Historic Election for african americans in pittsburgh

New Pennsylvania Project condemns the U.S. House’s 220-208 passage of the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, requiring prospective voters to show proof of U.S. citizenship in order to register to vote. The SAVE Act will create unnecessary barriers for millions of eligible U.S. citizens.

As a voting rights organization, we are vehemently opposed to any additional barriers that would make it more difficult to register to vote, and also to make it more difficult for our voices to be heard at the ballot box.

The SAVE Act disproportionately harms working people, young voters, new Americans, anyone who has changed their name, such as married people taking their spouse’s last name, and Black and brown communities.

The current regime is rewriting the rules to block us from voting because they know that when we all participate, we elect leaders who work for us, not just the rich and powerful.

The government already has the information it needs to determine who is eligible to vote. This act will enact a 21st-century poll tax and allow Elon Musk to comb through our voter files and access our private information. It will also strip the fundamental right to vote from more than 21 million eligible Americans who can’t produce, don’t have, can’t afford, or struggle to access the required documents.

“No one should have to pay to vote — but that’s exactly what this act is doing by requiring documents that cost money and require enormous time and effort to obtain. Make no mistake: This barrier would be a 21st-century poll tax designed to block people from having a say in the decisions that shape our lives,” said Kadida Kenner, founding CEO of New Pennsylvania Project.

“They know that most Americans support things like higher wages, affordable housing, and equitably funded public schools, so instead of winning our votes, they want to stop us from casting them,” Kenner added.

Christopher Anders, Director of Policy and Government Affairs, Democracy and Technology, American Civil Liberties Union

During his first two weeks in office, President Donald Trump has signed nearly 40executive orders. They cover a dizzying array of policy areas --from immigration to public school -- and many of them have already been challenged in court. The orders have impacted all of our lives, and, constitutional or not, the damage that some of these orders threaten to do is real.

But can President Trump actually carry out the policy plans outlined in his executive orders? Below, the ACLU explains the history, function, and limits of a presidential executive order.

Article II of the Constitution vests the president with executive power over the government, including the obligation to “take care that the laws be faithfully executed.” An executive order is a written directive, signed by the president, that orders the government to take specific actions to ensure “the laws be faithfully executed.” It might mean telling the Department of Education to implement a certain rule, or declaring a new policy priority. Executive orders, however, cannot override federal laws and statutes.

Statutes have to be passed by Congress and signed by the president. Or, if vetoed, then Congress must override the veto for the bill to become law. Executive orders can’t preempt this process. Furthermore, the Constitution gives Congress control over things like taxation, spending, and certain war powers. Most things we think of when we think of laws come from Congress: what counts as a criminal offense, how much the federal government can tax our income, and declaring war or making treaties.

With an executive order, the president can’t write a new statute, but an order can tell federal agencies how to implement a statute. For example, Congress can declare a certain drug legal or illegal. But with an executive order, the president can tell the Department of Justice if prosecuting certain drug cases is a priority or not.

With an executive order, President Trump can order the federal government to take any steps that are within the scope of the constitutional authority of the executive branch, and do not violate any federal law.

The Constitution has a set of checks and balances written into it so that no one branch of the government is more powerful than the other. The president can’t use an executive order to sidestep those checks and balances, and the president can’t take over powers from other branches, such as the power vested in Congress to pass new statutes or in the courts to invalidate certain laws as unconstitutional.

Some executive orders take effect as soon as the president signs the order. But many other orders do not have any impact until a government agency takes some additional steps. Very often, an executive order requires a federal agency to write a report, undertake an investigation, or promulgate a new regulation. Those steps can often take months, and sometimes years. The order may provide a deadline (like telling an agency it has 60 days to make a certain recommendation for action), but it doesn’t have to.

Those checks and balances provide a few ways that an executive order can be stopped:

• Congress can enact a law that reverses what the president has done, provided Congress has the constitutional authority to legislate on the issue
• A court can hold that an executive order is unlawful if it violates the Constitution or a federal statute
• Any future president can issue a new executive order that rescinds or amends the earlier executive order

Every single president, from George Washington to Donald Trump, has issued executive orders. Most modern presidents issue hundreds of them during their presidency. While some executive orders are pretty mundane, such as declaring a federal holiday or a day of mourning, others have been among the most important actions the United States government has ever taken.

