Category: About me

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Political posters, incumbency, and the colors of Fall

  By Politics, Published op-eds

Philadelphia Inquirer, May 19, 2005 For the first 47 years of my life, I was a law abiding person who never saw the inside of a courtroom. Recently, however, I deliberately violated the law, just as I did last spring. What is this great crime I committed? I put up posters on utility poles for a community festival, Mount Airy Day. Last year, in addition to violating the law with posters for our annual community day, I put up posters for my campaign for state representative in the 198th district. I also was a witness in federal court for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which convinced a judge to issue a temporary restraining order prohibiting the city from enforcing its poster ordinance on the grounds that the law likely would be found unconstitutional. Continue reading

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Renewing Coalitions: Labor, Community Groups and the PTC

  By Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Politics, Published op-eds, Transportation, US

Published in the Philadelphia Public Record, May 2005 Someday—I hope it won’t be long—we will be talking about how, where, and when political activists associated with the Democratic Party revived first themselves and then their party. When we do, I would not be surprised if we point to the victory for advocates of public transit in Pennsylvania last years as one important step towards this revival. Continue reading

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R8 preservation depends upon budget deal

  By NW Philly, Philadelphia, Published op-eds, Transportation

Mt. Airy Times-Express and Germantown Courier, August 6, 2003 The R8 Chestnut Hill West Train is still in danger. Although the recently approved SEPTA budget for the current fiscal does not eliminate the R8, further cuts are likely if SEPTA does not receive substantial additional funding from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Moreover, the new budget calls for severe cuts in services on R8 line, beginning in September. About Half all R8 Chestnut Hill West trains will be eliminated. SEPTA proposes to cut off-peak, weekday service on the line from twice an hour to once an hour. Inbound rains to Center City will run only once an hour beginning at 9:11 am. Outbound trains from Center City will run only once an hour except between 4:17 and 6:33 pm. Moreover, on weekends, trains will run only once every ninety minutes. The Northwest Campaign for Public Transportation believes that these cuts are,… Continue reading

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SEPTA and Snidely Whiplash

  By Humor, Philadelphia, Published op-eds, Transportation, Urbanism

Published in The Philadelphia Inquirer, July 9, 2003 The villain in this transit drama could be state officials or the “heroine.” Philadelphia-area residents are watching the theatrical melodrama “Saving SEPTA, 2003,” and Act IV has begun. The scene is set in Harrisburg, with Gov. Rendell, House Speaker John Perzel (R., Phila.), and Senate Majority Leader David Brightbill (R., Lebanon) in starring roles. Perched at the edge of our seats, we are waiting to see whether these three characters will redeem themselves, rescuing our flawed heroine, SEPTA, and saving the communities she serves. Act I began when the trio threatened our heroine by passing a budget that cut appropriations by $11 million. We were left wondering whether Rendell, Perzel and Brightbill were black-caped villains who wanted to force workers, widows and children from jobs and schools accessible only by public transit. Or were they good men who, in a moment reminiscent… Continue reading