The Importance of May 18th
It’s important to recall what’s on the line in our upcoming Primary Election on Tuesday, May 18th. This is not just about one candidate. It’s bigger than that. It’s about keeping our hard won progressive political power intact, and not letting the good old boys bully and cheat their way back into power while we’re not paying attention.
In practice, this means we must show up to elect judges who will have our best interests in mind, not some corporate shill; it also means deciding whether the Governor’s emergency declaration can be overridden by a partisan legislature; and let’s not forget that we’re selecting a District Attorney, a City Controller, and Judges of Elections and Minority Inspectors – offices that play a big role in our politics and in our elections.
In short, it means we must get out the vote, including our own.
The entrenched elite understand the value of Just Showing Up. And they know that they can win back power in an election that almost always goes to their way because they can turn out a solid base of voters during a notoriously low-turnout election.
We intend to fight back. If you want to help, this week’s newsletter provides a few ways you can do your part . You’ll also get a chance to push back against yet another charter school, or take part in one of our Action Committees.
Did You Apply for Your Mail-In Ballot Yet?
In the run-up to the 2021 Primary, there is a fight brewing in halls of power in City politics, and Larry Krasner is in the crosshairs. Our District Attorney has earned the ire of entrenched power because he dared to hold law enforcement to the same standard as the average citizen.
Now the F.O.P., prosecutors who got canned when Krasner cleaned house, right-wing power brokers and other hard-liners are gearing up to throw their weight around in favor of one of their own. They are even saying the bad parts out loud, telling their people to switch from Republican to the Democratic Party to help beat Krasner in his own primary.
Are we really surprised anymore by their dirty tricks?
The first thing you can do to fight back is to send for your mail-in ballot. That means you have to fill out an application for a ballot. Don’t delay. Do it right now by clicking on the link below.
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Come to Our Election Planning Meeting, Sat. March 20th
The next thing you can do is help us plan to win. Join us at 1PM on Saturday, March 20th as we begin our election planning. We’re going to talk about our past electoral victories, congratulate and catch up with each other. We’ll start it off with an amusing icebreaker question.
Then we’ll get to work. We’ll lay out the political landscape and the path to victory for our endorsed and recommended candidates. Then we’ll determine our role in this Primary and map out our battle plan – the strategies and tactics we’ll use, the metrics to measure our progress, the tools we’ll have available to us.
We hope to see you in a few weeks!
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Last Week to Collect Signatures for Larry Krasner
There is a third thing you can do, but there is a short timeline. Over the next two weeks petitioners will be collecting signatures from neighbors to assure that Larry Krasner is on the ballot this spring. If you would like to help in this effort, please click the link below and we’ll contact you to arrange for you to get your petition. Or just email Tim@phillynn.org
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Look What Our Action Committees are Doing:
First, Let’s Celebrate an Environmental Victory! Last week, we asked for your attendance on Thursday, Feb. 25th zoom meeting of the Delaware River Basin Commission. They’re the folks responsible for managing a basin that provides drinking water to 13 million people. At this heavily-attended zoom meeting, the Commission voted to PERMANENTLY BAN FRACKING. Congratulations to everyone who took part in this work! We will be choosing environmental issues for potential action that have specific relevance to N/NW Philadelphia. For more information and to RSVP, please email pnnenviro@gmail.com.
Come to Our Energy Working Group, Saturday, Feb. 27th, 4PM We’ll celebrate our fracking win; we’ll talk about a broad range of topics, including the root causes of bad energy choices, infrastructure for renewables, and more.
Phone: 929-205-6099, Meeting ID: 834 8108 9699; Passcode: 140927
Join Our Environmental Community Education Working Group, Thursday, Mar. 4th, 7PM
We’ll discuss notable books and articles; we’ll talk about community education activities we can use to support the actions of our working groups; and plan outreach to local influencers.
Isn’t it Time You Joined an Action Committee?
Join an Action Committee for Economic Justice, Education, the Environment, Healthcare, Housing and Electoral Politics. Click Here to Get Started
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Stop the Push for Yet Another Charter School
The Board of Education will hold a special hearing to vote on five new charter applications, including one for the Philadelphia Collegiate Charter School for Boys, on Thursday March 4th (time TBA). Students, educators, parents and community members need to tell the School Board that the District does not need, nor can it afford any new charters.
Sign up to testify in person before 3 PM on Wednesday, March 3 at https://www.philasd.org/schoolboard/speaker-request-form/
Or send written testimony to schoolboard@philasd.org.
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This Week in History
Feb. 26, 2012 – Trayvon Martin Murdered, BLM Born. On his way home from the store,Florida teenager Trayvon Martin was accosted and gunned down. The vigilante, George Zimmerman, was acquitted of 2nd degree murder, leading to the first use of “Black Lives Matter,” a phrase that has become a rallying cry for racial justice.
Feb. 29, 1940 – First Black Oscar. Actress Hattie McDaniel became the first African American to receive an Oscar. She received Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of “Mammy”, a housemaid and former slave in hit movie “Gone with the Wind”.
Mar. 1, 1961 – Peace Corps Established. President John Kennedy established the Peace Corps as an agency within the Dept. of State. The Corps sends trained American men and women to foreign nations to assist in development efforts.
Thanks for your activism!
Tim Brown, Organizing Director