Congregations of Shaare Shamayim, at 9768 Verree Road in Bustleton, welcomes the public to attend a candidates forum on Sunday, Oct. 19, at 10 a.m.
The synagogue’s Men’s Club is organizing the event, which will be moderated by lawyer and educator Ruth Horwitz.
On Nov. 4, voters will choose candidates for state representative, state Senate, U.S. House of Representatives and governor and lieutenant governor.
Light food will be provided.
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Ken Trujillio, a Democratic candidate for mayor, said Monday’s action by the School Reform Commission to cancel its contract with the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers shows why the SRC should be disbanded.
“Philadelphians are again being forced to take on the state’s responsibilities,” he said. “First, we have to beg to be able to tax ourselves with the tobacco tax, and now this. Let’s be clear. If we had adequate state funding, neither action would have been necessary. Both the SRC and teachers have been put in an unconscionable position by the state’s failure to adequately fund our schools.
“These events underscore why we need mayoral control and why the state takeover must end. We must have a fair funding formula, and Philadelphia’s school system must return to local control.”
Trujillo is a former city solicitor, assistant U.S. attorney and commissioner of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board. He serves as chairman of the board of Congreso, an anti-poverty nonprofit.
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City Councilwoman María Quinones Sanchez (D-7th dist.) and Councilman Wilson Goode Jr. (D-at large) introduced legislation to amend the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter to give Philadelphians better access to services, regardless of language spoken.
“Every Philadelphian deserves equal access to their city government, and the city Charter should reflect our commitment to provide that,” Quinones Sanchez said.
Under the proposed Charter amendment, all city agencies, offices, departments, boards and commissions would be required to prepare plans to promote access to city services for people with limited English proficiency. It also mandates that such “language access” plans be consistent with relevant directives or orders instituted by the mayor, and for all agencies to provide status reports.
The Charter amendment would also apply to so-called row offices such as the District Attorney, City Commissioners, Sheriff and Bureau of Revision of Taxes, as well as the Office of the Controller and City Council. The Register of Wills is not subject to the Charter, as that office has not been incorporated into the city government.
Philadelphia’s foreign-born population has increased by more than 40,000 from 2000 to 2012, and makes up 12 percent of the population.
Mayor Michael Nutter created the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant and Multicultural Affairs.
ldquo;Despite real progress, further steps are needed to ensure our local government truly represents and meets the needs of all its residents,” Quinones Sanchez said.
ldquo;There absolutely should not be any barriers to equitable access to city services for any citizen of Philadelphia,” Goode said. “Every demographic group, every neighborhood and every language speaker deserves the same entitlements. I am proud to stand with Councilwoman Quinones Sanchez to protect those basic rights.”
If passed and signed into law, the proposed Charter amendment will be placed on the ballot for the approval of voters.
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Councilman David Oh (R-at large) introduced a bill last week to amend the Home Rule Charter in preparation for a return to local control of the School District of Philadelphia by providing for a new method and qualifications for appointing and electing the members of the Board of Education.
The provisions in the bill include: the members of the Board of Education will be both appointed and elected; the qualifications for specific members will require an advanced degree and 10 years of experience in his/her profession; the appointment of an Inspector General of Schools by the City Controller; and annual third party financial and performance audits reporting to the mayor, City Council and the city controller, in addition to requiring the superintendent to provide an annual state of the school district address in City Council.
ldquo;I’ve advocated for identifying and adopting best educational practices on a global basis as a strategy for improving the overall quality of public education in Philadelphia. Strengthening the Philadelphia Board of Education will be an important and necessary step to improving Philadelphia’s educational system so that it is more equitable, less costly and more effective in student learning,” Oh said.
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The Committee of Seventy is looking for nonpartisan volunteers for the Nov. 4 election.
Training will be provided. Volunteers will staff the group’s toll-free hotline, and visit polling places to answer questions from voters and flag election law violations.
For information, call 215–557–3600 or visit www.seventy.org ••
