Cobbs Creek Environmental Justice

03/31/2023

"Beyond the implementation challenges, the big question is whether City leaders will follow through on [its Tree Plan].

After high-profile tree clearings at the Cobbs Creek golf courses and at the Union League Golf Club at Torresdale, At-Large City Councilmember Katherine Gilmore Richardson introduced legislation seeking to tighten up holes in the tree code. It passed, but with amendments exempting City Council President Darrell Clarke’s 5th district as well as development for affordable housing and on some industrial land. More recently, City Council unanimously passed legislation introduced by Curtis Jones to exempt trees on the Cobbs Creek golf courses from zoning rules protecting trees on steep slopes, showing that even the City’s toughest tree protections are no match for councilmanic prerogative."

On February 23, 2023, Philadelphia’s Department of Parks & Recreation (PPR) released the Philly Tree Plan: Growing Our Urban Forest. The product of two years of outreach and engagement that gathered input from more than 9,000 people, the plan attempts to chart a course to expand the city’s tree ...

03/26/2023

Did you know that Parks & Rec Commissioner Kathryn Ott Lovell secretly promised CCF (the Cobbs Creek Golf Course developers) that they'd get rid of neighboring residents' backyard amenities that crossed over the Golf Course border? To the public, Parks & Rec has denied such plans but won’t explain why property lines have recently been staked out (as reported by Grid).

The City’s secret promises to CCF fail to respect the fact that neighbors have invested decades of time and resources to maintain these amenities & land.

Cobbs Creek Environmental Justice wants to ensure that Golf Course neighbors have the information needed to protect their rights. To get updates, sign up for CCEJ's email list at https://tinyurl.com/CCEJSignup

Spread the word to other Golf Course neighbors. We are stronger together.

03/24/2023

"Surveyors have begun marking property lines through what some neighbors of the Cobbs Creek golf course had thought were their backyards.

Deborah Harris-White, who has lived on the 7600 block of Brockton Road in the Overbrook Park neighborhood for 23 years, says that the orange spray paint and stakes with “property line” written on them took her and her neighbors by surprise. “We hadn’t heard anything from the City about this. So no one was aware,” she says. “We knew they were redoing the golf course. We didn’t know they were going to come in and cut down those trees. It looked like a war zone back there,” she says, referring to the logging of approximately 100 acres of trees by the West Conshohocken–based Cobbs Creek Foundation, controlled by the billionaire McGuire family, which is renovating the Cobbs Creek and Karakung golf courses after signing a 70-year (including extensions) lease for $1 with the City."

Surveyors have begun marking property lines through what some neighbors of the Cobbs Creek golf course had thought were their backyards. Deborah Harris-White, who has lived on the 7600 block of Brockton Road in the Overbrook Park neighborhood for 23 years, says that the orange spray paint and stakes...

02/25/2023

How much money does it take to pay a Councilmember to steal public resources from his own constituents?

"Curtis Jones’s campaign has again benefited from contributions from people and businesses connected with the Cobbs Creek golf course development.

In 2022 Grid reported on donations made to the Friends of Curtis Jones Jr., the campaign fundraising body for Councilmember Curtis Jones Jr., from people and organizations connected with the Cobbs Creek Foundation. Jones’s district includes the Cobbs Creek golf courses, giving him the power over development decisions at the course under Philadelphia’s informal but inviolable rule of councilmanic prerogative, in which district councilmembers have veto power over development decisions within their districts. These donations included one from the foundation itself, which was illegal based on the foundation’s IRS designation as a charitable, 501(c)(3) organization."

"These donations mostly hit Jones’s campaign towards the end of 2021 as the City was reviewing permits for the foundation to begin clearing 100 acres of trees on the course, permits over which Jones had considerable sway as the district councilmember. The money from people connected with the golf course development continued to flow in 2022."

Annual campaign finance reports for 2022 dropped last week, and Curtis Jones’s campaign has again benefited from contributions from people and businesses connected with the Cobbs Creek golf course development. In 2022 Grid reported on donations made to the Friends of Curtis Jones Jr., the campaign...

