I Thank You

I thank Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell for taking a stand on the Iraq War

I thank Councilwoman Blackwell for introducing a resolution for a question to be placed on the ballot for referendum vote stating that "the citizens of Philadelphia urge the United States to make year 2007 the time to redeploy U.S. troops out of harm's way in Iraq."

I thank you Arshad Hasan of Democracy for America

Thank you Arshad and Democracy for America for hosting the campaign school telephone and online conference encouraging grassroots democracy and to participants: Reps Elesha Gayman, Iowa State House, Maria Chapelle-Nadal, Missouri, Irene Wrenner, Vermont Select Board, Ty Harrell, North Carolina.  Since Democracy for America is unabashedly part of the Howard Dean operation,  what reason should I have for believing that "Democracy for America" is nothing more than "DEMOCRATS for America"??? Is there room in "Democracy for America" for a third party candidate such as myself, running for City Council on the Green party ticket?

Thank you, Ben Ditzler

Thank you, Ben for caring and acting. Thanks for telling me about how you've gotten involved (young) in politics.I've quoted you, with your permission, below. The story of how I got involved in politics begins 45 years ago when, as a youngster in the barber's seat getting my hair trimmed I noticed the tattooed numbers on Leon the barber's forearm. I pledged to mysef that I would always remember them, to be able to repeat them. Perhaps the numerals are buried deep within my psyche. Though I cannot now tell you what the numerals are, I can tell you why I was intent on remembering them. Since that time I haven't stopped asking "What?" and "Why?"

FROM BEN DITZLER
"I gave some thought to why and how I (and others I know) got involved with Philly politics.  I got involved because I felt like I had a stake in it, especially once I bought a house.  All too often, young people don't feel like they have that stake, so don't use their voice and speak. 

So, how do you get people to care?

I grew up in the suburbs of another city and didn't realize how much I lacked the sense of neighborhood and community out there.  I think whether openly or secretly, every person yearns to be a part of a community.  The vacant committeeperson seat last year was my fortuitous opportunity.  But Philly has to do a better job of welcoming young (read: new) people into their neighborhood and civic organizations.  For someone who doesn't know the system, it's exactly that, the system.  That's pretty obvious and has been repeated ad nauseum.  But people in the system are often afraid of new people, not so much that they fear being replaced, but they fear being the unknown and giving up what they've worked hard for.  So there's a distrust on both sides that's tough to break.

I've proposed a mentoring/apprentice system of committeemen before.  Make a vice-committee position that a young person can enter, register people to vote, learn the ropes and grow into the seat when the real committeeperson steps down.  Committeepeople would be much more likely to relinquish their seat to someone whom they've mentored and trust, than a random person who is trying to "steal" their seat.

Neighborhood groups need to be more welcoming, too.  But young people are eager and often unwilling to wait. That's the balance to strike: give newcomers a say, but respect the efforts the elders have put in.  As the article points out, these skirmishes are being fought all over the city, and I don't know that there's an obvious answer for them.

If I were running for council, a major plank of mine would be a combination of tax abatements/transfer fees waivers/mortgage assistance for first time buyers in neighborhoods outside of Center City or the wealthier areas.  The new construction tax abatement program should be overhauled to focus new growth in the neighborhoods, not in CC.  It's not fair for current homeowners, and we're just throwing money down the drain to attract growth to a place that's already highly desirable.

With that reform and plan for which neighborhoods need assistance, it would be relatively simple to help first time buyers (normally young people or those from outside the city) buy homes in those areas.  Most young people are priced out of buying in or near CC, but continue to rent and don't realize there's a bigger Philadelphia out there.  Let's use the beauty of the Philly rowhouse - a house the common person can afford to own.

We need these young, energetic people in the neighborhoods. Give them a streamlined process, incentives to do it, and the young people of Philadelphia will go forth into the neighborhoods and prosper. 

If you want to keep your finger on the pulse of the young progressives, Young Philly Politics, is definitely the place.  There's a bunch of other blogs and real meetings, but YPP is the hub for info, in my opinion.
http://www.youngphillypolitics.com/"

Ben Ditzler, email, 2/15/07, "not an endorsement [of Brian Rudnick for City Council, 8th District]"

I thank the Save Burholme Park Organization

I thank the Save Burholme Park organization and defendants Jean Gavin and Fred Maurer for questioning Fox Chase Cancer Center's seemingly cancerous expansion plants. Now, will I get sued like Jean and Fred just have?

Thanks, John Levitties, for your honesty

Thanks, John Levitties, board president of the Chestnut Hill District, for your candor when you told me that if the reports I received were true - that Robert Previdi, Executive Director of the Chestnut Hill Business Association and the Chestnut Hill Business Improvement District (Chestnut Hill District).  was circulating nominating petitions for incumbent 8th District Democratic Councilwoman Donna Reed Miller, this would be an implicit endorsement of Councilwoman Miller in the race to hold onto her council seat, and contrary to the policy of the Chestnut Hill Business Association...so whatcha gonna do???

I Thank You, Philadelphia Will Do Editor Daniel McQuade

Thanks, Daniel McQuade for taking notice of my candidacy for City Council 8th District on the Green Party ticket. It's more than my own editor did, Pete Mazzacaro at the Chestnut Hill Local who's been publishing my "Close Up" photo video interview for more than six months. Yeah, isn't it a shame I took an introductory campaign video of myself? If I were Tom Knox I could have paid $5 million to have someone do it for me and get it on television. The Greens are a grassroots sort of party and, I guess  you could say I'm one of the roots. I hope you'll root for me. http://4council.brianrudnick.com

I thank you,Rob Stuart of Evolve Strategies

You have helped my cyber abilities evolve and I hope I have helped you evolve strategies, as well.

I thank you blogger Ward Watcher

I thank you for, well, naturally for watching the wards!

I Thank You, Kris Sullivan

I thank you, Kris Sullivan, for, only minutes after having met me, introducing me to John O'Connell , on the chance that his daughter might be available to babysit yesterday night at the last minute so that my wife and I could enjoy Nerds at the Philadelphia Theater Company which you highly recommend! We're going to try to get there!

I Thank You, Green Party activists

I thank all you who attended and participated in last night’s meeting of the Green Party of Philadelphia. And I thank of you who were not at the meeting but from whose work and dedication we, the people, all benefit. You are beautiful and courageous.