HARRISBURG, Oct. 26 – State Rep. Rick Krajewski, D-Phila., today announced that the Pennsylvania Department of Health will administratively introduce changes to the birth certificate process, as proposed in legislation he has introduced that would allow disadvantaged minors to access their birth certificates . “Disadvantaged Black youth are at highest risk of being victims of gun violence in our city,” Krajewski said. “I heard their stories of how the inability to access their birth certificates were holding them back from seeking opportunities to improve their lives, and I knew I needed to act. We introduced House Bill 1475 to remove one of many barriers preventing them from being able to better their lives, and I am grateful for the Department of Health’s partnership on this critical issue.” “This regulatory change is a huge win for my clients who are in foster care or transitioning out,” said Saumya Ayyagari, public health nurse home visitor for Philadelphia Nurse-Family Partnership. “Now they can claim their identity and take charge of their financial, educational and career goals.” “This is a transformational change that impacts young people in our state in a positive way,” said Kendra Van de Water, co-founder and executive director for YEAH Philly. “Not only can working-age youth now have the autonomy and access to get their own birth certificates, but now we’ve helped make Read more
PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 19 – State Rep. Rick Krajewski announced a total of $9.56 million in state funding has been awarded to multiple organizations in his district from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency for violence intervention and prevention. The organizations in Krajewski’s district that were awarded grants include: Anti-Drug & Alcohol Crusaders Inc. - $169,000 Children's Hospital of Philadelphia - $1.93 million Drexel University - $1.2 million University of Pennsylvania – Center on Treatment & Study of Anxiety - $1.52 million University of Pennsylvania – Injury Science Center- $2.33 million University of Pennsylvania – Penn Trauma - $1.91 million YEAH Philly - $500,000 “Gun violence has been a very pervasive issue in Philadelphia and taken far too many lives,” said Krajewski, D-Phila. “I am very happy to see this funding come to the district and look forward to seeing the deserving recipients use it to keep our communities safe from further tragedy.” Read more
Recap of 2022 community events, legislation, state funding brought to the 188th district and much more! Read more
HARRISBURG, Dec. 8 – This morning during the Pennsylvania Sentencing Commission’s regularly scheduled meeting, state Rep. Rick Krajewski, D-Phila., was unanimously elected by the members to serve as vice chair. Per new by-laws adopted during the same business meeting, Krajewski will serve a one-year term until December 2023, when he will be up for reelection. Krajewski issued the following statement: “Over the past two years while serving on the Sentencing Commission, I have gained a deeper understanding of Pennsylvania’s criminal legal system and the Sentencing Commission’s important role. I appreciate the variety of perspectives that each of the commission members brings to the work of establishing Pennsylvania’s guidelines on sentencing, parole, and probation. “In this new role as vice chair, I hope to bring my experience as a community organizer to this role. I believe I offer an important and unique community perspective both from my experience as an organizer advocating in the criminal legal space, and as someone who has family who have been involved in this system. I look forward to continue working with the members of the commission to bring this community perspective into the work of the Sentencing Commission.” Read more
HARRISBURG, Nov. 16 – State Rep. Rick Krajewski, D-Phila., issued a statement following the unprecedented vote by the Pennsylvania House of Representatives to impeach Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner. "Today is a dark day in Pennsylvania,” said Krajewski. “This afternoon the Pennsylvania House of Representatives voted to impeach Philadelphia DA Krasner. The impeachment of DA Krasner is a direct extension of efforts by extremist Republicans to undermine voters, decimate our democracy, and steal power to advance their right-wing agenda. But in this country, and in Pennsylvania, voters decide. What we saw today, was emboldened extremists strip away the rights of all Pennsylvanians. And we could see this happen again to our constituents. To any of us. “This impeachment is a distraction from GOP legislators’ failure to address the leading cause of gun violence: guns. And a failure to deliver material support to Pennsylvania communities. Philadelphians have made their voices heard loud and clear: they want gun control, good-paying jobs, and do not want more of their loved ones in jail. GOP legislators are shamefully using the pain of victims and survivors as part of their own desperate power grab. If the General Assembly wanted to protect Philadelphians, they would listen to Philadelphians and help meet these clearly expressed needs.” More information is available by contacting Read more
