CALLING ALL PROGRESSIVES! While you were visiting and revisiting YouTube for one of the great speeches of modern American politics, you may have missed the big news in local elections.
West Philly Machine State Rep Tommy Blackwell (Jannie’s stepson) got knocked off the ballot. What does that mean?
That means the amazing, super-positive, and super-inspiring community activist Vanessa Brown—for whom great speeches with touching personal stories are par for the course—can become our next great progressive representative in Harrisburg.
Who is Vanessa?
She’s one of us…only way better than most. She’s a progressive doing the hard work that progressives always want to happen but rarely do themselves. She was a leader of the Mothers on the Move Committee for the Philadelphia Unemployment Project. She’s been a Community Outreach Specialist for a shelter for homeless women and children. She chairs a Community Policing project and organizes for the Parent Volunteers program that trains and assists young parents in the city.
And yes, Vanessa will now be the only Democrat on the ballot for 190th district.
But that only means she has a GREAT OPPORTUNITY to win…it could very easily remain just that, a great opportunity.
Ask Tony Payton if knocking a Machine opponent off the ballot means the opponent (and that Machine) will go quietly. Machine people are like zombies, folks. They don’t stay dead!
(Okay, some are more zombie-like than others.)
But you can help Vanessa make her GREAT OPPORTUNITY a GREAT VICTORY for the Philadelphia progressives. How?
You can start by attending this year’s official coolest progressive event: FRIDAY NIGHT FISH FRY 7 pm at Vanessa’s house, 943 N. Fallon St. Yo, check it out! You get to choose 2 sides, including mac and cheese, collards, and corn bread…cost $10! (You can and should give more if you can. Hell, the candidate’s cooking, so you should at least leave a generous tip!)
If you can’t attend just GIVE. Go online and do the right thing.
Also, come out and CANVASS. Philly for Change has already endorsed Vanessa (the best groups and best candidates tend to hang out together) and is sponsoring a canvass Saturday March 22 at 10 am. RSVP: Laurent@rcn.com
Come out and help make Vanessa Brown the Maria Quinones-Sanchez of 2008, our progressive woman success story from outside of the traditionally progressive CC/University City/Mt. Airy area.
Dinner Review
Fish Fry Chez Vanessa Brown was very good. I had the fish (lightly breaded) served in very ample portions on two pieces of white bread, with cornbread and collard greens, while my dining partner chose string beans and mac and cheese. A wonderful repast on both accounts.
Actually it was quite good and a steal at $10.
943 N. Fallon was hopping with activity and a whole bunch of ladies from the neighborhood serving up platters to go one right after the other. Easy to get to, very near 48th and Wyalusing. Even if you weren't supporting a terrific progressive candidate, the food is worth the trip alone. I heartily recommend getting some next time Vanessa has a similar fundraiser.
Oh and a few folks were looking at the Dan U-A's thread here on YPP there so how's that for internet age self-referentiality.
-Sean
MrLuigi, my cat, actually only types half as badly as I do.