POLS ON THE STREET: Labor Understands Value of Philly Voter Turnout

by Joe Shaheeli

FAMED landmark of Irish culture Abbey Theatre’s Chairman Dr. Bryan McMahon, L, received an honorary proclamation at City Hall from Lt. Gov. Mike Stack, while the Abbey is in Phila. to produce Sean O’Casey’s play, The Plough & the Stars. Stack is an old family friend of McMahon.

Pennsylvania labor leaders know there may be a problem getting out all the Democrats necessary to tilt this state into Hillary Clinton’s win column. They made their concern known with massive workers’ rallies around the state last weekend, especially in this city.

Knocking at doors around the city were well-known Philadelphia labor leaders accompanied by their rank-and-file membership.

Joining US Senate candidate Katie McGinty, AFT President Randi Weingarten, Pennsylvania PFT President Jerry Jordan and State Rep. Joanna McClinton, City Council Members Helen Gym and Jannie Blackwell at one event were hundreds of labor-unionists, including some from surrounding states, for a rally and all-day voter canvass.

Also in town revving up voters were AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka, along with Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO President Pat Eiding and UFCW 1776 President Wendell Young, toured the Fox Street ShopRite, which employs 300, all members of UFCW. They told the workers how important this presidential election to union employees everywhere was.

“Pennsylvania is a critical state in a most critical election,” said Jordan. “Everything, from the makeup of the US Supreme Court, to the future of public education, is on the line. We must do all we can to get people to the polls.”

Service Employees International Union organized for Joe Hohenstein, who is running against 177th Dist. incumbent State Rep. John Taylor (R-Northeast), the odds-on favorite in that race.

Worrying labor politicos is the fact new Republican registrations have topped 243,000 in the past year. Of these, over 97,000 Democrats have switched to the Republican Party since the beginning of this year, compared to 38,000 Republicans switching to Democrat.

Other indications of a lower turnout for Hillary Clinton from Democratic supporters compared to what President Barack Obama racked up in his two presidential elections are various marches by well-known Democratic activist groups this last month. In addition, what had been billed as “a million march of mothers” turned out several hundred, raising the question, “Are Philadelphia’s Democratic voters a bit turned off?

Both Parties Agree Elections Here Honest

MEMBERS of the Farnese family attended the 50th anniversary party of Casa Farnese apartment building, the city’s first senior-housing development, founded by late Andrew Farnese. L-R, Jean Farnese, Mark Farnese, State Sen. Larry Farnese and Marco Farnese. Photo by Wendell Douglas

Donald Trump doesn’t fully understand how elections are run in this city, this state, and elsewhere around the country. Otherwise he would know they don’t take place by happenstance. There are agencies in charge of ensuring every individual gets to exercise his right to vote, no matter how minor the election.

That’s why Philadelphia elected officials from both major parties took the time to repudiate Donald’s claim he could lose Pennsylvania due to voter fraud. “The real threat to the integrity of elections in Philadelphia isn’t voter fraud, though it does rarely occur,” said Al Schmidt, vice chairman of the City Commission and the three-member board’s lone Republican. “The real threat to the integrity of elections is irresponsible accusations that undermine confidence in the electoral process.”

City Council President Darrell L. Clarke, a Democrat, said, “This is a clear attempt to stoke the biases of individuals across the country. If you look at the locations where he has gone in Pennsylvania, they are extremely predominantly white-majority municipalities, to talk about what could happen in places like Philadelphia.”

Congressman Bob Brady (D-Phila.), chairman of the Democratic City Committee, said he was happy to hear Trump’s vice presidential candidate, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, say over the weekend, “There will be a fair and honest election in the city of Philadelphia.”

Pence, speaking on NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday, said Trump’s rhetoric about a “rigged election” references allegedly biased national media outlets that favor Clinton, but said he and Trump would accept the outcome of the election.

Is Councilwoman Gym Anti-Asian Business?

S.PHILA. Ward Leader Matty Myers took a trip across town – and across the aisle – to visit State Rep. John Taylor at his Senior Expo in Port Richmond. Photo by Wendell Douglas

Councilwoman at Large Helen Gym has created an unnecessary problem for herself. She might be losing some of her Asian American voter support by her challenging a food-truck business operating on the Drexel University campus. She didn’t like the name, considering it an affront to the Chinese community.

She demanded a food truck titled Wheely Good Food undergo a name change. The truck’s owner, Chinese American Alanna Li, was told by the councilwoman to change the name and the truck’s design. Li said Gym had threatened to ban them from various night-market events. Li won’t budge and since word spreads quickly among Asian businesses of her action, we suggest Gym make an about-face.

