PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 16 – State Rep. Stephen Kinsey, D-Phila., chairman of the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus, along with its Philadelphia members, applauded the brave efforts of the Philadelphia Police Department and thanked Gov. Tom Wolf for signing an executive order to implement comprehensive gun reforms, in the wake of the two mass shootings in Philadelphia this week. “Members of the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus as well as myself, commend the restraint and dedication of the Philadelphia Police Department in securing the scene that resulted in this heavily armed suspect being apprehended alive and no injuries to innocent bystanders ,” Kinsey said. “This career is rife with dangers, making returning home safely at the end of a shift a lingering uncertainty, but these men and women put those fears aside to fervently protect us.” A gunman began firing shots around 4:30 p.m. Wednesday when police were at a house in the Tioga section of North Philadelphia to serve an arrest warrant, according to news reports . Six officers were shot, all of them were eventually treated at the hospital and released, and the gunman was taken into custody after the standoff. State Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta said he, too, was grateful the violence Wednesday ended without the loss of life or any additional injury to the suspect, officers or the public. “I was at the hospital Wednesday for hours and saw the bravery of Read more
HARRISBURG, Aug. 16 – State Rep. Maria Donatucci, D-Phila., released the following statement regarding Gov. Tom Wolf’s executive order today on gun violence prevention: “After the shooting in Las Vegas, a ban on bump stocks was enacted because legislators realized that guns with a high rate of fire make it much easier to kill lots of people in a short amount of time. Unfortunately, we haven’t extended that same sense of urgency to banning all assault weapons. When we look at Dayton, where a gunman killed nine people in under a minute, it becomes even clearer that we must act now. “People are living in fear wondering if they will be the next victim of violence as more churches, schools and malls are targeted by shooters. Governor Wolf is taking an important step in protecting Pennsylvania citizens without infringing on our Second Amendment rights. “I strongly support the governor’s actions to reduce gun-related incidents in Pennsylvania and I believe that an executive order on gun violence is not enough. My colleagues and I must take up common sense gun legislation to prevent those who are deemed a danger to themselves or others from having access to guns. That is why I introduced House Bill 164 to create a voluntary no-buy list for weapons sales. This could help keep guns out of the hands of individuals with mental health issues who fear that they may harm someone at a future time. “The safety of all Pennsylvanians is Read more
HARRISBURG, Aug. 16 – State Rep. Joanna McClinton, D-Phila./Delaware, commended Gov. Tom Wolf for his executive order today on gun violence prevention: “It breaks my heart that mass shootings have become a daily occurrence in Southwest Philadelphia and across the nation. As a legislator, protecting vulnerable Pennsylvanians is my top priority, so I am glad to see Governor Wolf make this commitment to public safety,” McClinton said. “My goal is to ensure that our children, neighbors and police officers can walk the streets of Philadelphia without coming under fire.” Wolf’s executive order will immediately implement a special committee on gun violence to discuss public health and community engagement strategies. The order will also establish the Office of Gun Violence Prevention within the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency, along with the Division of Violence Prevention within the Department of Health. The two offices will work together to tackle gun violence as a public safety and health concern. The order also calls for state police to increase monitoring of hate groups, white nationalists and other fringe organizations to combat mass shootings, while expanding the gun buyback program through the Pennsylvania State Police and municipal police departments. “Governor Wolf is taking a big step in fighting gun violence, but an executive order can only accomplish so much. It’s vital that my colleagues Read more
