Julie Platt

Jun 16, 2024 | kensingtonvoice.com | Jill Bauer-Reese |Sammy Caiola |Julie Platt |Lauren McCutcheon

Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel said police will increase enforcement for drug-related activity as early as Monday in an effort to implement Mayor Cherelle Parker’s new policing initiative aimed at shutting down Kensington’s open-air drug market.

May 8, 2024 | kensingtonvoice.com | Sammy Caiola |Emily Rizzo |Khysir Carter |Julie Platt

Philadelphia Police Department officers dispersed people from Kensington Avenue early this morning as part of a planned encampment resolution process. No city social services were present during that time, despite promises from city leaders that the initiative would be “service-led.” City officials said they don't know where people went and are "still trying to figure it out."The encampment clearing was supposed to begin at 8 a.m., according to officials.

Apr 24, 2024 | thephiladelphiacitizen.org | Julie Platt |Lauren McCutcheon

Do Something The general election is on Tuesday, November 5. Make sure you are registered to vote and cast your ballot!  Here is everything you need to know about how to vote.

Apr 10, 2024 | kensingtonvoice.com | Sammy Caiola |Khysir Carter |Emily Rizzo |Julie Platt

The national shortage of Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners, or SANE nurses, can make the process of receiving a rape kit exam long, stressful, and sometimes intolerable for survivors, advocates say.  In hopes of addressing that problem, Pennsylvania Senator Elder Vogel introduced a sexual assault exam access bill last fall. It received Governor Josh Shapiro’s signature in December. The law would create grants that would assist hospitals in hiring SANE nurses.

Apr 5, 2024 | kensingtonvoice.com | Julie Platt |Lauren McCutcheon |Elizabeth Estrada |Sammy Caiola

Content warning: this story contains references to sexual violence, descriptions of medical examinations performed in the aftermath of sexual violence, and descriptions of interactions with law enforcement. Grace Shallow walked through a parking lot toward a large, gray building complex in search of the Philadelphia Sexual Assault Response Center. She’d been raped about eight hours earlier. It was a hot Sunday afternoon, and she was dragging.