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Showing up and taking action - Rep. Tony Payton Jr.
Submitted by Ryan K on Wed, 02/13/2008 - 4:03pm.
Here is a post I blogged in late August on a day when Rep. Tony Payton, Jr. was hoofing it door to door in my neighborhood of Hunting Park. He made an unannounced visit to the small community center where I work in addition to visiting many homes.
On that very day, a block captain had given me a handwritten letter to City Council which I was typing for him and preparing to drop in the mail. The letter was in regard to a nuisance business in our community. Many of us have tried for years to get L&I to force this business to comply with the laws designed to protect our community. They have 46 current L&I violations at the moment! Since Rep. Payton was right there in my office, I printed out a copy of the letter (not even addressed to him) and he agreed to take action.
In last night's snow and ice, Rep. Payton's chief of staff came out to a community meeting to update us on where things stand with the business in question. He has conducted an extensive investigation of his own by interviewing local businesses, taking photographs, speaking with the business in question, and attending community meetings. He has made over 40 calls on our behalf to one of the least responsive agencies in the history of government at the tail end of a lame duck administration. Nonetheless, the official word from L&I is that we will know exactly where they stand in seven days. I will post an update when we hear back.
The battle over the 179th District is going to be interesting. Political junkies will no doubt enjoy the ringside view of The Progressive Incumbent vs. The Party. Those of us in the 179th would rather see a boring no-contest. After 32 years of absentee representation from Bill Reiger, we finally have someone doing their job. For what it's worth, the ward leaders who endorsed Guy D. Lewis also supported Reiger's past dereliction of duty.
From my own experiences and first hand accounts of people I know in the 179th, Rep. Payton has been:
1. Present - knocking on doors, holding small home meetings, attending community functions
2. Responsive - quick to reply to inquiries personally or through staff
3. Creative - putting bills up in the House that seek to tackle our biggest problems
Don't let anyone fool you. We've got a good man in office in the 179th.
A photo I snapped on my phone the day Rep. Payton stopped by while door knocking in Hunting Park.
it can be done
see this note from Chris Bowers:
http://www.openleft.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=3898
Thanks, Ryan!
Great post.
We definitely have a good man in the 179th
While I doubt that many people who read this actually live up in North Philadelphia with Tony, Ryan and I... hear me now and listen to me later: if you care about reforming the way politics gets done in this city, you need to support Tony's candidacy. If he wins again, it will show the Ward system not to mess with good leaders for spite. Drop the man a few bucks. Work the phones with him. Help him knock on some doors.
Here's his campaign website. I know he's doing his announcement event this Saturday. I think it's at 11 AM, but I can't remember where. Anyway, I'll try to find out. Folks should go.
---
This Too Will Pass, treating grave matters lightly and light matters gravely, since 2001.
Here you go, Brady
The Friends of Tony Payton
Invite you to The Official Campaign Kick off
Come out and Celebrate, Leadership in Motion as we support
Rep. Tony Payton, Jr. in his Re-Election to represent
Pennsylvania's 179th Legislative District!
.
WHEN: Saturday, February 16, 2008; 11:00am to 12:00pm
WHERE: Frankford Boys and Girls Club, 1709 Kinsey St, Philadelphia, PA
The announcement will be followed by the
Friends of Rep. Tony Payton-
District wide Canvass.
WHEN: Saturday, February 16, 2008; 12:00pm to 3:00pm
WHERE: We will be Leaving from the Boy & Girls Club and covering the entire district (PA-179).
WHAT: Volunteers will canvas the entire district (PA-179), raising awareness for Rep. Payton Re-Election effort
To RSVP or for more information please contact
Garcia Sozinho at 215/796-5705 or mavinga@reppayton.com
The truth
Laurie- You seem like a very passionate person who cares about your community. While I respect your passion and admire your advocacy, I am afraid you are unfortunately misinformed on several of the issues relating to Rep. Payton’s first year in office. I feel qualified to speak on this being that I am his Chief of Staff. I would like to briefly discuss several of Rep. Payton’s accomplishments and debunk your misrepresentations. Here are just a few things which personify Tony Payton and what he has done in his first 13 months in office…
1. Created a housing program. Every Thursday constituents from across the district line up to meet housing counselors which spend the day in the district office and provided assistance, free of charge, to anyone who walks though the door. The Housing Association of the Delaware Valley have been advocates for Philadelphian since 1909 and now Payton has brought them to Frankford. Payton’s Housing Assistance Program has helped hundreds of community members stand up against absentee landlord, register for first-time home buyer programs and most importantly, we have worked with WOAR, Woman Against Abuse and OES to ascertain safe and stable housing for woman who have become homeless due to domestic violence.
2. We are the most accessible constituent office in the STATE!. We are open 8-6 Monday through Thursday and 8-4 on Fridays.
3. Payton Safe Place Initiative. Both of Rep. Payton’s district offices are Safe Place Havens. Everyone on his staff has been trained to handle youth in crisis. This program, promoted in the local schools, informs youth that if they are in crisis they can go into an office or store that has the big yellow ”Safe Place” sign and receive assistance and immediate access to resources. Rep. Payton is also promoting this initiative all over the district and asking other organizations/offices/stores to become Safe Places.
4. REACH Scholarship Initiative. You criticism of the REACH is simply intellectually lazy. Rep. Payton and I studied this legislation for months before proposing it. If you do your homework and researched the issue, you would grasp the profound impact this legislation would have on our education, our economy and our community. As to your criticism in regards to bill still being discussed in committee, I feel your lack of knowledge concerning the legislative process shows. A bill of this nature must be debated, discussed and looked at from several perspectives. There are economic impact issues, funding issues, logistics, and implementation measures to look at. If you believe that groundbreaking legislation such as REACH passes overnight, then you are mistaken.
This is just the tip of the iceberg. I would welcome the opportunity to discuss these and several other of Rep. Payton’s accomplishment with you. Our office is located at 4915 Frankford Ave. I believe constructive dialogue concerning the important issues in our community is very important.
I do not know MR. Payton.
I do not know MR. Payton. But I have a problem with number 2. Are you saying he is the only State Rep. that has accessible constituent service or as you put it We are the most accessible constituent office in the STATE!. We are open 8-6 Monday through Thursday and 8-4 on Fridays. Well danlodise my State Rep. John Taylor has three district office the first office is open 8am to 6pm Monday thru Friday or untill there are no constituents in the office I know this because I have gone to this office as late as 7pm for help. The second office has the same hours as the first one and I have been to this office as late as 6:30 pm. Now the third office has the same hours as the first and second offices I have never been there after 6pm tho but I have been there on Saturday yes Saturday he has office hours EVERY Saturday from 11am to 3pm. So if we were to go by your statement ( We are the most accessible constituent office in the STATE!. We are open 8-6 Monday through Thursday and 8-4 on Fridays. ) Mr. Payton does NOT have the most accessible constituent office in the STATE. Mr. Taylor does that's why the 90% Democrat voters in the 177th including me re elect him every two years. Danlodise I hate when people make statements that have no truth to them your number 2 statement makes it sound like Mr. Payton is the only State Rep. in this State that does constituent service and that my friend is not the truth and a big misrepresentation.