DOYLESTOWN, Aug. 12 – State Rep. Wendy Ullman, D-Bucks, will host a telephone town hall at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 21 to discuss the upcoming session in Harrisburg and issues such as gun safety, education, the environment, taxes and transportation. Residents of the district will receive a call to their home phones at 7 p.m. that evening. To “attend” the meeting, they can simply stay on the phone. Anyone who wants to make sure they will receive the phone call, or who wants to register a cell phone, can sign up at https://tthm.wufoo.com/forms/m1l3w72j15agofi/ People may listen in and ask questions, or leave feedback when the meeting has ended. Questions can be submitted in advance by emailing townhall@pahouse.net . “This is a great opportunity for residents to learn more about the issues we’ll be discussing in Harrisburg in the fall and to ask questions about the issues that matter most to them – all from the comfort of their homes,” said Ullman. “I look forward to a great discussion with community members.” Anyone with questions should call Ullman’s office at 267-768-3671. Read more
DOYLESTOWN, Aug. 16 – State Rep. Wendy Ullman, D-Bucks, announced her strong support of Gov. Tom Wolf’s executive order to address the public health crisis of gun violence in Pennsylvania. “In light of the growing gun violence epidemic, Governor Wolf’s executive order is a necessary first step to end gun violence in Pennsylvania,” Ullman said. The executive order makes widespread changes to executive branch agencies and programs to reduce the number of suicides, homicides and mass shootings in Pennsylvania. The order names Charles Ramsey, chair of the PA Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD), to lead a new Office of Gun Violence Prevention within the agency, and the office will contain a Special Council on Gun Violence which will meet within 60 days to begin developing a plan to reduce gun violence in Pennsylvania. The executive order also creates a Division of Violence Prevention within the Department of Health. Together, the two offices will address gun violence from gun safety and public health perspectives. The offices will establish new oversight and data sharing, work to reduce community gun violence, combat mass shootings, and stop domestic violence related and self-inflicted shootings. Ullman said that the legislature must partner with the governor to have an impact on the gun violence epidemic. Ullman said, “Executive action cannot address the crisis alone. It is absolutely imperative that legislators come Read more
LEVITTOWN, Aug. 16 – State Rep. Tina Davis, D-Bucks, applauded Gov. Tom Wolf’s executive order to address the public health crisis of gun violence in Pennsylvania, saying it was necessary to pass reforms to increase community safety and reduce the threat of gun injuries and deaths. “We need to take drastic action now to preserve people’s lives and the governor’s executive order is a necessary first step,” Davis said. The executive order makes widespread changes to executive branch agencies and programs to reduce the number of suicides, homicides and mass shootings in Pennsylvania. The order names Charles Ramsey, chair of the PA Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD), to lead a new Office of Gun Violence Prevention within the agency, and the office will contain a Special Council on Gun Violence tasked with meeting within 60 days to begin developing a plan to reduce gun violence in Pennsylvania. The executive order also creates the Division of Violence Prevention within the Department of Health. Together, the two offices will address gun violence from gun safety and public health perspectives. They will establish new oversight and data sharing, and work to reduce community gun violence, combat mass shootings, and stop domestic violence related and self-inflicted shootings. Davis specifically mentioned that the legislature needs to take a leadership role by enacting “red flag” laws to get guns out of the hands of Read more
HARRISBURG, Aug. 16 – House members of the PA SAFE Caucus and others today joined Gov. Tom Wolf in announcing a slate of executive actions to make sweeping changes to state agencies and programs to better target the public health crisis of gun violence. At a news conference Friday in Harrisburg announcing the executive actions, Wolf directed his administration to create new state offices focused on violence prevention and reduction, expand programs that promote safety, refocus departments on combatting gun violence as a public health crisis, and increase collaboration and data sharing between the public, government agencies and other states. Reps. Dan Frankel (D-Allegheny) and Jordan Harris (D-Philadelphia) joined Wolf at the news conference and spoke of the significance of the governor’s actions in light of recent events in their districts, expressed gratitude for Wolf’s leadership and said the state legislature must commit to taking on gun violence when it returns to session in September. Speaking on the tragic impact of gun violence in not only his district, but in those across Pennsylvania, Harris said, “This must stop. It must end. There are far too many victims, there are far too many people who have lost their life to gun violence in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Time is out for the talk. We have to do action, and we have to do it now.” Furthering this call for action, Frankel said, “We currently have about two dozen Read more
