Democratic mayoral candidates Anthony Williams and Doug Oliver attended the recent Take Back Your Neighborhood meeting.
Williams, a state senator and former state representative, wants the city Department of Licenses and Inspections to begin offering appointments to become more user friendly.
Williams also spoke of his bills to increase the sales and cigarette taxes to benefit public schools, and allow teachers to live outside Philadelphia. He added that voters should ignore the “rhetoric” from the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers, which has endorsed Jim Kenney.
“They should be honest about my record,” he said.
Oliver, a former spokesman for Mayor Michael Nutter, the state Department of Public Welfare and Philadelphia Gas Works, is making his first bid for office at age 40. He plans to focus on education.
“There will be no one who works harder on behalf of our students,” he said.
In other news from the April 20 meeting:
• Dianne Murphy, community relations officer in the 2nd Police District, invites calls about crime issues to 215–685–7276.
• The Max Myers Girl Scouts and the University of Pennsylvania are co-sponsoring CPR and AED training on Thursday, May 14, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Max Myers Playground, 1601 Hellerman St. The cost is $65. Email negirlscouts@gmail.com
• Fountain of Life Christian Church, 7811 Frankford Ave., will host the second annual Holmesburg Job Fair on Friday, May 15, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Rhawnhurst NORC will hold its next senior luncheon on Thursday, May 28, at noon at Rhawnhurst Presbyterian Church, 7701 Loretto Ave. Lunch will be served. The guest speaker will be Lynn Keehfuss, of CCT Connect. The cost is $5.
• The office of state Rep. Kevin Boyle welcomes constituents to pick up recycling buckets. The office is at 7420 Frankford Ave. in Mayfair.
• An aide to U.S. Rep. Brendan Boyle welcomed constituents to visit the office at 2375 Woodward St., Suite 105, or to call 215–335–3355.
• Max Myers Playground will host a seven-week summer tennis program for kids. The low-cost program will teach leadership and responsibility themes.
The playground will also undergo a much-needed renovation.
• The civic group will hold its fifth annual Northeast Celebration, either Aug. 22 or Aug. 29 at Max Myers. Last year, more than 1,000 people attended. There will be food, music and visits from the Philadelphia Zoo, the Barnes Foundation and the Academy of Natural Sciences.
• Take Back Your Neighborhood will meet again on Monday, May 18, at 7 p.m. at Max Myers. ••