Abraham Lincoln used an executive order—the Emancipation Proclamation—to address slavery during the Civil War. Franklin Delano Roosevelt issued an executive order to integrate the shipyards and other military contractors. Harry Truman signed an executive order to integrate the military. Lyndon Johnson used an executive order to impose civil rights obligations on all federal contractors. More recently, Joe Biden signed an executive order to require every federal agency to find ways to facilitate voter registration.

But some of the federal government’s worst actions also came via executive order. Roosevelt, for example, used an executive order to force the relocation and internment of Japanese Americans to concentration camps. And in his first week of his second presidential term, Trump used an executive order to rescind Johnson’s historic executive order requiring government contractors to comply with civil rights obligations

Trump, or any president, is misusing executive order authority if the president orders the government to take actions that are not authorized by the Constitution or are in violation of federal laws. That’s when the courts must step in to safeguard our rule of law. However, an executive order can be lawful and still cause harm, especially when it threatens important civil liberties or civil rights.

President Trump’s order rescinding Johnson’s order concerning civil right obligations of federal contractors, for example doesn’t overrule any statute that governs equal protection in employment. Even so, it undermines civil rights protections and sends the signal that federal contractors won’t have the same obligation to protect their employees, and it communicates to the public that equal protection is not a priority.

Executive orders can be an effective way to carry out policy while staying within the rule of law. However, as we’ve seen with the Trump administration, they can also cause chaos, damage the democratic process and harm our must vulnerable communities. At the ACLU, we have more than 100 years’ experience holding powerful entities, like the executive branch, to account. Already during this administration, we’ve explained how Trump’s most recent executive orders rolling back DEI efforts, attacking birthright citizenship and targeting trans people are unlawful. We’re continuing to advocate and fight whenever President Trump uses executive orders to attack our civil liberties and civil rights.

Derrick Johnson, NAACP President, challenges the false narrative that Black men are disengaged, spotlighting their crucial role in elections and the relentless fight against voter suppression.

America has a listening problem. Time and time again, especially around Election season, the false narrative around ‘disengaged’ Black men takes shape. Countless TV hours and newspaper pages are spent dissecting and discussing the complex nature of Black men. The experts, many of whom are not Black, say we don’t vote, aren’t engaged, don’t participate, or help build community. This could not be further from the truth.

As I mentioned during BET’s Black Men’s Summit, the truth is Black men – next to Black women – are one of the most reliable voting blocs in the country. Not only do we vote, but we fight for our right to vote in the face of continued attempts to block our ballots and silence our voices.

When Black people secured the first wave of voting rights through the 15th amendment,  more than half a million Black men were granted the right to vote, and went on to elect 2,000 Black men to public office. But Jim Crow laws still found loopholes. From literacy tests to poll taxes, anti-Black power players worked to silence our voices and prevent our community from progressing. In the 1960s, the Voting Rights Act saw increased anti-Black violence, fraud, and other intimidation tactics to keep Black voters away from the polls. And in the last 10 years, without the protection of the Voting Rights Act, states have introduced restrictive new policies at the federal and local levels to dictate who can show up to vote and how.

Vice President Kamala Harris Engages in Powerful Conversation with Hip Hop Legends Fat Joe and Too Short at the 'BET Hip Hop Awards' 2024

 As head of the nation’s largest civil rights organization which has been entrenched in advocacy work in the deep south for decades, I know that Black men show up. The sad reality is, we often show up and the door is shut in our faces. 60 years after the first Voting Rights Act, and we still aren’t doing enough to protect Black voters. Every day, we are combatting gerrymandering, voter suppression tactics, complicated voter ID laws, and other systemic barriers that have historically, and disproportionately, affected Black voters. This election cycle alone the NAACP has litigated over a dozen different cases in states attempting to disenfranchise Black and vulnerable voters.

 Despite such daunting obstacles, we are resisting and amplifying our voices to advocate for change.

 We’ve decided races up and down the ballot, exceeded turnout expectations and shouldered the responsibility of mobilizing millions. Still, Black Americans are the first to be left out of solutions to the problems we’re facing. We face higher rates of discrimination, are more likely to be impacted by natural disasters, disproportionately lack access to quality, affordable healthcare, and so much more. These systemic barriers are strategically placed to shut us out and stall our success.