UPPER DARBY, Aug. 16 – State Rep. Margo Davidson, D-Delaware, announced her strong support of Gov. Tom Wolf’s executive order to address the public health crisis of gun violence in Pennsylvania, saying it was a necessary first step. “I applaud the governor’s decisive leadership to halt the epidemic of gun violence in Pennsylvania,” Davidson said. The executive order makes widespread changes to executive branch agencies and programs to reduce the number of suicides, homicides and mass shootings in Pennsylvania. The order names Charles Ramsey, chair of the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency, to lead a new Office of Gun Violence Prevention within the agency, and the office will contain a Special Council on Gun Violence which will meet within 60 days to begin developing a plan to reduce gun violence in Pennsylvania. The executive order also creates a Division of Violence Prevention within the Department of Health. Together, the two offices will address gun violence from the gun safety and public health perspectives. They will establish new oversight and data sharing, reduce community gun violence, combat mass shootings, and stop domestic violence related and self-inflicted shootings. In her roles as chair of the powerful Southeast Delegation and as a consistent leader in the PA Safe Caucus, Davidson said, "I will continue to lead the charge to enact commonsense gun safety reforms that will protect the lives of Read more
“I wish it didn’t require an executive order, but nevertheless I proudly stood with Governor Wolf as he outlined his plan to fix our weak gun laws and reduce the everyday danger. We need to do more to protect Pennsylvanians, and this action gets us off to a good start.” Read more
PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 16 – In the aftermath of a seven-hour police standoff that wounded six officers in north Philadelphia, state Rep. Kevin Boyle is renewing his call for the need to address gun violence in the commonwealth. “The act of violence that occurred Wednesday evening against our law enforcement and the community is a clear-cut sign that we have a public health and safety crisis in Philadelphia,” Boyle said. “The residents didn’t deserve to have their lives put on hold and potentially in harm’s way, and the Philadelphia Police Department certainly didn’t deserve the actions of this suspected gunman. “I applaud Governor Wolf’s initial action to sign an executive order aimed at reducing gun violence, and I appreciate that he postponed it out of respect for the Philadelphia police officers. Something must be done in the commonwealth to tackle the gun violence epidemic,” Boyle said. Recently, Boyle and fellow legislators called on Wolf to convene a special session of the House and Senate to address the gun violence issue following the mass shootings in Ohio and Texas. Because large capacity ammunition magazines were reportedly used in these shootings, Boyle introduced legislation ( H.B. 1762 ) that would prohibit this type of ammo magazine in Pennsylvania. “Whether the suspect in Wednesday’s police standoff used this type of magazine or not, I feel there is no Read more
The discussion was part of Wheatley’s 7th annual Health and Wellness Weekend, a three-day festival happening at sites this weekend across Pittsburgh. Read more
“The purpose of these book club meetings is to produce a dialogue that can inform me about constituents’ viewpoints on policy. Our first two meetings did exactly that.” Read more
I-95 South Ramp to Bridge Street FULL RAMP CLOSURE from May 1-Indef., due to water main break. DETOUR POSTED. Route 611 (Broad Street) SHOULDER CLOSURE between Allegheny Avenue and Clearfield Avenue from August 2-August 24 from 9 AM-3 PM, due to utility work. Route 611 (Old York Rd) Full Ramp Closure to Route 309 (Cheltenham Ave) between Valley Rd and 71st Ave. from August 5-October 5 from 9AM - 3 PM, due to utility work. DETOUR POSTED. Route 363 (Trooper Road); Lower Providence Township Intersection Improvements: LANE CLOSURE at Ridge Pike from March 25-August 30 on weekdays (some Saturdays) from 9 AM - 3 PM, due to intersection improvements. Fitzwatertown Road; Abington, Upper Dublin Lane Closures with flagging between Susquehanna Road and Thunderhead Road from Mach 19-August 30 on weekdays from 9 AM - 3 PM, due to utility work. Old Skippack Road; Lower Salford Township PERMANENT SOUTHBOUND CLOSURE for 250 feet from Salfordville Road intersection. Drivers will be permanently directed around from April 24-Indef., due to concrete island construction. Johnson Highway; East Norriton Township FULL CLOSURE between North Hills Drive and Rahway Avenue from May 13-October 1, due to bridge replacement. DETOUR POSTED. North Lane Road; Whitemarsh Township Road Closure between Hector Street and Butler Pike from May 20-October 15 from Closure 9 AM - 3 PM, due to water main repair. Croton Road; Upper Merion Township Road Closure between Read more
