PNN’s mission is to engage, educate and empower. Here’s what’s coming up in each of these areas:
Engage: Insurrection Watch Party; Actions for Directors & Funding Public Bank
Educate: Movie Night on Right to Choose; Housing Meeting on Whole Home Repair; Philly Talks Trash
Empower: Gun Violence March; Climate Change Action in Harrisburg; Philly Pride March
Read on to find out the when, where, and how.
Insurrection Hearings Watch Party!
Thursday, June 9th, 7;30PM, Summit Church, 6757 Greene Street
Join us for a Watch Party when the House January 6th Committee restarts their public hearings on Thursday, June 9th from 7:30-9PM. We will have food and soft drinks and we'll be giving away Ben & Jerry's ice cream vouchers to those who attend.
Jointly hosted by Philly Neighborhood Networks and Public Citizen, this Watch Party is part of a national event night to make sure these hearings break through the busy news cycle and reach the general public. We cannot allow Trump and his allies to successfully cover up one of the worst ever attacks against our American freedoms and democracy!
We'll be gathering to excoriate the den of thieves that was the previous administration, and we will give away dubious awards, like "The Benedict Arnold Award for Biggest Traitor" and "The Golden Boot" for best/worst public bootlicking performance. You and the other attendees will then cast your vote for who gets the award. We'll also provide drinks and snacks.
It should be a darkly fun time, as well as an opportunity for us to remind ourselves and our friends and neighbors that we will not stand idly by while fascists attempt to overthrow our democracy. There will be consequences.
We anticipate having room for 70 attendees, so sign up now to secure a seat. We'll be practicing COVID protocols and ask that everyone be vaccinated.
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Two Important Updates on Public Banking
YOU can be a Philadelphia Public Financial Authority – a/k/a Public Bank - Director
Make history! Applications are now available to become a Board Director of the first entity in this century with the mission of creating a public bank. You qualify if you’ve had experience in one of a variety of public interest fields, or financial experience with a community bank, credit union or Community Development Financial Institution. You can find all the details, along with a link to a very user-friendly application by clicking the link below.
You have until June 21st , to apply but are urged to act quickly. If you have any questions, drop a note to PNN Vice-Chair Stan Shapiro at shapsj@comcast.net, and he will get right back to you.
Take Action: Contact the Mayor and Council To Fund The Bank BEFORE June 8th
Everything is set to go. The legislation to create the bank-to-be has become law. The process for creating the Board is set. But the operations of the bank still need to be funded by City Council and the Mayor, to the tune of $3 million.
Budget decisions could be reached by Council as soon as the middle of next week. That means there is still time , but not much, to let your voice be heard. Let our elected officials know how important it is to facilitate the bank’s opening by making this tiny $3 million appropriation within a $5.6 Billion dollar budget.
Reaching out is easy. Just go here for a handy tool kit that will give you everything you need: https://bit.ly/3NobQAa The budget hearing to decide this may come as early as Wednesday, June 8th, so Do This Today!
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OpEd: The Most Important Election Officials You've Never Heard Of...
by Steve Paul & Vanessa McGrath
When Philadelphians cast ballots in the May 17 primary election, many also voted for the most important position they had never heard of: committee person. Committee people are like political block captains and have been the foundation of the city’s major parties for generations. Today, the two primary duties of committee people are to share lists of endorsed candidates with their neighbors as they enter polling stations and get out the vote. And Philly needs open and democratic wards. Read More
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Gun Violence March
Saturday, June 4th, 11AM-3PM, Temple E.R., 3104 N Broad Street
Join survivors of gun violence, community leaders, elected officials, and service providers as they rally to end gun violence and heal our city from its long-lasting traumas. The event will kick off at 11am with a short list of speakers in front of the Temple ER and then leave at 11:30am to travel to the Broad/Germantown/Erie Triangle. The event is hosted by the Office of Councilmember Kendra Brooks in partnership with Jefferson Health Magee Rehabilitation and ThinkFirst Magee Rehabilitation Hospital, who provide essential services to survivors of gun violence. Other political and community leaders will be in attendance, including Helen Gym, Darrell Clarke and Dwight Evans. Community conversations and resource tables will commence from 12pm-3pm at the 3700 Block of Germantown Avenue.
