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- ABC debuts "Homeland Security USA"
- Library Closings: They Have Never Really Been About The Budget Crisis
- DA's Job to Prosecute Environmental Crime
- Is the number of branch libraries in Philly significantly out of line with cities of comparable size?
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Disappointed But Not Discouraged
Submitted by La-Toya Hackney on Wed, 05/16/2007 - 1:04am.
First - I offer a hearty congratulations to Michael Nutter, his family, campaign staff and supporters! What a victory!
I would also like to offer a few personal thoughts. As the former chairwoman of Fattah for Mayor, tonight's results were excruciatingly disappointing for me. After expending so much time and effort on the campaign as a volunteer (my first) the loss is difficult to take. Although I am disappointed, I am not discouraged because our campaign prompted a discussion of the effects of generational poverty on our city's prosperity. I am not discouraged because this campaign has been a tremendous experience for me in every way. I had an up close and personal look at Philadelphia politics at its best (and sometimes worst - depending on the day!) I learned about how our city operates and what our citizens value. And, perhaps the lesson that I will carry with me for the rest of my life and pass on to my daughter is the importance of civic engagement and political activism. It is absolutely crucial for young women to make sure that our voices are represented so I encourage every woman who is considering joining the political fray to jump in and go for it.
Although Fattah did not win tonight, I believe in his vision of lifting from the bottom up, that to whom much is given much is required, and that education transforms lives. These are the basic underlying principles of the Opportunity Agenda. These principles will continue to inform my community service activities and I am grateful for the privilege of having represented the Fattah campaign.
La-Toya Hackney, Esq.
Former Chairwoman, Fattah for Mayor
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An agenda that needs to go forward
Congressman Fattah carried an agenda that spoke to many of us in Philadelphia. I appreciated that he took the time to come to neighborhoods like Chinatown, to reach out and build a strong multiracial alliance for social justice, opportunity, and above all youth and young people. His message is one we need to push with a "reform" agenda promoted in a number of places and particularly by mainstream media that seems to emphasize fiscal mindedness and governance, but sidelines critical issues like poverty. I credit Congressman Fattah with making every effort to make public education and schools a central issue of the mayor's race.
Michael Nutter ran an inspiring and aggressive campaign and has every potential to be a great mayor for Philadelphia. But in the end, the only thing which will make him great is if all of us hold him to the high standards and great ideals laid out by not only Congressman Fattah but by Fattah's many supporters.
LaToya - even responding to
LaToya - even responding to this makes me feel so...un-eloquent, I guess. I love your call to young women to get involved in political activism (sounds so much nicer than just "politics," doesn't it?) Getting together some good, inspiring female candidates will help, for one thing - look at Maria!
In the end, I think voters decided that government reform and crime were the biggest fights for right now; in a less fraught time, I guess, things might have been different. I think we all need to work on figuring out what the crushing level of poverty means for this city, and then spreading the word about how we can make it better.
***
Volunteering for Michael Nutter
Thanks for the post, La-Toya
I'm glad that you're not discouraged.
And not to be a pest (I know that you've been a little busy lately), but I look forward to hearing some of your ideas about how forums like YPP, and other "progressive"-oriented entities, can extend their influence into more communities so as to help address generational poverty.