SKCP COMMUNITY ZONING VIRTUAL MEETING

Wednesday, NOVEMBER 18th 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:

• 6.30pm 1643-51 N 6TH STREET (info only), view here the plans.

• 7.00pm 1700 N HOWARD STREET, view here the plans.

• 7.45pm 1400 N HOWARD STREET, view here the plans.

• 8.15pm 1334 N HANCOCK STREET, 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.

IRS extends Economic Impact Payment deadline to Nov. 21 to help non-filers

The Internal Revenue Service announced today that the deadline to register for an Economic Impact Payment (EIP) is now November 21, 2020 at 3 p.m. ET. This new date will provide an additional five weeks beyond the original deadline.
The IRS urges people who don't typically file a tax return – and haven't received an Economic Impact Payment – to register as quickly as possible using the Non-Filers: Enter Info Here tool on IRS.gov. The tool will not be available after November 21.

Special note: This additional time into November is solely for those who have not received their EIP and don't normally file a tax return. For taxpayers who requested an extension of time to file their 2019 tax return, that deadline date remains October 15.

Anyone using the Non-Filers tool can speed the arrival of their payment by choosing to receive it by direct deposit. Those not choosing this option will get a check. Beginning two weeks after they register, people can track the status of their payment using the Get My Payment tool, available only on IRS.gov.

Read more here.

UTILITY SHUTOFFS COMING SOON!!

Utility shutoffs are starting again in Philly. Here’s what to do if you’re behind on your bills.

Nick Vadala, Philadelphia Inquirer

If you’re behind on your utility bills, you could soon face a shutoff. Starting Nov. 9, Pennsylvania utilities are allowed to cut off nonpaying customers, ending a moratorium from the start of the coronavirus pandemic.

But don’t panic, you may be protected.
Service terminations, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission voted last month, can resume for PUC-regulated utilities PECO and PGW, says Joline Price, a staff attorney with Community Legal Services of Philadelphia’s energy unit. (The Philadelphia Water Department, which is not regulated by the PUC, is not allowed to shut off customers until April 1, 2021.) But if you’re low-income or financially struggling, you may be a “protected customer,” and be able to avoid a shutoff. It’s not automatic, however. You’ll need to be proactive and show that you should be protected, says Price.

So what do you need to do to avoid a shutoff? Click here to know what you need.

The Pennsylvania ban on utility shutoffs was recently updated, meaning some utility customers may start getting shutoff notices. However, many low-income customers should be protected from utility shutoff as long as they follow certain steps.

Click here to view the steps to follow.

Click here for more information about LIHEAP and to apply online click here.

PGW CONNECTS CUSTOMERS TO PAYMENT ASSISTANCE AS MORATORIUM ENDS

Beginning next week, Philadelphia Gas Works (PGW) will contact nearly 50,000 customers who are behind on their natural gas bills to connect them with PGW’s payment assistance programs, to make payment arrangements, or notify PGW of your household income to determine if you are eligible for protection from further action.
With the Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission lifting its service termination moratorium on Nov. 9, the Commission required utilities to notify customers who may be at risk of termination for non-payment of available programs. PGW urges customers facing financial challenges to contact PGW immediately at 215-235-1000, Monday-Friday, between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. to explore their options for maintaining service.
Among the payment assistance programs for customers is PGW’s Customer Responsibility Program (CRP), which was recently modified to further reduce monthly bill amounts for low-income customers enrolled in the program. CRP helps low-income households better afford their bills and receive forgiveness of past debt. Based on household income, customers enrolled in CRP could pay as little as 4 percent of their monthly income on their PGW bill.

More here.

Planting bulbs offers us the glimmer of hope that we all need

Spring bulbs can be planted within existing perennial beds. Pairings with spring-flowering perennials can be particularly effective. Here, Dutch garden designer Jacqueline van der Kloet has produced a hot color scheme with daffodils, tulips, wallflowers and spurges.