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Philly Pride March
Sunday, June 5th, 11AM, Independence Mall
This year marks the 50th anniversary of Philadelphia’s first Gay Pride Day in 1972! This year’s festivities may look different from previous Prides as the community looks forward to honoring Philadelphia’s activist’s past and present, celebrating what has been built together, and uplifting community joy. PHL Pride Collective is partnering to promote community events throughout the entire weekend in addition to PHL Pride Collective’s Pride March and Pride Festival, taking place on Sunday, June 5th, 2022. There is no sign-up needed.
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Take Direct Action on Climate Change in Harrisburg
Monday, June 13th, 10AM, State Capitol, 501 N 3rd St, H'burg
Join us and March on Harrisburg as they take direct action at our state capital to push our legislators to stop taking bribes from, among others, fossil fuel lobbyists and get serious about climate change.
The path to climate justice necessarily includes the phase out of greenhouse gas production and a just transition to clean, renewable energy for those most affected by the exploitative fossil fuel and petrochemical economy.
This action will be part of the work being done by activists at the Pennsylvania Climate Convergence that will take place in Harrisburg from June 11th-13th to change the conversation on climate change and demand urgent legislative and administrative action.
If you want to be part of the June 13th action or simply want to be a moral observer, then click the link below to sign up. (Need a ride? Let us know when you sign up).
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Movie Night: When You Lose the Right to Choose
Thursday, June 16th, 7PM, Virtual
Join us for two short films on abortion rights and then we'll talk with subject matter experts, including Julie Zaebst, Senior Policy Advocate at ACLU, as we assess the coming political crisis that will be created when the far-right religionists on the Supreme Court overturn what at least three of them said under oath was "decided law".
We'll look at the social ramifications of so-called "trigger laws" that were passed over the last decade by right-wing legislatures across the nation, some even criminalizing driving a woman to a clinic. These laws are ready to be enacted the moment Roe is overturned, to create havoc and fear.
Sign up, we'll watch the films together (about 40 mins), and then we can hear the latest from the experts and get answers to some of our most concerning questions.
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Philly Talks Trash Series: Managing Food Waste at Home
Thursday, June 16th, 6:30PM, Virtual
We have decisions to make in the home kitchen to keep that 43% out of landfills where almost all of it goes, resulting in the release of climate changing greenhouse gasses and water pollution.
Join us on June 16th for an upbeat program that will provide a variety of strategies and ideas for keeping food scraps from your kitchen out of the landfill. “Managing Food Waste at Home” features cookbook writer and blogger Ann-Marie Bonneau, author of “Zero Waste Chef, and local business owners Max Hosey of Hoser’s Central Kitchen in the Market at the Fareway, and Coleen Falicki founder of Back to Earth Composting. For more information and registration:
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Poor People's March on Washington
Saturday, June 18th, National Mall, Washington, D.C.
The Mass Poor People’s & Low-Wage Workers’ Assembly & Moral March on Washington and to the Polls on June 18, 2022 will be a generationally-transformative declaration of the power of poor and low-wealth people and our moral allies to say that this system is killing all of us and we're not going to take it anymore. For more information on how you can participate in this event, click the link below.
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Housing Meeting to Take on Whole Home Repair
Tuesday, June 21st, 6:30PM, Virtual
Join our Housing Action Committee as we explore a broad range of topics, including Whole Home Repair legislation and Rent Control. We'll be joined by one or more guest speakers who will offer possible solutions and next steps to move this legislation forward.
To get a sense of why the Whole Home Repair legislation is so important, check out this Inquirer article on the current state of Philly's Licenses & Inspections office.
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This Week in History
June 4, 1919 – Women's Suffrage Secured. On this day, the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, granting women the right to vote, was passed by Congress and sent to the states for ratification.
June 5, 1968 – Bobby Kennedy Shot. Right after winning the California Presidential Primary, Senator Robert Kennedy was gunned down, leaving a fractured Democratic Party in his wake.
June 6, 1944 – D-Day. To the relief of our allies, American soldiers led the largest amphibious assault in history as they landed on the beaches of Normandy to fight against the fascist dictators who ruled Europe.
June 9, 1954 – “Have you no sense of decency?” Army Special Counsel Joseph Welch, lashed out at Red-baiter Senator Joseph McCarthy during hearings on whether communism had infiltrated the armed forces, effectively ending McCarthy’s reign of terror.
Thanks for your activism!
Tim Brown, Organizing Director