02/14/2023

Many public comments at the Feb 2 City Council meeting opposed Bill 220918, including this musical protest sung to the tune of Joni Mitchell's "Big Yellow Taxi". Lyrics from Jonathan Leibovic:

They cut down the trees and put up a golfing course
And the billionaires behind it showed no remorse
Don’t it always seem to go that you gotta be a rich white man to get anything done in this town?
They cut down the trees and put up a golfing course

They want to cut corners, bypass the RCO’s
But the people won’t stand for that, oh no, no, no, no
Don’t it always seem to go that developers get millions of dollars in tax breaks?
They cut down the trees and put up a golfing course

Hey Curtis Jones, quit hanging with CCF
They pay a dollar in rent to the city, WTF?
Don’t it always seem to go that you gotta pay thousands of dollars in illegal campaign contributions to get your zoning permits approved?
They cut down the trees and put up a golfing course

Late last night, I heard an awful sound
And a big yellow tractor tore all our trees to the ground
Don’t it always seem to go that backroom deals are how business is done?
They cut down the trees and put up a golfing course
And I’m gonna keep on singing about it until my voice is hoarse
Because the billionaires behind it showed no remorse
But the people showed up today, we came out in force
To say you gotta play fair if you want your golfing course

From the Stated Meeting of Philadelphia City Council held Thursday, February 2, 2023:Public Comment on Bill No. 220918AA, introduced by Councilmember Curtis ...

02/02/2023

"Jones amended the bill several times before it passed Thursday. The first change lowered the maximum building height in the proposed overlay, which in addition to the steep slope exemption allows for taller netting, fences, and buildings. A second change put an end date on the steep slope exemption. A final amendment last week prevents permanent structures from being built on steep slopes and adds requirements around environmental monitoring and engagement.

“We welcome the amendments,” said Lawrence Szmulowicz, a resident of the Cobbs Creek neighborhood and member of the activist group Cobbs Creek Environmental Justice, during Thursday’s public comment period. “They are a step in the right direction. Unfortunately, the amendments do not resolve the core problem with the bill.”"

"Residents and advocates representing groups including the Delaware Riverkeeper Network repeated their pleas for council to vote down the bill.

“Please listen to us, man,” said Shawmar Pitts, co-managing director of the activist organization Philly Thrive.

Szmulowicz, of Cobbs Creek Environmental Justice, said the Cobbs Creek Foundation should have gone through the zoning variance process and met with the local RCOs.

“We still do not know basic details about the developer’s plans,” he said. “How many trees do they plan to cut down? Do they include any heritage trees? How will they prevent erosion, landslides and sediment pollution in our waterways, after they cut down the trees whose roots literally hold the earth in place? We do not have these answers because the community has not had the opportunity to pose those questions.”"

Opponents worry the bill could lead to more tree loss and flooding. “Please listen to us, man,” one activist pleaded.

02/02/2023

2/2 Update: At today's City Council Meeting, Bill #220918 was passed. Councilmember Jones said, "People have a right to speak, but they don't have a right to the facts." In actuality, they did NOT allow everyone who went to the Meeting to oppose the Bill to speak up during Public Comments.

Council unanimously approved the Bill. We must not let the City keep stealing public resources away from the people and selling off our public parks to wealthy donors. Keep talking with your neighbors about what's happening. We'll keep fighting together. Take care & stay strong, everyone.

FEB 1 UPDATE: We have confirmed that Jones is bringing Bill #220918 to a VOTE tomorrow THURSDAY FEB 2 at 10 am at the City Council Meeting.

CALL TO ACTION 1: Attend the City Council meeting in person TOMORROW at 10 AM & speak out against Bill #220918.

When: TOMORROW, Thursday Feb 2 10 AM
Where: City Hall, Room 400. In person only.
Register at the desk in the hallway outside of Room 400, City Hall.

CALL TO ACTION 2: Contact City Council to tell them to vote NO on Bill #220918.

Sample script for City Councilmembers EXCEPT Curtis Jones:
“Hello, my name is ____. I am a voting citizen in Philadelphia. I urge the Councilmember to do the right thing in the City Council Meeting tomorrow and vote NO on Bill #220918. There should NOT be an overlay district created for Cobbs Creek Golf Course. Not only does this bill pave the way for more environmental destruction, it purposely evades public input in the use of public lands. This bill is no good for our environment or for our city.”

Councilmembers to contact:
Kendra Brooks: [email protected], (215) 686-0461, (215) 686-0462
Katherine Gilmore Richardson: [email protected], (215) 686-0454, (215) 686-0455
Isaiah Thomas: [email protected], (215) 686-3446, (215) 686-3447
Jamie Gauthier: [email protected], (215) 686-0459, 215-686-0460

Sample script for Curtis Jones (215) 686-3416, (215) 686-3417, [email protected]:
“Hello, my name is ____. I am a voting citizen in Philadelphia. I urge Councilmember Jones to do the right thing in the City Council Meeting tomorrow and pull Bill #220918. There should NOT be an overlay district created for Cobbs Creek Golf Course. Not only does this bill pave the way for more environmental destruction, it purposely evades community input in the use of public lands. This bill is no good for our environment or for our city. Councilmember Jones was doing a good job starting to listen to his constituents. I would like him to continue on that path by encouraging the Cobbs Creek Foundation to use the already established process of applying for a zoning variance for cutting trees on steep slopes.”

