ELECTION LATEST NEWS!!

Prepare (and brace yourself) for Election Week
The 2020 election is about to begin. Be prepared…
Committee of Seventy (C70)

=First, make sure you’re registered: Check your registration, and if you need to register, do so online. The deadline is Oct. 19.

=Request a mail-in ballot: Apply online by October 27, but don’t delay—and return your ballot as soon as possible after you receive it.

=BYOBallot: Build your own ballot with C70’s nonpartisan PA Voter Guide. Type in your address and you’ll find information about all the candidates and questions on your ballot. Select your choices, print it out and bring it with you to the polls.

=If you’re going to the polls: The Philadelphia City Commissioners updated their polling place list last week. They have now assigned locations to 880 divisions, more than half of the city’s total of 1703. Almost all (94%) are the same as in 2019. They promise a complete list 20 days before the election. PA voters outside Philly can find their polling places (and find demonstration videos of their new voting machines) at VotesPA.com.

=Questions? We have answers in our Voting & Election Myths + FAQs. And find out everything you need to know about voting in 2020 with C70s’ WeVote site.

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VIDEO: Everything you need to know about voting by mail in Pennsylvania
Kristen Balderas, Raishad Hardnett, Lauren Schneiderman, Astrid Rodrigues, Philadelphia Inquirer.

In the 2020 presidential election, Pennsylvanians can vote by mail for the first time. Our data and democracy reporter, Jonathan Lai, can help you through it. And check out our How To Vote guide for everything you need to know about voting in Pennsylvania in 2020.

View video here.

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PA Supreme Court decision allowing drop boxes and a postmark deadline for accepting mail-in ballots also confirmed the requirement that voters enclose those ballots in the “secrecy envelope” provided in the ballot packets they receive.

Philly elections chief warns of ‘electoral chaos’ from Pa. Supreme Court ruling on ‘naked ballots’
Jonathan Lai, Philadelphia Inquirer
The state Supreme Court ordered elections officials to throw out what’s known as “naked ballots” — mail ballots that arrive without inner “secrecy envelopes.”
Read here.

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Pennsylvania: Mail ballots can’t be discarded over signature
Marc Levy, APNews.
With concerns rising in Pennsylvania that tens of thousands of mail-in ballots will be discarded in the presidential election over technicalities, officials in the presidential battleground told counties they aren’t allowed to reject a ballot solely because an election official believes a signature doesn’t match the one in the voter’s file.
Read here.

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Poll Workers Wanted!

Poll workers are key to any efficient election and we need your help recruiting people to be poll workers.
[#PhillyCounts]

• What: Sign up to be a poll worker on election day.

• Who: Anyone who is 18 years old and registered to vote can be a poll worker.

• When: Tuesday, November 3rd from 6:00am until the ballots are picked up at the end of the night.

• Where: Polling locations will be assigned by the City Commissioners office

• Why: Poll workers are essential to an efficient election. You can help make sure everyone can vote quickly and easily on election day.

• How: Sign up online and share on social media.

Poll workers receive a stipend for their time. Training is available online and in person.

Get Out The Count Update: 5 More Days to Take Action

Your Last Chance for the Next 10 Years

More than 40% of Philadelphians still need to be counted in the #2020Census. One of our seats in Congress are on the line.

Fill it out now: my2020census.gov #PhillyCounts.

Take part in the action! click here for options you can sign in.

PS: You may have seen the news [CNN] about the possible extension of the census deadline, but we want you to know this is not certain and we are continuing to work towards a September 30th deadline. While we are grateful for yesterday’s ruling, the federal administration is already trying to appeal the decision to extend the deadline.
With your help, we are urgently working to count every Philadelphian over the next five days! click here for options.

Work with SKCP! Now hiring a Greening Programs Coordinator.

// WE ARE NO LONGER ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR THIS POSITION //

Maintenance of vacant land, stewardship of community green spaces, and the creation and maintenance of our urban forest are essential components of SKCP’s efforts to enhance public safety, health, and quality of life in the Olde/South Kensington neighborhood. The Greening Programs Coordinator (GPC) plays a critical role in this work by managing vacant land and corridor maintenance contracts, supervising crews, developing new fee-for-service opportunities, and supporting workforce development. The GPC will also assist with community cleanup and greening efforts and facilitate neighbor-led efforts to create and preserve community green spaces.

For a full description of the position and application instructions, click here.

