From Warren Bloom, Candidate for the PA House of Representatives 195th District, 2010.

Why the 195th District Section of Philly is in Poverty, and How Bloom’s Going to Fix It.

The local Democratic Party has been satisfied with a poverty-stricken Philadelphia in 3 areas of the city for the last 33 years. Philadelphia ’s 195th District, which is parts of West, North, and University City Philly, has been stricken with the highest rate of poverty in Philadelphia ’s history. As always, local political representation, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives that is, has done little or next to nothing to help solve the city’s problems.

On Monday (3/3/2010) a group of 40 concerned community members members rallied outside the Region 3 EPA building on Arch St in Philadelphia, where they demanded that the Agency stop approving new permits for mountaintop removal (MTR) mining. Philly's Region 3 office reviews MTR permits in Virginia and West Virginia.

The crowd chanted "Ending MTR, who has the say? Region 3 of the EPA!", while myself and fellow Rising Tide activist Josh Yoder attempted to enter the building with a letter for senior Region 3 Administrator Shawn Garvin. We were prepared to risk arrest (apparently entering a public government building without an appointment is an arrestable offense in Philadelphia) in order to deliver our message and secure a meeting with Jeffrey Lapp, an administrator who oversees the 404 Group that reviews the permits. We first contacted and met Lapp in October and requested a meeting in January, but had not heard back.

Fellow Liberal Coffee Drinkers-

Please join us 12:30 this Sunday (2/28) at Infusion Coffee and Tea, 7133 Germantown Ave. (http://www.infusioncoffeeandtea.com) for the latest meeting of Drinking Coffee Liberally: Mount Airy. Just coffee talk, no big whoop- I'll give you some topics.

* Could this really be the endgame for health care reform? Might the Dems finally find a collective spine and realize that the GOP isn't going to work with them at all, so they'd might as well pass it on their own? Is the current state of reform- either in the House, Senate, or Obama version - even worthy of the name 'reform?'

* As Michelle Cottle put it, 'forget a loyal opposition; I'd settle for a sane one.' The GOP seems unable- or unwilling- to make any policy suggestions beyond tax cuts, less regulation, and saying 'no!' repeatedly. Is this any way to run an opposition party?

Today, I signed up for a campaign that involves a new Progressive candidate in the 175th. For once the 175th will be able to vote for a candidate who is young, aggressive, creative, and forward thinking. A candidate who when you ask a question, does not need to look to someone else for the answer, he can answer for you because it is what he feels.

Mike O'Brien for years has been using the unions to push himself into office, screwing the community, and forcing his values down our throats without listening to us. Holding 3 meetings in 4 years does not constitute communication Mike, sending birthday cards to ward leaders, committee people, and judges of election does not equate to caring about your district. You have fought for so long against us and now we are going to turn against you!

What Stinks About Philadelphia...? Is it the Economy or Attitudes?

Smiling is infectious. You can catch it like the flu.
When someone smiled at me today...I started smiling too!

I always loved that poem. Makes you wanna smile, and it is so true. Yet I find, in Philadelphia, this does not seem to hold the same truth. The streets are talking and Philadelphia is not the city that loves you back...

The City of Brotherly love has been named one of the most bloodiest cities, with murder rates and job-loss on the rise, no wonder everyone is on edge. I wonder, is or will Philadelphia ever be a great American city? Are our attitudes towards one another keeping us stagnant, and segregated? Or is it the challenges of the preceding economical conditions and we are stuck in a perpetual cycle?

In the middle of a very contentious political battle over civil rights legislation, President Lyndon Baines Johnson muttered prophetically about the ugly political schism that would shape America's future, for generations to come. He essentially stated that if the Democratic party were to fully embrace and push for civil rights legislation, offering equal protection for millions of Americans who had been dealt an ugly historical misfortune, the party would "lose the South for 50 years". He knew why he said what he said. After all, he had his roots in that great southern state of Texas -- not know for its warm hearted embrace of civil or equal rights. Sadly, which may be more evident today than it was in 1964 or 65, he was correct.

