Councilmember Katherine Gilmore Richardson Summer/Fall 2022 Newsletter

Finally, my team and I hosted over 30 community events – both in person and virtually. We assisted with hundreds of constituent cases, helping shut down nuisance businesses, addressing illegal dumping, and connecting residents to utility and homeowner assistance programs. We also released our second annual Apprenticeship Guidebook, a one-stop resource that details application requirements, pay and beneﬁts, and timelines for over twenty apprenticeship programs in the region.

The most crucial part of my job remains serving you. My team and I are always here to be of service. Please do not hesitate to reach out with any need. You can call my ofﬁce at 215-686-0454.

I am looking forward to the work we will continue to do together. We journey on!

Katherine Gilmore Richardson Councilmember At-Large

Of ﬁce of

Meet Dornell Burrell Community Affairs Liaison & Budget Analyst Dornell.Burrell@phila.gov Venita Green Administrative Assistant Venita.Green@phila.gov James Barkley Special Assistant James.K.Barkley@phila.gov TeamKGR 1

Out and About in the Community C MMUNI Y 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1. Handing out toys, coats, books, and bikes at our Holiday Toy Drive with the Ridge Avenue Church of God of Prophecy and Council President Darrell Clarke in North Philadelphia 2. Meeting the Philadelphia Police Explorer Cadets 3. Supporting the Whole Home Repairs Act and Pennsylvanians and their right to safe and resilient homes with Senator Nikil Saval 4. Participating in Philadelphia's pre-college conference, the 9th annual "Step into College" event 5. Attending the Frankford High School Labor Job Fair, sponsored by Rep. Joe Hohenstein 6. Cleaning up in Wynneﬁeld for the 15th annual Philly Spring Clean Up Day 7. Walking the 5th street commercial corridor to enforce against nuisance businesses with Councilmember Cherelle L. Parker, Senator Sharif Street, the Department of Commerce, Captain Massey, the North 5th Street Revitalization Project, and the Department of Licenses and Inspections 8. Attending the Graduation Ceremony for the New Normal Home Health Aide Upskilling Program 9. Riding along with the 17th Police District to check on curfew violations, community evening resource centers, and nuisance businesses Community 2

2022: What We’ve Accomplished So Far Lead Sponsor Bills Passed: 5 Lead Sponsor Resolutions Passed: 14 Amending the minor curfew law for Summer 2022 Helping account for the City's unclaimed property, bringing back $6 million owed to the City Creating a ﬁve-point preference for qualiﬁed civil service applicants who have completed a School District of Philadelphia Career and Technical Education program (Two Bills) Addressing our declining tree canopy and creating the Philly Tree Fund • • • • Budget Victories: • Additional $750,000 for Mural Arts • Additional $300,000 for $800,000 total for the African American Museum in Philadelphia • Additional $675,000 to the Free Library of Philadelphia • Additional $1,800,000 for the Philly Tree Plan and $300,000 for the Urban Agriculture Plan • Additional $400,000 for PowerCorps PHL • Additional $510,213 to the Philadelphia Energy Authority • Additional $2,500,000 to the PHS "Same Day Work & Pay" program • Additional $100,000 to Philly Phlash • Additional $1,000,000, with my colleague Councilmember Curtis Jones Jr., to the Dell Music Center • Additional $2,000,000 to the Philadelphia Art Museum Policy/Legislation 3

What We’ve Accomplished So Far

Safe Spaces for our Young People

In December, we opened our first two Community Evening Resource Centers at Diversified Community Services, Inc. (Dixon House) – 1920 S. 20th Street and Community of Compassion, Inc. – 6150 Cedar Avenue. Two more locations, the Juvenile Justice Center of Phila delphia – 100 W Coulter St. and the Institute for the Development of African American Youth, Inc – 2305 N Broad St, have been selected this August 2022. These safe spaces are open daily from 7 PM-2 AM. They have served over 300 young people, providing them with resources and activities such as mentoring, tutoring, conflict resolution, drone classes, cooking classes, photography, and much more.

Environmental Justice & Climate Change

The Environmental Justice Advisory Commission

I worked with the Mayor's administration to take a whole government approach to address environmental justice by advocating for the Environmental Justice Advisory Commission's funding, creating the Resilience Grant Fund, and establishing an interagency Environmental Justice Working Group. These are just the ﬁrst steps to integrating environmental justice into the fabric of our decision-making.

