24 Hour Cleaning Pilot Fact Sheet

The cleaning pilot program is a collaborative effort between a multitude of city departments,
nonprofits, and other agencies led by Councilmember Lozada.

City agencies and departments taking part in the cleaning:

• Sanitation Division of the Philadelphia Streets Department

• SEPTA’s cleaning, police, and community outreach departments
• Community Life Improvement Plan (CLIP)
• Parks & Recreation
• Department of Public Health’s Block to Block Program
• IMPACT Services
• New Kensington Community Development Corporation (NKCDC)

Starting September 5th, sanitation crews have cleaned the sidewalks and streets along
Kensington Avenue and the immediate surrounding blocks along the avenue and around the
local schools, SEPTA stops, and McPherson Square Library. They have collected over 100 tons
of trash since efforts began in September. With a hard launch of this program, Councilmember
Lozada expects to collect more and continue to build on our early success.

This cleaning pilot is the result of Councilmember Lozada’s Marshall Plan hearing that took
place at Conwell Middle School in July. At that hearing students gave testimony about their walk
to school and the litter and garbage that they see, smell, and have to walk around every day on
their way. During the press conference, Erica Green, Principal of Conwell Middle School, spoke
on the importance of this program and necessity to keep the walkway for students clean.

In addition to protecting children, the cleaning pilot serves businesses on Kensington Avenue. At
the press conference, Councilmember Lozada said, “Kensington Avenue is the heart and soul of
a historic neighborhood that families and businesses call home. We need to be proud of this
community and to treat its streets with respect and care.” During the press tour, the
Councilmember stopped at three businesses on Kensington Avenue where shop owners talked
about the importance of keeping the neighborhood clean and their experience in the Kensington
community.

The Sanitation Division of the Streets Department has expanded their schedule to cover the
Kensington Business Corridor for 12 hours at a time during the week. During the gaps between
shifts, other partners pitch in to continue the cleaning and prevent trash from building up.

SEPTA has committed to cleaning the Somerset, Allegheny, and Tioga stations and the
immediate sidewalks surrounding the them 23 hours per day. At the Allegheny Avenue station
they have painted the sidewalk to mark where they are cleaning and designated the area to be
used only for people who are walking to and from the station.

The Department of Public Health is targeting the blocks of Kensington Avenue that are North
of Allegheny Avenue through their Block to Block program aka B2B.

Parks and Recreation is continuing their regular cleaning efforts at the neighborhood’s two
largest green spaces, McPherson Square and Harrowgate Park. McPherson Square Park is
home to a branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia.

The 24th Police District has increased personnel on Kensington Avenue to ensure the safety
of the sanitation crews. The Police Department’s Opioid Response Unit is stationed during
the day to assist in disposing of syringes and other hazardous waste, and they are also
providing outreach for recovery service to people suffering from addiction.

Yesterday, October 19, the Philadelphia Fire Department has begun engaging with the
Councilmember’s office to plan strategies to prevent and contain fires set up at encampments
which have caused damage to sidewalks and buildings on Kensington Avenue.