CITY OF PHILADELPHIA'S COVID-19 EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

City Increases Phase 2 COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance

The City of Philadelphia has made a significant change to the amount of rental assistance funding that is available for Phase 2 of the COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance Program. Now, RENT CAN BE PAID UP TO $1500.00!. This increase will automatically apply to tenants that have already applied for Phase 2 funding, as well as all new applicants.

IF YOU KNOW A LANDLORD THAT DID NOT WANT TO PARTICIPATE BECAUSE OF THE PREVIOUS ASSISTANCE LIMIT, PLEASE TELL THEM WORK WITH THEIR TENANT TO APPLY TODAY!!!!

Please visit https://phlrentassist.org/ for more information [pdf].

We are taking applications until September 30, 2020.

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Appeal the Decision Denying Your UC Benefits!

How to Appeal Your UC Decision During Covid19.
If you receive a Notice of Determination finding you ineligible for UC benefits and you disagree with the decision, you must file an appeal within 15 days of the decision’s mailing date. (* Even if you are outside the 15 days, still appeal. Given the public health crisis, there may be more leeway with late appeals. But try your very best to appeal on time.)

• Filing an Appeal by Email.
  Right now, the best way to submit your appeal is by email.
  You can email your appeal to UCAPPEALS@PA.GOV

• Filing an Appeal By Mail.
  The information necessary for sending your appeal by mail will be located on the back of most Notices of Determination issued by unemployment, including the name and address of the Unemployment Compensation Service Center that issued it.

Click here for more details.

VOTING Latest Updates!!

Pennsylvania Supreme Court Extends Vote By Mail Deadline, Allows Drop Boxes.
Sam Gringlas, NPR.

The court extended the deadline for accepting mail ballots, will allow voters to submit their ballots through drop boxes and removed the Green Party's candidate for president from the ballot. Mail ballots will now be accepted if they are received by 5 p.m. on the Friday after the election and were either postmarked by Nov. 3 or there is no evidence to suggest they were sent after Election Day. Previously, mail ballots had to be received by 8 p.m. on Election Day. Though the decision will enfranchise more voters — it will also mean that a final vote tally will take longer to certify. Under current Pennsylvania law, clerks cannot begin counting mail ballots until Election Day. In other rulings Thursday, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court also upheld a state law that poll watchers must be registered to vote in the county where they're observing the polls.

Read here.

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Poll Workers Wanted!

Poll workers are key to any efficient election and we need your help recruiting people to be poll workers.
[#PhillyCounts]

• What: Sign up to be a poll worker on election day.

• Who: Anyone who is 18 years old and registered to vote can be a poll worker.

• When: Tuesday, November 3rd from 6:00am until the ballots are picked up at the end of the night.

• Where: Polling locations will be assigned by the City Commissioners office

• Why: Poll workers are essential to an efficient election. You can help make sure everyone can vote quickly and easily on election day.

• How: Sign up online and share on social media.

Poll workers receive a stipend for their time. Training is available online and in person.

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Philly is opening 17 early voting locations across the city.  Here’s where. 

Jonathan Lai, Philadelphia Inquirer.

Early voting is coming to neighborhoods across Philadelphia. City elections officials are set to approve a plan next week to open 15 satellite elections offices — 14 are in public schools, one is in the Liacouras Center at Temple University — where voters can request, receive, fill out, and submit a mail ballot in one stop. People can also visit the offices to register to vote, request a mail ballot to take home and submit later, or to drop off a completed mail ballot. Those 15 temporary satellite offices are in addition to the two permanent elections offices, one in City Hall and one on Columbus Boulevard at Spring Garden Street.
Morehere.

No Internet?? Apply PHLConnectED

PHLConnectED will connect eligible K–12 student households with access to reliable internet service at no cost through June 2022.

Participants will not pay any out-of-pocket expenses or installation fees.

The program will also provide digital skills training and support.

More details here


To find out dial 211 or visit
www.phila.gov/phlconnected

Still Need to Respond the 2020 Census? Help is available.

12 DAYS LEFT!!

Your Last Chance for the Next 10 Years

There will a Census Numerator available to help fill the 2020 Census questionnaire at the Arab American CDC & South Kensington Community Partners Food Distribution event.

Saturdays starting at 4pm
1500 Germantown Avenue

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Philly Is Seriously Lagging in Its Census Response:
Which Could Be a Very Costly Problem
David Murrell, PhillyMag.com

Just 55 percent of city residents have returned their census responses — far below the state average of 69 percent. For each Philly resident who fails to fill out the form, Philly loses an estimated $20,000 in annual federal funding. Fortunately, it's not too late.

