The Grey Lodge Pub, 6235 Frankford Ave, will host a series of informal candidate meet and greets.
Republican mayoral candidate Billy Ciancaglini appeared last Friday night.
On Friday, April 19, at 5 p.m., Democrats Justin DiBerardinis (City Council at large) and Rochelle Bilal (sheriff) will be on site.
Councilman Allan Domb will be in attendance on Friday, April 26, at 6 p.m.
Drew Murray, a Republican running for Council at large, will be on hand on Friday, May 3, at 5:30 p.m.
Candidates who want to schedule a visit to the bar can email Bea Weber at [email protected].
••
Holme Circle Civic Association will present Meet the Candidates on Wednesday, April 24, from 7 to 9 p.m. at St. Jerome school hall, Colfax and Stamford streets.
Candidates have been invited who are running for mayor, city election commissioner, register of wills, sheriff, the 6th Councilmanic District and City Council at large.
Refreshments will be served.
••
Leaders of the #CancelJewell campaign are celebrating their successful effort to force the Democratic City Committee to withdraw its endorsement of Sheriff Jewell Williams.
“We are gratified to hear that the Democratic party leadership has finally come to the realization that it cannot ignore the voices of women and survivors, especially survivors of color,” said organizer Charlotte Brown.
Organizers are demanding that Williams resign.
The city Law Department and the state House Democratic Caucus have settled sexual harassment cases against Williams, a former state representative. He did not approve of either settlement. A Sheriff’s Office employee is suing in federal court, claiming that, among other things, Williams ignored her complaints about sexual harassment from a colleague.
Williams faces Rochelle Bilal, Malika Rahman and Larry King Sr. in the primary.
Brown said her group will be watching to make sure Williams’ name will be absent from all party literature, including printed ballots.
“If that trust is betrayed,” she said, “you better believe that we’ll be back with bells on.”
••
International Association of Fire Fighters & Paramedics Local 22 last week endorsed City Councilman Al Taubenberger (R-at large) for re-election.
The union also endorsed Taubenberger during the 2015 campaign.
“I sincerely thank Philadelphia Firefighters & Paramedics Local Union 22 President Ed Marks, the Executive Board and all Local 22 union members for this incredibly important endorsement,” Taubenberger said in a statement. “I have all the respect in the world for Philadelphia’s Firefighters and Paramedics who lay their lives on the line every day to protect us. The same is true of our police officers and all first responders. Their valor is inspiring. I look forward to continuing to be a strong voice on City Council for our firefighters, paramedics, police officers and all first responders in my second term.”
••
Reclaim Philadelphia and Philadelphia Neighborhood Networks, along with the Queen Village-based 2nd Ward, have endorsed Democrat Justin DiBerardinis for City Council at large.
Reclaim Philadelphia’s steering committee recommended DiBerardinis because he opposes councilmanic privilege, the tax abatement on new construction and fossil fuels. It also cited his work as a legislative aide to Councilwoman Maria Quiñones Sanchez as well as his work helping to turn Bartram’s Garden into a green space.
Neighborhood Networks and Reclaim are the Philadelphia affiliates of Our Revolution, the organization that grew out of Bernie Sanders’ 2016 presidential campaign.
“These are groups that are dedicated to equity, integrity and justice in our city,” DiBerardinis said. “What’s more, they put boots on the ground. This is a field campaign, a people-driven campaign. Boots on the ground are going to win the day.”
••
City Council at-large candidate Eryn Santamoor, a Democrat, has received the endorsement of the Transport Workers Union Local 234.
“I come from a proud union family. My dad recently retired as an elected union representative, and I have three siblings who currently serve in unions. Unions are critical agents for bottom-up change, and I am proud that our transport workers – who literally and figuratively make our city run every day – are supporting me in this campaign,” Santamoor said.
Added TWU President Willie Brown: “Eryn Santamoor understands that transport workers are at the heart of Philadelphia’s economy. She also knows how to get things done in City Council with the kind of knowledge and skill set our members deserve. That’s why the Transport Workers Union Local 234 trust Eryn to help grow our economy and that’s why we’re standing with Eryn Santamoor for City Council at large.”
Santamoor, a former city deputy managing director, was previously endorsed by former Gov. and Mayor Ed Rendell and former Mayor Michael Nutter. ••
