FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 16, 2023
Contact: Arielle Klagsbrun, arielle@acrecampaigns.org
Alliance for a Just Philadelphia Launches 2023 People’s Platform Ahead of Municipal Elections
Platform Calls for Addressing Violence with Systemic Investments in Communities
PHILLY – On Monday, January 16th, MLK Day, at 1PM, the Alliance for a Just Philadelphia launched the 2023 People’s Platform outside of City Hall with a crowd of over 100 people. Speakers from Philadelphia’s leading organizations working across issue areas spoke about coming together to launch a unified platform ahead of the Philadelphia municipal elections.
“In such a crowded race for Mayor and City Council, we know that often the debate can come down to personalities – not policy,” said Erika Guadalupe Nunez, Executive Director of JUNTOS. “To address the issues our city faces, we need a real vision rooted in the communities facing systematic disinvestment – a vision of a city where everyone can thrive and where safety is something tangible we can feel, not an empty promise.”
The 2023 People’s Platform available in full online here highlights the top 10 issue areas facing Philadelphia’s communities ahead of the 2023 Mayoral and City Council elections around the economy, justice, land and housing, education, jobs, public services, environmental justice, health, sanctuary and democracy – with specific winnable policy solutions that elected officials can implement to create change.
“We need a Philadelphia that works for all of us. We’re in an unprecedented gun violence crisis – but the only thing the city is consistently investing in is police. Instead we should invest in what will make our communities safer like education, green spaces, fully-staffed recreation centers and parks, violence interruptions programs. We can tax the rich to fund these programs,” said Kris Henderson, Executive Director of Amistad Law Project. “If we keep doing exactly the same thing, we’ll keep getting what we have.”
The People’s Platform represents the culmination of a 6-month process from the 27 progressive organizations across the city that make up the Alliance for a Just Philadelphia. Alliance for a Just Philadelphia organizations’ work across race, age, neighborhood, ability, language, and issue, and represent thousands of people across Philadelphia. The platform touches on some of the most high-profile issues in this years’ municipal elections.
“The 76ers are trying to build a new arena through the neighborhood of Chinatown. Chinatown is a center for our spirit and identity. ” said Wei Chen with Asian Americans United, a leading voice for community self-determination and against the proposed 76s arena in Chinatown. “What’s happening in Chinatown is not unique – our City has a legacy of adopting policies that have damaged Black and Brown communities especially in areas where families have limited economic resources. Everyone deserves an affordable, accessible, safe, healthy place to live– regardless of their race, class, or neighborhood.”
The broad platform will guide the work of the Alliance for a Just Philadelphia over the next few years, creating the backbone of the People’s Forum which will be hosted later this year. In 2019, the Alliance launched the 2019 People’s Platform, hosted the largest City Council candidate forum of the election cycle, with over 1000 attendees, and won substantial legislative victories based on the platform.
“What we want to say to the candidates running for Mayor, City Council and any other offices: we are here today to put you on notice that these are the issues that we need addressed in this platform right here today,” said Shawmar Pitts with Philly Thrive.
A full version of the 2023 People’s Platform is available online here. Groups wanting to sign on to the Platform can do so here.
###
The Alliance for a Just Philadelphia is made up of 27 organizations that work across race, age, neighborhood, ability, language and issue. These groups include: Action Center on Race and Economy, Asian Americans United, One Pennsylvania, ADAPT/Disabled in Action, Philly Student Union, Red Umbrella Alliance, The Organizing Center, Black Lives Matter Philly, 215 People’s Alliance, Caucus of Working Educators, JUNTOS, National Domestic Workers Alliance – PA, POWER, Youth Art & Self Empowerment Project, Philly Neighborhood Networks, Philly Thrive, Soil Generation, VietLead, Philadelphia Community Bail Fund, Amistad Law Project, Philadelphia Area Cooperative Alliance, Project Safe, ACT UP, Movement Alliance Project, Reclaim Philadelphia, Coalition to End Death by Incarceration, and Working Families Organization. These organizations reach and represent thousands of people across Philadelphia.