In a very bizarre twist of events, conservative radio talk show host, Rush Limbaugh, blamed President Obama for the beating of a white teen by two young black teens on a school bus, and then began to advocate for government-sanctioned racial segregation. Aside from intimating that President Obama, through his rhetoric and policy positions, has shaped a social environment, in America, which has encouraged racial strife, Limbaugh has suggested that the best option to address this is to force the segregation of black and white students. In fact, on his radio program, this is exactly what he said, “In Obama’s America, the white kids now get beat up, with black kids cheering...” Huh? At this point, words escape me. Obviously they escape the GOP as well, given that none of its leadership has come out against Limbaugh’s rhetorical blitzkrieg.

THE STATES OF THE ECONOMY

SUNDAY, July 19, 2009, 5:00 p.m.
Free. Reservations required. Please call 215.409.6700 or order online.

Online event registration

Annenberg Center for Education and Outreach
F.M. Kirby Auditorium
National Constitution Center
Independence Mall
525 Arch Street
Philadelphia, PA

Sorry about the lateness of the announcement, but Drinking Liberally: Mount Airy has morphed into Drinking (Coffee) Liberally: Mount Airy, and we're meeting noon today at InFusion Coffee + Tea (7133 Germantown Ave.). So, join us for good coffee, pastries, and conversation- political and otherwise.

-Z

Another Philadelphia police officer has been gunned down in the line of duty, this time in an apparent shoot-out last night in front of the Olney Transportation Center.

Officer John Pawlowski, 25, whose wife, Kim, is expecting their first child, was killed after he and his partner responded to a report of a "fight on the highway" on Broad Street near Olney Avenue.

Police said the gunman approached the cabbie and demanded money about 8 p.m. The cabbie warned he would call police and the man responded: "If you call the cops, I'm shooting you and the cops. The cabbie went ahead and called police, and pointed out the gunman to Pawlowski and his partner after they arrived, police said. As the officers approached the gunman, he lifted a .357 Magnum handgun, firing through his clothing, and striking the officer in the chest.

WE WANT YOU TO UPGRADE OUR DEMOCRACY.

Are you a social entrepreneur? Do you want to make a difference?

Tell us your idea and you could win a grant of up to $10,000 to make it happen. Submit your idea and take part at Constitutional Convention: Building Democracy 2.0, happening January 9-11,2009 at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia.

Visit http://www.democracyupgrade.com to register and for event details. Registration for the Constitutional Convention is FREE. Download the attached Participant Information Packet.

Mobilize.org is an all-partisan network dedicated to educating, empowering, and energizing young people to increase our civic engagement and political participation. We work to show young people how public policy impacts our lives, and more importantly – how we can impact public policy.

Fellow Liberal Drinkers-

You are invited to join Drinking Liberally tomorrow (Thurs. @ 7:00 PM) at the Mermaid Inn (7673 Germantown Ave.) for our Holiday Party! Which holiday, you ask? Festivus, of course! I'll see if Joanne can set up a plain aluminum pole for us...

In between the airing of grievances + the feats of strength, there will be trivia and plenty of free swag! Free liberal swag, no less- can't beat that this time of year, can you?

So, come one, come all, and bring your friends! A good time will be had by all as we...

Drink to Democracy!
-Z

Can a night get any bigger than tonight? Wow.

Please join Drinking Liberally + the Northwest Philadelphia office of the Obama campaign at North by Northwest (7165 Germantown Ave.) at 8:00 PM tonight as we watch the returns come in, and hopefully celebrate the restoration of democracy to the United States. Regime change begins at home!

Drink to Democracy!
-Z

On Election Day, Drinking Liberally: Mount Airy is going to join once again w/the Northwest office of the Obama campaign + watch the returns at North by Northwest, 7165 Germantown Ave., from 8:00 PM - whenever. Please join us and let's raise a mighty noise to the notion that regime change begins at home!

Drink to Democracy!
-Z

The PA Voter Protection Team needs your urgent help!

We have 1000 new names of attorneys and law students to call who might be able to serve as poll monitors on Election Day. Will you please help us?

Obama Field Office
15th St. & Sansome
4pm - 9pm + debate watching party!
Pizza & libations will be served

You do not have to attend the entire time. Please come when you want and for as long as you can! Bring your friends!

Please RSVP to Jennifer Hill (jhill@voteforchangepa.com) so that we can get a head count!

Thank you!

Voter Protection Team