Adrian Higgins, Philadelphia Inquirer

Bulb-planting in the fall is always an act of hope. This year, it becomes a form of therapy. When the crocuses, daffodils, and tulips next flower, we will be assured of at least one thing: It won’t be 2020.
From a practical standpoint, it’s difficult to mess up with bulbs; they are little packages programmed to grow and bloom. All they need is some moisture and the enduring cold soil of winter to shoot up and flower early next year. The next few weeks are the prime bulb-planting season, but these wee packets of spring can go in anytime before the ground freezes. I’d get to this sooner rather than later, though. In the hyper-domestic pandemic paradigm, many people are jumping on bulb-planting as a way of doing something for and around their homes, and varieties are selling out.

Read more here.

Small Business Survey

The Federal Reserve is looking specifically for information around three main areas:

1. general information about your business,

2. how COVID has impacted sales, operations, or other areas,

3. your business forecast for the future.

Complete the Federal Reserve Bank’s Small Business Credit Survey by October 31st, and share how your business has been impacted by COVID-19.

Rent & Mortgage Assistance

To apply click here.

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Deadline for Rental Assistance applications extended until November 4th

There have been two rounds of rental assistance for Philadelphia tenants. One, Phase 2, is opened again for applications. The other, Phase 1, accepted applications in mid-May. In both phases the landlord must agree to participate.

If you applied for Phase 1 you can still apply for Phase 2. If you were selected for assistance in Phase 1 you can still apply for Phase 2. If you were found to be ineligible for Phase 1 you can still apply for Phase 2. Phase 2 has different guidelines, so it is possible to get assistance in both phases.
PHDC accepted applications for Phase 1 in mid-May. Tenants who applied can check the status of their application or ask for help.

More details here.

IF YOU KNOW A LANDLORD OR TENANT THAT DID NOT WANT TO PARTICIPATE BECAUSE OF THE DEADLINE, PLEASE LET THEM KNOW THE DEADLINE HAS BEEN EXTENDED!!!!

DAO: Virtual One Stop Job & Resource Hub

Thursday, November 5th, 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Link: zoom.us/j/91783044322
or call 301-715.8592
More information: G. Lamar Stewart glamar.stewart@phila.gov

VOTE!! News & Latest Updates

Election Protection & Info Hotlines

For information about voting or to report problems at your polling place, call:
Election Protection Hotlines

• ENGLISH 866-OUR-VOTE 866-687-8683

• SPANISH/ENGLISH 888-VE-Y-VOTA 888-839-8682

• ASIAN LANGUAGES/ENGLISH 888-API-VOTE 888-274-8683

• ARABIC/ENGLISH 844-YALLA-US 844-925-5287

More details here.

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Drop off your Mail in Ballot at your county Mail in Ballot return location now!

Where do I return my ballot or vote in person?

IMPORTANT: Voters who have not yet cast their mail or absentee ballot are urged to hand-deliver their voted ballots as soon as possible to their county election office or other county drop off location or drop box. Ballots must be delivered by 8pm on Election Day but the sooner the better.
Voters should no longer use postal service delivery as it is too late to guarantee your ballot will be delivered in time.

More details here.

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What to expect on Election Day
The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Who's on your ballot in Pennsylvania?
By now you know the familiar names that'll be on your ballot. For president, you'll see Trump-Pence, Biden-Harris, and a Libertarian ticket. But Pennsylvania will also select representatives for Congress, state legislature, and some statewide offices.

Election Day voting
If you plan to vote in person on Nov. 3, there are a few things you should do and know beforehand.

• You should check your voter registration info.

• Find your polling place. It might not be the same one you've gone to in the past.

• The voting machines might be different from what you've used previously.

• Bring an ID if this is your first time voting in your precinct.

• On Election Day, polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. If you are in line to vote by 8 p.m., you should be allowed to cast a ballot.

Potential issues
There are also some voting issues that have popped up this year, that might not have been as widely discussed in the past — if at all. Some examples:

• You need to make sure your mail ballot isn't naked. (And, if you think you submitted a naked ballot, you can still make your vote count.)

• There are increased fears about voter intimidation.

• There are ways to engage friends and family who say they aren't going to vote at all.

