State Rep. Morgan Cephas, D-Phila. made the following statement regarding the withdrawal of an application for a liquor license extension with the PLCB for a local establishment at 1101 N. 63rd St. in the Overbrook Farms section of West Philadelphia: “I’ve been fighting to end nuisance Stop and Gos in West Philadelphia for years, so I’m pleased to see that ongoing advocacy from neighbors in the area resulted in their desired outcome due to concerns about potential impacts of a license expansion. This grassroots-level work by our community goes hand-in-hand with the recent recommendations of the Legislative Stop and Go Task Force, which I fully support and look forward to implementing in the upcoming legislative session. “The applicant has submitted a new application to transfer the liquor license to a different location in another area of the city. I remain hopeful that this transfer will place the license in a part of the city where it better aligns with the desires of the local community.” Cephas serves as chairwoman of the Philadelphia House Delegation and was a driving force in the creation of the Legislative Stop and Go Task Force which released its recommendations in October 2024. Read more

HARRISBURG, Dec. 2, 2024 – State Reps. Rick Krajewski and Dan Frankel announced Monday their co-sponsorship memo for landmark legislation to finally decriminalize cannabis in Pennsylvania , vowing to create a strong marketplace that centers public health, raises state revenue and supports individuals and communities harmed by the criminalization of cannabis. Krajewski, who led the House Health Subcommittee on Health Care, chaired five hearings to examine the successes and failures of cannabis programs in other states in the previous legislative session. “We’ve heard from public health experts. We’ve heard from criminal justice and social equity advocates. We’ve learned directly from states across the country how to get this done safely and efficiently, generating hundreds of millions of dollars in public revenue,” said Krajewski. “It’s time to move forward in Pennsylvania before we fall further behind.” Twenty-four other states – including nearly every state that shares a border in Pennsylvania – have already legalized recreational marijuana. Polls show that cannabis decriminalization is popular among Pennsylvanians across all political parties . Frankel, who is majority chair of the House Health Committee, said that the criminalization of cannabis has been disastrous for the commonwealth, particularly within communities of color. “We have a moral obligation to not Read more

HARRISBURG, Dec. 2 – A new state grant program designed to benefit Pennsylvania schools is now accepting applications until Jan 31, 2025. Solar for Schools , introduced by state Rep. Elizabeth Fiedler, D-Phila., will help school districts install solar panels on their roofs or grounds. Solar is a cheap energy source that can free up funds for schools that currently rely on fluctuating, market-rate energy. “While Solar for Schools will undoubtedly deliver tremendous savings to schools, I believe its positive impact will be even bigger,” Fiedler said. “The workers who install these solar panels will earn living wages that support their families. Kids in classrooms will get to see firsthand the careers of skilled trades workers and use the solar panels as an educational tool. And this is all while their school is contributing to a healthier environment for them to live in.” Some forward-thinking districts across Pennsylvania have already installed solar arrays and are reaping millions in savings . But not all schools have the necessary flexibility in their budgets to make such investments. In fact, the contrary is often true -- many PA school districts are recovering from decades of unconstitutional underfunding or face shrinking tax bases, expiring COVID-19 recovery funds and other financial challenges. Solar for Schools grants cover up to 50 % of the Read more

House Transportation Committee Chair, state Rep. Ed Neilson made the following statement on Gov. Josh Shapiro’s redirection of $153 million in federal highway capital funds to the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority to allow for continued service, avoid immediate service cuts and delay more significant fare increases until July 1, 2025: “I want to thank Governor Shapiro for his leadership and support of Pennsylvania’s most complex and robust transit authority. SEPTA is a lifeline for people in Philadelphia and the outlying counties, providing almost 800,000 people daily with transportation that they might not otherwise have. “We have been sounding the alarm around public transit funding for months. On our statewide tour about the transportation needs of urban, suburban and rural Pennsylvania, we heard from countless experts who spoke of the dire consequences that would come without action from the General Assembly. “The PA House Democrats took that input seriously, passing bipartisan legislation to properly fund public transit in all 67 counties on three different occasions, which was never brought up for consideration in the Senate. “This isn’t just about buses; this is about jobs. This is about making sure that our businesses can still get their employees to work. Transit is an investment, not an expense. For every dollar invested in transit, we generate Read more

On this Day of Remembrance, reach out to a trans person in your life to let them that you see and respect them. If you don’t know a trans person, take some time to find out more about their community, so that ‘they/them’ can truly become ‘us.’ Read more

“Immigrants are small business owners, healthcare workers, educators, and laborers,” said Rep. Danillo Burgos, who served as the hearing host. Burgos also serves as the chairman on the House Majority Policy Subcommittee on Progressive Policies and is the chairman of the Pennsylvania Legislative Latino Caucus. “They support industries essential to Pennsylvania’s economy while revitalizing neighborhoods and investing in our community’s future.” Read more

Pa. state Rep. Morgan Cephas, D-Phila., today announced a $750,000 grant was awarded by Pennsylvania’s Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program to the Cobbs Creek Foundation to help with its Cobbs Creek stream restoration project. Read more

Today, state Rep. Regina Young, D-Phila./Delaware, announced that $15 million has been awarded to eight projects in the 185th Legislative District from the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program.Young praised the investments in the area for their widespread impact and potential.“Each of these projects will have an impact not only in South and Southwest Philadelphia, but across Southeastern Pennsylvania. These grants will facilitate increased tourism, recreation and job creation and continue to build our economy,” said Young.“I’m thankful for the vision of the Shapiro administration to invest in our region by helping with the redevelopment of these locally significant sites.” Read more

“No one should be deprived of compassionate care or respect or be forced to risk the health of their child, even when they are a child themselves under the law. Better prenatal, pregnancy and post-natal protections and support for incarcerated people in Pennsylvania is a matter of compassion and common decency,” Cephas said. Read more

“Research has shown that doula support leads to improved birth outcomes, including reduced rates of cesarean sections, shorter labor durations and higher rates of breastfeeding initiation. By providing continuous support throughout pregnancy and the important first year following birth, doulas contribute to safer and more positive experiences for families," Cephas said. "Lack of coverage for doula services in Medicaid leads to a vast disparity in care for women who are already statistically at risk for adverse pregnancy outcomes, with Black birthing people at the highest risk of maternal and infant mortality and morbidity compared to other racial and ethnic groups. This new law will give these parents a proven network of support needed to produce better mental and physical health outcomes during their birthing journey. " Read more