Claire Robin

Embellishment fees, charges for specific services, are included on the annual property tax bill. The fees are based on a property's front footage. To figure out an embellishment charge, the embellishment rate is multiplied by the property's front footage. For corner properties, the front footage comprises 1/3 of the longer side's footage plus the full footage of the lot's shorter side. Service Rate Average Homestead Charge Street Cleaning 2.485 $99.40 Roadway Snow Plowing 1.541 $61.64 Sidewalk Snow Plowing 0.906 $36.24 Hazardous Sidewalk Repair 0.958 $38.32 Total 5.89 $235.60

It is paid for by an embellishment fee on property taxes, averaging out to under $40/year per address. This, my friends, is a BARGAIN. Would the neighbor kid clear your walk *all winter* for only $40? A private service?
#PlowSidewalksToo

www.cityofrochester.gov/departments/...

In February, 7-year-old Dolma Naadhun was crossing the intersection of Newtown Road and 45th Street in Astoria with her mother and sister when the driver of a 2021 Ford Explorer blew through a stop sign, striking and killing Dolma. One month later, New York City Department of Transportation commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez visited the crash site with other officials, met with community members demanding a traffic signal be installed, and promised to make changes to the street - including "daylighting" the intersection using curb extensions and plastic bollards. State assemblymember Zohran Mamdani also visited the scene that day and realized that something else needed to change. "When you take a step back and think about traffic violence in New York City," he said, "you start to understand that this is a systemic issue that is incentivized by the policies that we have in place with regard to the design of our streets and what kind of vehicles we allow to be on our roads." Whether a driver runs a stop sign or a red light, statistically, certain cars - namely, bigger SUVs and trucks - are more likely to kill a 7-year-old. This is why Mamdani is co- introducing legislation for a weight-based vehicle-registration fee intended to discourage people from purchasing heavier vehicles. "The car industry is pushing the sale of heavier and larger vehicles," he says. "The state has to make it clear that these types of vehicles come with a certain kind of cost."

soar above adult shoulders. But there may be another way to disincentivize the purchases of such vehicles, says Edwards. "One other potential idea would be for someone, maybe a city's DOT, to start keeping a list of the different makes and models of vehicles that are killing pedestrians and cyclists, or kids specifically, and post that publicly," he says. "That could bring awareness to which cars are more dangerous and also potentially affect insurance rates, which would possibly convince people not to buy certain cars." There's a bit of accountability in New York's bill, which would require the State DOT to track all fatal crashes by vehicle weight. But the other encouraging aspect of the proposal is that the collected fees stay local, by county, and, after the annual dedications to highway, bridge, and transit trust funds are met, a full 75 percent of the funds raised will go toward safety improvements like bike lanes, bollards, road diets, pedestrianization of streets, and raised crosswalks. This means the neighborhoods most impacted by large vehicles are likely to see the biggest changes. And that might be the most important part of the legislation, says Mamdani. "This is an initiative to make our streets safer for our children," he says. "And we are making sure a significant portion of this funding goes toward creating the very streetscapes that we know will save their lives."

Two years ago I interviewed a 31-year-old NY state assemblymember about a 7-year-old girl killed by an SUV driver in his district. I hung up the phone, astonished that I'd talked to a legislator who so thoughtfully articulated what actually needs to change on our streets.

He'll make a great mayor

3 dead after car crashes into coffee truck, pedestrians in Astoria Eyewitnesses said the vehicle was speeding before slamming into the parked coffee truck.

A devastating crash in Astoria has left three people dead. I'm heartbroken for the victims and their loved ones.

We can't normalize this. It's time to commit to streets that are safe for everyone.

Today #SEPTA released a budget proposal that includes 45% in service cuts, fare increases, workforce reductions, and a 9PM curfew for all rail services to address structural budget deficit for the new fiscal year that starts July 1, 2025. For more information please visit septa.org/fundingcrisis/.

(relatedly, this is why doomerism is bad. it can always be worse!)

What if SEPTA buses got longer green lights, shorter red lights? A yearlong pilot will find out The city is preparing to test technology that would give SEPTA buses priority at traffic signals, in an effort to improve bus speed and reliability.