Remember the census? You could be forgiven for not keeping it top of mind. But the once-in-a-decade national population survey casts a very long shadow — determining everything from Pennsylvania’s number of seats in the House of Representatives to the amount of funding Philly receives from the federal government for transportation, housing, Medicare and more. Which means that ignoring the census now will be unequivocally bad for the future of Philadelphia.
The good news is that time isn’t up yet. But we are rapidly approaching the deadline of September 3oth. So in the spirit of public service — and in hopes of inspiring you to do the right thing — here’s a rundown of where things stand and what you need to know. If you haven’t yet filled out the census, you can do so right here.

Read more here.

Health & Housing: virtual service area briefing

SKCP COMMUNITY ZONING VIRTUAL MEETING

Wednesday, September 23th at 6.30 pm.

To register for the meeting click here.

You may also sign up by calling South Kensington Community Partners’ office at 215-427-3463 and leaving a message with your name and number. SKCP will provide reasonable accommodation to any neighbor that requests additional assistance with joining the meeting or otherwise submitting feedback on the project.

The sites to be discussed at the meeting are the following:

• 522 W BERKS ST, view here the plans.

• 1800-18 N 4TH ST (info only), view here the plans (updated)

• 1307 GERMANTOWN Av, view here the plans.

• 1400 N HOWARD ST (info only), view here the plans. 

Click here to view the details for each site.

We will have limited time for questions during the virtual meeting. To ensure your question is answered, please review project materials in advance of the meeting and submit any questions to rco@southkensingtoncommunity.org and include the project name in the email subject line.

FREE FOOD on SATURDAY

The Arab American CDC and South Kensington Community Partners continue to distribute FREE FOOD on Saturdays starting at 4 pm in the parking lot of Al Aqsa Islamic Society at 1501 Germantown Avenue. No ID or proof of income is needed. Distribution is "first come first serve" so it is best to arrive as close to 4 pm as possible. One allotment per family but you can pick up for an elder or neighbor. Offerings vary by week but can include fresh fruits and vegetables, milk, bread, chicken, and eggs. Masks are required and we ask that you maintain social distancing to protect yourself, our neighbors and volunteers.
We are able to do some local deliveries (19122/23): Please leave a message at 215-427-3463.

During the month of September, you can also come to the site to get assistance filling out your 2020 Census.

THANK YOU to the City of Philadelphia and the Share Food Program and much appreciation to neighborhood businesses Al Amana Grocery, Lost Bread, and Punch Buggy for their generous donations of time, space and product.

The American public can rely on the United States Postal Service to fulfill our role in the electoral process.

We provide a secure, efficient and effective way for citizens to participate when policymakers decide to use mail as part of their elections. We have a robust and tested process for proper handling and timely delivery of Election Mail.
Election Mail should not be confused with Political Mail, which is any material mailed for campaign purposes by a registered political candidate, campaign committee or committee of a political party, as well as any material mailed by a political action committee or organization engaging in issues advocacy or voter mobilization.

Click here for voter information.

PD: We work closely with election officials at all levels of government to provide recommendations on mail piece design, mailing preparation and entry, and delivery timing.

Get the Election Mail kit

West Poplar | Spring Arts Community CleanUp!

14th Ward RCO Announcement
Saturday, September 12th (and every 2nd Saturday of the month)
10 am to 12pm

West Poplar - Spring Arts community organization will be conducting their monthly Community Clean-up Day on Saturday, September 12, 2020.

Please see the attached flyer for more information.

The area of consideration is (10th to Broad and Spring Garden to Fairmount Ave). If you can, please come out and sweep in front of where you live. (Renter or Owner) Please be a part of the solution and not a part of the problem

La Esquina Garden Update

NEED HELP? SKCP's NAC Coordinator will be holding in-person office hours.

They will be held on Wednesdays and Fridays from 12pm to 4pm. You MUST make an appointment before visiting.
To select a slot for an appointment, please CLICK HERE and find the next available slot.
If you have any questions, or may need help outside of these hours, please contact me at rdavis@southkensingtoncommunity.org
or call (215) 427-3463.

The following links are some of the programs we can help you:

• EVICTION
  ^ Eviction Diversion Program (City of Philadelphia).
  Apply here.
  ^ Federal Eviction Program: eligibility requirements here.
  Philly Tenant Hotline 267-443-2500, www.phillytenant.org.

• RENTAL
  ^ COVID-19 Emergency Rental Assistance Program Phase 2.

• MORTGAGE
  ^ Pandemic Mortgage Assistance Program (PMAP)

• HOME REPAIR
  ^ Basic System Repair & Adaptive Modification Programs.

