Hawthorne Ripley

Protesters held signs cut and painted to look like gravestones with epitaphs citing facts about the climate crisis and demanding that the University divest from fossil fuels.

Less than a week after news broke that the Fresh Grocer would close next month, Penn officials confirmed that they have signed a lease with Acme Markets to replace the Fresh Grocer's current location.

Many students find the store's closure unnecessary and criticize the University's decision to allegedly replace the Fresh Grocer with an Acme store, which they describe as less affordable. 

Penn — the store's landlord — and the Fresh Grocer have agreed to end the supermarket’s tenancy at 40th and Walnut streets after almost 20 years of operations.

Penn-sponsored air travel by students, faculty, and staff generates approximately 64,000 tons of carbon annually, accounting for 20% of Penn’s carbon emissions, according to an email sent by Penn President Amy Gutmann to Penn community members on Jan. 29.

The announcement comes over a year after the University Council steering committee rejected Fossil Free Penn’s proposal to divest from coal and tar sands. 

Deputy Communications Director for the Office of the Mayor Lauren Cox wrote that no legal action has been taken but that suspending Penn's nonprofit water discount is on the table if Penn continues to violate the prevailing wage law.

The new building is managed by University Realty, which operates five other properties for Penn students on Chestnut and Walnut streets.

The meeting ended about 20 minutes early after student protesters drowned out the board members for more than half an hour. 

Along with City Council races, Philadelphia residents will elect a mayor, sheriff, city commissioner, and will vote in several judicial races and on three ballot questions about Philadelphia and Pennsylvania policies.