I thank you State Senator Leanna Washington for introducing yourself as a Donna Reed Miller supporter on Sunday April 30, 2007 while I was collecting signatures outside the Superfresh in Chestnut Hill, Market Square. I had been there the day before with supporter Isabelle Buonocore and had such success that I decided to stop back Sunday. Not wanting another incident like the Acme I had spoken in person during the week with Superfresh store manager Brendan Murphy and gotten his explicit permission. (I was acquainted with Mr. Murphy from before because when I asked for permission for my daughter's girl scout troop to sell cookies outside Mr Murphy not only said sure and let me know other troops were being stationed at the store on other weekends but invited our troop to set up a table inside- very nice because some of the sale days were pretty wintry!)
After about an hour at the Superfresh on Sunday and maybe 25 signatures closer to getting on the ballot, you politely declined saying you were a Donna Reed Miller supporter. I just had to continue the conversation because of the several hundred people I've personally met collecting signatures and at forums where I've speechified, you may have been the only one! So I asked you, "Do you work for her?" thinking that might be one good reason to support her. You indicated you were a State Senator and then I successfully identified you as Leannna Washington. I recalled to you having knocked at your door some years ago when I was trying to organize the neighbors on your block to help with an effort to rehabilitate the vacant eyesore dumping ground at Ivy Hill and Stenton and you indicated that you got the Christmas tree sellers (Chester Schweitzer and company) to take their fence down even though it's not in your district.
A short time later a store employee came out, told me I was interfering with store business and strongly suggested that I collect my petitions on the other side where customers were exiting with their grocery carts. I began to explain that it was not practical to try it there because shoppers are generally making a beeline for their cars, especially if they have perishables that need refrigeration. But before I could explain, the store employee who identified himself as Dan but who would not provide his last name, got in my face and threatened to call the police. As he hustled me into the drive area I insisted and loudly, "Please, call the police!" He retreated to inside the store and said me to myself, "What the heck: I'LL call the police and tell them I'm being harrassed." And so I did. The police came, talked to me, went inside, talked to whomever, emerged and asked me a few questions for the incident report they were filling out and said it was fine for me to continue. And so I did.
Not long after, Dan emerged from the store with a buddy, we shook hands, and they went off into the parking lot for what seemed like a cigarette break.
Now Mrs. Washington, I don't want to be paranoid, but I do find it a little odd that I had been collecting signatures for two hours on Saturday and for an hour on Sunday, without incident until shortly after you arrived...