At 20 intersections testing the technology, approaching buses will be given priority with an extended green light or a shortened red light. The city has not decided on bus routes for the pilot, but a SEPTA spokesman says Route 47 is a good candidate. www.audacy.com/kywnewsradio...

thank you to Kendrick and the Eagles for making terrible people angry tonight

"the high cost of free parking" is a book that legit rewired my brain. RIP to a great scholar

Most of us can only dream of our work having a fraction of the positive real world impact of Donald Shoup's. But *all* of us can emulate his kindness, generosity, curiosity, and humor. Live your life so people remember how you made them feel as much as how you made them think. Memory, blessing.

Former State Rep. Kevin Boyle has landed a job in Mayor Cherelle L. Parker’s administration The seven-term state representative lost his bid for reelection amid extraordinary circumstances, including his family expressing concerns about his mental health.

Mayor Parker has now hired at least three disgraced Philly politicians to vague outreach or comms jobs

Her office couldn’t say if any of these jobs were ever posted publicly, or if any of the candidates submitted resumes or formal applications
www.inquirer.com/politics/phi...

Yo some dude brought a grill on the SEPTA BUS in Philly 😭😭😭

A photo of the Ford F-150 Lightning used in the New Orleans terrorist attack, surrounded by law enforcement officers.

The truck used in the New Orleans terrorist attack is a Ford F-150 Lightning, which is perfectly designed for this kind of attack.

It weighs more than 6000 lbs, accelerates to 60 mph in just 4 seconds, and the battering-ram-shaped front is nearly 5 feet tall. Deadly by design.

Menorah in the shape of a bike. Two candles are lit. Another menorah is behind it. It sits on tin foil with two dreidels.

Happy Hanukkah!

I want to clarify that I do think this is a HUGE win and many thanks to all the advocates. But let's keep advocating for more!

Gov. Shapiro secures $153 million for SEPTA, averting fare hike planned for 2025 Gov. Shapiro announced cash infusion on Friday. A 7.5% fare increase for all SEPTA riders will still go into effect on Dec. 1.

I'm excited about government action to STALL (not prevent) SEPTA's death spiral, but Rendell flexed $412 million from highway funds to address a $42 million operating deficit in 2005. Today Shapiro is flexing $153 million to address a $240 million operating deficit.
www.inquirer.com/transportati...

New: Per multiple sources, Gov. Josh Shapiro will be holding a public event at Philadelphia's Frankford Transportation Center tomorrow morning. Subject matter, TBA.

I spoke to @ryanbriggs.bsky.social about three former officials back on the public payroll after being convicted of crimes.

Out of 1.5 million Philadelphians, the mayor & sheriff want us to believe that these are the best qualified individuals for these roles? Really?

Philadelphians deserve better

A cute little Philadelphia trolley with words on top, saying “all aboard! Septa advocacy letter writing party Meyer’s brewing Sunday November 17th, 6:30 pm

Philly’s public transit system is about to fall off a funding cliff. They are planning to ⬆️fares & ⬇️decrease service.

Josh Shapiro can flex federal/PennDOT funding to fix it!

Join us Sunday @ Meyers Brewing for a letter writing party! Connect w/other people, drink a beer, & yell at the governor!

CM Landau 1PR

R: Rec'g 10/17 as World Day of Rememberance for road traffic victims in the COP

CM Brooks - nothing today

CM Harrity - 1B on CP Johnson's behalf

B: Adding stadium workers to prevailing wage list.

CM O'Rourke 1R (Johnson)
R: Calling on Josh Shapiro and DVRPC to stave off fare hikes to SEPTA by flexing transportation funds.

The 15 trolley stands at its little middle-of-the-damn-road bus stop thing. Words say ALL ABOARD! SEPTA advocacy letter writing party. Meyer's Brewing Sunday Nov 17th 6:30pm

Omg sorry everybody, Sunday is the 17th. We're gathering on SUNDAY.

The 15 trolley stands at its little middle-of-the-damn-road bus stop thing. Words say ALL ABOARD! SEPTA advocacy letter writing party. Meyer's Brewing Sunday Nov 16th 6:30pm

Philly! Mark your calendars!

Sunday @ 6:30pm at Meyer's Brewing we're gathering to write letters to Josh Shapiro to pressure him to flex federal funding to support SEPTA.

The Fishtown Neighbors Association will provide all the letter writing supplies you need, along with a template of what to say.

We need transit to be funded in Philly from a climate perspective & just a base-line supporting residents perspective. We needed more support for public transit, & we're about to get less. I feel like I'm losing my mind.

Philly let's do what we do best: complain.
www.transitforallpa.org/takeaction/