🏳️‍🌈 LGBTQ asylum shelter sees increase in demand

🗳️ Can These Political Reforms Work?

The Committee of Seventy has become more than just an election watchdog, advocating for ways to make our government better. The nonprofit’s president, Lauren Cristella, breaks down why abolishing the Sheriff’s Office, imposing term limits, and ending judicial elections could improve our political system. [🎧 City Cast Philly]

• Related: We also spoke with Cristella about the Committee of Seventy’s efforts to make jury duty more equitable. Scroll down for more. [📝 Hey Philly]

🏳️‍🌈 LGBTQ Asylum Shelter Supports Immigrants Amid Crackdown

A West Philly shelter has been supporting asylum seekers since 2022, bridging access to legal assistance and mental health care. But with recent changes to immigration policies, program participants are feeling scared as they seek safety from homophobia, transphobia, and now xenophobia. [WHYY]

🚨 Police Investigate Center City Sexual Assaults

Philadelphia Police are advising the public to stay vigilant after a series of sexual assaults in the Center City area allegedly involving a man coming up to women from behind and attacking them. Three assaults were reported last weekend and two in mid-July. [🔒Philly Mag]

🌳 New Park Highlights Philly’s Public Art Scene

The weather’s been better this week, so take some time to relax at University City’s Highline Park. Located in a former parking lot, the new space has seating, murals by local artists, and an area just for dogs. [Philly Voice]

♻️ Cut Down Waste and Costs by Supporting Local Companies

The city has paid Waste Management close to $50 million a year to handle Philly’s trash after it’s been picked up by our sanitation workers. Instead of paying a large, outside corporation, could our dollars be better spent contracting with local recyclers and reducing waste in our landfills? [Philadelphia Citizen]

We’ve all been there. We’re checking our mailbox, sifting through envelopes until our eyes land on big bold letters declaring: “JURY DUTY - IT’S YOUR TURN.”

A common response to a jury service summons is: “How can I get out of this?” But consider that this is a civic duty that some countries don’t even have, and remember that a jury can determine an individual’s fate.

Hey Philly spoke with Committee of Seventy president Lauren Cristella about Voices for Justice, an initiative in partnership with Ceiba and Pennsylvanians for Modern Courts to make trials fairer by making juries more equitable.

What are common misconceptions or barriers people have when it comes to jury duty?

“They might lose out time at work. They might get a hard time from their boss. They have to find childcare coverage. They think that they won't be paid for their time by the courts or they're going to be out of gas money. They won't even get their lunch paid for.

“They think that they might get called and have to serve for weeks, right? That this might not just be a day or two. That it might end up taking weeks or they'll be sequestered. They'll have to be radio silent and live in a hotel and not be able to talk to anyone or read the newspaper, like what you see in movies. Those are very rare and sometimes it's a grand jury experience, which is a totally different ballgame from your typical jury duty experience.”

How is your jury service initiative addressing these issues?

“We're working on an advocacy campaign to increase jury pay. So for federal court, it is $50 a day. That's not a lot, especially if you are traveling a great distance. For some of the state or city courts, it's like nine dollars for a day.

“Arizona just increased their pay to over $300 a day. Now, that'll get people's attention, right? You would answer that summons if you could make 300 bucks in a day. So we're really looking to see what people can do to really motivate them to participate in jury service.