 But we continue to excel. Our right to vote, and our fight for accountability, made possible through this crucial freedom, have raised us to new heights. We see ourselves in hospitals and in the halls of Congress, forcing the powers-at-be to hear our resounding cries.

 And in spite of this, anti-Black forces are invested in a past that America should be running from. They seek to divide and conquer through dis, and misinformation. Not only do they deceive us about policy victories, they prevent us from obtaining the resources that we need.

 This election cycle, the NAACP launched a $20M nationwide effort to combat disinformation and voter suppression and mobilize Black voters to show up on election day and vote—something many of us are already doing. As one of the most expansive campaigns of its kind ever led by a civil rights organization, our goal is to ensure that every Black voter is informed and empowered to vote come election day.

 We have launched a Voter Protection Hub and introduced Our Project 2025 and we are working with and within communities across the country to give Black voters the resources they need to fight for the right to have their voices heard. Black voters are already changing the face of the electoral map, and we have proven time and time again how powerful we are when we show up at the ballot box.

But we still have a long way to go.

In order to Keep Advancing, we need comprehensive reform that addresses these systemic issues once and for all. Our laws should expand voter access and protect the integrity of our vote, not hinder it. We also need to move our country, and the narrative, forward if we hope to succeed. America, are you ready to listen?

Derrick Johnson is President and CEO of the NAACP, the nation's largest civil rights organization.

Some jokes are so dumb that they are absurd, e.g., “I had a dream last night I was a muffler...woke up exhausted.” “Why can't your nose be 12 inches long? Because then it'd be a foot!”  During everyday life, people often do some of the most brazen things, so much so that one is prone to believe they are joking.  For example, as reported by CNN, “A Michigan state judge appeared shocked when Corey Harris, who was charged with driving with a suspended license, appeared in his court hearing over Zoom for the charges while he was driving. Washtenaw County Judge Cedric Simpson revoked Harris’ bond and ordered Harris to turn himself in at a local county jail the same day…”  

There remain old quite silly state laws, e.g., it is illegal to wear a fake mustache in an Alabama church or throw a live moose out of an airplane in Alaska.  However, some current state laws are not simply silly but also contribute to the destruction of human life.  For example, Amber Johnson died as a direct result of abortion laws in her state and “In fact, nearly 57 percent of Black women aged 15-49 live in states with abortion bans or where state lawmakers are pushing legislation to further restrict the procedure, according to a joint report released by the organizations…” (Black Woman’s Tragic Death Reignites National Debate on Strict Abortion Bans, September 25, 2024 by Isaac Morgan). However, the current most audacious, brazen, impudent, shameless, but not a joke, act is the resume presented by a leading contender for President.

Before voting in 2024, it is recommended that all eligible voters read “Every Crime Donald Trump Has Been Charged With, Explained.“  The article details “…all 88 crimes Trump has been accused of — including the 34 charges that made him a convicted felon in May 2024.”  Donald Trump's Criminal Charges: Every Felony Count and Alleged Crime Explained (people.com)  As the first former President convicted of a felony, for example, Trump was found guilty of sexually assaulting and defaming E. Jean Caroll.  He has been charged with everything from the willful retention of national defense information to conspiracy to obstruct justice.

In addition to his unprecedented and voluminous criminal record, consider the following Trump actions:

Ø  Almost daily, he spews falsehoods not worthy of repeating herein, including depictable statements seemingly about whomever comes to his mind that day, e.g., Haitians, Jews, Blacks, and women.

Ø  He endorsed a North Carolina candidate for Governor who describes himself as a Black nazi and claimed he would be a slave holder.  

Ø  He stirred the vile muck regarding immigrants coming to America from prisons and insane asylums.  

Ø  He is the ultimate shameless grifter as he hocks shoes, shirts, bibles and other paraphernalia bearing his name/resemblance.  

Ø  He has mused that he would become a dictator, if elected.  

Ø  He claimed to have received love letters from Kim Jong Un.

Ø  He stated bizarre things such as “magnets don’t work underwater,”  and “First they say, ‘Sir, how do you do it? How do you wake up in the morning and put on your pants?’” Trump mused. “And I say, ‘Well, I don’t think about it too much.’ I don’t want to think about it because if I think about it too much maybe I won’t want to do it, but I love it because we’re going to do something for this country that’s never been done before.”  (See June 29, 2024 “The 6 Most Bizarre and Baffling Trump-Rally Rants”).

