Good afternoon, friends, advocates and voters.

We hope this edition of the New Pennsylvania Project eBlast finds you well.

Please take a few moments to check out all the important news you can use, events happening in your neighborhood, career opportunities, and other updates.

The New Pennsylvania Project was honored to be an invited guest of Representative Patty Kim, a longtime champion of working people and raising the minimum wage in PA, to witness the House’s bipartisan passage of a minimum wage bill more than 13 years in the making.

As the only Mid-Atlantic state still stuck at the federal minimum wage of $7.25/hour, Tuesday evening’s vote was the first step towards Pennsylvanians being guaranteed something closer to a living wage by 2026, and permanently indexed to annual inflation thereafter. House Bill 1500 will help hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians, including the children of wage workers.

This monumental vote is also another reminder of what happens when we come together to vote each and every November. The New Pennsylvania Project worked on two special elections in Allegheny and Delaware county that ensured Democrats would control the PA State House, giving the gavel to Speaker Joanna McClinton -- without which Tuesday's vote would never have happened.

We look forward to the PA Senate passing this bill – just as they did in 2019 when the GOP-controlled Senate voted to raise the minimum wage – and then sending it to Governor Shapiro’s desk to be signed.

We thank everyone who made Tuesday's vote possible and offer a special note of gratitude to New Pennsylvania Project board members and House Bill 1500 sponsors Patty Kim and Speaker Joanna McClinton.

Metro Philadelphia Power Women 2023 (Metro Philadelphia)

Kadida Kenner is the founding CEO of the New Pennsylvania Project. A tireless advocate for social and economic justice issues, Kadida is motivated to empower and excite the electorate to enthusiastically vote in every election. Kadida has led efforts to stop a problematic judicial gerrymandering constitutional amendment, raise the minimum wage, fairly fund public education, protect federal courts from problematic judicial nominees, and protect the state courts from extremist attempts to undermine their independence. 

Black Philadelphians are overrepresented at every stage of the criminal justice system, DA says (Philadelphia Inquirer)

“Past policy actions grounded in racism … set neighborhoods on a long downward trajectory,” the report reads, “and continue to harm the futures of residents by putting them at higher risk of experiencing crime and violence.” Krasner said the goal of the report was not to offer an immediate corrective agenda, but to “put numbers to a problem.”

Philadelphia City Council is poised to pass a new budget tackling public safety. Here’s what’s in it (WHYY)

The total amount of spending on anti-violence efforts for FY2024 won’t be determined until later this month.  Funds will likely be spread over multiple areas including the Philadelphia Police Department, the Streets Department, the Parks and Recreation Department and the Managing Director’s Office.

Portion of I-95 that collapsed in Philadelphia will reopen this weekend, Pa. Gov. Shapiro says (6ABC)

"Based on the tremendous progress that we have made over the last 72 hours and the time it takes to complete the remaining steps, I can confidently state right here, right now, that traffic will be flowing here on I-95 this weekend," Shapiro said.

Pa. House passes $15 minimum wage bill (WHYY)

Pennsylvania’s Democratic-controlled House of Representatives approved a measure by a close vote Tuesady that would raise the minimum wage to $15 by 2026, fulfilling a long-held party campaign plank that has run up against Republican legislative majorities for years.

The New Pennsylvania Project is a voting rights organization with a primary focus of registering communities of color and the youth to vote. We are looking for passionate individuals to join our team and help defend democracy by expanding the electorate.

• Regional Organizing Director (Philadelphia)
• Community Engagement Associate (part-time and full-time)
• Quality Control & Data Director

To learn more about how to apply and review job descriptions with requirements and disclosed salary ranges, please click here.

Municipal/Local/Judicial Election: November 7, 2023
Last day to register to vote: October 23, 2023
Last day to request a mail-in or absentee ballot: October 31, 2023

Help us prepare for the upcoming municipal, judicial, and local elections in 2023!

The New Pennsylvania Project is a 501(c)(4), contributions are not for charitable purposes and are not tax-deductible.

Paid for by the New Pennsylvania Project

 New Pennsylvania Project
PO Box 443
West Chester, PA 19381
United States  

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