POLS ON THE STREET: Presidential Tussle Reaching City’s Streets

by Joe Shaheeli

HUNDREDS from tri-county area, Congressman Bob Brady and Councilman Mark Squilla as well as members of eight string bands joined to welcome 250 Vietnam veterans – a welcome they did not get when returning home from Vietnam. Traveling in five buses with police escorts all the way, veterans were treated to meals and “high fives”. This return-home trip was organized by Honor Flight, which duplicated such events across country. Photo by Joe Stivala

By coincidence, the two major presidential campaigns have picked this Saturday, Oct. 8, to launch their registration campaigns with fanfare on the streets of this city. The unusual factor is the Republican Party has announced launches at several sites, something not done in an eon of presidential campaigns.

Though the campaign underway in Philadelphia to get Hillary Clinton to the White House is almost a duplicate of the effort used in President Barack Obama’s two successful presidential campaign, her campaign people know the Democratic City Committee will bring out an impressive vote. But they fear the close-to-400,000 turnout expected for Hillary might not be big enough to nullify what the Republican City Committee expects will be a big turnout for Donald Trump.

So they’ve brought out tried-and-true campaign mechanisms to bring out even more Democratic votes. Taking place here and in Allentown, Chester and Pittsburgh for three days up to the Oct. 11 registration deadline will be a drive by Unity in the Community and For Pennsylvania’s Future, which are partnering to get other advocacy organizations in a turnup-and-turnout voter-registration effort. Billing themselves as “nonpartisan “efforts, they are anything but; otherwise, why have they limited themselves to appearing in African American and Latino neighborhoods?

“We’re excited about this partnership because we know how important it is to build power for our communities through voting and increased political participation,” said Brittany Smith, Political Director at For Pennsylvania’s Future. “Our mission is turnout for this critical election and we know that the larger the turnout, the louder our collective voice for change will be.”

“Unity in the Community is excited to partner with For Pennsylvania’s Future on this important initiative to get people registered to vote,” said Anton Moore, Founder of Unity in the Community. “We look forward to engaging the community on the issue of voting on Oct. 8 and beyond.”

Registration sites are at Hands of Precision Barbershop, 20th Street & Snyder Avenue; Culture Exchange, 1450 Point Breeze Avenue; For Pennsylvania’s Future’s South Philly Office, 1903 S. Broad Street; and Norris Square Park, 2100 N. Howard Street.

Joseph J DeFelice, chairman of the Philadelphia Republican Party, announced, “The Philadelphia Republican party now has seven offices throughout our entire city to serve and mobilize voters who are hungry for change and dissatisfied by the Obama/Clinton status quo. The opening of these offices on Oct. 8 will lead to more votes for the entire Republican ticket in Philadelphia, and may be a determining factor for who wins the White House in this crucial election.

MATT DARRAGH, Democrat running in the 170th Legislative Dist., drew in a crowd of supporters at the Plumbers’ Waterfall Room on Southampton Road to raise funds for his campaign. He’ll have strong backing from N.E. Ward Leaders and other activists, L-R, State Sen. John Sabatina, Jr., John Sabatina, Sr., Darragh, Pat Parkinson, Mike McAleer, John Del Ricci and Billy Dolbow.

“Contrary to the illusions of a left-leaning media establishment, Hillary can and will lose this election. Our nominee is poised to win Pennsylvania and the presidency, as is evidenced by polling that shows our nominee closing the gap in our state. We have the momentum, we have the message, and we have the energy of voters on our side.”

What the GOP hopes to tap into are Democratic voters who switched from Republican back in the days when Frank Rizzo ran for mayor. Though more elderly these days, they are believed to be Republican-leaning. They are also hoping to tap white blue-collar enthusiasm for Trump.

The locations are in Center City, Northeast Philadelphia, Bridesburg/Tacony, North Philadelphia, South Philadelphia, Germantown, and Mount Airy.

DeFelice declared Saturday, “We will meet at either 836 South Street or 3525 Cottman Avenue at 9 a.m. We will have refreshments on hand as well as training for those who are unsure how to help. You will leave with a walkbook for the area near your home that will help us spread our message across the city. You will return the walkbook by 6 p.m. to one of the following locations: 3525 Cottman Avenue (NE Philly); 836 South Street (Center City/South Philly); 1713 Wolf Street (South Philly); Chelten & Pulaski (Germantown); 1554 W Oakdale Street (North Philadelphia), and 8325 Stenton Avenue, 2nd floor (Northwest Philly).”

Also seeking to move voters to the Trump side is an effort by State Rep. Martina White, who introduced legislation, now passed by the State House, HB 1885, to end Sanctuary Cities in Pennsylvania, of which Philadelphia is one.

