🤧 How to handle seasonal allergies

🏗️ African Center Groundbreaking Coming Soon

The first phase of construction for the African Center in Southwest Philly is expected to start in the coming weeks. Plans for the mixed-use project include a restaurant, retail shops, community center, health clinic, day care, and office space for the African Cultural Alliance of North America. [WHYY]

👮 Kensington Encampment Cleared

The city cleared a homeless encampment on two blocks of Kensington Avenue yesterday morning. Enforcement began before the announced start time of 8:30 a.m. Witnesses say police officers appeared to lead the effort, even though the city had said outreach workers would lead the operation. [Inquirer 🔒]

🚗 The Fifth Worst City for Driving?

Philly ranked fifth in Forbes’ list of “worst cities to drive in,” below Oakland, Miami, San Francisco, and Houston, and just above New York City. Metrics that drove that ranking include slow driving speeds in Center City, slow rush hour traffic, high gas costs, and the amount of time Philadelphians spend in traffic. [Forbes]

• 💭 Have thoughts on driving in Philly? Hit reply and share them with me.

✈️ American Airlines Expecting Busy Summer

PHL’s biggest commercial flight carrier will offer 23% more seats than it did last summer. That’s nearing — but not quite matching — the flight volume it saw in summer 2019, before the COVID pandemic. [Business Journal 🔒]

• Related: Our team has some advice for flying out of Philadelphia International Airport. [City Cast Philly 🎧]

Have you gotten your REAL ID yet? If not — from one procrastinator to another — this is a PSA that your non-REAL ID driver’s license isn’t gonna cut it at airport security starting May 7, 2025 … less than a year from now.

What Is REAL ID, Anyway?

For most purposes, REAL IDs and other state-issued ID cards aren’t that different. The main distinction is that, starting next May, you can use a REAL ID to board a domestic flight, and other state-issued IDs that aren’t considered REAL ID-compliant will no longer be accepted by the TSA.

Congress passed the REAL ID Act of 2005 as a way to increase air travel security post-9/11. According to The Washington Post, the federal law sets minimum standards for the types of documents you have to show to get an ID card that’s considered acceptable for domestic air travel (i.e., a REAL ID), and it also lays out the types of anti-counterfeiting measures that states have to take when issuing those cards.

Implementation has been delayed … a lot. Originally, enforcement of the law was supposed to start in 2008, but that deadline got pushed to 2020, then 2021, then 2023 — and then 2025.

Do I Need a REAL ID?

It depends. You’ll need one if you’re 18 or older and want to take a domestic flight, get into a federal government facility that requires ID, or enter a military base — unless you have a different form of federally-accepted ID that you can show instead, like a passport or military ID.

PennDOT has a quiz that can help you figure out if you need one.

How Can I Tell If My ID is Already a Real ID?

Whether your ID was issued by Pennsylvania or another state, it should have a star in the upper corner if it’s considered REAL ID-compliant. If your driver’s license or ID card isn’t compliant, it should say “NOT FOR REAL ID PURPOSES.”

How Do I Get a REAL ID in Pennsylvania?

Find out on our website.

Your Philly Seasonal Allergy Survival Guide

If you’re sniffling and sneezing a lot right now, you’re not alone. Tree and grass pollen numbers are high in the city, and expected to last for a few more weeks. Listen to today’s City Cast Philly podcast episode to find out why allergy season in Philly is starting earlier and earlier each year, how long it will last, and what you can do to find some relief.