HARRISBURG, Nov. 1 – On the last day to apply for a mail-in or absentee ballot in Pennsylvania, state Reps. Rick Krajewski and Chris Rabb, both D-Phila., and civil rights groups reacted to a new report, which found that 42,976 people in Pennsylvania will be formally disenfranchised. The report is by The Sentencing Project, which found that across the country, 4.6 million people, or one in every 50 adults, will be barred from voting in the 2022 midterms due to a felony conviction. In Pennsylvania, only those incarcerated for a felony conviction are ineligible to vote. The 45.4% who will be disenfranchised are African American in a state that is less than 12.2% Black. In addition, advocates warned that thousands of Pennsylvanians currently held in local jails will be unable to vote despite being legally eligible to cast a ballot. A 2021 report by All Voting is Local, Committee of Seventy and Common Cause PA found that only 52 people had requested mail-in ballots in the 2020 general election using an address associated with one of 18 county jails. At the time, nearly 25,000 people were held in jails across the 67 counties. Reactions to the report included: "Felony disenfranchisement is a manifestation of how we dehumanize people in the carceral system,” Krajewski said. “We value retribution over rehabilitation. Punishment over restorative justice. And because we believe people who make mistakes should be penalized, it also means that we Read more
HARRISBURG, Oct. 27 – State Rep. Rick Krajewski, D-Phila., today announced $2.75 million from a state grant approved by the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program that will support the city of Philadelphia and the Christy Recreation Center. “Christy Recreation is a staple of the community located right in the heart of my district providing dozens of community programs, places to play and recreate, outdoor ball fields, basketball courts, a pool, game room, and community meeting spaces,” Krajewski said. “Whether you’re old or young, we all have stories of the experiences we’ve had at the Christy, and many of us have been heartbroken that such a vital cornerstone has been in disrepair. This investment of $2.75 million provides hope for a grieving community that suffered an immense loss when a young man lost his life to gun violence at this site at the age of 16. This community has come together, and now Christy has the chance to become a cutting-edge recreation center that West Philly residents deserve.” $2.75 million will be provided to the city of Philadelphia for the Christy Recreation Center project, which will involve renovating the existing center building and grounds, including ADA access to and throughout the facility. The facility will become more accessible, better lit, and greener, with better lines of sight and more efficient use of interior and exterior spaces. It will feature better and Read more
Pa. state Rep. Rick Krajewski is recognizing Climate Action Week by prioritizing communities and people over businesses and profits. He knows that 1 out of 5 children suffering from asthma due to air pollution in Phila., and he saw first hand the impacts that fracking has had in Pennsylvania. He's working to establish a comprehensive task force to study the public health impacts of fracking and provide solutions to the negative impacts of careless and deadly polluters. He is doing everything he can to hold these polluters accountable and demand justice. Read more
HARRISBURG, Sept. 20 – State Reps. Rick Krajewski, D-Phila., and Danielle Friel Otten, D-Chester, and state Sen. Carolyn Comitta, D-West Chester, led a Climate Caucus news conference celebrating Climate Action Week Tuesday in the Pennsylvania Capitol Rotunda. “One of the biggest issues facing Pennsylvania is that our polluters are not held accountable for their actions and the effects they have on public health,” Krajewski said. “We have an underfunded and under-resourced DEP that has had to make significant staffing cuts, whilst the fracking industry the DEP is tasked to regulate has flourished with the aid of technology. This has become a growing problem that demands concrete actions and I believe H.B.1467 is a step in that direction.” “Every day in the news, we see stories that should serve as red-flag warnings about the very real and present impacts of climate change,” Otten said. “Seeing the devastation in Puerto Rico from Hurricane Fiona; the growing threats throughout the United States from historic droughts, fires and floods; and the communities that are too often impacted first and hit the hardest by the economic and public health effects of climate change, we need to expand the conversation and the scope of what climate action means. During Climate Week, we’re lifting up the dozens of bills and solutions proposed by Climate Caucus members that would help Pennsylvania advance environmental justice, hold Read more
