By admin
A college education is nearly essential to compete in today’s job market. In spite of having well over one hundred colleges and universities in the Commonwealth with tens of thousands of seats available, too many Pennsylvanians, and far too many Philadelphians, do not have college degrees. Many of us simply do not have access to higher education.
Governor Rendell recently announced Pennsylvania’s participation in Complete College America. Governor Rendell’s and Mayor Nutter’s efforts are laudable, but they are just a start. We need to make sure not just that kids in college graduate, but that all Philadelphia’s children have the skills and knowledge required to get into college.
This will require continued investment in education at all levels, from Head Start right through university. Without improving our degree attainment rates, Pennsylvania will slip behind the rest of the country in quality jobs. We can’t afford to let that happen.
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By admin
According to today’s Philadelphia Inquirer, Pennsylvania ranks 39th among the 50 states in funding for public health programs. That means our pandemic and biopreparedness programs are underfunded, our efforts to prevent foodborne illness are not as robust as they should be, and awareness for chronic diseases is at an all-time low.
Chronic health conditions like obesity and respiratory disease are too prevalent in the 195th district. Nearly every day we are confronted with news about another contaminated food product in our restaurants or supermarkets. Markets with fresh produce and meats need to replace convenience stores and fast food restaurants. Studies show that rates of illnesses including diabetes and heart disease go way down in neighborhoods with supermarkets. It is imperative for legislators from Philadelphia to maintain support for the Pennsylvania Fresh Food Financing Initiative, which works to bring supermarkets to underserved neighborhoods.
Pennsylvania’s public health infrastructure is so outdated that we do not even qualify for all of the federal money that is available for public health programs. This disservice to our citizens is unacceptable. Even in tough economic times, state government needs to have the resources to protect public health. As your state representative, I will fight tirelessly to ensure that our public health agencies are modernized and supported.
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By admin
I am excited to be meeting with
Philly for Change this Wednesday. Organizations like Philly for Change are a vital part of the civil society that supports our political system. An active and engaged citizenry is vital to ensuring that our elected officials are accountable to the people they serve.
If you would like to meet me or ask any questions about our campaign or my platform, please consider stopping by Tritone, which is at 1508 South Street, this Wednesday, March 3, at 7 pm.
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