Tax Giveaways to the 1% -- It’s Not Just a Washington Problem

Philly Taxes are Regressive Too, But Not Enough for the Mayor

June 2, 2013

One little known reason that the economic elites are so hell-bent on cutting federal taxes is that those taxes are relatively progressive compared to state and local taxes. So although the 1% would be happy if lower taxes resulted in less spending, they’d also be OK if it meant that spending shifted to states and cities. That’s because their main objective would still be met -- namely that the 99% would be paying most of the bills.

Nowhere is the tax burden more skewed in favor of the rich than in Philadelphia. When City government spends, it’s mostly poor and working people who fork over the money. Our major taxes are the sales tax, the wage tax, the real estate tax and the Business Income and Receipts Tax (BIRT). All of these, including BIRT, are regressive -- because they’re flat. Without delving into the nuances of each of these measures, all flat taxes are regressive because the rich can afford to pay so much more than the rest of us. When a millionaire pays a 4% wage tax, he still has $960,000 left over and no problem in paying his bills. When someone earning $20,000 pays a 4% wage tax, that costs her $800. That lost income can make her homeless....

Coming events

Forum -- Jumpstarting the New Economy in Philadelphia

June 25 - 7 pm
Where: SEIU 32 BJ
455 N. 5th St. (between Spring Garden and Callowhill), Philadelphia

On Tuesday, June 25th, an emerging coalition of social innovators in Philadelphia will be declaring their “independence from a rigged economy that traps Philadelphia in failure” and will describe exciting new approaches to creating broadly shared prosperity in our City. In other words, we'll be discussing a new Declaration of Independence: this time from Wall Street!

» More information

Past events

About NN

Neighborhood Networks is a culturally and racially diverse organization of Philadelphians dedicated to advancing social equality, economic justice and resource stewardship by influencing political decision-making from a grassroots level. We aim to create a powerful coalition by connecting neighbors at the division and ward levels and by forming strategic alliances with like-minded organizations throughout the City of Philadelphia and, eventually, beyond...

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Why join Neighborhood Networks?

NN Endorses Three Fantastic Candidates for the Courts

There Are No Lesser of Evils Pick Here

April 29, 2013

You may or may not be aware that there's an election coming up on May 21st. Of the 8 elections -- primary and general -- that take place in every four year cycle, this one has the least voter participation of any. Nevertheless its importance cannot be minimized. We nominate candidates for City Controller, District Attorney and judgeships at almost every level of the judiciary.

This year there is no primary contest in the District Attorney's race. There is a spirited competition for Controller, but unfortunately we find none of the candidates -- Alan Butkovitz, Brett Mandel or Mark Zecca -- to be truly outstanding and so make no endorsement in that race. But we do find three judicial candidates extraordinarily qualified by experience, values and competence and are proud to endorse them. We're talking about Shoshana Bricklin, Giovannia Campbell and Inja Coates. Go to the jump to find out more about them and for links to their campaign websites where you can find out how to help.
...

The “Fiscal Cliff” Is A Myth.

The Election is Over but Our Fight is Not

By Joan Duckenfield

November 19, 2012

As Paul Krugman put it, “The looming prospect of spending cuts and tax increases isn’t a fiscal crisis. It is, instead, a political crisis brought on by the G.O.P.’s attempt to take the economy hostage.” Republicans are manufacturing this crisis to pressure Democrats to extend the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy and accept painful cuts to Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and Unemployment Compensation, core programs that many Americans depend on!

The facts are that extending the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy and shredding our social safety net will not reduce the deficit or improve the economy. (tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/PDF/0915taxesandeconomy.pdf) Creating jobs and putting people back to work will improve our economy and reduce the deficit. Letting the tax cuts for the top 2% expire will generate over $800 billion more revenue which can be used to generate jobs for the other 98%. This will grow our economy!...

This Election is In Our Hands Now

Things we Can Do to Get Out the Vote for Obama

November 1, 2012

As we speak, the latest poll has Obama up by only 4% in PA. And that doesn't account for any votes we may lose because people feel too stressed to vote due to Sandy and its aftermath. So our work to get out the vote is more important than ever!

Fortunately we have many ways to help. If you want to phone, go door-to-door, motivate volunteers, hold up signs, put signs up at polling places, whatever . . . here’s the one stop shopping place for finding out what you can do, from the general to the very specific....

It's Homestretch Time Everyone -- Time to Crank It Up

We Could Have Two More Scalias on the Supreme Court

By Stan Shapiro

October 12, 2012

It’s clearer than ever that we’ve got a close election. Even in Pennsylvania, which many think is a lock for President Obama, some polls have shown it’s a two point race, and Senator Casey’s lead has been shrinking. If the President loses PA, it’s game over. If Casey loses, we can be sure Congress will be wall-to-wall Republican.