Ø  The would-be Commander in Chief has repeatedly berated members of the military, once deeming them “suckers.”

Ø  As reported on September 26, 2024 by Spectrum News. Trump made the hysterical, disconnected from reality claim about Vice President Harris: “Then she lost, and this is probably the worst statistic of them all, 325,000 children. Think of that,” Trump claimed. “Three and a half years, she lost 325,000 children, and they're either dead, being sold into sex slavery or just plain missing.”  It’s a claim Trump has repeatedly made in recent weeks, but one that has no basis in reality.”

Ø  During his September 28, 2024 speech and, seemingly experiencing some sort of clinically defined dissociative disorder, Trump declared, “Joe Biden became mentally impaired; Kamala was born that way.”

Sadly, the above bizarre Trump phenomena is no joke.  Even more unfortunate is the fact that his frequent departures from reality are being ignored by nearly half of those eligible to vote in America!  Therefore, if we don’t want to experience the mass deportations he has promised; if we don’t want a close friend and admirer of dictators in the White House; if we don’t want the stench of a convicted felon serving as President; if we don’t want a demonstrated misogynistic, homophobic, sexist, ethnocentric, racist, xenophobic, convicted sex offender, then there is only one thing to do, i.e., vote for the alternative in 2024.

And if there remains one who believes any part of the voluminous weird Trump behavior to be a joke, then recall that a Republican member of Congress, Rep. Clay Higgins, recently said that Haiti was the "nastiest country in the western hemisphere;” that they should "get their ass out of our country;" and that "all these thugs better get their mind right and their ass out of our country before January 20th…" (See NBC News, September25, 2024).  Remember that Higgins and Trump are descendants of those who [1] were not joking when they first stole the land of indigenous Americans, slaughtered many of them and then put the survivors on reservations; [2] for centuries, enslaved millions of Africans; [3] passed anti-Chinese immigration laws; [4] put Japanese Americans in internment camps; and, [5] to this day, pose a clear and present danger to many groups in America.

Jack L. Daniel

Co-founder, Freed Panther Society

Contributor, Pittsburgh Urban Media

Author, Negotiating a Historically White University While Black

September 30, 2024

Sublime refers to something “of such excellence, grandeur, or beauty as to inspire great admiration or awe.”  During the August 2024 Democratic Convention, the former First Lady Michelle Obama all but “dropped the mic” as she delivered her sublime speech (See Read and watch: Michelle Obama’s full speech to tNohe DNC – NBC10 Philadelphia (nbcphiladelphia.com).  She reached her rhetorical zenith when she stated, “Kamala has shown her allegiance to this nation, not by spewing anger and bitterness, but by living a life of service and always pushing the doors of opportunity open for others.  She understands that most of us will never be afforded the grace of failing forward… we will never benefit from the affirmative action of generational wealth.  If we bankrupt a business… or choke in a crisis, we don’t get a second, third, or fourth chance. If things don’t go our way, we don’t have the luxury of whining or cheating others to get further ahead… we don’t get to change the rules so we always win.  If we see a mountain in front of us, we don’t expect there to be an escalator waiting to take us to the top.  No, we put our heads down. We get to work. In America, we do something.” 

Indeed, if we love America’s promise regarding equity and social justice, then we must do something as we approach the November 2024 Presidential election.  As many have advised, “the price of freedom is eternal vigilance!” Therefore, now is not the time to bask in the civic warmth generated by the many hope-related remarks at the recent Democratic Convention.  Rather, we must heed the following remarks from former First Lady Michelle Obama, “So we cannot afford for anyone to sit on their hands and wait to be called upon… don’t complain if no one from the campaign has specifically reached out to ask for your support… there is simply no time for that kind of foolishness. You know what we need to do.  So, consider this to be your official ask: Michelle Obama is asking you to do something!   …In some states, just a handful of votes in every precinct could decide the winner.  So, we need to vote in numbers that erase any doubt… we need to overwhelm any effort to suppress us. Our fate is in our hands.”  

Moving forward, in addition to actually voting, below are some things to consider doing prior to November 2024.

·  Educate yourself regarding all local, regional, state and national issues on your ballot.

·  Thoroughly research the policies and practices of all candidates on your ballot.

·  Encourage others to register and actually vote.

·  Volunteer to work for the political party of your choice.

