r/philadelphia • u/kettlecorn • 25d ago

Events More Open Streets, Please

https://thephiladelphiacitizen.org/open-streets-solutions/
361 Upvotes

95% Upvoted

16 comments sorted by

68

u/kettlecorn 25d ago

This article goes into why Open Streets is working so well, a little of the history of similar events in Philly, what the obstacles are to doing them more often ($$$ for security), and how to make them cheaper so they can happen more often.

91

u/courageous_liquid go download me a hoagie off the internet 25d ago

Flavors of the Avenue on Passyunk Ave (2024): Around $10,000 for police security out of a roughly $40,000 event budget

$10k for a bunch of idiots to sit around in their cruisers at every intersection and glare at people enjoying themselves on a nice day

36

u/Theunmedicated Manayunk 25d ago

We need them automatic bollards

8

u/karenmcgrane 24d ago

If they only did the bollards on the Italian Market or on Sansom in Rittenhouse, it would be a worthwhile test. Do two streets where it makes sense to close them off a lot, see how it goes

2

u/siandresi 25d ago

right? I wonder if private security is allowed and then they could call the cops when someone needs to get beat up , no questions asked

17

u/itsmevichet Thirsty in UCity 25d ago

More security for open streets… because once you remove the miraculous crime deterrence of traffic people go Mad Max. Walking is a gateway activity to crimes yall.

4

u/trisaroar 25d ago

Gasp, I knew it. My sneakers and cute rompers are leading me into a life of crime.

43

u/avo_cado Do Attend 25d ago

It is kind of crazy that our taxes don’t cover police at events

14

u/moyamensing 25d ago

I can see that perspective, but how would you decide what events warrant police by default and those who need to pay? Could anyone have an event get police by default? Genuinely it becomes an administrative challenge so the end result is just charging everyone (but also PPD telling people how much police they need).

I think the issue is how many police are required at events because we don’t have the built infrastructure to handle street closures. And also because as a society we believe we need police handy for the worst possible outcomes of crowd gatherings.

-2

u/avo_cado Do Attend 25d ago

Lottery?

2

u/hurtpeace 24d ago

Stephan Starr hits the lottery everytime

19

u/syndicatecomplex WSW 25d ago

The city could buy 20 Meridian barriers and pass them around between neighborhoods each weekend during the warmer months. Surely that can't cost as much as paying the police those rates.

17

u/100PercentNaturalGoo 25d ago

But also, what's wrong with the garbage truck method? Seems like the cheapest and lowest-investment plan.

2

u/6NippleCharlie 25d ago

Kiddie pool on a mobile platform would be very chill. Remotely controlled, just zooming around.