PNN Newsletter: Coalition to Defend Democracy, Tax Day Protest, More
- tim621396
- Apr 11
- 5 min read
PNN’s mission is to engage, educate and empower our neighbors to make our City a better place to live. Here’s what’s coming up in each of these areas:
Engage: "Time to Stand Up" Rally, Help Save SEPTA
Educate: Tax Day Protest at City Hall, Right to Care Conference
Empower: Become an Election Captain, Sign Petition Against Corp Tax Cuts
___________________________________________ PNN Actions _________________________________________
Tax Day Protest
Tuesday, April 15th, 12PM, City Hall, North Apron
Join PNN and our allies to say "No!" to Trickle Down Economics. Philadelphians have always rejected the idea that cutting taxes for the rich and wealthy businesses help working people at any level of government. Instead, we support fair taxes that ask the rich and businesses to pay their fair share of the taxes needed to support the essential services that make our lives better and are the real source of prosperity for all.
So on Tuesday, April 15th at City Hall, we will rally to say no to:
The elimination of Philadelphia’s Business Income and Receipt Tax (BIRT), a massive tax giveaway to wealthy businesses and the rich in Philadelphia.
The expansion of the 2017 Trump tax cuts which overwhelmingly benefit the ultra-rich and wealth corporations as well as tariffs that will raise taxes for working people.
The acceleration of Corporate Tax Cuts in Pennsylvania and a tax system in which the top 1% pay at half the rate of the bottom 20%.
And say yes to:
The Brooks-O’Rourke tax plan which includes a wealth tax, a wage tax cut for people with low-incomes; and protecting small business from a business tax increase.
A federal Billionaire’s Tax to ensure that on the richest Americans pay their fair share.
A Pennsylvania Fair Share Tax that raises revenue from the wealthiest Pennsylvanians.
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"Time to Stand Up" Rally & Planning Meeting
Tuesday, April 22nd, 6PM-8PM, 1328 North 19th St
The Coalition to Defend Democracy, of which PNN is a founding member, is conducting a rally/planning meeting at the Tenth Memorial Baptist church located at 1328 N. 19th Street on April 22nd. You'll hear from organizing leaders about the key issues we're facing right now and, more importantly, you'll take part in the planning of actions to fight back against this fascist regime.
Because this event will focus mostly on budget issues at the state, federal and local levels, it will also be a follow-up to our own meeting on these issues earlier this month. It will have us doing outreach to our reps right there at the meeting, which reflects our philosophy of finding ways to amplify our voices collectively at particular points in time when pressure can be most effective.
Click the link below to learn more.
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Get Training to Become a Neighborhood Leader
Sign Up Now for the Election Captain Program
Philly is the linchpin to win Pennsylvania. Unfortunately, the dominant political party has refused to put in the work necessary to build a strong voter base. Every election, we fall further and further behind the rest of the state.
It is left to us to do this work. PNN has teamed up with the Working Families Party, on whose Board PNN serves, to provide leadership to build this base by focusing on neighborhood-centric work.
Their idea, much like our original organizing model, is to train volunteers to be the connectors ("Election Captains") in their own division, focusing their energies within walking distance of their homes. We would like you to be part of this work.
Election Captains will be offered stipends of up to $600 dollars per election cycle. In-depth training on deep canvassing techniques will be offered. You will also be trained on how to become a trusted community messenger between elections so that neighbors will naturally look for guidance from you when election season rolls around.
If you are interested in becoming an Election Captain, please click the link below to get started.
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Slice of Democracy Redux
Our second "Slice of Democracy" Teach-In took place on Tuesday with about 30 people in attendance. We enjoyed a few slices of pizza and salad while we heard from speakers on the topic "On the Ballot: Philadelphia Courts & Criminal Justice".
Here is the link to the program on the PNN YouTube Channel
_____________________________________ Actions with Our Allies ___________________________________
Help Save SEPTA!
TODAY, Friday, April 11th, 11AM, City Hall Dilworth Park
Due to the deep cuts to their budget by the government in Harrisburg, SEPTA announced fixed route service cuts up to 45% and fare increases of 21.5%. The impacts on disabled riders would be even more profound, with 40,000 paratransit trips per year no longer served by SEPTA ACCESS, and fares increased by 35%.
Join Philadelphia-area elected officials, riders, and workers for a rally to show you're ready to win the service we deserve. Gather at Dilworth Park on the perimeter of City Hall for speakers and to show your support.The rally will be hosted by PA Senator Nikil Saval, with remarks from local and regional elected officials, labor leaders, transit riders, and more.
If you like to send a letter to your state representative, fill out this form to Write a Letter.
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Our Right to Care Conference
Friday April 11th, 10am – 2pm, Crossroads Women’s Center, 5011 Wayne Ave
Our Right to Care conference will bring together academics, researchers, advocates, community organizers, unpaid and paid caregivers and those who depend on care locally, nationally and internationally.
The conference will look at how caring relationships based on promoting choice, independent living and mutual respect can be financially supported rather than expanding a care industry based on profits, forced dependence, low standards, low pay and exploitation.
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Sign the Petition to Fight Corporate Tax Cuts in Philly
As Democrats rail against Republican plans for deep corporate tax cuts, our Mayor has stepped on that message by promoting deep cuts in Philly’s corporate tax rates benefiting mostly the biggest firms in our City.
The Mayor defends her proposal with typical trickle-down rhetoric. However, trickle down – also known as voodoo economics - doesn’t work locally any better than it does nationally. Compelling research by the Penn Policy Center, spearheaded by PNN co-founder Marc Stier, convincingly demonstrates that. The Center found that the elimination of business taxes would add only a small number of jobs over ten years at enormous cost.
New jobs are mostly created by small businesses and startup, most of which DO NOT PAY business taxes in Philadelphia now and would get no help from this proposal. On the other hand lost revenue from the elimination of business taxes would lead either to deep cuts in services or steep increases in property taxes, which would also raise rents.
By causing an increase in property taxes, the Mayor’s proposals would place a greater tax burden on working people and the middle class and a greater tax burden on Black people than white people, all for no significant gain in jobs. Sign this petition to send the message to the Mayor and Council that we reject the idea that tax breaks for the ultra-rich, and wealthy corporations trickle down to working people and the middle class.
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This Week in History
April 12, 1861 – War Between the States. Confederate troops attacked Fort Sumter in South Carolina, leading to the four year Civil War.
April 13, 1964 – Poitier Wins Best Actor. Sidney Poitier became the first African American to win the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in "Lilies of the Field".
April 15, 1947 – Jackie Breaks Color Barrier. Jack Roosevelt Robinson became the first African American player in Major League Baseball when he stepped onto Ebbets Field in Brooklyn to compete for the Brooklyn Dodgers.
Thanks for your activism!
Tim Brown, Organizing Director
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