·  Donate financially to support specific candidates.

·  Participate actively in organizations devoted to the pursuit of equity and social justice.

There are, of course, many other ways that one can use their talents to undertake their civic responsibility.  While doing so, never forget that the opposition will be relentless in terms of not only advancing their causes but also in tearing yours’ down.  Opposition tactics will range from gaslighting to outright lying, from ad hominem to physical attacks.  Knowing the burden of doing something in the struggle for freedom, justice and equality, Martin Luther King Jr. advised, “If you can't fly then run, if you can't run then walk, if you can't walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.” (Keep Moving from this Mountain).  We must keep moving forward.  That is, all of us must do something because the November 2024 election is a battle for the soul of America, a battle to demonstrate that “we won’t go back,” a battle for hope to triumph over hate, and a battle for “we the people” to emerge victorious over a convicted felon.  

We must do something because, as former First Lady Michelle Obama stated, “Kamala knows, like we do, that regardless of where you come from, what you look like, who you love, how you worship, or what’s in your bank account… we all deserve the opportunity to build a decent life… all of our contributions deserve to be accepted and valued.   Because no one has a monopoly on what it means to be an American… no one!”  Or, as Langston Hughes poetically put the matter, 

I, too, sing America.

I am the darker brother.

They send me to eat in the kitchen

When company comes,

But I laugh,

And eat well,

And grow strong.

Tomorrow,

I’ll be at the table

When company comes.

Nobody’ll dare

Say to me,

“Eat in the kitchen,”

Then.

Besides,

They’ll see how beautiful I am

And be ashamed—

I, too, am America.

Jack L. Daniel

Co-founder, Freed Panther Society

Contributor, Pittsburgh Urban Media

Author, Negotiating a Historically White University While Black

August 27, 2024 

Today the Allegheny County Elections Division celebrated National Poll Worker Recruitment Day by putting out the call for poll workers in Allegheny County to sign up now for November’s General Election. The division will seek to fill 6,890 positions for various roles such as Judge, Inspector, or Clerk of Elections to support elections in Allegheny County.

The Elections Division highlighted several specific communities and neighborhoods where they are looking for poll workers, including: Baldwin Borough, Crafton, Duquesne, Glassport, McKeesport, McKees Rocks, Moon Township District 15, Penn Hills, Pittsburgh (wards 19, 20, 26, 28, 29, and 31), Pleasant Hills, Plum, and Verona District 2.

Dave Voye, Election Division Manager, said: “Preparing for elections with hundreds of thousands of mail-in ballots and in-person voting at more than 1,300 precincts takes a huge effort and Elections Division staff cannot do it alone. We rely on community members who step up to be poll workers to help ensure safe, secure, and smooth elections for everyone.”

Poll workers will be paid between $150.00 and $175.00 for the day and will also receive paid training. It is important for poll workers to be comfortable interacting with the public and staying informed about any election changes. They are expected to perform well on Election Day, and their training is crucial for the success of the elections.

As the election date approaches, poll workers will be contacted to discuss position availability and details. If there are no vacancies in their immediate area, poll workers may be asked to serve in other locations, and their contact information will be retained for future elections if no nearby positions are available.

Interested individuals can apply online at https://www.alleghenycounty.us/Government/Elections/Poll-Workers, by calling the Elections Office at 412-350-4500 (Option 5), or by visiting suite 312 at the County Office Building downtown (542 Forbes Ave, Suite 312., Pittsburgh, PA 15219).

Led by state Reps. Aerion Abney, Napoleon Nelson, Rick Krajewski, Anthony Bellmon and Greg Scott, the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus on Tuesday heard from Allegheny County officials over incarcerated peoples’ right to vote from jail.

The caucus held a news conference in Pittsburgh during their Lunch and Learn Event with guests, including Allegheny County Jail Assistant Deputy Warden Connie Clark, County Elections Manager David Voye, Lorraine Cross of the Black Political Empowerment Project, Amy Kleissas from the League of Women Voters of Greater Pittsburgh, Destiny of Faith Church Rev. Brenda Gregg, and Teresa Minor Spencer of West End Power.

"Even behind bars, the right to vote is a beacon of hope, reminding us that every voice matters, and that redemption and civic duty are intertwined," said Abney, D-Allegheny. “Voting from jail underscores the principle that rehabilitation includes reintegration into society, fostering a sense of responsibility and participation in democratic processes.”

