Hey John — I just got off the stage at WHYY after a conversation with CeaseFirePA and anti-violence activists about how I’ll make Philadelphia safer. 

My responsibility as this city’s Mayor is to ensure that Philadelphians are safe no matter where they go — every school, neighborhood, and corner of our community deserves peace of mind and to make it home at night safely.

We can’t end this crisis without real action, John. On Day One, I will enact a state of emergency that coordinates all our city agencies to put more officers on foot and bike patrol, reduces 911 response times, expands mental health services, cleans up and brightens up neighborhoods, and develops an immediate response protocol for tragedies. 

I am the only candidate with a real focus on investing in youth and young people to take them out of the path of violence. As Mayor, I will make a guarantee for youth employment, a dramatic expansion in youth programming, safe routes to and from school, investments in school safety zones, and an investment in education and safe havens that can be a standard for the nation. 

Can I count on you to add your name if you support our comprehensive plan to address Philly’s gun violence crisis starting on day one?

Ten years ago, I faced a neighborhood high school that was plagued by chaos and violence. I led a community coalition to turn around a school the state called one of the most violent high schools in the city. Students were hurt in subways, hallways and bathrooms, teachers were assaulted, families fled the school, and a school administration could only react, punish and disinvest. I didn’t have a title, I only knew everything had to change. We restored a culture of safety and respect, brought in trauma specialists and retrained teachers, and we transformed the culture at that school in less than two years. We held the City and a school district accountable for the safety of our children when everyone was ready to give up and walk away.

That’s who I am, and that’s who I’ll be as Mayor. I have never sat on the sidelines, passed the buck, or shied away from the tough problems facing our city. I am someone who rolls up her sleeves, goes into communities and works with neighbors, leaders and families to craft responses that meet people’s needs. In a city of neighborhoods, I am a Mayor who will build a responsive government that makes sure every Philadelphian is safe and feels safe.

John — I am in this race to take on the violence in our city with a people-centered approach that doesn’t only punish crime, but prevents it. Can you add your name if you support my agenda to make our communities safer? 

Thank you, John — I’m grateful for your continued support.

— Helen