DeFelice commented, “We are heartened to see the Pennsylvania state legislature move to punish cities like Philadelphia that flout federal law by shielding convicted criminals from deportation. If you believe our city has enough crime already and that immigration laws should be enforced for people here committing crimes, then you are opposed to Sanctuary Cities. Surely, any victim of a crime caused by the Mayor’s policy will be comforted to know they will have means to seek recourse via this bill. More importantly, HB 1885 will shine a spotlight on what this policy really does: Ties the hands of local law enforcement from deporting criminals who also happen to be illegal immigrants.”

Philly’s Trump Democrats Could Hurt Hillary Here

MARCHERS staged a Walk for Education in Olney and Feltonville. Students, teachers, educators, parents, friends, community leaders and drill teams took part.. Following the march, there was a block party at 5th & Olney with free food, speakers, Voter Registration and live entertainment. Key organizers of the event were Ward Leader Elaine Tomlin, Rochelle Arrington, Shantay Lindsay and Michelle Rhett. Photo by Leona Dixon

While the Oct. 2 Franklin & Marshall Poll shows strong improvement in Hillary Clinton’s support across Pennsylvania, it contains unwelcome news for Democrats in Philadelphia.

Clinton is beating Republican Donald Trump by 67-22% in the city. That’s a handsome lead – but well below Barack Obama’s 85-14% final margin over Mitt Romney in 2012.

The poll registered 11% as undecided or supporting other candidates. Typically, such voters break evenly for major parties on Election Day. But if widespread dissatisfaction with both Trump and Clinton persist, “protest votes” or stay-aways may be higher this year.

The poll numbers suggest one-eighth of registered Democrats, or about 110,000, may be ready to jump ship and vote for Trump. If another 30,000 Democrats abstain from voting for Clinton in different ways, Obama’s 492,000-vote city margin in 2012 could drop to 350,000 this year.

Neither candidate is conceding the commonwealth. Since Philly turnout can tilt the state one way or the other, what happens on the streets of Philadelphia this weekend could have an impact.

An Ulcer of a Race For Seth Williams?

A TEAM of Republican legal experts gathered at the law office of Linda Berger, standing, in Center City to discuss strategy for monitoring the expected heavy Democratic vote in Phila. on Nov. 8. Linda Kerns, 6th from R, coordinated. Photo by Wendell Douglas

District Attorney Seth Williams needs to put on his campaign sneakers and remember back to how it felt when less than a dozen people attended his first campaign event up in Germantown. Despite that dismal turnout, he felt the fire in his belly he would win.

That fire may have weakened after a while in office. There exists a tendency among office-holders, after even reelection after a first term, to take the office for granted.

Seth may not be guilty of that, but he needs to mend bridges he has broken, especially with rank-and-file Democrats. That’s why candidates are appearing as rapidly as mushrooms in a damp forest.

Being promoted by some Democrats early on was Judge Leon Tucker, well liked and pragmatic. Then came former US Attorney (and before that a former ADA under Lynne Abraham) Joe Khan, credible. Missing the political fray and reportedly interested is American Red Cross CEO and former Judge Renee Caldwell Hughes, and Municipal Court Judge Teresa Carr Deni.

The more that enter that Democratic primary next spring, the more sure will it be an open primary, according to initial comments by Democratic City Committee Congressman Bob Brady (D-Phila.).

That should be Seth’s prayer this happens. With a decent ballot pull, his name familiarity could bring him back to the role of Democratic candidate for District Attorney 2017.

WOMEN FOR TRUMP opened a Phila. GOP Victory Office at 836 South Street on Sep. 30. Photo by Wendell Douglas

But suppose another Williams should enter the race … what an ulcer for Seth that would be.

Making most noise for now is Khan, who is the first candidate officially to enter the 2017 municipal primary election race. He may get good press now, but there is little reason for him to believe he will get a majority of key ward leaders behind him in the Democratic primary.

Khan has called on the Pennsylvania General Assembly to reform ethical requirements for public officials to ban gifts to public officials – a pointed dig at Williams.

A Welfare Thorn For Taxpayers

R-L: COUNCILMAN Mark Squilla, Mayor Jim Kenney, and Todd Kimmel, principal of Hackett School; were just as excited about the playground remodeling coming to Penn Treaty Park as the young people that stood before them. Photo by Eldon Graham

An Auditor General report shows flaws in oversight of welfare payments. An audit released by Pennsylvania’s top fiscal watchdog, Auditor General Eugene DePasquale, highlights some flaws in the state Dept. of Human Services’ oversight of welfare payments and possible misuse by recipients. The audit found not only did some electronic benefit-transfer cardholders use their funds in vacation hotspots, the department incorrectly put dollars on the cards of more than 2,000 deceased individuals.

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