HARRISBURG, Sept. 15 – State Rep. Rick Krajewski, D-Phila., today issued the following statement in response to the House Republican majority’s efforts to impeach and undermine Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner, most recently holding Krasner in contempt for failing to comply with a subpoena. “The Republican Party’s recent attacks against Larry Krasner are just another attempt to disenfranchise Black and brown voters and further a racist narrative on criminal justice,” Krajewski said. “I stand in support of District Attorney Larry Krasner and condemn these attacks against his office. “The Republican Party launched an impeachment process against Krasner simply because they don’t like his policies. The recent subpoena inquiry is illegal and is being properly challenged in court. By requesting that the DA provide grand jury testimony to the House Select Committee – notably, grand jury testimony about a police prosecution – the committee is asking DA Krasner to break the law. Until the Commonwealth court rules, Krasner and the Philly DAO don’t have to produce anything before the state legislature. “Republicans who live hundreds of miles away of Philadelphia have identified no grounds under which they can impeach Krasner. They cite ‘rising crime’ in Philadelphia while ignoring crime in other counties. They don’t experience the violence our Read more
Hello Neighbor, Summer is coming to an end, and I want to let you know what we’ve been up to around the district and in Harrisburg over these past few months. I always enjoy meeting with young people, and I spent some time speaking to two different youth summer programs about the sciences, democracy, and voting rights. Our office held a job fair in July at Christy Recreation Center and in August we co-hosted a backpack giveaway. Legislators from Harrisburg came to Kingsessing Rec Center for a policy hearing to discuss the need for funding our community infrastructure. On Your Porch is back for a second season and we are still looking for hosts. Read more
HARRISBURG, Sept. 8 – State Rep. Rick Krajewski, D-Phila., today announced $1.1 million in Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Community Conservation Partnerships Program grants for projects in his district that will help create new recreational opportunities, conserve natural resources, and help revitalize local communities. “I’m excited to share the news with my neighbors that our community is about to receive $1.1 million to develop the Kingsessing Recreation Center and add more community gardens,” Krajewski said. “Governor Wolf has prioritized funding for parks and open spaces, which is a priority that I share. This money means the Kingsessing Rec Center gets to have state of the art facilities for our children and ADA access so that every child has a chance to learn, grow and play together. It also means we get to have more community gardens, to grow our own food and help alleviate the food deserts and lack of accessible nutritious foods. These are big changes that better our communities, and I am happy to help bring this money back home.” The grants approved allocate: $900,000 for the Philadelphia City Treasurer Managing Directors Office to be used in the rehabilitation and further development of Kingsessing Recreation Center in Philadelphia. Work will include construction of pedestrian walkways, synthetic turf multi-sport fields and stormwater management measures; installation of Read more
Ideas to support and grow local parks and other open spaces took center stage during a House Democratic Policy Committee hearing Monday afternoon in Philadelphia. Read more
Pa. state Rep. Rick Krajewski doesn’t think the legislative majority should be introducing measures that undermine the will of Philadelphia voters to elect their own District Attorney. He believes that we need to solve gun violence by passing stronger gun laws and passing a budget that robustly funds our public institutions – our schools, our parks, our recreation centers, and homes. Read more
Pa. state Rep. Rick Krajewski is working to allow whole home repairs to invest in existing housing supplies and alleviate pressure on the housing crisis. According to Krajewski, housing is a human right. Many long-term residents, especially seniors, are facing historic financial hardships, and the legislature must take action to prevent dangerous living conditions, displacement of seniors, low income families, and people of color. Read more
STATE PROGRAMS NOW OPEN FOR APPLICATIONS: Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs: Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Loan Repayment Program (LRP) (Funding Source: Federal Funding) Who May Apply : Eligible practitioners with the capacity to provide SUD treatment or SCA-funded case management services at approved practice site(s) and can demonstrate a minimum of two prior years of experience in the SUD field as well as a service commitment of two additional years. Use : To support the supply, distribution and retention of individuals delivering SUD treatment and SCA funded case management services. Funds : Varies by award. Application Deadline : May 26, 2022 More Information : Click on https://www.ddap.pa.gov/Documents/Funding%20documents/GIFA%2022-02%20LoanRepayment_applicationguidance.pdf . Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency: Enhancing Services to Culturally Specific Populations Program (Funding Source: Federal Funding) Who May Apply : A nonprofit organization for which the primary purpose of the organization as a whole is to provide culturally specific services to one or more of the following racial and ethnic communities: 1) American Indians (including Alaska Natives, Eskimos, and Aleuts); 2) Asian Americans; 3) Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders; 4) Blacks; and 5) Hispanics. Use : To establish, expand, or Read more
