Top: Sherrie Cohen, Blondell Reynolds Brown, Maria Quinones Sanchez; bottom: Andy Toy, Kathryn Boockvar, Stephanie Singer

April 8, 2011

Neighborhood Networks Endorses Six Candidates In Spring Primary

All Are Committed Social Justice Advocates

Neighborhood Networks has endorsed an impressive and inspiring group of candidates in the Spring primary, all of whom care about social justice and global sustainability in ways that their track records tell us is real.

Two of these candidates are incumbents and four would be newly elected, but they all share a commitment to progressive values. The list of endorsees includes three City Council At-Large candidates: Blondell Reynolds Brown, Sherrie Cohen and Andy Toy, one candidate for Council in the 7th Councilmanic District, Maria Quinones Sanchez, one candidate for City Commissioner, Stephanie Singer, and one candidate for Commonwealth Court, Kathryn Boockvar. Click on the link below for a capsule summary of what is special about each of them....

For City Council At-Large

Blondell Reynolds Brown is an incumbent truly worthy of re-election. A champion for the rights of children and women, and for preserving the environment, the Councilwoman has recently distinguished herself by getting City Council to go on record in opposition to fracking in the Delaware River Water Basin. She persuaded the Phillies and Eagles, along with Mayor John F. Street, during the sports stadium negotiations, to establish a “Fund for Children” to which each team is required to contribute $1 million annually for 30 years. In addition, she is currently chief sponsor, and a forceful advocate, for legislation that would require all City residential properties to be lead safe, and is working hard for another bill that would require firms contracting with the City to offer same sex life partners the identical benefits that are offered to married couples.

Sherrie Cohen seeks to change the very framework that governs the development of City policy. If elected, Sherrie intends not merely to work for particular programs that help the disadvantaged, but to change the institutions through which power is exercised, so as to “create a more participatory democracy that is empowering and inclusive, where human needs and human rights are our government’s top priority.” (quoting her NN questionnaire that can be found here.) She has already well served those goals through her Chairmanship of the Coalition for Essential Services, leading this group of labor/community activists for two years in its fight for a City budget that preserved essential services while not imposing regressive taxes. At the same time, in her professional capacity as a lawyer, she provided pro bono assistance to the Coalition to Save the Libraries and helped win their case stopping the City from closing 11 City library branches.

Andy Toy is a committed, resourceful, long-time small business advocate, who also campaigns hard for good government, social equity and sustainability. As a member of the City’s Zoning Commission, he promoted an inclusionary housing program that would set aside units or funds from market rate developments to support the creation of affordable housing for moderate and low income residents. He would support small company growth by creating a limited business tax abatement for new firms. And he would clean up City government by leading the charge to convert our influence-laden election process to a system of publicly funded campaigns. Formerly employed by the Local Inititiative Support Corporation (LISC), and having served as the City’s first Brownfields Coordinator, charged with reclaiming contaminated business sites, Toy has the experience and drive needed to make his ideas into reality.

For the Seventh Councilmanic District

Maria Quinones Sanchez is seeking election to her second term as the only Latina City Council member in that body’s history. Widely experienced in a variety of community and civic roles prior to her first election, Sanchez has become widely known and respected for her commitment, hard work, and willingness to tackle tough issues. She has initiated the most far ranging discussion of business tax reform since the imposition of the Business Privilege Tax in 1982, insisting on equitable treatment of small companies and a structure that would make businesses selling into the City pay their fair share. Likewise, in the face of strong opposition, she promotes policies that would compel City depository banks to provide needed credit to firms in the poorer sections of the City.

For City Commissioner

Stephanie Singer seeks to transform the City Commissioners’ Office from a backwater playground for patronage employees, to a modern, astute manager of the City’s voting process. She would use her office to actively encourage registration and voting, and to insure that the Commissioners provide transparent access to all important election-related data. A data strategist by profession, with experience collecting, analyzing and explaining complex data sets and trends, Ms. Singer is superbly qualified to pursue these democracy-enhancing objectives. Her credentials for this work also include post-graduate training in computer science and a Ph.D. in mathematics.

For Commonwealth Court Judge

Kathryn Boockvar seeks election to the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court, an important intermediate appellate court with jurisdiction over the duties and powers of local government, a crucial court to those of us concerned with Home Rule in Philadelphia. Ms. Boockvar is a civil rights attorney whose 17 year practice has been committed to protecting the rights of Pennsylvanians in our courts and at the polls. She has the ability, experience and temperament needed to sit on the Commonwealth Court, and she will bring the compassion, sense of justice, and integrity that are vital to the success of a progressive jurist. Following her graduation from American University's Washington College of Law, Boockvar dedicated her practice to low-income families struggling with unemployment and disability difficulties. Her values are our values and they desperately need representation in every sector of PA’s appellate court system.

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