Bill Heeney, a Republican candidate for City Council at large, has written a letter to U.S. Attorney William McSwain, asking him to intervene at the district attorney’s office, contending that DA Larry Krasner’s policies are causing a public emergency.
Heeney believes Krasner ignores the rights of crime victims and the families of murder victims, and that he continually looks for ways to assist and help the causes of criminal defendants. Some Philadelphians, he senses, think the city has two public defenders.
Henney opposes what he says is the office’s effort to decriminalize offenses such as drug possession and first-time gun possession and end cash bail.
Ending cash bail, Henney said, “would be catastrophic for the quality of life and increase the crimes that plague our neighborhood. Further, there would be an explosion of witness intimidation cases.”
Heeney also disagrees with Krasner on safe injection sites.
“I find it ironic that the word ‘safe’ is used when there is absolutely nothing safe about injecting heroin nor the people using it,” he wrote.
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Heeney is one of five Republicans on the ballot. They are joined by five Democrats. The top seven finishers are elected.
All five Democrats are basically guaranteed victory, based on the party’s 7-to-1 voter registration advantage.
The other two seats aren’t guaranteed to Republicans, and independents and third-party candidates are expected to join the race.
On Saturday, Kendra Brooks and Nicolas O’Rourke were outside City Hall and at nearby festivals and protests continuing to collect petitions to qualify for the ballot as members of the Working Families Party. Earlier, they had dozens of volunteers collecting signatures outside polling places during the May 21 primary.
In a Facebook post promoting Saturday’s outreach, the candidates wrote, “We’re running in November because we believe that there is no reason that Republicans should be representing us here in Philadelphia. We have an opportunity in November to get the Republican party out of our city, and instead elect two candidates who have a track record of fighting for working people — for equitable schools, to end mass incarceration, to stop gun violence and to erase poverty. Together, we can do this.”
The Green Party has endorsed Olivia Faison. The Libertarian Party has endorsed Maj Toure.
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The National Republican Congressional Committee is criticizing Democrats for voting against a Republican-sponsored amendment to close a loophole that it said allows members of criminal street gangs to earn citizenship.
“Every voter will be constantly reminded that the socialist Democrats voted to grant citizenship to dangerous gang members,” said NRCC spokesman Michael McAdams.
The measure failed, 221-202. It was supported by 192 Republicans and 10 Democrats and opposed by 220 Democrats and Republican Rep. Justin Amash, an antagonist of President Trump. Rep. Brendan Boyle voted against the amendment. Democrats argued that the overall bill, the American Dream and Promise Act, already included provisions preventing gang members from gaining citizenship.
The American Dream and Promise Act passed, allowing young illegal immigrants a pathway to citizenship and permanent residency for Liberians and people from other nations who have fled sickness, natural disasters and wars. ••
