Poll Question Do you support the Governor’s budget proposal? Click here to answer

Our Solutions: Poverty Reduction in Budget Address On Tuesday, Governor Wolf gave his budget address for the 2020-2021 fiscal year. This was his best. The budget supports key recommendations from our five-stop Poverty Listening Tour: $26 million to reduce barriers to training $23 million to reduce the benefits cliff $15 million for childcare Increasing the minimum wage to $15 per hour In addition, the budget includes more support for K-12 and higher education, gun violence prevention, and enhances the well-being of Pennsylvanians. I will work to get this budget passed. Thank you, Governor Wolf.

Black History Month

February is Black History Month. This month, we celebrate African Americans and the impact they have had on American life and culture. The commemoration was started by Carter G. Woodson in 1926 as Negro History Week with an annual theme. This year’s theme is “African Americans and the Vote” as we celebrate the 150th anniversary of the 15th Amendment intended to protect black men voting and the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment intended to protect women voting. These rights were not realized until the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Exercise your power to vote.

State Senate Passes Housing Legislation

Earlier this week, legislation that I co-sponsored passed out of the Senate creating more affordable housing and establishing a tax-free savings account for first-time homebuyers. We approved a state tax credit to encourage private investment in affordable rental housing. In addition, the homeownership savings account changes would allow a person to open a tax-deductible savings account to pay for a down payment and closing costs toward a single-family residence. A safe, decent, and affordable place to stay is a basic need. This legislation will now go to the House for a vote.

The Greater Philadelphia Mentoring Collaborative

On 25 January, we hosted our third annual Mentoring Conference at La Salle University. We heard tremendous presentations on mindfulness, background checks, and trauma informed mentoring. The Greater Philadelphia Urban Affairs Coalition (GPUAC) awarded 16 mentoring organizations. Thank you to all who participated. I am delighted to support GPUAC and the Greater Philadelphia Mentoring Collaborative that allow for more youth to benefit from positive activities through mentorship.

McRaise the Wage on MLK Day

For MLK Day, my office joined POWER to host a McRaise the Wage Town Hall, march and rally to continue to advocate for decent pay of $15 per hour for McDonald’s employees in Germantown. We asked for community support and the response was overwhelming. It was standing room only at Uncle Bobbie’s Coffee and Books on Germantown Avenue where we hosted the Town Hall. When we took to the streets to march to the Chelten Avenue McDonald’s, over 250 people joined us. Thank you to everyone who joined us on MLK Day, signed the petitions, or called the store to demand a decent wage of $15 per hour. We’ll be back.

Upcoming Events

13 February – 7:30-8:30 p.m. – Telephone Town Hall – Topic: Love

19 February – 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. – Mobile Office – Germantown Avenue Crisis Ministries, 35 W. Chelten Avenue, Philadelphia PA

20 February – 1-3:00 p.m. – Census Job Recruitment Session – CareerLink, 5847 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia PA

26 February – 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. – Mobile Office – Germantown Avenue Crisis Ministries, 35 W. Chelten Avenue, Philadelphia PA

26 February – 5:30-7:30 p.m. – Census Job Recruitment Session – Lovett Library, 6945 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia PA

27 February – 1-3:00 p.m. – Census Job Recruitment Session – CareerLink, 5847 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia PA

2 March – Read Across America Day

3 March – 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. – Mobile Services from the PA Office of the Attorney General for National Consumer Protection Week – Abington Office, 1168 Easton Road, Abington PA

3 March – 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. – Mobile Services from the PA Office of the Attorney General for National Consumer Protection Week – Philadelphia Office, 7106 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia PA

Be the Light,

Art Haywood
State Senator
4th District

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