PHILADELPHIA, July 26 – State Rep. Stephen Kinsey, D-Phila., is rallying community members, churches, law enforcement and community organizations for a Stop the Violence and Peace March planned for Friday, Aug. 4. The march will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the 6300 block of Moylan St. (off West Washington Lane in Germantown). “The level of violence in Philadelphia in the past 30 days is intolerable and unacceptable. A string of shootings has been unleashed and we need to touch every community in our city to find a way to get guns out of the hands of irresponsible people,” Kinsey said. Statistics show that homicides are up 20 percent in Philadelphia. As of this past week, the Philadelphia police has documented 169 homicides, compared to 142 at the same time last year. “Enough is enough. Just last week an innocent woman was driving her car in Logan and was struck by a stray bullet. In Grays Ferry, a 16-year-old was shot while attending a cookout. These are just a few examples of the senseless shootings in our community,” Kinsey said. “Our families deserve to live in safe and productive communities. Our children deserve to live in a peaceful environment that ensures a better future for them and, consequently, for all our neighbors.” Kinsey said the march is aimed to empower the people of our local communities and to let them know that there are leaders and organizations who care about them and their quality of life. More Read more
HARRISBURG, July 26 – Members of the Pennsylvania legislature's LGBT Equality Caucus are denouncing President Trump's announcement that he will discriminate against transgender people who serve or wish to serve in the U.S. military. State Rep. Dan Frankel, D-Allegheny, co-chair of the LGBT Equality Caucus, said, "This is discrimination, adding to a string of broken Trump promises, this time one he made to LGBT Americans, and it's a waste of tax dollars and the talents and abilities of thousands of Americans who just want to serve their country. "A news report has already confirmed this morning that this is just a cynical political ploy . And it's unlikely to work, as former North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory's example shows – he lost re-election in 2016 in a swing state after discriminating against LGBT citizens. I would add that the health-care cost argument is false , like so many other things the president says or tweets. In addition, 18 other countries allow transgender people to serve – including several of our NATO allies and Israel – and who takes security more seriously than Israel? Sen. Daylin Leach, D-Montgomery/Delaware, co-chair of the caucus, said, "Thousands of transgender Americans currently serve honorably in our military, yet President Trump claims they are a 'disruption.' Perhaps when he claimed he would have the LGBTQ community's back, he was already planning to stab them in Read more
FILADELFIA, Julio 26– El Representante Estatal Ángel Cruz, D-Fila., ofrecerá un evento de trituración de documentos el sábado, 19 de agosto de 10 a.m. a 2 p.m. en su oficina de distrito localizada en 3503 N. B Street Unidad #7, Filadelfia. Los ciudadanos podrán llevar documentos como facturas viejas, expedientes médicos y documentos financieros, así como otros documentos personales que contengan información confidencial. El material triturado durante el evento será reciclado. “Los eventos de trituración de documentos son una de las mejores maneras de prevenir ser víctima de robo de identidad, y con la incidencia subiendo cada año, es mi responsabilidad como legislador educar y ayudar a las personas a deshacerse de sus documentos”, dijo Cruz. Personal de la oficina del representante proveerá asistencia en inglés y español sobre asuntos relacionados con el gobierno estatal. Read more
PHILADELPHIA, July 26 – State Rep. Ángel Cruz, D-Phila., is hosting a free community shredding event on Saturday, Aug. 19 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at his district office, 3503 N. B Street, Unit #7, Philadelphia. Constituents are encouraged to bring unneeded paper items to be shredded for disposal, including old bills, health records and financial items, as well as any other paper items of a personal nature. “Shredding events are one of the best defenses against becoming a victim of identity theft and with the rate increasing every year, it’s my responsibility as a legislator to educate and help people on this issue,” Cruz said. Items shredded will be recycled afterwards. Cruz and his staff will also provide assistance for constituents applying for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), Medicaid and the state Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program. Assistance will be available in English and Spanish. Read more