Cal Tucker Can Be a Big Name
Sixty-four-year-old Calvin Tucker has long served as a GOP Black ward leader. Today, he is a Donald Trump surrogate in Pennsylvania. He recently moderated a small meeting between Trump and Black leaders here in Philadelphia last month.

He also is leader of the Pennsylvania Black Republican Council, and he’s spending his days working to convince African American voters Trump is the candidate for them.

He’s got a lot to gain and little to lose. If Donald Trump, win or lose, did well in Philadelphia on election day, look for Tucker’s reputation to grow among Republicans nationally.

Kenney Move Is a Smart One

Mayor Jim Kenney is getting involved in the stalled Philadelphia teachers’-contract negotiations, directing a top lieutenant to intervene in the talks. “Talented educators have gone far too long without a fair contract or salary increases, and we risk losing many talented educators to other fields or school districts,” Kenney said. “This is simply not fair and it’s not good for our kids.”

If his effort doesn’t work, we suggest he go to the city’s top mediator, Congressman Bob Brady, who has a long history of mediation successes in strenuous conflicts.

A Write-in Campaign Set for 197th District

A write-in campaign is just about the hardest way to get into elected office. Most appear in primary campaigns where there is a chance to get the voters’ attention and possibly interest them in using a rubber stamp or writing in the candidate’s name, or using a sticker to place on the exposed paper ballot inside the polling machine.

In the presidential election campaign that is drawing to a close, as vitriolic as has ever been witnessed in this country, the sides are determined. Voters will be going into the polls Nov. 8 with one mindset … their need to cast their vote for president. So imagine trying to stop each voter and asking them to participate in a write-in vote.

But Edward Lloyd, 47, committeeman in 42/6, has already spent money for badges, rubber stamp and stickers, enough to stage a serious write in campaign for 197th Legislative Dist. seat now held by State Rep. Leslie Acosta (D-N. Phila.). He hopes the news of her problems with the Feds will energize voters in that predominantly Latino district to take the time to cast a write-in vote for him.

According to Pollfish.com

Pollfish.com claims it has a real-time mobile survey platform that reaches 320 million mobile users worldwide. It declares 27% of Americans are choosing to vote for neither of the big-ticket candidates.

The survey revealed some surprising opinions on the candidates and wedge issues:

Wyoming is the biggest Trump supporter of all states, with 59% of Wyoming residents planning to vote for him (vs. 18% for Hillary). Vermont is the most-fervent Hillary country, at 52% in favor (vs. 15% for Trump).

The northerly states plan to vote for neither candidate. Interestingly, Montana (41%), North Dakota (59%), Minnesota (38%), Wisconsin (46%), and Michigan (37%) plan to vote independent in the election.

The majority of Americans like gun control. According to the Pollfish survey, 55% of Americans support stricter gun-control laws, while 31% are opposed to it and 15% are neutral.

42ND WARD Democratic Leader Elaine Tomlin is known for her spectacular fall galas. Attending, L-R, were Jim Harrity, Ward leader El Amore Brawne Ali, Tomlin, judicial candidate Todd Eagen, Ward Leader Shirley Gregory and Mitch Kates. Photo by Wendell Douglas

Three out of four Americans want the rich to pay their fair share. When asked whether they support raising the income tax for incomes over $250,000, 75% of Americans answered, “Yes.” Only 13% of Americans are against raising the income tax on the rich, and 12% are neutral.

Most Americans are opposed to increased immigration. All 50 states — 56% of Americans — do not support the increased flow of immigrants into the country. Eighteen percent of Americans are in favor of increased immigration, while 26% are neutral.

Many Groups, Unions Line up for Rafferty

The John Rafferty for Attorney General campaign has the endorsement of the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business & Industry, National Federation of Independent Business and the Pennsylvania Manufacturers’ Association.

Chamber President Gene Barr said, “John Rafferty’s previous role as a deputy attorney general, coupled with his experience practicing law in the private sector make him uniquely qualified to be Pennsylvania’s next Attorney General.”

His campaign has also been endorsed by the Pennsylvania State Troopers Association; the Pennsylvania Fraternal Order of Police, FOP Lodges 1, 7, 11, 14, 16, 27, 53 and 91; the Pennsylvania Professional Firefighters Association; Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Scranton Firefighters; Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation; Laborers’ District Council of Western Pennsylvania and Western Pennsylvania Operators and Engineers.

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