“The cruelty is the point,” a phrase coined by journalist Adam Serwer, remains one of the clearest ways to understand the Trump Administration’s approach to immigration and governing at large. The term first gained prominence in 2018, when family separation policies placed migrant children in detention cages while their parents were deported. Those actions were not accidental. They were meant to be cruel, to inflict harm as a deterrent.

Today, we see that same philosophy reflected in the highly visible use of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other federal personnel in communities across the country. Immigration enforcement has long existed in the United States and ICE and Border Patrol agents have been operating in our community for some time. What we see happening in Minneapolis and Chicago and Oregon and Los Angeles and Maine is not merely enforcement, but presentation.

Raids conducted in public spaces, the deployment of military forces in bedroom communities, and the deliberate visibility of these actions serve a purpose beyond any sort of policy. They are meant to dehumanize, to signal power through fear, and to incite response through spectacle. I don’t know when we became a nation that would accept a leader that governs by cruelty, but we are that nation now and we have been before.

Many residents have urged me to act—to speak out, to intervene, to stop these actions locally. I understand those calls, and I am committed to doing everything within my authority to protect our neighbors and uphold the dignity of every person.

Legislation and advocacy remain essential, and I will continue to work toward humane and responsible public safety policy. But history teaches us that cruelty is not undone by laws alone. It is undone with the unyielding dedication to the opposite. As individuals we are called to act justly, love mercy and walk humbly. History has proven the true power of love from one to another, acts of kindness and the extension of grace.

Peaceful resistance overcame attack dogs. The kindness of strangers powered the Underground Railroad. “I’m not mad at you” can pierce through hardened hearts. At moments when cruelty is elevated as a governing strategy, the responsibility to choose a different path falls to all of us...leaders and citizens alike.

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that” – MLK

This week, I joined Montgomery County, Share Food Program, community partners, and state and local officials in Lansdale to celebrate the opening of a new food distribution warehouse. This new facility will expand Share’s ability to support more than 70 food pantries, school districts, senior sites, and nonprofits working every day to meet rising food insecurity needs. ??????

Montgomery County invested $7 million in grant funding to support the project, which includes a newly renovated 27,000 square foot warehouse equipped to store fresh, frozen, and refrigerated food. This investment strengthens our local food system and helps ensure more families can access the food they need.

Thank you to Share Food Program for your partnership and leadership in this important work!

This past weekend, Winter Storm Fern brought about 6 inches of snow along with sleet and ice across our district. While fun for kids (adults and pets ????too!), the conditions made roads, parking lots, and sidewalks extremely hazardous. 

A HUGE thank you to the Public Works Departments of Jenkintown Borough, Cheltenham, and Springfield Townships for their long hours and proactive response as many crews began work before the storm even started.

For residents who need help with snow removal: Springfield Township offers a student shoveler registry (which you can find on the bottom of our Township events page and on the Springfield Township website). At this time, we are unaware if Cheltenham Township and Jenkintown Borough have a list.

We do encourage residents to plan ahead by coordinating with neighbors, friends, family, or local snow removal companies, as we hear that there may be another storm this weekend.

* Please note that our office cannot arrange snow removal for you, as it is outside of our jurisdiction as a state office, but we can try to connect you to the municipalities. *

Links to snow removal ordinances and FAQs are provided below.

Cheltenham Township

Jenkintown Borough

Springfield Township

February is Black History Month, a time to honor the achievements, resilience, and contributions of Black Americans throughout our nation’s history.

As Chair of the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus, I want to highlight the importance of telling our history fully and honestly. Recently, our Caucus expressed concern about the removal of slavery exhibits at Independence National Historical Park. These exhibits were created to confront the full story of our nation’s founding, including the enslavement of African people, and to ensure that the lives, resistance, and humanity of those who were enslaved are recognized and remembered.

Black History Month is a time to reflect on these truths and to reaffirm our commitment to preserving historical integrity. It is a moment to ensure that future generations inherit a clear and complete understanding of our past, the struggles and achievements of Black Americans, and the lessons we must carry forward.

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This Monday, Punxsutawney Phil will take center stage in Pennsylvania to decide our fate: six more weeks of winter or an early spring. Until then, we are all living our own little Groundhog Day: checking the forecast, shoveling snow, and hoping for a break in the cold.

Take a moment to enjoy the tradition, maybe watch the movie, and remember that no matter what Phil predicts, warmer days are ahead. 

The deadline for open enrollment in Pennie is this Saturday, January 31!

Make sure you check out all your options or reach out to a Pennie representative for help, so you're covered for 2026. Learn more at Pennie.com.

Are you 65 years or older? Seniors travel free on all SEPTA transit routes (bus, trolley and Metro). They also ride for free on Regional Rail as long as their departure and arrival stations are located in Pennsylvania. Apply in my office for your free SEPTA Senior Fare Card!

Bring your photo ID if you're looking to get your very first card, and your old card if you are looking to renew. We will send your information to SEPTA who will mail the card directly to your house! For more information, call my office at 215-572-5210.

You can also schedule an appointment at SEPTA Headquarters at 1234 Market St. in Philadelphia if you would rather receive it the same day and skip the wait!

This prestigious scholarship was named after Mr. James R. Roebuck- former member of the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus (PLBC) and champion for education. Mr. Roebuck served in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 1985-2020 and served as chair of both the House Education Committee and the PLBC.

Successful applicants will receive a $1,500 scholarship made possible by the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus Foundation for educational purposes. Students are encouraged to use the scholarship award for tuition, fees, books, or school-related supplies and equipment.

Applicants must be a:

1. Resident of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
2. Person of color
3. Graduating high school senior or current undergraduate college student

The Deadline for registration is 5pm on Friday, February 20, 2026. Applicants are responsible for submitting all material to the PLBC on time. Incomplete applications will not be evaluated.

Apply now!

Starting February 1, if you don’t have a REAL ID or acceptable form of ID (like a passport!) for domestic flights, you may have to pay a $45 fee to verify your identity through TSA ConfirmID.

Note: The $45 is to confirm your identification - it does not guarantee that your identity will be confirmed and that you’ll be let through the checkpoint.

A passport card or passport book are both accepted REAL ID alternatives for domestic air travel and can help you avoid this fee.

Learn more about the Real ID policy at TSA.gov/real-id and about passport cards at travel.state.gov/passportcard.

My office can assist with getting you the documents that you need to get a Real ID or your passport. A valid birth certificate is required for both; we can assist with expediting your request if needed. Just give us a call at 215-572-5210 or email us at RepNelson@PAHouse.net!

Do you travel along Cheltenham Avenue?

Help make it safer for everyone who walks, drives, bikes, or rolls.

A corridor study is underway to explore ways to reduce speeding and improve roadway design along Cheltenham Avenue (SR 2035), from Paper Mill Road to Ogontz Avenue.

Share your ideas by taking the survey and adding comments to the interactive map.

?? Visit the project website to learn more and watch for an upcoming public meeting.

• Share location-specific concerns by clicking on the interactive map and selecting “Submit a comment.”
• Complete the public survey to provide feedback, impressions, and ideas about the corridor.

Community input will play a vital role in shaping the future of Cheltenham Avenue.

Harrisburg Office

325 Irvis Office Building

PO Box 202154

Harrisburg, PA 17120
(717) 783-1079

Glenside Office

115 East Glenside Avenue

Suite 8
Glenside, PA 19038
(215) 572-5210

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