As our communities move beyond COVID, there are still things we must be mindful of. Only of Philadelphia has been vaccinated. Vaccination is how we continue to move forward. Take the time to learn about what options are available to you here.
Additionally, housing security resources are being underutilized.
Keeping You in Your Home
With the federal eviction freeze on home foreclosures expiring on July 31st and rental protections set to end on Aug. 31st, join me and the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus on Monday, July 26th, 5:30 – 6:30 pm to learn what resources you can access to stay in your home.
Register to participate here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_8QSMeCHeQ6yUjHWC8nhzag
Police Hiring Database, A Single Step on Long Journey
Trust and transparency are necessary to hold law enforcement accountable to the people they serve. The murder of George Floyd saw an unprecedented number of Americans from all walks of life converge on cities across the US to demand transparency and responsibility in law enforcement. Pennsylvania has made some progress. I recently joined Governor Tom Wolf and law enforcement to unveil Pennsylvania’s Law Enforcement Hiring Database to broadly track police misconduct. This is a critical step that addresses one of the key issues at play in George Floyd’s and Antwon Rose’s deaths. The worst offenders of the badge have a record of abuse that goes unnoticed, even as some hop from department to department to hide misconduct.
This is a single step in police reform. We still have work to do. Read more here.
Protecting Your Right to Vote Freely, Fairly & Without Barriers
On Tuesday, July 13th Senator Sharif Street was among guests invited to join President Biden at the National Constitution Center to defend the right to vote. Senator Street offered the following statement on President Biden’s visit:
“Today President Biden delivered a timely address on protecting the sacred and constitutional right to vote. For nine months since the general election there has been a national coordinated effort by Republicans to roll back voting rights by making it more difficult to cast a vote. Pennsylvania is ground zero in the fight to protect voting rights. We won the right to keep vote-by-mail and ballot drop boxes in state and federal court. I continue to defend your constitutional right to vote as Democratic Chair of both the State Government Committee and Special Committee on Elections.
Governor Wolf has vetoed every voter suppression bill that reaches his desk.
PA Republicans now work to directly amend Pennsylvania’s Constitution to avoid the Governor’s vetoes and continue to cast doubt on Pennsylvania’s elections as they seek a fraudulent audit of the 2020 results. Understand that this campaign to suppress the fundamental right to vote is a war of attrition. We will not waiver in defense of democracy. We must not allow the ceaseless advancement of legislation, lawsuits and lies to undermine the right to vote, the most fundamental aspect of our democracy. Participation in the democratic process is how people hold government accountable. Any effort to reduce participation dilutes people’s power. This is how democracies die. Our cause is just, and I am undeterred in the fight to protect your sacred and constitutional right to vote.”
Senator Sharif Street is Democratic chair of State Government Committee and is hosting a public hearing on redistricting in Pennsylvania on Wednesday, August 4 from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM via Zoom. Follow us on facebook at @SenSharifStreet to watch.
Gun Violence Affects Every Home
Gun violence will spare none of us. Every community, every family is playing a waiting game that will eventually hit close to home.
It was painful and necessary to stand with my family, community, friends and law enforcement in memory of my nephew, 21-year-old, Salahaldin, recently killed and in recognition of all the victims and survivors who deserve our collective action and commitment to ending this cycle of violence. He recently started his own business and made strides toward building a life we were all proud of. We have more than $7 Billion in unspent American Rescue Plan funds sent to Harrisburg by the Biden Administration. I will continue to push my colleagues in the PA GOP to adequately fund programs we know work, to end the cycle of violence our communities struggle with.