Hi John ,  

Welcome to the latest New Pennsylvania Project newsletter with all the news you can use, upcoming events, the latest podcast, and more! 

NPP IN THE NEWS

Check out this op-ed written by founding CEO Kadida Kenner in the Bucks County Beacon

"But there’s far too many people not voting and making their voices heard at the ballot box, warns New Pennsylvania Project CEO Kadida Kenner."

AFFILIATED ORGANIZATION

NPPEF ON THE GROUND

While many celebrated Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day ("MLK Day") with a day of rest, our team was on the ground meeting people where they are - at service events across the Commonwealth honoring Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Check out the recap here

We choose to commemorate Dr. King and Mrs. Coretta Scott King's work by actively engaging Pennsylvanians on the ground all across the Commonwealth on their day.

The case of Commonwealth v. Lee was discussed during the “Locked Up” episode of Slingshot The Podcast, featuring the Abolitionist Law Center’s executive director, Robert Saleem Holbroo.

About Commonwealth v. Lee: The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has yet to decide whether mandatory life without parole for felony murder violates the Pennsylvania Constitution’s prohibition on cruel punishments, even if the defendant never meant to kill anyone.

Mark you calendars for new episodes in February!
In the meantime, catch up with us on YouTube, or listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts (Apple, Spotify, etc.)

OTHER UPCOMING EVENTS

Election Board Meeting - Investigation into Election Poll Book Issue

Tuesday, January 27, 2026 @ 7PM
Commissioners' Board Room,
6th Floor
313 W. Market Street, West Chester, PA
Details here, including virtual link

The public is invited to attend a Chester County Board of Elections meeting where officials will present the investigation results on the Election Day blunder in which 75,000-plus registered voters’ names were omitted from the ballot books across all 230 polling precincts.

Project Beloved Community Teach-In & Rally

New Date + Time: Saturday, March 14, 2026 @ 1:30PM-4:30PM
Zion Baptist Church
3600 N Broad St, Philadelphia, PA 

Our City is strong, but many families are struggling. Some people don’t have safe homes, good jobs, or safe neighborhoods. We can’t wait for someone else to fix this.

We Want:

A Living Wage for Every Worker – No city worker should live in poverty.

Housing for Our Families – We need more homes regular people can afford.

Safer City Streets – We can stop gun violence by helping people.

 Voter Registration Training for Grassroots Groups

Interested in learning more about the state of our voting rights in Pennsylvania? Would your grassroots group, social group, place of worship or community based organization like to help Pennsylvanians get registered to vote?

If so, please take a few minutes to complete this form and we can coordinate the New Pennsylvania Project and your group/org for in person or online community conversation and voter registration training.

SOCIAL MEDIA OF THE WEEK

From @newpennsylvania

Bernice King, daughter of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, reminds us,⁠
"Please don't quote #MLK on #MLKDay, then suppress the vote and support systemic oppression on Tuesday." ⁠
⁠
source: @BerniceKing on X⁠
⁠
#MartinLutherKingJr #CivilRights

#COURTSMATTER

Paying for Rain: Are Stormwater Charges a Tax or Fee? PA Supreme Court to Decide in 2026
"For the last three years, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court has been grappling with whether stormwater charges imposed by local municipalities and municipal authorities throughout the Commonwealth are a tax or a fee, evaluating the still-pending case Borough of West Chester v. Pa. State System of Higher Education and West Chester University of Pa. of the State System of Higher Education"

Trump’s Greenland tariff threats could be upended by Supreme Court decision
"The targeted tariff threats Trump made over the weekend would likely rest on the same legal authority as the tariffs he imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, or IEEPA, the attorneys said. The legality of that strategy will be decided by the Supreme Court, with a ruling expected as early as this week."

NEWS YOU CAN USE

Many Pa. residents don’t want data centers in their communities. State leaders are welcoming them.

"Steve Hacker’s well ran dry in October 2024 for the first time since he moved to Chester County in 1983. Hacker, now retired and working part-time at the local Colonial Theatre, says he went 39 days without running water in his house."

Two Pa. Democrats sign onto Noem impeachment, as others weigh path forward to rein in ICE
"Last week, Illinois Democratic Rep. Robin Kelly introduced three articles of impeachment against Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who has defended the confrontational actions of ICE and Border Patrol agents. Kelly’s district includes a Chicago area that saw heavy ICE deployment in the fall and the articles she submitted cite obstruction of Congress, violation of public trust and self-dealing."

INVEST IN OUR YEAR ROUND EFFORTS

Everything we do, from hosting town halls and producing podcasts, to knocking on doors, expands Pennsylvania's electorate by engaging Pennsylvanians to be civically involved and encouraging them to turn out to vote twice a year, none of it would be possible without you. 

Last day to register to vote for the Primary Election: May 4, 2026
Last day to request mail-in ballot: May 12, 2026
Primary Election: May 19, 2026
General Election: November 3, 2026

Our Contact Information
New Pennsylvania Project
P.O. Box 443
West Chester, PA 19381
412-699-6771
http://www.newpaproject.org

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