🌍 Earth Day edition: Gardening, thrifting, allergies

🤧 Spring Allergy Season in Full Swing

The Philly area is seeing “extreme” tree and grass pollen levels right now. Ugh! [WHYY]

• Why have spring allergies gotten soooo bad? An allergist explained the recent trend to us last year — including how climate change may play a role. [City Cast Philly 🎧]
• Here are some tips for keeping allergens out of your living space. [Hey Philly]

🏠 Sheriff Sales Resuming in July

Sheriff Rochelle Bilal told City Council last week she plans to resume tax lien sales after a four-year pause. Bilal also asked for more money for the Sheriff’s Office budget. [KYW]

🏖️ ‘West Philly Waterfront’ Project Proposal

University City District released preliminary renderings last week for a possible bi-level waterfront park along the Schuylkill River near 30th Street Station, which would feature a public pool, promenade, cafe, restrooms, and a “beach.” [CBS3]

• 💬 What do you think of this idea? Send me an email and I may include your comment in a future newsletter or podcast.

💸 Your Neighbors’ Salaries

Have you ever wondered how much money the Comcast CEO, the City Council president, a server at Middle Child, and a local house painter earn? (Answers: $32.1 million, $194k, $70k, and $52k annually, respectively.) Satiate your curiosity about some other Philadelphians’ paychecks 👀 [Philly Mag 🔒]

In Philly, ballot questions ask voters to decide whether to amend the city’s Home Rule Charter, AKA Philly’s main governing document.

As part of tomorrow’s election, one of these questions will be put up for a vote. If you’re a registered Democrat or Republican, it will appear at the end of your ballot — and if you’re not, it will be the only thing to appear on your ballot this primary season.

🗳️ What You’ll See on the Ballot

“Should the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter be amended to require the City to provide for the indemnification and defense of registered community organizations in connection with claims made against them arising directly out of their lawful participation in the City’s zoning variance process?”

• YES
• NO

💬 Let’s Unpack That

Registered community organizations — known as RCOs, for short — are volunteer neighborhood groups that give community members an avenue to air their thoughts on development happening in their area. They do this in part by reviewing and weighing in on building projects that require zoning variances, i.e. exceptions from the typical zoning rules.

If passed, this amendment would mean that the city would come up with a system to help RCOs pay their legal bills if they’re sued for some aspect of their participation in the zoning variance process.

⚖️ What Are Some Pros and Cons?

Continue reading on our website.

Philly's Best Plant Sales & Stores

This Earth Day, the City Cast Philly podcast team runs down the best places in the city to buy plants and get a good deal on them — and shares some gardening tips to help them thrive.