State House Democrats on Monday came to the Northeast from places like Center City and South, West and North Philly to demand that Sen. Joe Picozzi and other Republicans fully fund SEPTA.
Rep. Morgan Cephas, chairwoman of the Philadelphia House Delegation, took particular aim at Picozzi, along with Sens. Frank Farry of Bucks County and Tracy Pennycuick of Montgomery County.
“Get serious about funding SEPTA,” she said.
The news conference took place outside an overcrowded Abraham Lincoln High School. Cephas was joined by Reps. Jordan Harris (chairman of the House Appropriations Committee), Sean Dougherty, Anthony Bellmon, Rick Krajewski, Keith Harris, Ben Waxman and Mary Isaacson.
Cephas wants Picozzi to come off what she said is his summer vacation to vote for SEPTA funding, not merely post on social media about the issue.
“Time’s up,” she said.
In response to a question from a reporter, Cephas acknowledged she did not invite Picozzi to the event.
Picozzi outlined his strategy in the following statement:
“Since taking office, I have been working to deliver crucial funding to keep our trains and buses running. I have introduced legislation to make SEPTA safer and bring additional accountability, which is supported by SEPTA leadership. This legislation is laying the groundwork for a bipartisan deal to deliver the necessary funding for our public transit system. Bottom line: I’m fighting to save SEPTA through both funding and increased safety and accountability. I’m calling for all Philadelphia leaders to stand together for our city and to work across the aisle to get this done.”
Cephas and some of the other speakers dismissed Picozzi’s call for SEPTA accountability, contending the transit agency is already implementing such measures.
On June 17, the House approved a funding plan that would direct $300 million across the state for mass transit by increasing the amount of sales tax revenue earmarked for public transit from 4.4 percent to 6.15 percent.
SEPTA’s board has voted to cut service and raise rates beginning Aug. 24 if it doesn’t receive funding to erase its budget deficit. The timing comes as public schools open on Aug. 25.
Cephas offered a long list of people who would suffer if SEPTA cuts service and raises rates: Eagles fans, Phillies stadium workers and hospital employees citywide and – if the Route 88 bus is eliminated and the 66 and 70 have their service reduced – students at Baldi Middle School and Archbishop Ryan, Father Judge, Little Flower and St. Hubert high schools. And she said the Aug. 28 golf match between Lincoln and Central (her alma mater) could be canceled if the players could not make it to John Byrne Golf Course.
Jordan Harris noted the House has already passed a budget that is about $1 billion less than what Gov. Josh Shapiro proposed and included money for roads and bridges in rural Pennsylvania.
Isaacson said the late budget is causing the school district, nonprofits, child care facilities and health providers to miss payments.
Waxman, who represents parts of Center City and South Philadelphia, said SEPTA service cuts and higher fares would be a “catastrophe” for his district. He called on Picozzi, Farry and Pennycuick to demand that GOP Senate leaders hold a vote on transit funding.
“Step up and publicly call out your leadership,” he said.
Dougherty said House Democrats worked hard to pass a budget and SEPTA funding, adding that Senate Republicans are “hardly working.”
“The time to fund SEPTA was yesterday,” he said.
Dougherty referenced the catchphrase, “America runs on Dunkin’,” contending that, “Northeast Philly runs on SEPTA.” ••