Discussion centered on allowing incarcerated individuals to vote and how that emphasizes the idea that justice and democracy are inclusive.

"The vote is the great equalizer; it bridges the gap between those inside and outside prison walls, ensuring that all citizens have a say in the laws that govern them," said Nelson, D-Montgomery, who is Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus chair.

"To deny the vote to those in jail is to silence a part of our community.”

Participants all agreed that voting from jail is important because it gives a voice to marginalized groups, helping to address systemic issues and promote fairer policies that affect both inmates and the wider community.

“I appreciate the work being done in Allegheny County Jail to ensure that voting rights are respected. Anyone held pre-trial or convicted for misdemeanors absolutely has the right to vote but, too often, incarcerated voters are effectively disenfranchised when they aren’t provided with voter registration forms or absentee ballots,” said Krajewski. “Creating voting procedures like those in Allegheny County Jail is a simple step which not only protects voting rights but, research shows, decreases recidivism by keeping incarcerated individuals civically engaged in their communities. It’s time to pass my bill, H.B. 1756, and ensure measures like these are in place at every correctional institution in the commonwealth.”

"The right to vote from jail is a powerful reminder that democracy extends to all citizens, fostering a sense of belonging and encouraging positive societal contributions even from within prison walls," said Scott, D-Montgomery. “Our commitment to this sacred right is ironclad.”

"Empowering incarcerated people to vote acknowledges their humanity, challenges the notion of disenfranchisement, and strengthens the democratic fabric of our society," said Bellmon, D-Phila.

The Pennsylvania Delegation to the Democratic National Convention voted by acclamation to endorse Kamala Harris for President of the United States of America. This unanimous decision by the Pennsylvania Delegation follows a vote by the Executive Board of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party to officially endorse Kamala Harris for President.

“President Joe Biden has a history of putting America first over a career spanning more than half a century. President Biden created over 15 million jobs, brought the economy back with historic investments in infrastructure, and developed consequential legislation to help Pennsylvanians and residents of every other state in our nation,” stated Pennsylvania Democratic Party Chairman Sharif Street.

“There is a tremendous amount of excitement in seeing Vice President Kamala Harris become the nominee of the Democratic Party. More than $66.9 million was raised through ActBlue yesterday, breaking the single-day record for dollars raised. Vice President Harris will be able to take the historic success of the Biden-Harris Administration and carry it forward under her leadership, vision, and intellect.”

The PA Democratic Party, along with all 185 of its Delegates, stands united with elected Democrats from across the state in support of Harris. This endorsement underscores the party’s confidence in Harris’s vision, leadership, and ability to win in November.

“As Pennsylvania Democrats, we have a unique responsibility to defend our freedoms and our democracy — one that has been handed down to us from our ancestors 248 years ago in the halls of power in Philadelphia. I’ve known Vice President Harris for twenty years, have watched her exemplary work as a prosecutor, a Senator, and now VP, and I know she is ready to serve as our president,” said Governor Josh Shapiro. “I am proud to have asked Pennsylvania Democrats to put our support behind the Vice President’s campaign today and we are ready to get to work to deliver Pennsylvania’s 19 electoral votes.”

In addition to Governor Shapiro, the following other elected officials have expressed their support for Kamala Harris (more to be expected as the day continues):

• Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis
• US Senator Bob Casey
• US Senator John Fetterman
• Speaker Joanna McClinton
• Congressman Brendan Boyle
• Congressman Dwight Evans
• Congresswoman Madeleine Dean
• Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon
• Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan
• Congresswoman Susan Wild
• Congressman Matt Cartwright
• Congresswoman Summer Lee
• Congressman Chris Deluzio
• State Senator Jay Costa, Democratic Leader
• State Senator Nikil Saval
• State Senator Sharif Street, PADEMS Chair
• State Senator Vincent Hughes
• State Senator Steve Santarsiero
• State Senator John Kane
• State Senator Nick Miller
• State Representative Malcolm Kenyatta
• State Representative Danilo Burgos
• State Representative Mike Schlossberg
• State Representative Danielle Friel Otten
• State Representative Darisha K. Parker
• State Representative Tarik Khan
• State Representative Pete Schweyer
• State Representative Steve Malagari
• State Representative Rick Krajewski
• State Representative Jordan Harris
• State Representative Amen Brown
• State Representative Anthony Bellmon
• State Representative Justin Fleming
• State Representative Jennifer O’Mara
• Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato
• Butler County Commissioner Kevin Boozel
• Chester County Commissioner Marian Moskowitz
• Delaware County Councilwoman Dr. Monica Taylor, Chair
• Montgomery County Commissioner Neil Makhija
• Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker
• Philadelphia Councilwoman Nina Ahmad
• Philadelphia Councilwoman Cindy Bass
• Philadelphia Councilwoman Jamie Gauthier
• Philadelphia Councilwoman Katherine Gilmore Richardson
• Philadelphia Councilman Jim Harrity
• Philadelphia Councilman Curtis Jones
• Philadelphia Councilwoman Rue Landau
• Philadelphia Councilwoman Quetcy Lozada
• Philadelphia Councilman Isaiah Thomas
• Philadelphia Sheriff Rochelle Bilal
• Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey
• Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti

