March and Rally Will Highlight Issues of Jobs, Housing, and Services; Coalition is Registering Thousands of Low-income and Homeless Persons

Monday, September 22
March - Broad St. and Fairmount Ave., 1:00 p.m.
Rally - LOVE Park, 2:00 p.m.

[PHILADELPHIA] In their quest for the White House, are Senators John McCain and Barack Obama addressing the critical issues facing millions of Americans who are low-income or homeless? That question is being raised by a coalition of Philadelphians who are mobilizing during this election year.

What will the next Mayor do about the fact that Philadelphia’s 25 percent poverty rate is the highest of any large city in America and that street homelessness has doubled since 2000?

Come find out at the Vote for Homes! Mayoral Candidates Forum on Thursday, April 26, 6:30-8:00 pm at Arch Street United Methodist Church (Broad & Arch Streets).

This Forum will be moderated by Elmer Smith of the Philadelphia Daily News and will include pre-determined questions, mostly picked from a hat and posed by advocates, homeless and formerly homeless individuals, and ex-offenders. Anticipated attendance could reach as many as 800 housing and service providers, shelter consumers, mental health and recovery program participants, advocates, and allies. All candidates polling more than five percent in their party were invited, and four are expected to attend.

The statewide Protect Our Vote Campaign is pleased to share that Governor Rendell has promised to veto HB 1318 (Anti-Voting Rights Act) and protect our voter rights. He will announce his plans to veto House Bill 1318 at two public events in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh on Monday, Feb. 20.

The first event will take place at 10:30 a.m. at the National Constitution Center, 2nd Floor Overlook, 525 Arch Street, Philadelphia. The second event will happen at 1:30 p.m., at the Hill House Community Center, 1835 Centre Avenue, Pittsburgh.

HB 1318 recently passed in both the Pennsylvania House and Senate mostly along party lines. If passed, the bill would have required that every voter show identification at every election. You may also remember that an earlier version would have disenfranchised ex-offenders who have a felony conviction and are still on probation or parole.