Background: In Spring 2022, private developer CCF deforested 108 acres (including over 500 heritage trees) at the Cobbs Creek and Karakung Golf Course city parklands, without proper permits and community consultation, as required by their lease. Although they violated their $1 lease with the City of Philadelphia, city officials close to the developers allowed it to happen; furthermore, they arranged to give the developers a $3,000,000 handout from taxpayer funds despite public outcry. Now Councilmember Jones has introduced Bill 220918 that would let the developers violate environmental protection laws and violate the people's right to decide what happens in their own community without ANY PUBLIC CONSULTATION.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1bdApjF3JJfdYO0bp3eEu01ti_akCJCfrBPhFW7drjq4/edit?usp=sharing

Stop Bill #220918 to protect the community & the environment!

FEB 1 UPDATE & URGENT CALL TO ACTION: Councilmember Curtis Jones will be moving Bill #220918, “Cobbs Creek Golf Course Overlay District,” to a VOTE tomorrow THURSDAY FEB 2 at 10 am at the City Council Meeting. CALL TO ACTION 1: Speak up in person We need as many people as possible to go in per.....

02/02/2023

2/2 Update: At today's City Council Meeting, Bill #220918 was passed. Councilmember Jones said, "People have a right to speak, but they don't have a right to the facts." In actuality, they did NOT allow everyone who went to the Meeting to oppose the Bill to speak up during Public Comments.

Council unanimously approved the Bill. We must not let the City keep stealing public resources away from the people and selling off our public parks to wealthy donors. Keep talking with your neighbors about what's happening. We'll keep fighting together. Take care & stay strong, everyone.

FEB 1 UPDATE: We have just confirmed that Jones WILL be bringing Bill #220918 to a VOTE tomorrow THURSDAY FEB 2 at 10 am at the City Council Meeting instead of adding more amendments.

CALL TO ACTION 1: We need EVERYONE to go in person to City Council TOMORROW at 10 AM & speak out against Bill #220918.

When: TOMORROW, Thursday Feb 2 10 AM
Where: City Hall, Room 400. In person only.
Registration: When you arrive, register at the small desk in the hallway outside of Room 400 at City Hall. Give your name, the bill number (220918), and whether you support or oppose the bill.

CALL TO ACTION 2: Contact City Council to tell them to vote NO on Bill #220918.

Sample script for City Councilmembers EXCEPT Curtis Jones:
“Hello, my name is ____. I am a voting citizen in Philadelphia. I urge the Councilmember to do the right thing in the City Council Meeting tomorrow and vote NO on Bill #220918. There should NOT be an overlay district created for Cobbs Creek Golf Course. Not only does this bill pave the way for more environmental destruction, it purposely evades public input in the use of public lands. This bill is no good for our environment or for our city.”

Kendra Brooks: [email protected], (215) 686-0461, (215) 686-0462
Katherine Gilmore Richardson: [email protected], (215) 686-0454, (215) 686-0455
Isaiah Thomas: [email protected], (215) 686-3446, (215) 686-3447
Jamie Gauthier: [email protected], (215) 686-0459, 215-686-0460

Sample script for Curtis Jones (215) 686-3416, (215) 686-3417, [email protected]:
“Hello, my name is ____. I am a voting citizen in Philadelphia. I urge Councilmember Jones to do the right thing in the City Council Meeting tomorrow and pull Bill #220918. There should NOT be an overlay district created for Cobbs Creek Golf Course. Not only does this bill pave the way for more environmental destruction, it purposely evades community input in the use of public lands. This bill is no good for our environment or for our city. Councilmember Jones was doing a good job starting to listen to his constituents. I would like him to continue on that path by encouraging the Cobbs Creek Foundation to use the already established process of applying for a zoning variance for cutting trees on steep slopes.”

Background: In Spring 2022, private developer CCF deforested 108 acres (including over 500 heritage trees) at the Cobbs Creek and Karakung Golf Course city parklands, without proper permits and community consultation, as required by their lease. Although they violated their $1 lease with the City of Philadelphia, city officials close to the developers allowed it to happen; furthermore, they arranged to give the developers a $3,000,000 handout from taxpayer funds despite public outcry. Now Councilmember Jones has proposed Bill 220918 that would let the developers violate environmental protection laws and violate the people's right to decide what happens in their own community without ANY PUBLIC CONSULTATION.

Web version for this Call to Action: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1bdApjF3JJfdYO0bp3eEu01ti_akCJCfrBPhFW7drjq4/edit #

Stop Bill #220918 to protect the community & the environment!

02/01/2023

2/2 Update: At today's City Council Meeting, Bill #220918 was passed. Councilmember Jones said, "People have a right to speak, but they don't have a right to the facts." In actuality, they did NOT allow everyone who went to the Meeting to oppose the Bill to speak up during Public Comments.

