Here are my recommendations for your consideration when you vote on Tuesday May 17
Elected Officials
First, I’d like to ask you to vote for me to have another term as your Democratic committee person and also to vote for my wife, Diane Gottlieb as well. Diane wants to step in on a temporary basis as I look for another person who can step into the big shoes left by my late partner Brenda Taylor. I hope the work I’ve done to keep you informed about out elections over the last 16 years warrant another term
Second, Josh Shapiro has no competitor in the race for governor but two candidate are running for Lieutenant Governor. I strongly recommend you vote for Austin Davis. He has been a good state representative, bring racial and geographic balance to the ticket, he is a good campaigner and will be a calm, supportive partner to a Governor Shapiro.
Third, I strongly encourage you to vote for Dwight Evans for US House of Representatives, third district. Dwight is a strong leader for tax fairness, urban growth, and health care and other human services as well as being a master of the legislative arts and the member of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee. He is being challenged from the left by impressive young people have a. future in our politics. But there complaints against Rep. Evans have struck me as sometime misinformed and overwrought. We can’t afford to lose what Rep. Evans brings us in Washington..
Fourth, I encourage you to vote for Malcolm Kenyatta for US Senate. Of the three candidates in the race, Malcolm’s agenda is most progressive, his political skills necessary to move his agenda forward are most honed, and his backgrounds is most reflective of the diversity of this state. I work closely with Malcolm in Harrisburg. His skills in making the public case for policy ideas that create an economy that works for all of us are well-known. His understanding of the ins and outs of public policy is second to none. And he has growing understanding of how to move public policies through a legislator.
All the polls show John Fetterman is far ahead. I do not think he would be a bad candidates. He supports a progressive agenda and in his own way he connects with Pennsylvanians who might not otherwise find that agenda and those who support it attractive. I remain concerned that he has not adequately an incident in which he brandished a gun at someone he thought might have fired a gun in Braddock, PA, where Fetterman is Mayor. I hope he does so soon. Conor Lamb has, throughout his career positioned himself as a more moderate Democrat. I don’t think that stance is what we need to mobilize our base or convince working people who are unsure which side to support to stand with us.
Fifth, I want to encourage you to vote for Chris Rabb for state representative. I have a long blog post about this race here. So let me give you the shorter version here.
I’m part of an organization that works closely with members of the PA General Assembly, I never endorse candidates in Democratic primaries. Unfortunately in our division there is a contest between good two incumbents, Chris Rabb and Izzy Fitzgerald, who were put in the same district under the new legislative map.
I don’t know Izzy Fitzgerald well, but I gather she has been a good representative. I talked with her a few weeks ago and she impressed me. In most cases I would have endorsed her in our division.
But she is running against Chris Rabb, who has been one of the most progressive, far-sighted, and creative members of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. He has been at the fore front of a number of critical issues, from raising the minimum wage to making our upside-down tax system fairer to changing the rules to make police officers accountable for their actions to calling for reparations for Black people for our legacy of slavery and white supremacy. He has been one of the legislators most committed to building the We The People–PA campaign, the progressive advocacy effort I helped initiate.
In this primary election I ask you to support Chris Rabb for reelection for one simple reason. All of us who are trying to build a progressive movement in this state need him.
There are only eight people running for eight seats on State Committee. So we have no real choice to make. Frankly, state committee does very little and has little influence. Anyone who wants to be on state committee probably doesn’t have the political knowledge or skill to contribute much to it.
Ballot questions
Question 1: Yes
Shall the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter be amended to revise the composition of the Zoning Board of Adjustment by increasing the number of mayoral appointees from five to seven; by requiring Council confirmation of the mayor’s appointments; and by specifying qualifications that appointees must possess, including a demonstrated sensitivity to community concerns regarding development and the protection of the character of Philadelphia’s neighborhoods?
This ballot question increase the size of the Zoning Board of Adjustment (ZBA) by increasing its size, giving City Council power over who is on the board, and requiring specific qualifications from board members. The seven Board members would have to include: an urban planner; an architect; a lawyer with zoning experience; a person with experience in the construction industry; and at least two recognized leaders from community organizations. All Board members would also need to have shown sensitivity to community concerns regarding development and protection of the character of Philadelphia’s neighborhoods.
I think there are good arguments on both sides of this issue. The main reason to oppose it is that district members of City Council already have too much control over development in their districts. The reasons to support is are (1) we need more members of the board with special expertise and sensitivity to the way development impacts communities and (2) because Council as a whole will approve the Mayor’s nominations, there is limited ability for Council to sway ZBA members about issues in their districts.
On balance, I urge you to vote Yes
Question 2 and Question 3: Yes
Should The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter be amended to remove all gender-based references?
Should the Educational Supplement to the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter be amended to remove all gender-based references?
It’s long past time to eliminate gender-based references in the documents that structure our government.
Question 4: Yes
Should The Philadelphia Home Rule Charter be amended to establish the Fair Housing Commission as an independent commission to administer and enforce statutes and ordinances concerning unfair rental practices and certain other matters concerning the landlord and tenant relationship and to adjudicate disputes related to such matters?
The Fair Housing Commission is where tenants bring a complaint against landlords, for example, asking them to make repairs necessary to create a livable home. The commission has been in place since 1962 and this proposal doesn’t change its function but make is part of the charter (like the Human Relations Commission or the newly formed Citizens Police Oversight Commission). That means that a future mayor or City Council could eliminated it.
That, in my view, deserves a yes vote.
Marc Stier
Member of the Democratic Committee
Ward 21, Division 24