AARP Pennsylvania's first 2024 election survey shows that candidates should pay close attention to Pennsylvanian voters ages 50 and older, and highlights the priorities and concerns of Black voters ages 50 and older that will likely influence the outcome of the 2024 elections. Seventy-nine percent of Black voters in Pennsylvania are extremely motivated to vote this year.

When asked about the issues that are important as they decide whom to vote for this November, older Black voters cited Social Security (92% say extremely or very important), Medicare (89%), policies to help seniors live independently at home as they age (87%), the cost of prescription drugs (86%) as key issues. In fact, Social Security and Medicare emerge as their top priority issue in their vote for Senate this year, with nearly twice as many Black voters 50+ choosing Social Security and Medicare as any of the other dozen issues tested. 

"With inflation and the rising costs of living squeezing all Pennsylvania households, Black voters 50+ are clearly looking for leaders with a plan," said Bill Johnston-Walsh, AARP Pennsylvania State Director.  "Candidates would be wise to listen to their opinions and concerns if they want to win in November."

Among Black voters 50+, President Joe Biden (D) leads former President Donald Trump (R) by a large margin: 84% to 8%. In the race for U.S. Senate, Senator Bob Casey (D) leads Dave McCormick 87% to 7%.

 Other key takeaways include:

• 96% of Black voters 50+ say they are more likely to vote for a candidate for U.S. Senate who advocated making sure workers get the Social Security they paid for through a lifetime of hard work;
• Four of the five issues measured as cost concerns are important to many Black voters 50+: health care/prescription drugs, utilities, food, and housing; and
• 58% of Black voters 50+ are worried about their personal financial situation including 63% of women. Health care/prescription drugs and housing are the biggest cost concerns;
• 66% of Black voters 50+ and 73% of Black voters 65+ say Social Security is or will be a major source of their income.

AARP commissioned the bipartisan polling team of Fabrizio Ward & Impact Research to conduct a survey. The firms interviewed 1,398 likely Pennsylvania voters, which includes a statewide representative sample of 600 likely voters, with an oversample of 470 likely voters age 50 and older and an additional oversample of 328 Black likely voters age 50 and older, between April 24-30, 2024. The interviews were conducted via landline, cellphone, and SMS-to-web. The margin of sampling error for the 600 statewide sample is ±4.0%; for the 800 total sample of voters 50+ is ±3.5%; for the 400 total sample of Black voters 50+ is ±4.9%.

View the full survey results at aarp.org/PApolling.

For more information on how, when and where to vote in Pennsylvania, visit aarp.org/PAVotes.

"I might be the first Black Lieutenant Governor-elect in our Commonwealth’s history, but it’s my responsibility to ensure I’m not the last. Together, we made history." Declared,  Austin Davis who will be Pennsylvania’s first African American Lieutenant Governor after Josh Shapiro declared victory Tuesday night.

Davis, who was endorsed by gubernatorial nominee Josh Shapiro in the primary, received 63% support among the three-candidate primary race. 

The 32-year-old state lawmaker from Allegheny County,  Davis is in his third term in the state House of Representatives. Davis tweeted, "I’m Austin Davis, a first generation college graduate, the son of a union bus driver and a hairdresser, and the first Black Lieutenant Governor-elect in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. History made.

