PNN Newsletter: "Time to Stand Up!" Rally & Workshop, Knock Your Neighborhood, D.A. Debate, More

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" Town Hall, NE Philly Town Hall

• Educate: Tell Harrisburg to Support Education Budget, Information Picket

• Empower: Knock Your Neighborhood, Debate - Not!

___________________________ Philly Neighborhood Networks Projects _______________________________

"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.

Time to Stand Up

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Knock Your Neighborhood for Larry Krasner

ASAP, Your Neighborhood

We believe that, in the face of 24/7 media noise, neighbors can be a trusted source of information. They share the same physical location, face many of the same issues and concerns, and hold many of the same values.

So, if you would like to canvass your neighborhood this spring, we would love to have you! We will cut the turf for you and provide you with door hangers, and a brief training on what you'll be saying at the doors of your neighbors.

We have recently made our Endorsements & Recommendations. Now we plan to canvass in support of the candidates - District Attorney, City Controller, Judges - and ballot measures we support.

Knock Your Neighborhood

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"Good Trouble" Phonebank Redux

We held our first "Good Trouble" Phonebank last night at Summit Presbyterian Church. We targeted Congressman Rob Bresnahan in the 7th District (which used to be the infamous "Donald Duck Kicking Goofy" district, but is now purple). We had a great call experience using auto-dialer, and it let us pass constituents directly to the Congressman to remind him that he works for the people, not the Orange Dictator.

Thanks to State Senator Art Haywood, Mindy Brown, Andrea Koplove, Marc Stier for putting together a great program! And thanks to our super Call Squad for convincing so many people to call their Congress Critter's office. Photos here.

If you would like to become part of our "Good Trouble" Call Squad, let us know by clicking below.

Good Trouble Call Squad

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Write to Support Shapiro's Education Budget

Governor Shapiro's public education proposal for FY 2025-26 is a significant and positive step towards continuing the process of achieving adequate and equitable public school funding in the state, and responding to the Commonwealth Court ruling that the current funding system is unconstitutional. The governor, in January, proposed a budget that would include $526 million that the state has historically underfunded. $137 million would go to Philadelphia if that budget is approved.

It is important to ensure that our local schools have what they need to educate students in our community. That is why our allies at PA Policy Center have supplied us with a Letter-Writing tool that targets state elected officials encouraging them to support the Governor's FY 2025-26 Public Education Proposal. At the bottom of the letter, there is a place to sign your name.

Write Your Legislator

_____________________________________ Actions with Our Allies ____________________________________

"Let Us Work" Information Picket

Friday, April 18th, 5PM, 123 S. Broad Street

Join workers from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau who have just been threatened with losing 90% of their workforce in front of the Wells Fargo Bank building located at Broad and Sansom Streets. This action is to protest the latest round layoffs by the Trump regime who send layoff notices yesterday, in violation of a judge's order to halt dismantling the agency. The CFPB has returned more than $21 billion to consumers since its inception.

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Dugan Drops Out of D.A. Debate at WHYY

Tuesday, April 22nd, 7PM, Online

Larry Krasner and former Judge Patrick Dugan were invited to face off in the April 22 debate hosted by the Committee of Seventy, WHYY News and the Philadelphia Bar Association.

However, Dugan's office informed WHYY that he would NOT be attending. WHYY has decided to go on with the event, which remains an opportunity to ask questions of D.A. Larry Krasner.

The event is at capacity right now at WHYY studios, but you can listen online starting at 7PM. the forum will broadcast live on WHYY’s YouTube channel or Facebook page. Learn more about the forum here.

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NE Philly Federal Unionists Town Hall

Thursday, April 24th, 6:30PM, 6000 Roosevelt Blvd

You'll hear directly from State Representatives Joe Hohenstein, Jared Solomon and Sean Dougherty, union leaders, veterans, and community members about how recent federal cuts to our public services could impact you and your family. This town hall will take place at Calvary Christian Church in NE Philly.

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This Week in History

April 19, 1775 – Shot Heard Round the World. The American Revolution begins in Lexington, MA when an anonymous colonial minuteman fires upon British troops who were sent to capture Sam Adams and John Hancock.

April 20, 1971 – Busing Declared Constitutional. In Swann v. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education, SCOTUS settled the constitutional question and allowed the widespread implementation of busing, which remained controversial over the next decade.

April 22, 1970 – First Earth Day. Founded by American politician and conservationist Gaylord Anton Nelson, Earth Day helped spark the environmental movement and quickly grew into an international event.

April 24, 1800 – Library of Congress. The Library of Congress was officially founded as U.S. President John Adams approved the $5,000 appropriated to acquire “such books as may be necessary for the use of congress”; it eventually became the largest library in the world.

Thanks for your activism!

Tim Brown, Organizing Director