State Rep. Peter Schweyer, D-Lehigh, released the following statement on the indictment of Allentown Mayor Edward Pawlowski: “As someone born and raised in the city of Allentown, someone who has dedicated my entire adult life to serving the people of my city and is proud to follow in the footsteps of my father and his 33 years serving the city of Allentown, I am truly dismayed and saddened. Ed Pawlowski should tender his resignation as mayor immediately if he truly values Allentown and its people. “City Hall needs to be a place where government works to move Allentown forward so it can remain an amazing place to live, work and raise a family." Read more
ALLENTOWN, July 25 – State Rep. Mike Schlossberg issued the following statement about the latest legal development regarding Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski: “Ed Pawlowski needs to resign as mayor of Allentown. Now.” Read more
Rep. Anita Kulik is sponsoring two free events – a Child ID program and safe prescription drug disposal – on two dates during the Kennedy Township Community Days celebration, Aug. 9-12, at Fairhaven Park. Read more
PHILADELPHIA, July 25 – State Rep. Morgan Cephas, D-Phila., is partnering with the American Red Cross to host the "Sound the Alarm, Save a Life" campaign. Cephas, along with her staff and community volunteers, will be available to install smoke alarms and provide fire safety tips to residents of the 192nd Legislative District in west Philadelphia. The event will be held from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Aug. 12, at Shephard Recreation Center, 5700 Haverford Ave., 19131. “Unfortunately, there are many families in our communities that don’t have working smoke detectors in their homes,” Cephas said. “I encourage everyone in my district who does not have a smoke detector in their home to contact my office to have one installed. “By doing so, we can help prevent house fires because even one fire is one too many.” Cephas said smoke detector installations will be performed on a first come, first serve basis while supplies last. To RSVP for an installation or for more information, residents should contact Gwen at (215) 879-6625. Read more
YARDLEY, July 25 – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation should consider the need for weight restrictions on two local roads in Yardley and Lower Makefield Township, according to an online petition being circulated by state Rep. Perry Warren, D-Bucks. Warren said that he is trying to show that State Route 32 beginning at the intersection with Woodside Road and continuing to the intersection at East Ferry Road, and Main Street beginning at the interchange with Interstate 95 and continuing to the intersection at Big Oak Road, are unsafe for through truck passage. “These roads are very narrow in spots, and they wind through residential neighborhoods and busy business districts, placing pedestrians and residents in danger,” he said. “In just over a week, 415 people have signed the petition.” The first-term state representative representing Lower Makefield Township, Morrisville, Newtown Borough and Township and Yardley wrote legislation that would prohibit the truck through traffic. However, in reviewing the proposed legislation, House Transportation Committee and PennDOT representatives advised Warren that, because the local roads had 10 years ago been deemed safe for through traffic and the roads adequate to handle the traffic, the legislation likely would not survive a legal challenge. Accordingly, Warren's petition asks PennDOT to reconsider the determination that the route is safe. Since March 2016, there were two separate Read more
EBENSBURG, July 25 – State Rep. Frank Burns, D-Cambria, today issued the following statement regarding state Attorney General Josh Shapiro’s filing of a felony charge against a Catholic priest in nearby Westmoreland County yesterday: “The attorney general, using the investigating grand jury system, is examining child sexual abuse by priests throughout the commonwealth – and rightly so,” Burns said. “There is no excuse for a person in authority taking advantage of a child in this most psychologically damaging of ways, and the message being sent by Mr. Shapiro in this case is that even if the abuse took place in the early 1990s, if the law allows, your day in court is coming. “As a Catholic, I take no particular glee in watching these chickens come home to roost across our commonwealth. But also as a Catholic – and one who attended a parochial high school where similar abuse was previously documented – I am compelled to seek and support justice on behalf of my friends and classmates and others who were victimized in this most inappropriate way.” In the wake of last year’s revelation of widespread child sex abuse in the Altoona-Johnstown Diocese spanning decades, Burns has called for revising the statute of limitations for such crimes . Read more
