We are #LIVE from #Philadelphia covering an apparent public community meeting about new redevelopment plans for FDR Park in South Philly hosted by the authors of the plan. Residents who planned to speak against the redevelopment are not being allowed in.
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There is a security guard at the door of the Grand Yesha Ballroom in South Philly asking what side people are on before allowing them inside the apparent public comment meeting.
A community member shows the only green space in the area and explains how the redevelopment plan is to replace part of the area with AstroTurf. 
To learn more, check out our article here: unicornriot.ninja/2023/opponents…
Community members are speaking in opposition to the redevelopment plan because they say it will lead to more pollution of the area and may also worsen climate change by depleting the amount of trees and nature with AstroTurf.
About 20 minutes ago, a few residents got pushed out the door of the ballroom after being told they could enter the community meeting.
In September 2022, private contractors destroyed large swaths of the meadows, and Unicorn Riot found indications of intensive herbicide use in large areas of the wetland in #Philly. unicornriot.ninja/2022/south-phi…
The community meeting tonight is the first meeting where Philly residents had an opportunity to share their thoughts on the redevelopment plan of FDR Park.
The lack of transparency in the redevelopment plan has also been brought up by opponents. A resident says the community meeting tonight is "a huge farce, a huge disappointment."
The security guard at the front door did not allow our on-the-ground reporter into the community meeting.
We've been told by people who were able to get inside, that there wasn't much of a dialogue and moreso just showing information about the redevelopment plan. The World Cup coming to the city is also being mentioned as a possible reason for the plan.
"They're claiming there are going to be more meetings, but they're not going to pause the destruction between then and now," said a resident who enjoyed the meadows during the pandemic.
Another resident says the meadows shouldn't be covered with micro plastics aka AstroTurf. They had a sign that read, "This Shit Sucks!"
Another resident says they don't want the city "plowing all the wetlands for soccer fields."
"We want honesty," said a resident who was able to go inside the community meeting. They said how the informative materials inside didn't mention the pollution that will be increased due to the plan.
Our reporter is speaking to Rep. Regina Young (D-185) asking to be let in to the meeting. She said we cannot be let in, but there is another upcoming meeting that will be virtual. She says she doesn't know the plan and didn't help create it.
Thank you for tuning in to our live coverage from Philly. If you appreciate our on-the-ground reporting, please consider supporting our work: unicornriot.ninja/donate/
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