Achieving the “Impossible” – Black History Month as a Reminder

Can you lift a thousand pound weight? I know I can’t. What if you and I didn’t carry the weight alone? If one hundred of us joined together, we could easily accomplish this feat. This idea comes to life when we consider the struggle for freedom and equality of African-Americans during Black History Month. The milestones achieved in the civil rights movement resulted from the painstaking efforts of many. Our country could not have made these strides any other way.

The same is true of moving our state forward. Better schools, better jobs, and safer neighborhoods cannot be created by any one of us acting alone; but, acting together, we can reach these goals. As your state senator, I’ll be asking that you not only share your concerns with me, but that you join me in lifting up our community. Participation is power, and together we can make progress that is beyond our individual imaginations.

I had the honor of joining with neighbors at West Oak Lane Senior Center at an event sponsored by West Oak Lane Business Association to honor some of our local law enforcement officers on Martin Luther King Day.

Legislative Updates

Committee Appointments Announced

In January, I was appointed to several committees, including a leadership role as the minority chair of the Aging & Youth committee. Through my involvement and leadership on each of these committees, I will bring the insights of you – my constituents – to the table, as we develop solutions to the challenges facing our state.

New state senator Art Haywood, Democrat from Philadelphia, says he will introduce legislation  that requires the appointment of a special prosecutor in all incidents of deadly force in which a police officer is involved.

Introducing My First Bill: Restoring Trust with a Special Prosecutor

After gaining input and support from community leaders and law enforcement officials – including the state attorney general’s office and SEPTA Chief of Police– I introduced SB400 to require the attorney general appoint a special prosecutor in cases of police use of deadly force. Senator Hughes and Senator Leach co-sponsored the bill, and plans are underway to introduce companion legislation in the House. We can all see the value in restoring faith in our justice system where there is a widespread perception of bias, and I anticipate gaining additional support from my colleagues in Harrisburg as we discuss the legislation further. To learn more about this legislation, and my other priorities, you can watch my interviews on PCN and Shift by MSNBC.

Wages that Work

In addition to introducing SB 400, I have signed on to co-sponsor SB 195 to raise the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour and SB 303 to ensure pay equity, and will continue working in concert with you to gain the critical support of other senators for this legislation. I will be hosting a teletownhall on 17 February at 7 PM to discuss raising the minimum wage and listen to your feedback on this and other priorities. You can sign up to receive a call here.

Constituent Services Corner

Tax Preparation Assistance

Tax Day is just a little over two months away, and I have partnered with the Campaign for Working Families to make arrangements for free, first-come-first-serve tax assistance to qualified individuals (families $53,000 and singles $20,000) from certified public accountants at locations across the 4th district.

Staying Warm this Winter

Did you know that our office can help you obtain assistance paying your heating bill this winter? If you qualify for a grant to pay energy bills (LIHEAP), we can help you fill out the application. The deadline for completing the application is April 3, 2015. Please stop by the office and we will be happy to assist you.

My family visited the capitol when I was sworn-in, and you can take a tour, too. Contact my office for more information about this, and other constituent services.

Community Outreach Activities

My staff and I don’t just care for you – we care with you. We want to remain aware of opportunities for community outreach in the district. Please email me at [email protected] to inform my office about service activities.

You can sign up for our Community Outreach activity notifications here.

Community Engagement Connection

Making a Living Wage a Reality

Building on my first community engagement meeting in December, I held four more engagement meetings in January to organize neighbors around raising the minimum wage, improving our public schools and mentoring our children. On 12 January, I met with community members to discuss the Raise the Wage PA coalition’s upcoming Day of Action. I am partnering with Working Families PA, the Philadelphia Unemployment Project and SEIU 668 to organize Pennsylvanians for this event. The event was postponed due to snow, but has been rescheduled for 9 February. You can register for this event at www.RaisetheWagePA.org.

Partnering with Parents and Mentors

Thank you for the great conversation at both Education Roundtables.

I held Education Roundtable discussions in Philadelphia on 16 January and in Montgomery County on 22 January to gather parent feedback on public schools. Many of you presented concerns with the current system and offered insightful solutions extending beyond increased funding to community partnerships where existing resources can be strategically shared. My team and I have reviewed these ideas and will host follow-up Education Roundtables on 19 February at Salem Baptist Church and on 25 February at the Wadsworth Library. Both meetings will be held from 7 to 8 PM. Additionally, I am planning visits to public schools to get a better understanding of the unique challenges facing each institution. Please contact my local office for more information.

On 29 January, I met with leaders of the Boys Scouts to discuss how we can expand scouting programs in the 4th district to reach more children and provide them with the benefits of these group mentoring activities.

Speaking of Black History

This month, I look forward to speaking with you about the relevance of Black History Month to our state’s current challenges and opportunities. Please reach out to me at [email protected] if you would like me to speak at your event.

Dare to care,

Art Haywood
State Senator
4th District

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