HARRISBURG, July 25 – State Rep. Gerald Mullery, D-Luzerne, launched a new constituent and community outreach service dubbed “One.19” in White Haven on Monday. The initiative involves scheduling meetings and constituent service hours in all 19 communities Mullery represents. Read more
HARRISBURG, July 25 – State Reps. Isabella Fitzgerald, D-Phila., and Thomas Murt, R-Montgomery/Phila., announced they introduced legislation to enact a “Homeless Bill of Rights” to protect fundamental civil and human rights of homeless people. “Homelessness continues to be an issue in many communities across the Commonwealth. Local codes that outlaw loitering, vagrancy, sitting or lying on the sidewalk, begging, eating in public, and other behaviors disproportionately affect homeless people,” Fitzgerald said. Fitzgerald said House Bill 1664 would protect the homeless population’s rights to move freely in public spaces, and receive equal treatment by all government agencies, employers and health care providers. The legislation would also shield their right to vote and the confidentiality of personal records and information. “Homelessness involves not only individuals but entire families. On any given day, over 15,000 Pennsylvanians are known to be homeless. During one school year, our education system serves approximately 13,000 homeless children,” she added. Murt emphasized there are key rights the homeless population needs to have protected. The Homeless Bill of Rights would establish that no person should suffer unnecessarily, be denied basic rights or be subject to unfair discrimination based on their homeless status. “As the burdens of joblessness grow and the pressures on public resources increase, we have Read more
FOLSOM, July 25 – Following Judge Bernard Labuskes’ decision to issue a temporary injunction halting construction of the Mariner East 2 pipeline, state Rep. Leanne Krueger-Braneky, D-Delaware, released the following statement: Read more
PHILADELPHIA, July 24 – State Rep. Jason Dawkins has announced that he will host his third annual Frankford Community Day from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 12 at the Gambrel Playground, 1900 Wakeling St., Frankford. “I am excited to host my third annual community day in Frankford,” Dawkins said. “For the past two years, I have been able to bring my community together and provide them with various resources to meet their needs. I look forward to this year’s event, meeting my neighbors face-to-face, and addressing any issues they have.” Dawkins said the free event will feature carnival and video games, as well as live entertainment. Represetatives from local and state agencies will also be available to provide information about a variety of social services. Guests include Philadelphia City Councilwoman Maria Quiñones-Sánchez, State Senator Christine Tartaglione, Congressman Brendan Boyle, the 23 rd Ward of Philadelphia, the Frankford Community Development Corporation and more. Free refreshments also will be served. For more information, contact Dawkins’ constituent service office at 215-744-7901 ### Read more
PHILADELPHIA, July 24 – State Rep. Jordan Harris, D-Phila., has announced that he will host his fifth annual Soul School Festival beginning at noon Saturday, Aug. 12 at Chew Playground, 19th and Washington Ave. “I am excited to announce that my annual Soul School Festival is back and better than ever,” Harris said. “Each year, I have the honor of bringing my community together to hear directly from them about the issues they face and how I can solve them. It also gives me the opportunity to provide them with available state services and entertainment for the entire family.” The free festival will feature bounce houses, a basketball tournament, face painting and live entertainment. Attendees will also be able to receive free health screenings and learn more about registering to vote, the PA 529 College Savings Plan and utility assistance programs. There will be musical performances by Biz Markie, Total, Marsha Ambrosius, DJ Kool, and Chill Moody. Refreshments also will be served. The event is open to the community, and constituents with questions should contact Harris’ office at (215) 952-3378. ### Read more
