Eryn Santamoor, a Democratic candidate for City Council at large, released her action plan.
“I have worked my entire career to challenge the status quo in government, pushing it to work smarter, faster and better for people and families. Now, I want to take that type of mindset and leadership to City Council,” she said.
To address some of the root causes of Philadelphia’s most pressing issues, she believes there must be a priority on mental, emotional, and behavioral health services. She also favors a focus on growing the Philadelphia economy.
The action plan offers details on substance use disorder, economic growth, best-in-class city services, schools, a green Philadelphia, ethics rules, affordable housing and safety.
Read more at https://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/d4a115_377dd24ae993458f9d0964db07b63fc3.pdf
Santamoor is a former city deputy managing director who has also worked for Public Financial Management.
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Pete Smith, the Republican candidate in the 6th Councilmanic District race, opposes safe injection sites.
Smith believes opening a site would be a federal crime because its purpose is for staff and visitors to manufacture, distribute and use a controlled substance.
“What happens to the individual when the user leaves the injection site high on narcotics and does harm to themselves or others?” Smith asked. “Who will be held accountable and responsible? Are police officers no longer going to be allowed to arrest dealers? The city of Philadelphia will be target of multiple lawsuits.”
Smith believes drug dealers should be charged with homicide if they sell a lethal dose of heroin.
“When I am elected to City Council, I will create a panel of experts including law enforcement, addiction specialists and mental health professionals to help formulate legislation that will combat this horrible crisis. I will also want to sit with the city’s behavioral health provider as far as insurance goes and ask why they put more emphasis on providing methadone and suboxone instead of detox and rehabilitation. It is the responsibility of elected officials to enforce the law, not break it,” he said.
Smith, former president of the Tacony Civic Association, faces Democratic Councilman Bobby Henon.
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Henon was endorsed by the board of the Philadelphia AFL-CIO Council, led by President Patrick J. Eiding, and the Philadelphia Building & Construction Trades Council.
“Throughout my entire adult life, I have been from labor and for labor. My allegiance to the labor movement is unquestionable and unshakable,” Henon said. “I sincerely thank President Eiding and the voting members of the Philadelphia Chapter of the AFL-CIO for today’s endorsement of my candidacy for another term in City Council. If I am fortunate enough to win another term in Council this November, I will continue to be a champion for the rights of the city’s working men and women and fight to protect the labor movement’s core principles of family-sustaining wages, fair benefits and safe work sites. The success of our local unions is critically important to the continued growth of the city’s economy. I am deeply honored by the Philadelphia Chapter AFL-CIO’s endorsement of my candidacy for City Council.”
For the last 29 years, Henon has been a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Union 98.
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Councilman Allan Domb (D-at large) was endorsed by Gov. Tom Wolf and U.S. Rep. Dwight Evans.
“As a trusted local partner, Allan has worked to increase graduation rates, expand skills-training initiatives and apprenticeship programs, and expand financial literacy,” Wolf said.
“From his fight to hold government accountable to his advocacy for making a good public education available to every child in our city, Allan has shown his commitment to making Philadelphia the best that it can be,” Evans said.
Domb donates his Council salary to the School District of Philadelphia.
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Erika Almiron, a Democratic candidate for an at-large City Council seat, has been endorsed by Second Generation, a federal political action committee that seeks to empower immigrant communities in the political process.
“Voices that understand the struggles of immigrant families are needed in the halls of power now more than ever,” Almirón said. “That’s why I am so honored to be supported by Second Generation in this election. In accepting this endorsement, I renew my pledge to continue fighting for immigrants, people of color and poor people as Philadelphia’s next at large member of City Council.”
Almiron has also been endorsed by Reclaim Philadelphia, 215 People’s Alliance, Neighborhood Networks, the 1st Ward, The Coalition to Abolish Death by Incarceration and the AFT CCP Professors and Teachers Union.
Almiron handed in more than 3,200 signatures to get on the ballot. She is a staunch supporter of sanctuary cities.
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Congregations of Shaare Shamayim, 9768 Verree Road, will host a Meet the Candidates Brunch on Sunday, April 28, at 10 a.m.
The event is open to the community and free.
RSVP by calling 215-677-1600. ••
