Ayuda Community Center has served children and families in North Philadelphia and Hunting Park for over 15 years. Please take a look at this fundraising auction for a fun and easy way to support this great organization:

www.ayudacc.org/auction

There are many exciting entertainment choices, autographed Phillies and Sixers gear, dining options, travel and more. Many of these are currently priced way under market value. The auction ends Thursday so the time to bid is now!! Help our community while helping yourself to a great deal!

Of special interest to the Young Philly Politics crowd are these autographed copies of "Shame of a City" generously donated by Director Tigre Hill. Relive the glorious Street era in Hi Def with this excellent film. Bidding begins at $10.

This link will take you directly to the DVD's: www.tinyurl.com/3xukrv

Please pass the word!

Went to the campaign launch for Rep. Payton today and snapped this photo:
Too lazy to pound the pavement with the canvassing team on a Saturday, I came home and created a neighborhood social network in support of the good Rep.

I am told I need more than 50 words to make a post, so let me go ahead and say that Mayor Nutter's budget speech was inspiring.

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.