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: People's Economic Forum on Public Banking & Housing Justice
Educate: The Alliance Assembly for a People's Platform
Empower: March for Democracy Over Development
Read on to find out the when, where, and how.
A Win for Democracy
We all breathed a collective sigh of relief when we learned that John Fetterman was declared the winner in a scary race against that Trump-endorsed quack from North Jersey. And Josh Shapiro had a decisive victory over the MAGA election-denier candidate. It was even more comforting to discover that the "Red Wave" predicted by the chattering class never materialized. And as of this writing, we are poised to take back our State House from the far-right.
These wins took a lot of dedicated work by volunteers across our City and Philly Neighborhood Networks made our contributions - by knocking more than 10,000 doors in the past month, by making calls to neighbors and by conducting knock and drags on Election Day. We recognize your contribution and thank you for your work!
Now, we have some breathing room to look down the road a bit - to decide who will represent us in City Council next year, and to determine exactly what we want these representatives to accomplish. The things that get accomplished between elections often determines who wins those elections. We hope you'll join us on this journey.
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People's Economic Forum: Public Banking & Housing Justice
Thursday, Nov 17th, 7PM, Online
It’s never good news when a mayor breaks the law, especially when he flaunts his defiance like Kenney did when he told us that he just didn’t feel like implementing Bill 210956-A. That bill required Kenney to incorporate the Philadelphia Public Financial Authority, a stepping stone on the road to creating a Philadelphia Public Bank. He just said no.
But here’s the good news. The Mayor’s dereliction of duty is prompting PNN and the Philly Public Banking Coalition to step up its efforts to demonstrate how a bank owned by the people could jumpstart the City’s fight against racism and poverty.
In the first of a series, we will present a forum on public banking and housing justice on Thursday, November 17th at 7 PM (via zoom.) It will feature local and national grass roots leaders and experts who will present a take on the housing crisis – including causes and solutions - that you will never see in the mainstream press. All of it will tie back to the crucial role that affordable financing plays in housing development and the inherent inability of existing financing institutions to meet the housing needs of massive numbers of Philadelphians.
Among our great lineup of guests, we will have with us City Councilmember Jamie Gauthier, discussing her pending legislation on community land trusts. We promise you will leave the meeting with a whole, fresh take on the link between housing for all and a new people’s bank.
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Public Assembly for the People's Platform
Saturday, Nov 12th, 12PM-4PM, 1801 W. Diamond St
Join us at The People’s Assembly to learn about the People's Platform that has evolved since its introduction four years ago during the last City Council elections. We want your feedback to make our demands even stronger.
The 2023 People’s Platform for a Just Philadelphia is a vision for our city that prioritizes communities over corporations and centers the needs of all Philadelphians, especially Black and brown, immigrant, refugee, poor and working class residents who bear the brunt of systemic neglect.
We’ll be meeting at the historic Church of the Advocate (1801 W Diamond St, Philadelphia, PA 19121) on Saturday, November 12th at 11am– doors open at 10:30am! There will be free food and childcare provided! We will also have live interpretation available in Spanish and Chinese.
Check out the event page for more info on how to register:
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March for Democracy Over Development
Saturday, Nov 12th, 3PM-5:30PM, FDR Park, 2000 Pattison Av
There’s too much at stake with the redevelopment of the PES oil refinery, the largest redevelopment in Philly’s history. That's why our allies Philly Thrive will be marching for Democracy Over Development this Saturday. The march route will help us tell the story of what’s going wrong with development.
The march will begin at FDR Park, one example of inadequate public process and building over green space – then we’ll take to the streets to march past the old Passayunk Homes that’s been turned into condos – and then end the march outside the refinery site. For more information or to sign up to attend, click the link below.
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Philly Rent Control Coalition Meeting
Sunday, Nov 13th, 2PM-4PM, 801 S. 48th St
Come to a Philly Rent Coalition meeting this Sunday to learn more about the work going on around protection of renters against predatory landlords. It will be held at the Calgary United Methodist Church in their Fellowship Hall at 48th St and Baltimore Av.
Because rent control often includes some form of vacancy decontrol, it is largely meaningless unless tenants are protected from eviction at the expiration of their leases.
If landlords can decline to renew a tenant’s lease and raise the rent once the unit is vacated, rent control would simply increase the prevalence of evictions with little to no impact on affordability. As a result, it is crucial that any rent control legislation incorporate full Good Cause protection rights for all rental units covered by the policy.
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This Week in History
Nov. 13, 1956 – No to Segregated Busing. The Supreme Court affirmed the Browder v. Gayle ruling that bus segregation was unconstitutional.
Nov 12, 1954 – Ellis Island Closes. The gateway to America, shut it doors after processing more than 12 million immigrants since opening in 1892. Today, tens of millions of Americans can trace their roots through Ellis Island.
Thanks for your activism!
Tim Brown, Organizing Director