Category: Philadelphia

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Cherelle Parker is the right choice

  By Philadelphia, Politics

Chestnut Hill Local, September 8, 2005 In a special election on Tuesday, September 13, voters in the 200th district will be electing a new State Representative to fill the seat of recently elected State Senator LeAnna Washington. I am writing to urge progressive and liberal citizens everywhere in the city to support Cherelle Parker. (Please note that I am writing for myself alone. Neighborhood Networks has not endorsed a candidate in this race.) I have never been as proud of the community in which I live as when I heard the three candidates for State Representative in the 200th district speak at the WMAN-EMAN Candidate’s Forum last week. All three are residents of Mt. Airy and all three have powerful and progressive voices. All three are also personal friends of mine, which makes it especially difficult for me to recommend one over the others. But I do think that Cherelle… Continue reading

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Neighborhood Networks: Our Aims and Goals

  By Philadelphia, Progressive Politics

Neighborhood Networks is a new political organization that aims at liberal political reform. Any time a new organization that talks about reform comes about, established groups get nervous. So I am grateful to the Public Record for giving me an opportunity to set the record straight about Neighborhood Networks. Continue reading

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The kind of WMAN We Need

  By NW Philly, Philadelphia, Published Op-Eds, Urbanism, West Mt. Airy Neighbors

Published in the Mt. Airy Times Express, June 2005 West Mt. Airy Neighbors (WMAN) is just beginning our annual membership drive. This, year, our membership drive is more important than ever. The results of the membership drive will determine the kind of organization we will be in the next few years and beyond. Continue reading

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Vote yes for reform

  By Philadelphia, Progressive Politics

After a year filled with the trials and convictions of political officials and bankers for political corruption—and the recent indictment of Councilman Mariano—one might think that the worst ofPhiladelphiapolitics is almost behind us. One would be wrong. For the most serious problem with politics inPhiladelphiais not what’s illegal. It is what’s legal. A great deal of political activity in this city is both entirely legal and morally corrupt. After all, our former treasure Corey Kemp, and his late partner in crime, Ron White, were primarily guilty of impatience and bad timing. There is nothing illegal about trading campaign contributions for government contracts, provided that neither our politicians nor our contractors—whether they are business owners, real estate developers, or lawyers—ever explicitly make such a deal. Nor is there anything illegal about a former political official benefiting from the contractors in return for past favors after he leaves office. Had Corey Kemp… 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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We can't afford to flunk transit

  By Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Published Op-Eds, Transportation

The Philadelphia Inquirer, December 16, 2004 As a teacher, I know that review sessions are useful, so the end of an academic semester and calendar year is a good time for a review of public transit 101. A final exam is coming up soon, both for our political leaders and for us citizens. We all are in danger of failing. Our semester’s project has been to put pressure on our political leaders to make sure that there are no service reductions or fare increases at SEPTA. That means all of us should be contacting the leaders of the Democratic and Republican parties in Harrisburg, Gov. Rendell and Speaker of the House John Perzel, as well as our own legislators. It is easy to find excuses for not doing our homework. SEPTA is an unloved course for most of us. It often is unresponsive both to low grades and constructive criticism.… Continue reading

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Understanding The Johnson Street Dispute

  By NW Philly, Published Op-Eds, West Mt. Airy Neighbors

Mt. Airy Times Express and Germantown Courier, September 22, 2004. Also published as On Johnson Street, The Issue is Not Race, Philadelphia Public Record, October 7,2004 The current dispute over the West Johnson Street properties has been among the most complicated and contentious issues WMAN has dealt with in the six years I have been involved in the organization. I would like to explain to the communities of Mt. Airy and Germantown what this issue is about and, also, what it is not about. Continue reading

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Put SEPTA on the rails with slots

  By Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Published Op-Eds, Transportation

Reprinted from the Philadelphia Inquirer, June 28, 2004 The artful compromise is one of the highest accomplishments in politics. Our great politicians are those who can bring opposites together or frame an issue in a way that generates broad support. Right now, politics here is, with one exception, at an impasse. Our mayor and City Council are struggling over budget and tax issues. Transit agencies and commuters are pleading with state officials to provide the new, dedicated funding that would enable them to avoid disastrous cutbacks or equally debilitating fare increases. The governor and General Assembly are divided about education policy. Gov. Rendell’s Growing Greener II environmental program is an anathema to Republicans. It is only on the issue of slot machines that Democrats and Republicans seem to agree. The solution to all our difficulties then is obvious: Put slot machines on SEPTA commuter trains. Continue reading

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The transit crisis is not over

  By Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Published Op-Eds, Transportation

The crisis in public transportation funding continues. To continue the present level of service SEPTA needs $70 million more than it can expect from the current level of fares and state support. And that does not include the funds necessary to reach a fair agreement with the Transport Workers Union next year. Without substantial new funding for SEPTA, the agency will be forced to propose drastic cutbacks in service or dramatic increases in our fares, or both. A superior public transportation system is vital to our region. To see this, we just have to imagine what would happen to our metropolitan area if public transportation were dramatically cut back: Our roads will be horribly congested.  More people will die in traffic accidents. Our hopes for economic development will be dashed. New businesses need to draw on skilled workers who live throughout the region. If workers do not have accessible, economical,… Continue reading