Addressing Environmental Justice and Public Health

In February, I worked with the Philadelphia Department of Public Health to address environmental justice by centering the voices of our community members. With six commitments agreed upon, including developing public health communications related to potential air quality emergencies, we remain committed to ensuring all residents are equally protected from environmental harm. We are working closely on a series of community conversations around environmental justice and air quality, so stay tuned for opportunities to participate!

Policy/Legislation 4

Constituent Services 5 Staying Connected Throughout the year Conversations with the Councilwoman: Workforce Spotlight with Year Up Greater Philadelphia & PECO Labor Fridays: Sheet Metal Workers Local Union 19 Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: Community Fair Philly Spring Cleanup Labor Fridays: International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers Local 14 Labor Fridays: International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Union 98 Women's History Month Celebration: Honoring Women In The Trades Labor Fridays: Cement Masons and Plasterers Local 592 & Ironworkers Local Union 401 Managing Grief & Loss During the Holidays Labor Fridays: Operating Engineers Local 542 JATC Taking Charge of Philadelphia's Future at the Navy Yard Workouts w/the Councilmember Conversations w/the Councilmember: Apprenticeship Forum National Voter Registration Day Job and Resource Fair Step into College Conference Healthy Eating for Seniors • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Constituent Services 6 Helping Philadelphians Everyday Reach out to my Constituent Services Team: Beth Strain Berry and Venita Green! Call 215-686-0454 or email Beth.Strain.Berry@phila.gov or Venita.Green@phila.gov • Housing • Real Estate Taxes/Tangled Titles • Street Improvements • Vacant or Abandoned Buildings • Basic System Repair • Nuisance Businesses • Utility Assistance • Environmental Justice Concerns Ways we can help! 343 constituent cases since July 2021

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FROM JULY 18 – JULY 24, 2022, THE FINER WOMEN OF ZETA PHI BETA SORORITY, INC. PAINTED THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA ROYAL BLUE AND WHITE Councilwoman Gilmore Richardson Welcomes her Sorors of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. to the City of Sisterly Love With more than 6,000 members in attendance, the 2022 Grand Boulé of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. had an estimated economic impact of more than $6,566,677 for the City of Philadelphia, including 12,500 hotel rooms booked and over $640,000 in donations including: The week long event included a dynamic, private performance from the “Queen of Hip-Hop Soul” Mary J Blige and a visit by Ms. Opal Lee, the Grandmother of Juneteenth. The ladies of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. also elected their 26th International President, Dr. Stacie N.C. Grant More than $140,000 donated to the Jefferson Hospital NICU and Pediatric Center A $125,000 scholarship to a deserving high school student as she embarks on a college education Thousands of dollars spent supporting local businesses

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Supporting our local labor unions

Local Labor Unions 8

With over 700 of my 2022 Apprenticeship Guidebooks distributed at career fairs, labor fairs, community events, local high schools, and more, I am a proud supporter of our Labor Unions and the pathways they provide to family sustaining careers for Philadelphians.

Property Tax Relief

Property Tax Relief Program 9 offer many property tax relief programs: Find more information at: https://bit.ly/PHLTaxR - Homestead Exemption: All owner-occupied homes are eligible - Active Duty Tax Credit: For members of the military on active duty outside of Pennsylvania Low-Income Senior Citizen Tax Freeze: For senior citizens who meet age and income eligibility requirements Owner-Occupied Payment Agreement (OOPA): All owner-occupied homes are eligible - Longtime Owner Occupant Program (LOOP): Eligibility based on length of own ership and owner-occupant status - Real Estate Tax Installment Plan: For senior citizens and low-income Philadelphians who own and occupy a home - Real Estate Tax Deferral: Eligibility based on household income and size

Info 10 PHLCouncil.com/katherinegilmorerichardson Keep up to date with your City Councilmember! @CouncilmemberKGR @CouncilmemberKGR @CouncilwomanKGR

O ce of Katherine Gilmore

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Philadelphia, PA

Richardson, Councilmember At-Large City Hall,

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19107 COUNCILMEMBER AT-LARGE

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