Don't expect Pennsylvania's results right away
In Pennsylvania, there are key things that may remain unknown Tuesday night. For mail ballots, it's unclear how many will arrive after Election Day. We also don't know how turnout will differ across various areas and whether post-election litigation will impact the speed at which ballots are counted.
What you will and won't know on Election Night in Pennsylvania.

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Voting Info and Election Day Volunteering

MOST URGENT: IF ANYONE YOU KNOW HAS A MAIL-IN BALLOT NOT YET RETURNED, GET THEM TO COMPLETE AND RETURN IT NOW!! Dropbox or Election Office dropoff is ideal, if available; otherwise put into the mail today! Details in our Voting Essentials Guide in Item I below. Don’t let anyone miss this chance to determine our future.

I. Updated Info in these Gift Guides!
Linked here is a NEWLY UPDATED Voting Essentials Guide with all you need to know to vote correctly in PA (including how to find your polling location!), plus this Voting COVID Safety Guide. Please use and share freely.

Your vote matters - make it count, and stay safe!

II. Help Still Needed for Election Day - New Options!
Nonpartisan Election Protection Volunteers are needed all across Pennsylvania for Election Day to help ensure a safe and fair election. Some volunteers are still needed in Philadelphia and the collar counties, and if you’re willing to travel farther afield, that’s gold! Training is this week and weekend, so hurry!

Here are 2 options:
1 - Election Protection Volunteers will represent nonpartisan collectives working outside election sites to assist voter needs from fielding questions to handling long lines to alerting authorities to any problems. Come from any location. Virtual trainings. Here are 4 great groups still welcoming volunteers:
A - Volunteer with Working Families here (Philadelphia and statewide)
B - Volunteer with OnePA here (Philadelphia, Delaware and Allegheny counties)
C - Volunteer with CASA here (Montgomery, Chester, Dauphin, Lancaster, York counties)
D - Bilingual? Volunteer with Make the Road PA here (Philadelphia, Allentown and Reading)

2 - If you prefer to volunteer remotely, there are also nonpartisan Digital Election Protection Volunteer roles to monitor social media, phone and text hotlines. Sign up here.

NOTE: If you applied to be a poll worker or poll observer and haven’t heard yet, please register for this backup opportunity - this is an equally vital role! If you’re contacted last minute with a poll-worker placement, you can cancel your Election Protection Volunteer shift to spend Election Day as a poll worker, if you prefer.

School Immunization Clinics

The School Immunization Clinics will be held at 12 schools across the city on Wednesdays from 1:00pm to 5:00pm and Saturdays from 10:00am to 2:00pm. The school-based immunization clinics start on October 31 and end on November 21, 2020. The first 40 people to complete the vaccination process at each School Immunization Clinic will receive a FREE $10 CVS Pharmacy gift card!

View School Immunization Clinic Locations

To learn more about School Immunization Clinics, immunization requirements, and options available to students without insurance, please visit www.philasd.org/vax.

GUN BUY BACK & Bucks for Bullets

North Philly Gun Buyback & Bucks for Bullets
Moore's Memorial Baptist Church
1421 W. Dauphin Street
October 24, 2020
1:00pm - 5:00pm

Philadelphia FIGHT’s Institute for Community Justice will be partnering with the Mann Up Association and the Philadelphia Police Department’s 22nd District to host a Gun Buyback and Bucks for Bullets event.
Turn in guns & bullets, NO QUESTIONS ASKED, and get a ShopRite or Visa gift card!
For more information, contact ICJ’s Reentry Center Manager at apowell@fight.org at (215) 985-4448 ext 405. More details here.

L&I just announced changes to streamline the solar process

Julie Hancher, GreenPhilly

Getting solar in Philadelphia just got a little bit easier. The city announced today that solar projects will be allowed to use a new EZ permit for qualifying installations up to 10 kilowatts in capacity. Combined with a rollout of online permitting, it should be an easier, faster, and more affordable option.
Solarize Philly is offering an additional “EZ Permit Discount” of $250 to participants who sign a contract before November 30th. The Pennsylvania Energy Authority (PEA) encourages interested residents to sign up on Solarize Philly’s website, and candidates will be referred to Solar States for a free solar assessment. Households that qualify based on income will be invited to participate in the Solar Savings Progam, which pairs grants and financing for low-to-moderate-income households.