HARRISBURG, April 22 – State grant funding for $1.75 million will help improve the PHMC Public Health Campus on Cedar in Philadelphia, state Rep. Rick Krajewski, D-Phila., said today. The Public Health Management Corporation was awarded $1.75 million in state funding to create a new Public Health Campus and for renovating the former hospital. “Neighborhoods we can be proud of start with investments we can be proud of, and we are certainly happy that the administration came through for our community with this award,” Krajewski said. “When Philly and the state work together, amazing projects like this can come to life.” Specifically, this project funding will help fund major electrical and plumbing upgrades, new lighting and ceilings, wall coverings, landscaping, facade upgrades, and the creation of new office suites and conference rooms. The building also requires a new roof, windows and substantial mechanical improvements. Exterior improvements include new entryways, renovations to the parking lot and sidewalks, and ADA compliance work. The funding, through the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program, supports critical expansion projects, provide opportunities for job creation and employment training, and community development and revitalization. Read more
HARRISBURG, April 14 – State Reps. Rick Krajewski and Elizabeth Fiedler introduced the Pennsylvania Recreational Infrastructure Revitalization Act this week. The bill, which is in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives awaiting a vote, would allocate $500 million from American Rescue Plan funds to repair and invest in parks and recreational spaces throughout the state. Krajewski and Fiedler said that they believe that this funding is important to improve community safety and well-being. “The young people and community of West and Southwest Philadelphia deserve a park and recreation center where they can safely play, recreate, meet, learn and have fun,” Krajewski said. “With gun violence ravaging our communities, we need to invest in our public spaces to allow at-risk youth to enjoy community and leisure.” During the pandemic, the usage of parks and recreational spaces increased by 20%. Parks and recreation centers are valuable public resources that provide opportunities for children, youth and families to play and recreate. Research finds that well-designed and -maintained urban parks can reduce gun violence, improve safety, and keep residents healthier, while poorly designed and maintained parks lead to more crime, according to the bill’s co-sponsorship memo. “Parks are a valuable part of our communities. It gives people a place to be outside, exercise and socialize,” Fiedler said. “As the usage of parks Read more
HARRISBURG , Feb. 16 -- Lawmakers from the state House and Senate held a news conference today to outline plans to restore Pennsylvania’s depleted Emergency Rental Assistance Program and help thousands whose incomes were affected by the pandemic. State Senators Vincent Hughes, Art Haywood and Nikil Saval, along with Reps. Elizabeth Fiedler, Rick Krajewski and Sara Innamorato, were joined by housing experts from the state’s largest counties to discuss their legislation that will direct $500 million into ERAP to provide relief for tens of thousands of renters and landlords whose applications were stalled when their counties ran out of funds. “President Biden, Vice President Harris and Congressional Democrats made providing rental assistance to low- and middle- income families a top priority through two COVID-related bills; unfortunately, the need for assistance has far outpaced available funds,” said Hughes, Democratic Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee. “Our proposal is tailored to get additional resources to those communities where the need is greatest and there is the greatest number of applications without funding.” Philadelphia shut down applications for ERAP in the first week of January, estimating that more than 50,000 applications were still pending when funding ran out. Berks County shut down their program in 2021. Allegheny County is expecting to run out of funds with 30,000 Read more
The pandemic has laid bare the crucial role that schools, homes, and parks and recreation centers have played in ensuring residents’ mental, emotional, and physical well-being. Investing in these facilities and spaces is an investment into the survival and long-term health of the people in this Commonwealth as we fight through a third year of a global pandemic and a rapidly changing climate. Read more
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