• UTILITIES
  ^ PWD, Water bill customer assistance.
  ^ PGW, Costumer Responsability Program (CRP) a way to cut gas bills.
  ^ PGW Parts & Labor Plan, begins on September 8th.
  Visit PGWPLP.com

• FOOD
  ^ SNAP Benefits may help pay for food

SKCP Virtual Community Meeting

Topic: Virtual Community Meeting
Time: Sep 16, 2020 01:00 PM

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85767860126

Meeting ID: 857 6786 0126

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Meeting ID: 857 6786 0126
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/k5ogcRCvF
There is no password to join.

FREE FOOD on SATURDAY & CENSUS 2020 Filing Assistance

During the month of September, you can also come to the site to get assistance filling out your 2020 Census

The Arab American CDC and South Kensington Community Partners continue to distribute FREE FOOD on Saturdays starting at 4 pm in the parking lot of Al Aqsa Islamic Society at 1501 Germantown Avenue.No ID or proof of income is needed. Distribution is "first come first serve" so it is best to arrive as close to 4 pm as possible. One allotment per family but you can pick up for an elder or neighbor. Offerings vary by week but can include fresh fruits and vegetables, milk, bread, chicken, and eggs. Masks are required and we ask that you maintain social distancing to protect yourself, our neighbors and volunteers.
We are able to do some local deliveries (19122/23): Please leave a message at 215-427-3463.

THANK YOU to the City of Philadelphia and the Share Food Program and much appreciation to neighborhood businesses Al Amana Grocery, Lost Bread, and Punch Buggy for their generous donations of time, space and product.

Are you Ready to Vote?

Register to Vote, Request a Mail-in Ballot Now!!There are significant delays with the mail service in Philadelphia, and it might affect the Vote Register requests and Mail-In Ballot requests, besides voting officials are expecting an high volume of requests that will stress the mail service even more.
Click here for Voter Registration Application, here for Voter Registration Status and here for Ballot Request Application

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Poll Workers Wanted!

Poll workers are key to any efficient election and we need your help recruiting people to be poll workers.
[#PhillyCounts]

• What: Sign up to be a poll worker on election day.

• Who: Anyone who is 18 years old and registered to vote can be a poll worker.

• When: Tuesday, November 3rd from 6:00am until the ballots are picked up at the end of the night.

• Where: Polling locations will be assigned by the City Commissioners office

• Why: Poll workers are essential to an efficient election. You can help make sure everyone can vote quickly and easily on election day.

• How: Sign up online and share on social media.

Poll workers receive a stipend for their time. Training is available online and in person.

FEDERAL EVICTION MORATORIUM

A CDC ban on some evictions through the end of the year goes into effect Sep. 3; eligibility requirements are listed here (English/Spanish). [BillyPenn]

The Philadelphia Eviction Prevention Project is a joint effort of: Clarifi, Community Legal Services, Legal Clinic for the Disabled, Philadelphia VIP, SeniorLAW Center, and Tenant Union Representative Network.

Philly Tenant Hotline 267-443-2500, www.phillytenant.org

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What tenants need to know
Housing advocates prep for worst-case scenario on evictions
Claudia Lauer, The Philadelphia Tribune

Patel (Vik Patel, a staff attorney in the housing unit of Community Legal Services) said tenants should ask to see the order allowing a lockout and should ask to see the identification of anyone attempting to forcefully evict them, because a sheriff’s officer or a landlord tenant officer who works with the court must perform a legal lockout. “Every day I end up calling a landlord to have a stern conversation about trying to illegally lock someone out or turn off their utilities,” he said. Patel said that there is a legal process that has to be followed, and that there are consequences if it is not followed. He urged tenants to call the police or the Philly Tenant hotline if their landlord does not have a court order or tries to personally lock them out.

More here.

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Here are six ways to avoid eviction in Philadelphia
Zari Tarazona, Kensington Voice

Community Legal Services provides free civil legal services to low-income people in Philadelphia, including same-day representation at eviction hearings. The Urban League of Philadelphia, an affiliate of the National Urban League, is a nonpartisan civil rights organization that provides Black people and underserved communities with a variety of services, like housing counseling.
To help Philadelphians avoid eviction, the Lincoln Financial Foundation’s Community Connections initiative — in partnership with The Urban League of Philadelphia and Community Legal Services — hosted an eviction prevention webinar on Aug. 18. You can also watch a full recording of the event here. Tip: You might need to register in order to see the recording.