Neighborhood Networks is working through an innovative new alliance with the labor movement - called Workers’ Voice - to canvass undecided voters in our neighborhoods. Below you will find a list of those canvasses taking place in the next few weeks. But for some of you these Saturday canvasses are too far away or on inconvenient dates or times. So we’re also going to list some other ways for you to get involved in locking in Democratic votes.

First, here is the schedule of Workers’ Voice canvasses:

A) Oct 13: 9 am Sprinklerfitters 692; 14002 McNulty Rd (Northeast Philly)

B) Oct 13: 9 am Seafarers; 2604 S. 4th Street (South Philly)

C) Oct 20: 9 am Seafarers 2604 S. 4th Street (South Philly)

D) Oct 27: 9 am Sprinklerfitters 692; 14002 McNulty Rd (Northeast Philly)

E) Oct 27: 9 am Seafarers; 2604 S. 4th Street (South Philly)

F) Oct 27: 9 am Seafarers; 2604 S. 4th Street (South Philly)

Now here’s a list of Obama offices. Contact any of them for details on canvasses or phone banks, or just walk in to get the information you need:

A) 42 S. 15th Street 16th Floor

B) 322 W. Chelten Ave. 19144; 215-834-7125; Chelten@ofapa.com

C) 7171 Ogontz Ave.; Ogontz@ofapa.com

D) 8120 Old York Rd. #4, Elkins Park; OldYork@ofapa.com

E) 206 E. Girard Ave. #C; EastGirard@ofapa.com

F) 209 S. 52d Street; 52ndStreet@ofapa.com

G) 6841 Germantown Ave.; Germantown@ofapa.com

H) 5601 Vine Street

I) 1825 E. Passyunk Ave.; PassyunkAve@ofapa.com

J) 5706 N. 5th Street

K) 9173 Roosevelt Blvd; NorthPhilly@ofapa.com

L) 4663 Paul Street; Frankford@ofapa.com

M) 1737 South Street, Center City West

N) Center City West, organized by Steve Poses, steveposes.obama2012ccw@gmail.com...

Update on Theft of Election

Nine Specific Things YOU Can Do to Stop It

By Gloria Gilman/Stan Shapiro

August 23, 2012

You all know what's going on; the GOP is trying to take us all back to the 18th century, to have a country that literally is governed in the image of the founding fathers. Justice Scalia will fill in the details. To make it happen, they have to be sure the women, the people of color and the young, don't vote.

You don't like that idea? Then you have to keep reading. . .

THINGS YOU CAN DO NOW TO HELP VOTERS VOTE

1. Transport voters with the necessary documentation to PennDOT to obtain a Non-Drivers License Photo ID Card, stay with them and help them through the process and transport them back. Volunteer trainings will be scheduled at the Coalition office at 310 W. Chelten Ave. Call the Coalition office to get more info: 215-848-1283.

2. Volunteer with the Homeless Advocacy Project or the Senior Law Center (215-701-3201) clinics to help voters obtain birth certificates.

3. Take calls from voters with questions about the birth certificate process or other aspects of Voter ID requirements. Contact either of the organizations above.

4. Make calls to voters in your neighborhood to see if they have proper id. Jeff Garis of Pa. Voice is coordinating a calling blitz until 8/25 at the least. Contact him at jgaris@infoservicesgroup.net or 215-694-4783.

5. Contact the NAACP to help to assist with voter registration at a high volume location educate about Voter ID. Call to discuss with Gloria Gilman (215-568-4990; gmgilman@igc.org) and she’ll connect with the NAACP to try to set up a group, or contact them directly. Locations include Broad and Olney, Bridge & Pratt; Market East; FernRock; Frankford Transportation Center; 69th Street Terminal. NAACP coordinator is John Jordan: j715jordan@yahoo.com; 215-715-5681.

6. Canvas door to door (put on door hangers with needed info to targeted neighborhoods where it is believed that there are a lot of people without proper id); phone bank; do data entry; do packet assembly: daily. Shifts in morning, afternoon, evening, weekends daily. Call the Coalition office: 215-848-1283 or go there at 310 West Chelten Ave. It’s near the Chelten Avenue station on the Chestnut Hill line, and if you’re driving, there is free parking.

7. Get trained about Voter ID issues by the Coalition office and agree to do one or more speaking engagements. There are many unfilled requests for this. Contact Molly Morrill to arrange this: mmorrill@seventy.org; 215-557-3600. There is a lot of information and forms available online at the Committee of Seventy website.

8. Check the Coalition calendar to see what’s listed.

9. There is an app called the Cost of Freedom App widget detailing voter ID requirements in Pa and around the country which can be sent out to your email lists or social media contacts, especially to young people, or contact Faye Anderson at 215-995-5028 or costoffreedomproject@gmail.com about this....