Ross Feinberg, the Republican candidate in the 5th Senatorial District, opposes Mayor Jim Kenney’s plan to tax soda to pay for universal pre-kindergarten and other initiatives.
“Running for state Senate, I still represent Northeast Philadelphia. The notion that the beverage companies are to absorb this tax while keeping retail cost stability is unrealistic,” he said. “Our own Pepsi Bottling Group on Roosevelt Boulevard employs our neighbors and our family members. The Democrats claim they want to attract businesses into our communities yet they want to make it impossible to do business here.”
Feinberg is running to make the Great Northeast great again.
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Meanwhile, Feinberg will hold a Chili Cookoff Smackdown fundraiser on Friday, March 18, from 7 to 10 p.m. at 3118 Englewood St. in Mayfair. Feinberg, local Republican Party boss Joe DeFelice and others will serve as celebrity chefs. They’ll serve chili with all the fixings, corn bread, beer and wine for $35.
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The Burholme Community Town Watch and Civic Association is inviting candidates to its meeting on Thursday, March 10, at 7 p.m. at Wesley Enhanced Living, 7040 Oxford Ave.
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International Association of Fire Fighters and Paramedics Local 22 has endorsed U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey.
“I am honored and grateful to have the support of the hardworking men and women of the Fire Fighters and Paramedics Union Local 22 in Philadelphia,” he said. “These courageous emergency responders put their lives on the line every day to ensure the safety of the people of Philadelphia. I am proud to be their voice in Washington.”
Local 22 represents more than 4,500 current and retired firefighters, paramedics and officers of the Philadelphia Fire Department.
ldquo;The members of the Philadelphia Fire Fighters and Paramedics Union Local 22 proudly endorse Sen. Pat Toomey for re-election to the U.S. Senate,” said Local 22 President Andy Thomas. “Pat is a common-sense, bipartisan leader who knows and respects the sacrifice that our members make every day to protect those who live and work in Philadelphia. We know that Pat has our back in Washington.”
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Jared Solomon, who is challenging state Rep. Mark Cohen (D-202nd dist.) in the primary, wrote a letter to Cohen, asking him to agree to a series of debates throughout the district.
Cohen replied via Facebook: “If you survive your ballot challenge, which is highly unlikely, we’re open to scheduling something for April.”
Cohen has challenged whether Solomon submitted the minimum 300 valid nominating petitions.
Solomon said, “Clearly, Rep. Cohen doesn’t believe the voters should be allowed to vote for who they want to represent them. I will continue to meet and work with the members of the community and I hope my opponent will change his mind and give the voters an opportunity to witness a debate about the issues concerning our district and our state.”
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There is a change.org petition to abolish the city election commission.
Supporters wrote, “Philadelphia City Commissioner Anthony Clark — a guy elected to oversee our elections — doesn’t vote. He doesn’t show up to work. He went to Egypt while on the taxpayer dime. And now, he’s filed for a $500,000 taxpayer-funded DROP payout — even though it was never intended for elected officials. That is outrageous.
“But guess what? Fellow Commissioner Al Schmidt thinks we don’t care. He told the Inquirer, “There was no outrage present” about his colleague’s behavior. We disagree. We think Anthony Clark should be out of a job. In fact, we think the city should abolish the Commissioner’s Office all together — because we don’t need it. Most cities run their elections out of the Mayor’s Office more transparently, with less bias and for less money.”
So far, 1,166 people have signed the petition at www.change.org/p/darrell-clarke-abolish-the-philadelphia-city-commissioner-s-office
Supporters hope for more signatures, noting that some 15,000 Philadelphians signed a petition to squash City Councilman Mark Squilla’s widely panned bill requiring music bands to register with the city. ••
