Sophia Schmidt
WHYY
Philadelphia, PA, United States
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Past articles by Sophia:
Community gardens say ‘unfair’ Philly Land Bank practice makes preservation harder
People fighting to save community gardens in fast-developing neighborhoods say groups should not have to take on mortgages to get land. → Read More
Kenney’s budget proposal is just a ‘Band-Aid’ for illegal dumping, advocates say
The proposal includes a new crew to clean up illegal dumping and more street sweeping. But advocates say this doesn’t get to the root of the problem. → Read More
Philly street sweeping starts again in April
The street sweeping program currently covers 14 high-litter areas of the city. The mayor’s budget proposal includes an expansion. → Read More
Neighbors, sanitation workers prep for ‘wall-to-wall’ trash if Eagles win
The sea of trash Eagles fans leave behind is “totally unacceptable,” one resident said. But the city’s sanitation force is “happy” to clean up after wins. → Read More
Zoning overlay for Cobbs Creek Golf Course passes despite community concerns
Opponents worry the bill could lead to more tree loss and flooding. “Please listen to us, man,” one activist pleaded. → Read More
SEPTA gas plant in Nicetown up for permit renewal
The first permit approval sparked intense opposition from residents and activists. Now some are calling for more air monitoring. → Read More
Cobbs Creek Golf Course zoning exemption gets commission approval despite opposition
Residents fear the zoning overlay could worsen flooding downstream of the golf course, but a state official and a developer’s contractor say that’s not likely. → Read More
PGW says its gas lines did not cause the Port Richmond home explosion
The explosion destroyed three homes and damaged dozens more. So far, the city’s gas utility has not found evidence of a leak. → Read More
2022 has been one of Philly’s warmest years on record
“This is the new normal,” one expert said. “And that should be alarming.” → Read More
Cancer-causing benzene will not be monitored at former PES refinery site in 2023
“One way of showing … that you care about the community is to keep monitoring to see if we're safe,” a nearby resident said. → Read More
Hazardous waste storage areas at former refinery site could close within a year
In another sign of transformation at the 1,000-acre site, the last hazardous waste storage areas are expected to formally close within a year. → Read More
Pa. announces money to help get dirty diesel trucks out of high-traffic communities
Exhaust from diesel trucks can worsen heart and lung issues, and even cause cancer. A new Pa. grant program will help replace them with electric vehicles. → Read More
Penn student protesters won’t give up demands as disciplinary action looms
Students are still pushing for fossil fuel divestment and money from Penn for affordable housing, despite arrests and looming disciplinary action. → Read More
Don’t bother bagging your fallen leaves. Your yard (and insects) will thank you
Fallen leaves make great natural fertilizer and offer a place for insects to spend the winter. → Read More
Community benefits agreement talks to start in 2023 for Philly refinery redevelopment
The company redeveloping the former refinery plans to use a third-party facilitator to negotiate an agreement with community stakeholders. → Read More
Philly Art Commission grants final approval for part of Cobbs Creek golf course project
The Art Commission was a hurdle for the project. But after including more environmental considerations, the project team finally got approval. → Read More
What do you think of Philly’s first urban agriculture plan? The city wants to know
There are hundreds of farms and gardens in Philly, but many growers struggle with land security. The city released its first plan to help urban ag thrive. → Read More
Heading to a Phillies game? You might want to take transit
I-95 south will be bad. Trains and buses may be crowded, but SEPTA is nearly doubling subway service to the stadium and offering free rides home. → Read More
7 arrested at ‘people’s decommissioning’ of oil tank farm in Southwest Philly
Residents want the tank farm associated with the former PES refinery permanently shut down, but the new owner has left the door open to restarting it. → Read More
How to get a free, climate-resilient tree for your Philly yard
“Being able to green your community … is an act of self-determination and community care,” said an organizer of the tree giveaway program. → Read More