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: Isaiah Thomas Driving Equality Documentary w/Q&A
Educate: Workshop on How Harrisburg Works, Derek Green Talks Public Bank
Empower: City Council Candidates Forum, Legal Clinic & Resource Fair
Nomination Petitions Successfully Concluded
Congrats to our endorsed candidates for Mayor and City Council. All of them filed their petitions this past week - some tripling and even quadrupling the needed amount.
And we could not have done it without our intrepid volunteers who collected over 1,500 signatures for our endorsed candidates during cold weather, at train stations, schools and other commercial corridors, or knocking doors to get your neighbors to sign.
Thank you for all your efforts!
Now that we’ve got them on the ballot, we have to make sure they win. Stay tuned.
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Workshop: Want to Know How Harrisburg Works?
Wednesday, March 15th, 7PM, Virtual
Don't miss this Wednesday's workshop on Harrisburg politics!
Ever wonder how the folks who make our laws in Harrisburg operate on a daily basis? How they come to their decisions, who influences them (and why), and how we can fight back against the rampant corruption that seems to have infected our state capital? Want to find out how the newly-configured state house can be influenced by progressives?
Then you want to come to this joint training by Philly Neighborhood Networks and March on Harrisburg founder Rabbi Michael Pollack. This year, we’ll be working with our friends at March on Harrisburg to hold our new state government to account. We’re going to work to pass a Gift Ban to stop lobbyists from providing graft to legislators, and to support Ranked Choice Voting, among other priorities.
If you want to know more, then join us on March 15th for this informative workshop.
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City Council Candidates Forum
Sunday, March 26th, 3PM, Congregation Rodeph Shalom, 615 N. Broad Street
The excitement is building as the Alliance for a Just Philadelphia prepares to conduct its second City Council Candidates Forum focusing on the candidates who have made it on the ballot to become an At-Large Councilmember.
You may recall that the first Forum in 2019 drew more than 1,000 residents at Congregation Rodeph Shalom to hear the candidates speak on a variety of important local issues. With so much on the line in the next four years, we anticipate another large turnout of Philly activists. Be sure to claim your seat by clicking on the link below!
Want to help with the Forum? We're looking for volunteers to sign folks in as they arrive, be ushers, set up and break down the stage and a number of other support roles. If you would like to help, then express your interest by sending an email to tim@phillynn.org.
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Legal Clinic on Expungement & Community Resource Fair
Saturday, March 18th, 11AM-2PM, 3259 North Broad Street
Join us at Mother African Zoar Church for a legal clinic and resource fair. The legal clinic will have experts available to discuss erasing and/or sealing your record. The resource fair will provide help with jobs, healthcare and education. This event is free and open to everyone and a free lunch will be provided.
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Public Banking: Conversation with City Controller Candidate Alexandra Hunt
Tuesday, March 14th, 1PM, Virtual
Join PNN and the Philadelphia Public Banking Coalition for a 30-minute conversation with Controller candidate Alexandra Hunt.
Remember that City Council passed the enabling legislation to create the Philadelphia Public Financial Authority by a supermajority vote of 15-1, but Mayor Kenney refused to fund it or appoint members to the Board for the Authority. The next mayor will be able to finish the process so that Philly can begin to reap the benefits of a publicly-conscious lending authority.
And the next Controller, who has an important vote on the City’s Pension Board, can move to invest pension funds right here at home with the PPFA.
And if you weren’t present for PNN-endorsed candidate Helen Gym’s public bank interview, check it out right here.
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Driving Equality: Isaiah Thomas Documentary
Wednesday, April 12th, 6PM, Summit Church, 6757 Greene St
Join us for an eye-opening documentary on Councilmember Isaiah Thomas' historic Driving Equality bill. Thomas speaks personally about his lived experience with traumatic and ineffective pretextual stops, paired with the data that shows this is a citywide and national problem. Councilmember Thomas' bill, just passing one year of enforcement, is being replicated by cities across the nation.
This documentary shares Councilmember Isaiah Thomas' experience, Team Thomas' process for creating and passing this bill, and the reception from the city. The short film will be followed by a Q&A with Councilmember Thomas.
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This Week in History
Mar 13, 2020 – Breonna Taylor Murdered. On this day, Breonna Taylor, a 26-year-old Black emergency medical technician, was shot and killed by police in her Louisville, Kentucky apartment after officers busted through her door with a battering ram while she was sleeping.
Mar 15, 1965 – LBJ Calls for Equal Voting Rights. President Johnson addressed Congress to urge the passage of voting rights legislation, saying "all of us...must overcome the crippling legacy of bigotry and injustice."
Thanks for your activism!
Tim Brown, Organizing Director