Authorizing the establishment of a "Special Committee on Kensington" to analyze and examine the effectiveness of current polices to further develop data driven solutions and restore stability in the Kensington area.

Authorizing the establishment of a “Special Committee on Kensington” to analyze and examine the effectiveness of current polices to further develop data driven solutions and restore stability in the Kensington area. WHEREAS, Kensington, a neighborhood in Philadelphia, has been nationally known for experiencing a surge in illicit drug activities, including open-air drug markets and other criminal offenses. This has created a growing concern among residents and calls for immediate action to address the issue; and WHEREAS, Kensington has been a destination to buy illegal drugs by people traveling from the Greater Philadelphia area such as Bucks, Montgomery, Delaware, and Chester County and throughout the United States; and WHEREAS With the rise of synthetic opioids like fentanyl and xylazine, doctors are facing challenges treating patients addicted to these harmful drugs; and WHEREAS, According to a recent report from Thomas Jefferson University, people have waited 15 to 18 hours while going through withdraw for a bed they may or may not get, and an urgency for a coordinated effort to enable real-time bed, space, level of care and program availability is much needed in Philadelphia; and WHEREAS, A Community Health Profile by Drexel University in 2019 reports, compared to all Philadelphia residents, Kensington residents are more likely to lack public or private health insurance, smoke, have skipped a meal, and have hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, or mental health diagnosis…