Here are six tips for people facing eviction, taken from the webinar and additional reporting by Kensington Voice

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Philadelphia has stepped in with a stopgap. A new policy announced requires landlords in the city to first apply for mediation before they start new actions to kick out tenants.
The City of Philadelphia’s Eviction Diversion Program enables landlords and tenants to arrive at an agreement that works for both parties, without having to go to Court. This program is required for all landlords with tenants who have had difficulty paying rent due to a COVID-19 related hardship. Benefits of diversion and mediation include helping tenants avoid an eviction, while also helping landlords avoid vacancies and unit turnover costs.
To schedule a mediation, landlords must first submit an application through the web portal (link below). Once it is confirmed that the application is complete, the landlord and tenant will be scheduled for a mediation within 30 days.

More about the process is laid out on PHLEvictionDiversion.com. Apply here.

Assistance for Children & Families Updates

Access Centers

If you work outside of your home and can’t afford or access childcare for your child (grades K-6), you may be eligible to register with an Access Center. The City and community partners will open Access Centers to provide supervised, connected spaces where children entering K-6th grade can participate in digital learning provided by their school.
Access centers are not drop-in centers. Families must begin registration by filling out the registration interest form or calling the registration line (215-709-5366) and must receive confirmation of their eligibility and registration in order to bring their child to an Access Center.
Access Centers will begin serving students on Tuesday, September 8.
For more information, including a map of sites, visit phila.gov/AccessCenters.

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Childcare for school-age children

Childcare is available for school-age children through programs across the city. Philadelphia’s Early Learning Resource Center (ELRC) can help you find a childcare program and apply for a subsidy.

Visit philadelphiaelrc18.org
or call 1-888-461-KIDS (1-889-461-5437)

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More support for families.

Visit phila.gov/food to find free, healthy food for you and your family.

The School District of Philadelphia, starting September 3, the number of sites offering meals to go will be EXPANDED. See the revised list here. Note: All summer school meal locations will remain active EXCEPT Lincoln & Furness, where last day of service will be August 27th. Additional sites have been added

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How to Apply Online for SNAP in PA.

While you can always call our SNAP hotline, you may not want to wait to connect with a SNAP counselor or prefer to apply on your own. We know COMPASS can be extremely confusing, so we’ve created a guide to assist you through the process. Our guide includes step-by-step instructions, frequently asked questions, tips to navigate the application successfully, and a glossary of important terms and programs. And once you navigate the application process through COMPASS, we hope you feel comfortable using the online myCOMPASS feature to manage your benefits, or the myCOMPASS mobile app from your smartphone. We hope this guide makes the process of applying for benefits easier! Click here for more information and to download the guide.

SNAP Hotline team continues to answer questions and help households navigate the SNAP application process through our SNAP Hotline at 215-430-0556, Monday – Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. With the end of Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (PUC) and continued economic hardship, we are seeing a steady increase in calls to our SNAP Hotline.

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Family Academy: Virtual Courses and Training (FACT)

Welcome to Family Academy!
FACT is offering virtual opportunities for parents to learn the skills and tools needed to support their child through any academic endeavor. Do you need tips for supporting your child’s remote learning? Or just a few tips to help deal with stress? Our courses can help you accomplish your goals.

More information click here.

PHONE SCAM ALERT!!

No legit COVID-19 contact tracer will ask you these questions
Julie Appleby, Kaiser Health News, [Philadelphia Inquirer}

State officials and federal agencies warn there’s a new phone scam circulating: Some callers posing as COVID-19 contact tracers try to pry credit card or bank account information from unsuspecting victims. The grifters apparently are taking advantage of a genuine public health intervention that’s crucial to stopping the spread of the novel coronavirus: contact tracing.
In one such scheme, detailed in a warning from the Montana attorney general, scammers tell their victims, “I’m calling from your local health department to let you know that you have been in contact with someone who has COVID-19.” Then they move in for the kill, asking for payment information “before we continue.”
Don’t fall for that, say public health advocates and officials. Legitimate contact tracers don’t ask for payment or seek other financial information. More details here.

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LISTEN: Contact tracers are detectives, social workers and telemarketers.

Detective, social worker, telemarketer: Contact tracers wear many hats.
The Why: Philly Explained

Ranem Atia works as a contact tracer and case investigator for the Philadelphia Department of Health, playing a critical role for understanding where and how fast COVID-19 is spreading and, ultimately, for saving lives. It’s not an easy job. To do this work effectively, Ranem and her fellow contact tracers need to be be good detectives, social workers and telemarketers.
Listen to this episode of The Why.