More details here.

COVID Alert PA App

COVID Alert PA is the official mobile app by the Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH) that uses the Exposure Notification System (ENS) provided by Apple and Google.

You can now add your phone to the fight against COVID-19 by going to the Google Play Store or Apple App Store and downloading the free COVID Alert PA app to your smartphone. The app runs on iPhones that support iOS 13.5 and higher, and Android phones running Android 6.0 and higher. The app is not intended to be used by people under 18 years of age.
After you download COVID Alert PA to your smartphone, you can opt-in to receive alerts if you have had a potential exposure to someone who tested positive for COVID-19. COVID Alert PA works in Pennsylvania, and when you travel to other locations in the United States including Delaware, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Washington D.C., Wyoming, and some parts of California.

Read here.

VOTING UPDATES...

Map: Philly election offices where voters can register, request a mail ballot, and drop it off
BillyPenn Staff.

There are also secure drop boxes for casting your early mail vote.
Philadelphia voters can visit satellite election offices across the city to cast their votes early in the 2020 general election. They’re mostly located inside public schools, and will be open seven days a week, with hours of 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday to Thursday, and 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Find a list and map of the locations here.

When you visit, you can do any or all of the following, all in one trip:

• Register to vote

• Change your registration (if you moved or changed your name)

• Apply for and get approved for a mail ballot

• Request a new mail ballot if yours hasn’t arrived yet

• Fill out your mail ballot

• Seal your ballot in the secrecy envelope, place it in the outer envelope, sign your name, and return your ballot

The deadline for the city to receive mail ballots has been extended to 5 p.m. on Nov. 6, the Friday following Election Day, for any ballots sent through the mail on or before Nov. 3.

• Important: In order for mail ballots to count, they must be enclosed in the special secrecy envelope that fits within the regular envelope. (No “naked ballots.”).

• If you applied to vote by mail but decide you want to vote in person on Nov. 3 instead, you can bring your ballot to your designated polling place — as well as both envelopes — and hand it to the poll worker. The judge of elections will need to hold up the line and fill out an affadavit, after which you can then step into the voting booth.

More details here.

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How to make sure your vote still counts if you think you submitted a ‘naked ballot’ in Pennsylvania
Jonathan Lai, Philadelphia Inquirer

Worried you submitted a “naked ballot” in Pennsylvania? You can still make sure your vote is counted. Voters who turned in mail ballots that they fear could be rejected because they made a mistake — such as not using the inner secrecy envelope — can go to the polls on Election Day and use a provisional ballot that would ultimately be counted, the Pennsylvania Department of State said this week. “If the voter believes that he/she has not returned or cast the ballot successfully or otherwise contests his/her ballot status, the poll worker shall provide the voter a provisional ballot,” the department, which oversees elections, said in new guidance to local officials issued Wednesday. That provides a solution for voters who may inadvertently turn in a naked or otherwise flawed ballot and realize it before Nov. 3.

More details here.

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Haven't received your Pennsylvania mail ballot yet? Here's what to do.
Jonathan Lai, Philadelphia Inquirer

There are a lot of ballots moving around right now.
In the first election in which any Pennsylvania voter can use mail ballots, 2.8 million voters have requested and been approved to vote by mail. While many voters have already received their ballots and submitted their votes, others have been left worrying: Has my ballot been lost? Did I miss something up in my application? Will I have time to vote with it?

Breathe. You’ve got options.

Click here for details.

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Paid jobs to Support Voting in Philly - Apply Now!

There are several paid opportunities to help the City on election day and at early vote centers, plus some administrative work to support the overall effort. Please take a look and apply directly now if you are interested:

• 1. Additional election day work - "Rovers".
  The City of Philadelphia and City Commissioners are organizing a Roving Program to provide additional support outside polling places across the city.
  