Council unanimously approved the Bill. We must not let the City keep stealing public resources away from the people and selling off our public parks to wealthy donors. Keep talking with your neighbors about what's happening. We'll keep fighting together. Take care & stay strong, everyone.

FEB 1 UPDATE: We have just confirmed that Jones WILL be bringing Bill #220918 to a VOTE tomorrow THURSDAY FEB 2 at 10 am at the City Council Meeting instead of adding more amendments.

CALL TO ACTION 1: We need EVERYONE to go in person to City Council TOMORROW at 10 AM & speak out against Bill #220918.
When: TOMORROW, Thursday Feb 2 10 AM
Where: City Hall, Room 400. In person only.

Registration: When you arrive, register at the small desk in the hallway outside of Room 400 at City Hall. Give your name, the bill number (220918), and whether you support or oppose the bill.

CALL TO ACTION 2: Contact City Council to tell them to vote NO on Bill #220918.

Sample script for City Councilmembers EXCEPT Curtis Jones:
“Hello, my name is ____. I am a voting citizen in Philadelphia. I urge the Councilmember to do the right thing in the City Council Meeting tomorrow and vote NO on Bill #220918. There should NOT be an overlay district created for Cobbs Creek Golf Course. Not only does this bill pave the way for more environmental destruction, it purposely evades public input in the use of public lands. This bill is no good for our environment or for our city.”

Kendra Brooks: [email protected], (215) 686-0461, (215) 686-0462
Katherine Gilmore Richardson: [email protected], (215) 686-0454, (215) 686-0455
Isaiah Thomas: [email protected], (215) 686-3446, (215) 686-3447
District 3 Jamie Gauthier: [email protected], (215) 686-0459, 215-686-0460

Sample script for Curtis Jones (215) 686-3416, (215) 686-3417, [email protected]:
“Hello, my name is ____. I am a voting citizen in Philadelphia. I urge Councilmember Jones to do the right thing in the City Council Meeting tomorrow and pull Bill #220918. There should NOT be an overlay district created for Cobbs Creek Golf Course. Not only does this bill pave the way for more environmental destruction, it purposely evades community input in the use of public lands. This bill is no good for our environment or for our city. Councilmember Jones was doing a good job starting to listen to his constituents. I would like him to continue on that path by encouraging the Cobbs Creek Foundation to use the already established process of applying for a zoning variance for cutting trees on steep slopes.”

Web version for this Call to Action: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1bdApjF3JJfdYO0bp3eEu01ti_akCJCfrBPhFW7drjq4/edit #

Background: In Spring 2022, private developer CCF deforested 108 acres (including over 500 heritage trees) at the Cobbs Creek and Karakung Golf Course city parklands, without proper permits and community consultation, as required by their lease. Although they violated their $1 lease with the City of Philadelphia, city officials close to the developers allowed it to happen; furthermore, they arranged to give the developers a $3,000,000 handout from taxpayer funds despite public outcry. Now Councilmember Jones has proposed Bill 220918 that would let the developers violate environmental protection laws and violate the people's right to decide what happens in their own community without ANY PUBLIC CONSULTATION.

Stop Bill #220918 to protect the community & the environment!

01/31/2023

Cobbs Creek Environmental Justice
Our Commitment to Racial Justice & Volunteer Guidelines

January 31, 2023 – Cobbs Creek Environmental Justice (CCEJ) was founded on principles of racial justice and social justice. Our mission is to promote community self-determination and environmental stewardship. When Philadelphia officials allowed private developers to clearcut 108 acres of trees at the Cobbs Creek Golf Course without community consultation, we saw it as the exploitation and extraction of ecological wealth from a majority Black community. We believe that the community deserves full information about the Golf Course development and that people should be able to make an informed decision about what happens in their own community. We reaffirm these values through action, accountability to community and self-examination.

CCEJ welcomes volunteers who are committed to racial justice and who would like to contribute to our efforts to uplift community voices. While we are happy to include in the larger CCEJ network many neighbors, volunteers, and followers, CCEJ is officially represented by a core leadership team. It has come to our attention that certain individuals have been falsely claiming to be CCEJ representatives in order to set up meetings with City Councilmembers in our name. We do not endorse such individuals or their actions. We strive to educate our volunteers on the importance of anti-racism, equity, and community self-determination. However, any individuals who insist on speaking over marginalized voices, acting against anti-racist principles, and trying to co-opt the movement for their personal political gain are not invited to volunteer with us. We are committed to racial justice and to honoring community as well as the environment.

If you would like to help fight for environmental justice at Cobbs Creek and especially if you share our values for racial justice, please join our mailing list and keep in touch with CCEJ directly via https://linktr.ee/cobbscreekej