Resolution 241119

..Title Authorizing The Special Committee on Kensington to conduct hearings regarding the year-end report on the Kensington Community Revival Plan (KCR) and its effects on the community. ..Body WHEREAS, On Thursday, April 11th 2024, marking Mayor Cherelle Parker's 100th day in office, Mayor Parker visited Russell Conwell Middle School where she laid out a new five-phase initiative called the Kensington Community Revival (KCR) Plan; and WHEREAS, The Kensington Community Revival Plan is a key component of Mayor Parker's Executive Order No. 1-24, aimed at developing strategies to address the open-air drug market in Kensington and improve quality-of-life issues, including homelessness, prostitution, and addiction; and WHEREAS, According to Mayor Parker's 100-day report, the Kensington Community Revival Plan outlines seven key goals: (1) identify, establish, and resource a cross-functional implementation team for Kensington; (2) establish and maintain a network of community partnerships; (3) secure, stabilize, and maintain the Kensington Avenue corridor and surrounding corners; (4) eliminate open-air drug use and narcotics sales; (5) remove the presence of drug users; (6) reduce shooting incidents; and (7) improve environmental and economic conditions; and WHEREAS, The Kensington Community Revival Plan seeks to achieve its goals through the implementation of five phases, beginning with Warning and Opportunity, where City officials will issue warnings to individuals living on the streets and direct them to resources for housing and treatment; and WHEREAS, The second phase, Law Enforcement & the Community's Establishment of Goals and Expectations, focuses on an increased police presence targeting drug sales and quality-of-life crimes, with an emphasis on enforcement to reduce criminal activity and enhance public safety; and WHEREAS, The third phase, Securing the Neighborhood, involves City leaders' efforts to secure and beautify the neighborhood, ensuring a safer and more welcoming environment for residents; and WHEREAS, The Community Transition phase seeks to transition control of the neighborhood back to the community, fostering local engagement and sustainable community development; and WHEREAS, The final phase, Stability, focuses on maintaining the improvements made through the previous phases, ensuring long-term sustainability and continued community well-being; and WHEREAS, The executed efforts to combat the Kensington crisis by the administration included completing a month-long encampment clearance process, during which City workers and advocates engaged with individuals experiencing homelessness, informing them of the forthcoming removal from the streets and offering access to treatment services; and WHEREAS, As a result of these efforts, following the clearing of all homeless encampments in the Kensington area on May 8th 2024, 59 individuals accepted housing and services, with 55 of them- including three couples- being connected to housing assistance, and four individuals receiving support for drug and alcohol treatment services; and WHEREAS, The administration has also increased police presence in the Kensington area by deploying 75 new police recruits from the Philadelphia Police Academy, who began patrolling the area on June 18th 2024; and WHEREAS, In addition to executing the seven key goals of the Kensington Community Revival Plan, the implementation of measures such as improved street lighting, regulating unlicensed mobile providers, removal of abandoned cars, continued enforcement of drug distribution and possession, reducing excessive noise, proper maintenance of parks and recreation centers, ensuring safe access to public transportation, increasing affordable housing units, consistent trash pickup, managing pest infestations, and securing and regularly maintaining public lots are all critical actions that will significantly improve the quality of life in Kensington; and WHEREAS, Poor street lighting and unsecured public lots create an environment where crime, particularly drug-related activity, can thrive, worsening the drug epidemic in Kensington and hindering efforts to address addiction and illegal sales in the community; and WHERAS, The implementation of safe corridors for children must be prioritized to ensure they have secure pathways to and from school and community centers. The school district and the administration should develop a comprehensive plan for designated safe corridors that focus on pedestrian safety, allowing children to navigate their neighborhoods without fear of harm; and WHEREAS, A hearing is necessary to address critical questions that remain unresolved by the administration, particularly regarding the status and operations of the proposed wellness centers, the collaboration between the police department, diversion programs, and hospitals, and the procedures for admitting patients with substance use disorders; and WHEREAS, A hearing is also needed to gather information on regulations and enforcement related to open-air fires (both contained and uncontained), the approval and retraction process for feeding permits, the list of authorized individuals for needle distribution, and the status of the City-wide dashboard for treatment beds. now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, The Special Committee on Kensington is authorized to conduct hearings regarding the year-end report on the Kensington Community Revival Plan (KCR) and its effects on the community. ..End