Rep. Summer Lee, D-Allegheny, today sent a letter to the Allegheny County Health Department, urging it to review the current proposal by Merrion Oil and Gas to build a fracking well site in Braddock. Read more
PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 16 – The week Philadelphia endured its eighth mass shooting of the year, state Rep. Mary Isaacson, D-Phila., joined Gov. Tom Wolf in calling on state legislative leaders to schedule votes on the commonsense gun safety reforms supported by most Americans. At a Capitol news conference today, Wolf signed an executive order directing his administration to create new state offices focused on violence prevention and reduction, expand programs that promote safety, refocus departments on combatting gun violence as a public health crisis, and increase collaboration and data sharing between the public, government agencies and other states. He also called on the legislature to act on legislation to make sure guns don’t get in the wrong hands. Isaacson said there are at least a half dozen bills waiting to be voted on to help reduce gun violence in the state. “What more can we say? What more can we do to convince these people that guns are the problem and that there are commonsense solutions,” Isaacson asked, referencing the state and federal lawmakers who have been blocking gun reforms. “The only thing left to be said is that further bloodshed that could be prevented by the commonsense reforms we propose is blood on their hands. The amount of gunfire coming out of the house in North Philly on Wednesday and the amount of gunfire seen in too many other shootings in recent years has our nation at the tipping point and parents afraid Read more
HARRISBURG, Aug. 16 – State Rep. Jeanne McNeill, D-Lehigh, released the following statement regarding Gov. Tom Wolf's executive order today on gun violence prevention. “Communities across the commonwealth and across the country are experiencing tragedy and terror by senseless gun violence. In Allentown, residents are dealing with shootings driven in part by gang violence, and our dedicated law enforcement puts their lives on the line every time they answer shots-fired calls. “Far too often we’re seeing schools, places of worship, businesses, shopping centers and neighborhoods becoming targets. People are living in fear wondering if they will be the next victim of violence. The efforts the governor is undertaking to curb gun violence are a big step in the right direction without infringing on the Second Amendment rights of our citizens. “I strongly support the governor’s executive order to reduce suicides, homicides and mass shootings in Pennsylvania, but as he said today, an executive order on gun violence is not enough. My colleagues and I must take up common sense gun legislation, including closing background check loopholes and 'red flag' laws that would prevent those who are deemed a danger to themselves or others from having access to guns. “The safety of all Pennsylvanians is the primary focus for every lawmaker, and every resident young and old has the right of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, Read more
State Rep. Dan Frankel, D-Allegheny, today joined Gov. Tom Wolf in announcing a slate of executive actions to make sweeping changes to state agencies and programs to better target the public health crisis of gun violence. Read more
HARRISBURG, AUG. 16 – State Rep. Maureen Madden, D-Monroe, attended today’s news conference held by Gov. Tom Wolf who signed an executive order making sweeping changes to executive branch agencies to better target gun violence. “I am troubled by what I am seeing throughout our communities," Madden said. "Gun violence has hit close home here in Monroe County where a young man was shot to death at the hands of another near my district office.” Madden said nearly two dozen new initiatives and reforms have been proposed in four primary categories: New oversight and data sharing. Reducing community gun violence. Combatting mass shootings. Addressing the rising number of gun-related domestic incidents and self-inflicting shootings. Madden said the governor will direct the administration to create new state offices focused on violence prevention and reduction, expand programs that promote safety, refocus departments on combatting gun violence as a public health crisis, and increase collaboration and data sharing between the public, government agencies and other states. “We cannot remain silent anymore because time and again we are left with another shooting in another town in another state and the same scenario plays out in the media. “Our loved ones are dying every day and that is why we must support common sense gun safety legislation and to ban assault weapons. “Our schools, our Read more
HARRISBURG, Aug. 16 – State Rep. Bridget Kosierowski offered her support for executive action taken today by Gov. Tom Wolf to reduce gun violence in Pennsylvania. Read more
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