counties, or regions.

    Below we will review what guidance is needed for businesses located in green phase counties.


    Green Phase
    As regions or counties move into the green phase, most restrictions will be eased, and the stay at home and business closure orders will remain suspended to allow PA’s economy to strategically reopen while continuing to prioritize public health.

    Work & Congregate Setting Restrictions

    Telework strongly encouraged

    In-person business operations must follow the COVID-19 Business Guidance

    All businesses operating at 50% occupancy in the yellow phase may increase to 75% occupancy

    Child care may open complying with guidance

    Congregate care restrictions in place

    Prison and hospital restrictions determined by individual facilities

    Schools subject to CDC and Commonwealth guidance

    Social Restrictions

    Large gatherings of more than 250 prohibited

    Restaurants and bars open at 50% occupancy with continued implementation of the Restaurant Industry Guidance

    Personal care services (including hair salons and barbershops) open at 50% occupancy by appointment only

    Indoor recreation, health and wellness facilities, and personal care services (such as gyms and spas) open at 50% occupancy with appointments strongly encouraged

    All entertainment (such as casinos, theaters, and shopping malls) open at 50% occupancy

    Construction activity may return to full capacity with continued implementation of the Construction Guidance



    Questions?
    For any questions, contact the Department of Community and Economic Development at 1.866.466.3972 or stay up-to-date with COVID-19 information by visiting the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Responding to COVID-19 Guide.

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    PA Department of Community & Economic Development |  dced.pa.gov



Center City Quarterly

CCRA publishes the Center City Quarterly to provide information on Center City people and events from the point of local residents.  You'll be guaranteed to learn something interesting about your neighborhood in every issue!

Archived issues of the Quarterly are provided in Adobe Acrobat format. If you do not have the free Adobe Acrobat reader, you can download it directly from Adobe.

Advertisers:  To advertise in the Center City Quarterly, download our AdvertiserForm and email the completed form to centercity@centercityresidents.org or return to us by mail with your payment.  Upon receipt of your completed form, a member of the Newsletter Committee will contact you regarding any specific requirements.

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We reserved the right to scrub any images we consider offensive. All copyrights are reserved to the contributor, who grants CCRA the rights to display images uploaded in this web site. No commercial information, please!



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