• 2. Clerical Assistants May Be Needed for Early Voting Centers.
  Clerical Assistants will engage in a variety of clerical tasks, including but not limited to: data entry and processing, filing, and proof-reading.
  

• 3. Additional opportunities to provide administrative support to the Philadelphia elections administration team.
  Multiple openings and start dates!

Job Details here.

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Time is running out: Visit One-Stop (Satellite Offices) locations that are available where you can request mail ballot and drop it off all at once. See BillyPenn article below for more details.

• Already mailed your ballot, track it here. If you have not mailed your ballot yet, then visit a drop off box or satellite office.
  Call this number: 215-686-3940, if the website to track you ballot is down.
  

• If you plan to vote in person on November 3rd: use your address to find your polling place. There are fewer polling places in the neighborhood than in past elections.

Car Theft Alert!!

SKCP COMMUNITY ZONING VIRTUAL MEETING

Wednesday, OCTOBER 28th 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:

• 1801-59 N American Street (Info only), view here the plans.

• 1800-18 N 4TH Street, view here the plans .

• 1705 N American Street, view here the plans.

• 1640 N Hancock Street (Info only), view here the plans. 

• 214 W Oxford Street, 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.

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SKCP VIRTUAL COMMUNITY MEETING

Please note that must register in advance to be granted access.

Click here to register.

Short-term Training for Careers in the Health & Wellness Fields.

Community College of Philadelphia.
Wednesday, Oct. 28
6 to 7:30 p.m.

If you’re looking to start a career in the popular health and wellness industry, don’t miss this information session. Community College of Philadelphia offers a variety of workforce development certificate programs in online and hybrid-learning formats that give you the skills you need for entry-level employment.

Featured programs include:
-Dental Assisting
-Massage Therapy
-Dialysis Technician
-Phlebotomy
-Pharmacy Technician
-Clinical Medical Assistant
-EKG Technician

Want to learn more? Register to learn about program requirements, cost and employment opportunities. It’s time to navigate your future toward success!

RSVP Here. We will email you the Zoom login information before the session.

FAQ: What you need to know about masks and covid-19

Allyson Chiu, Washington Post

At this stage in the novel coronavirus pandemic, masks are a fact of life. A majority of states and businesses have mask mandates, and mounting scientific evidence supports wearing them. Below we’ve compiled answers to some of the most commonly asked questions surrounding masks and how to navigate pandemic life in them. These recommendations are drawn from previously published Washington Post articles and new interviews with medical professionals and public health experts who have been on the front lines of this pandemic. Please keep in mind that as the novel coronavirus continues to be studied and understood, masking advice may change, and we will update this FAQ accordingly.
Read here.

PA Unemployment Chatbot

With unemployment hotline overloaded and stimulus on hold, PA boosts chatbot 90x. If Congress approves a new package, benefits would be retroactive through September.
Layla A. Jones, BillyPenn

If you’re one of the many people chasing info on unemployment compensation in Pennsylvania, communication should soon get better, at least online. With the state’s phone hotline notoriously hard to get through, the Department of Labor and Industry is bulking up a new chatbot feature. Right now, the website can handle just 500 simultaneous chats, but that’ll ramp up to 50k by the end of the year, a spokesperson told Billy Penn.
A 24/7 virtual assistant that can answer about 450 commonly asked unemployment compensation questions — including queries from employers — the bot is an update to the already existing UC Live Chat, which connects users with actual unemployment office staff via instant messaging.

Read here.

WATER BILL ASSISTANCE!!

Request water bill assistance before shutoffs restart in 2021

The Philadelphia Water Department and PhilaRevenue took the bold step of extending COVID-19 emergency water-protection measures. That means residential and commercial water customers won’t be shut off until April 1, 2021 –even in the case non-payments.

However, if you’re not paying your water bill, your balance will continue to grow and become harder to manage once shutoffs restart. Get ahead of the problem by applying for water bill help today: www.phila.gov/water-bill-help. A loss of income during the pandemic may qualify you for special assistance.

CLICK HERE to Learn how to tell if you are eligible for a Water Customer Assistance Program.