PHILADELPHIA, July 24 – July and August are the hottest months of the year, so the prospect of hot-weather injuries continues to exist, said state Rep. Stephen Kinsey, D-Phila., who will kick off bottled-water deliveries with local elected officials to police officers, firefighters and senior citizens across the 201st Legislative District . "There is the threat of heat injury and we want to take precautions keeping local residents equipped with water," Kinsey said. "We have folks without air conditioning, seniors who have difficulties withstanding the heat, and people out there working in the hot sun. People need reminded to drink plenty of water, take breaks and find cool shelter when working or playing outside for long periods of time." Kinsey will be delivering more than 5,000 bottles of water to area residents and sharing tips on how to beat the heat, such as: Stay hydrated by drinking lots of water and do not overexert yourself. Try to stay indoors as much as possible. Check on elderly friends and neighbors, and those with medical conditions. For additional help, call the Philadelphia Corporation for the Aging Senior Helpline at 215-765-9040. Know the City of Philadelphia "Cooling Centers" at http://gsg.phila.gov/map . Register at https://alert.pa.gov to receive emergency alerts for when temperatures spike and other emergencies strike. Kinsey also said that he encourages seniors in need of water to contact his Read more
Rep. Ryan Bizzarro said Saturday’s House session, purportedly called to consider a 21-day-late revenue package for the new state budget, amounted to a waste of time and taxpayer dollars. “Perhaps Saturday’s debacle will move House Republicans to start working with others,” Bizzarro said. Read more
HARRISBURG, July 22 – Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf allowed S.B. 624 to become law Friday. The new law reduces protections to streams where coal companies seek to mine underneath them and interferes with pending litigation, said state Rep. Greg Vitali, D-Delaware/Montgomery. The bill passed both the Pennsylvania House and Senate and was presented to the governor on July 11. He had until Friday to either sign it, veto it or let it become law by his inaction. “This is a triumph of special-interest group influence over good environmental policy,” Vitali said “The law is also unconstitutional.” Vitali said S.B. 624 violates Article III, Section 32 of the Pennsylvania Constitution, which prohibits special legislation. Senate Bill 624 is directed at one particular coal company, Consol Energy, in one particular location, Ryerson Station State Park, Vitali said. Introduced by Sen. Joseph Scarnati, R-Jefferson, the bill directly affects a pending case before the Pennsylvania Environmental Hearing Board (EHB Docket No. 2014-072-B) relating to Consol Energy’s longwall mining activity in and near this Greene County state park. Vitali said the law also violates Article I, Section 27 of the Pennsylvania Constitution (the Environmental Rights Amendment), as recently interpreted by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. Longwall mining activity by Consol Energy under Ryerson Station State Park has already caused permanent damage to Read more
ALLENTOWN, July 21 – State Rep. Peter Schweyer is leading an effort to collect school supplies at his Allentown office, 1912 S. Fourth St. Read more
PITTSBURGH, July 19 – State Rep. Dan Frankel, D-Allegheny, invites residents of the 23rd Legislative District to participate in a live Tele-Town Hall meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday, July 27. The district includes part or all of these Pittsburgh neighborhoods: Squirrel Hill, Shadyside, Greenfield, Oakland, Point Breeze and Regent Square. Residents of Frankel's district will receive an automated phone call at about 7 p.m. that day inviting them to join the meeting. To participate, people simply need to remain on the line once they receive the call. "This is a great way to bring district residents into a community discussion in a more convenient way for them, without them having to leave the comfort of their homes,” Frankel said. "I look forward to talking with my constituents about a variety of issues that have an impact on them and their families. I enjoy meeting with constituents in person as well, and groups that would like to invite me to speak should contact my office at 412-422-1774." During the live event, Frankel will discuss and take questions on a variety of state issues, and participants will be asked to weigh in on poll questions using their touch-tone phones. Anyone who doesn’t have a chance to speak during the phone meeting will be able to record a question at its conclusion. Questions will be forwarded to Frankel's office for a future response. Those interested also may email questions to Frankel before the Tele-Town Read more
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