February 11, 2026: Meeting Summary
Pennsport Civic Association’s monthly community meeting brought together four Philadelphia elected officials for updates and a question-and-answer session. District 1 Councilmember Mark Squilla, Councilmembers At-Large Jim Harrity and Rue Landau, and City Controller Christy Brady each addressed the room before taking questions from the Board and neighbors.
Councilmember Squilla put it plainly: “If you're not involved in telling people what you need, councilmembers, city officials, [and] state officials are not riding around looking for things to do. Your involvement is what really makes things happen.”
I-95 Reconstruction: Where Our Elected Officials Stand
PennDOT’s planned update to I-95, which may include widening the highway and reconfiguring ramps, has been a concern for Pennsport residents for years. The agency had been expected to hold another round of community meetings earlier this year, but that’s now been pushed back to Fall 2026 at the earliest. The reason given by PennDOT’s consulting firm: they simply don’t have the staff to run the meetings right now. Meanwhile, Pennsport Civic continues to press for public community meetings.
Our elected officials have been paying attention. When asked if they would support our community, Councilmember Squilla shared that City Council recently passed Resolution No. 260044, which “strongly opposes the reconstruction and widening of I-95 from Center City to South Philadelphia” and demands “robust community engagement” in all future decisions about the project.
All three councilmembers in attendance made clear they are standing with the neighborhood on this. Councilmember Landau was direct: “I’m totally with you if you want to fight the whole thing. I’m in.” Councilmember Harrity added that elected officials don’t always know what’s going on at the neighborhood level, so don’t assume they do. If something matters to you, reach out and make your voice heard.
One issue that deserves its own attention: PennDOT’s plans would require relocating Rizzo Rink, the ice skating and recreation facility tucked under I-95 at Washington Avenue. No new site has been identified, though a few possibilities have been explored and didn’t pan out. PennDOT would need to provide resources to help pay for a new location, and the City would also need to join forces to build a replacement facility.
For a lot of families in Pennsport, this one hits home. Rizzo Rink gives kids in the neighborhood a shot at playing hockey who otherwise couldn’t afford it. As Councilmember Squilla put it, the rink is “a real important asset to the City of Philadelphia.”
Pennsport Civic will keep neighbors posted as things develop.
Controller’s Office: Speed Cushion Audit
Over the past several years, the City has installed speed cushions and other traffic-calming measures across Philadelphia to make streets safer for everyone walking, driving, and biking. At our community meeting, City Controller Christy Brady shared findings from a new report on the quality of those installations, and the results weren’t good.
Speed cushions were installed at about 135 schools across the city. The Controller’s office sampled 44 of those schools, inspecting a total of 140 speed cushions. Of those, only two were built to specifications. Most were graded wrong — some at two to three times the allowable slope — and one was over seven inches tall when the standard calls for three to four inches. Controller Brady noted that these out-of-spec cushions are doing real damage to vehicles and may be causing drivers to swerve to avoid them. The Controller’s office is calling for better oversight, fixes, and possible restitution from the contractor responsible.
Block Captains
Block captains are invaluable to the neighborhood; they keep communication flowing and help get things fixed. Councilmembers expressed interest in finding ways to better connect residents and civic organizations with block captain resources.
If you’re interested in becoming a block captain or just want to learn more, visit the Philadelphia More Beautiful Committee (PMBC) online.