April 23: PA bills to help tax collections, AVI relief | Philadelphia Olympics | Porch proposals | PPA moves to Lit’s | helping shad run | EveryoneOn launches
Good morning, Streeters. Here’s what’s making news today:
A package of bills that would help Philadelphia improve tax collections and diminish the impact of AVI is moving through the PA House, the Inquirer reports. One bill would allow Philadelphia to place liens on property outside of the city by delinquent city taxpayers. Another bill would create a means test that could relieve the burden of AVI for long-time homeowners in gentrified neighborhoods. The third bill would allow homeowners to pay taxes in installments.
Philadelphia has thrown its hat in the ring to be an Olympic city contender for 2024, the Inquirer reports. It’s the very first step in what will be a lengthy process to make a bid for the games.
Have an idea for how to use The Porch at 30th Street Station? University City District is accepting proposals from nonprofits for cultural programming on The Porch and even provide up to $150,000 to support certain proposals through The Porch Partnership Fund, Generocity reports. The goal is to attract more users and create new experiences in the space. The first round of proposals is due by the end of May.
This week the Philadelphia Parking Authority will leave 3101 Market for space at the former Lit Brothers department store at 8th and Market streets, the Inquirer reports. PPA will be closed for six days, starting Wednesday, to make the move. Drexel, which owns 3101 Market will raze it to build a biomedical research building.
Spring means the shad are running, and thanks to fish ladders along the Schuylkill shad are actually making a comeback. Grid pays a visit to a fish ladder to learn how it works and how it’s helping some 3,000 shad run further upriver every year.
For the next three years a program called EveryoneOn will help provide more Philadelphia households Internet access, affordable computers, and digital literacy training, NewsWorks reports. EveryoneOn launched on Monday thanks to funding from the Knight Foundation.
The Buzz is Eyes on the Street’s morning news digest. Have a tip? Send it along.
WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Please give today.