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Calling for the establishment of a "Marshall Stabilization and Recovery Plan" to combat the issues facing Kensington and the surrounding areas in Philadelphia.
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WHEREAS, The Kensington neighborhood of Philadelphia, located in the 7th Council District, has faced compounding crises. In 2022, 22% of all homicides and 25% of all shootings in Philadelphia took place in Kensington. The opioid crisis has added fuel to the fire of tragedy, and it spills over into the surrounding areas and throughout the city. According to the Philadelphia Health Department, in 2021, fentanyl was found in 94% of overdose deaths involving opioids, and xylazine was found in 44% of those deaths; and
WHEREAS, The Marshall Plan, also known as the European Recovery Program, grew out of the horror and destruction caused by World War II. European countries desperately needed support to rebuild. Secretary of State George Marshall advocated for the Plan then President Harry Truman signed it into law in April of 1948. U.S. Congress appropriated $13.3 Billion for desperately needed European recovery efforts; and
WHEREAS, Kensington has been at the heart of our nation's opioid crisis and overdoses have skyrocketed in recent years. In 2021, there were 1,276 overdoses in Philadelphia. Kensington and Allegheny Avenues have become a hotspot for illegal drug activity, open air drug markets, and crime. Addiction has cost many in the neighborhood their lives, and the proliferation of heroin and cocaine have caused chaos. In recent years, these drugs have caused overdoses to turn fatal. Fentanyl and xylazine has tainted the city's drug supply. Xylazine, also known as "tranq" is unresponsive to the overdose reversing drug Narcan; and
WHEREAS, The opioid crisis has also fueled the gun violence crisis occurring in the neighborhood. Gun violence claimed the lives of 562 Philadelphians in 2021 and 516 in 2022. According to an article by WHYY, as of July 28, 2022, 295 people have been shot within...
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