The Burholme Community Town Watch and Civic Association welcomed 10 candidates to its April meeting.
The group also heard from 2nd Police District Lt. Ron Janka, who told the crowd that a woman who shot someone in a road-rage incident on the 2000 block of Cottman Ave. turned herself in. Janka also noted that, in five recent cases of thefts from autos, four of the vehicles were unlocked.
The office of state Rep. Jared Solomon handed out fliers announcing a shredding event on Saturday, May 11, from 9 a.m. to noon at Max Myers Playground, 1601 Hellerman St. The truck will be on the Magee Avenue side of the playground. Paper will be accepted. No electronics will be accepted. Call 215-342-6340.
Here is what the candidates had to say at the April 11 meeting:
• Vinny Black is running for City Council at large as a Democrat, though he is not accepting campaign donations. He grew up in Olney, graduated from Cardinal Dougherty High School and attended Penn State. He lives in Fox Chase and has been a member of Iron Workers Local 401 for 18 years. He opposes the beverage tax because of its impact on the poor, adding that city stores are hurting because some consumers drive to the suburbs to buy soda. He believes the property tax abatement is a handout to developers.
• Councilman Al Taubenberger, an at-large Republican, is running for his second term. He was an aide to Congressman Charlie Dougherty, Councilwoman Joan Krajewski and Councilman Jack Kelly before a long tenure as president of the Greater Northeast Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce. He spoke of his support for lower business taxes and a bill to prevent criminal trespass into homes. He gave out his cell phone number and welcomed calls from residents.
• Billy Ciancaglini is the Republican candidate for mayor. A South Philadelphia lawyer, he opposes the beverage tax because it hurts businesses, as consumers go outside the city to buy soda and other items. He also believes the sanctuary city policy invites crime. “On day one in office, I will get rid of that sanctuary city policy.” He favors rehabilitation, job training and short-term affordable housing instead of safe injection sites for drug addicts. He thinks that will cut opioid deaths in half, a number that stands at about 1,100 a year in Philadelphia. He argues that safe injection sites make no sense. “Sugar and soda are not good for you, but heroin is fine.”
• Matt Wolfe is a Republican candidate for Council at large. A West Philadelphia lawyer and former deputy state attorney general, he criticizes City Council for declaring Meek Mill Weekend during St. Patrick’s Day weekend. He believes the sanctuary city policy attracts illegal immigrants and hurts taxpayers. He is glad to see U.S. Attorney William McSwain fighting safe injection sites. He opposes a ban on cashless stores and wonders why Democrats are so quiet on the corruption indictment of Councilman Bobby Henon.
• Wendi Barish is a Democrat running for Common Pleas Court. She ran in 2017 after the election of President Donald Trump and is running again after the confirmation of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. She is recommended by the Philadelphia Bar Association and endorsed by the AFL-CIO and painters union.
• Drew Murray is running in the Republican primary for Council at large. A St. Joseph’s Prep graduate, he’s president of the Logan Square Neighborhood Association and Friends of Coxe Park. He opposes the sanctuary city policy, believes safe injection sites would hurt communities and thinks the beverage tax was unfair to the soda industry.
• Rochelle Bilal is a Democratic candidate for sheriff. She is retired from the Philadelphia Police Department and is president of the Guardian Civic League, an organization for black officers. She favors policies to keep people in their homes, rather than evicting them. She thinks Sheriff Jewell Williams spends too much money on advertising sheriff sales in newspapers. She also points to accusations of sexual harassment against the incumbent. “He gotta go.”
• Councilman Allan Domb, an at-large Democrat, is seeking his second term. He has demanded accountability for the city’s missing $33 million. He wants appraisals for the city’s buying and selling of properties. He is a strong supporter of teaching financial literacy and entrepreneurship in schools, along with a program that would allow public high school students to work one day a week at a job site.
• Councilman David Oh, an at-large Republican, attended the meeting, but his chief of staff, Stewart Graham, spoke for him before he arrived. Graham mentioned that Oh wants to repeal the beverage tax and has been a leader on anti-squatter legislation, fair property tax assessments and parental rights within the city Department of Human Services system.
Malika Rahman, a Democratic candidate for sheriff, was at the meeting, but did not arrive until it had adjourned.
A representative for Sherrie Cohen also spoke. Cohen has since dropped out of the Democratic primary for Council at large. ••