Davis currently serves as chair of the Allegheny County House Democratic Delegation and vice-chair of the House Democratic Policy Committee, as well as serving on the House Appropriations Committee, House Consumer Affairs Committee, House Insurance Committee, and House Transportation Committee. Plus, he is also a member of the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus, Climate Caucus, and PA SAFE Caucus. 

Davis and his wife reside in McKeesport where Davis began his career. In high school Davis founded and served as chairman of McKeesport Mayor Jim Brewster’s Youth Advisory Council. After graduation from the University of Pittsburgh, Davis joined the Allegheny County Executive’s office and ran for the State House in 2018. 

Davis will be sworn in as Lieutenant Governor on January 17, 2023, and a special election will be called to fill his seat in the State House. 

 La’Tasha D. Mayes won her seat for HD24 on Tuesday, Nov. 8. Mayes – a nationally recognized, award-winning leader in the fields of reproductive justice; human rights; and leadership development for Black women, girls, femmes and gender-expansive  folx – defeated incumbent Martell Covington in the May 2022 primary to become the Democratic candidate for Pennsylvania House District 24. Mayes ran unopposed in this week’s general election. 

“I  am overjoyed and grateful to serve the people of House District 24 as their State Representative,” Mayes said. “Now, I focus my attention to service the needs of my constituents from East Hills to East Liberty to the Hill District, and I continue to bring

 my vision for reproductive, racial, economic, gender and environmental justice to my continued community organizing and now with my colleagues in Harrisburg.” 

Running  for public office holds deep personal meaning for Mayes. She attributes her commitment to public service and community organizing to her mother, Charlotte D. Stroud, a U.S. Army veteran, food service worker and a UNITEHERE union member. 

“This  day is not possible without my ancestors who paved this path for me. I ran to disrupt politics as usual, and we have done just that. I will be the first woman to represent House District 24 and the first out lesbian in the Pennsylvania General Assembly, but  I will not be the last.”

La’Tasha D. Mayes, MSPPM, is a nationally recognized, award-winning  leader in the fields of reproductive justice, human rights and leadership development for Black women and girls. She’s the founder and former president and CEO of New  Voices for Reproductive Justice, an organization  dedicated to the health and well-being of Black women, femmes, girls and gender-expansive folx with roots in Pittsburgh and operations in Cleveland and Philadelphia. Beyond her 18 years of pioneering work with New Voices, Mayes has held community leadership  positions with many boards and contributed writings on reproductive justice and public policy in numerous articles and several books. Mayes, who resides in Morningside, is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration.

 Mayes also earned a Master of Science in public policy and management from Carnegie Mellon University and completed the Executive Program in Social Impact Strategy at the University of Pittsburgh. Mayes most recently served on the Governor’s Commission on  African American Affairs and was named The 2022 Power of Diversity: Black 100 by City & State magazine.

Progressive Democrat Summer Lee won election to the House on Tuesday, becoming the first Black woman elected to Congress from Pennsylvania.

For Lee, it’s the second time she’s made history. Four years ago, Lee became the first African American woman from the region elected to the state House in Harrisburg.  Lee’s success marks a major win for progressives. 

Lee, a second-term state House member, lawyer and former labor organizer, comes from the party's progressive wing. She was endorsed by Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, the two-time presidential candidate and a leading voice in the Democratic Party’s left wing who came to campaign for Lee.

"This was a movement that was about what it looks like when we prioritize the most marginalized, when we prioritize and really fight for what a real working-class movement can look like in this country," Lee said at her election night party in downtown Pittsburgh.

In the primary, Lee beat out second-place Steve Irwin, who was endorsed by the Allegheny County Democratic Party and backed by prominent Democrats from the county. Mike Doyle conceded to Lee Tuesday night.

Lee says, "My election proves that fighting and getting dark money out of politics is still good policy and good politics!"

It is a very sad commentary on American democracy when individuals state, “Why should I vote? Voting doesn’t matter.” In the original sense of staying woke, i.e., being sensitive to issues related to social justice, the following question is asked of such pessimistic people. If voting didn’t matter, then why did the following occur?

· When George Washington was elected President in 1789, the founding White “Fathers” limited voting to only White males.

· It took almost another century before the 1870 passage of the 15th Amendment to the Constitution which gave Blacks the right to vote.

· Women had to fight for centuries to get the right to vote, with the passage of the 19th Amendment coming only in 1920 guaranteeing women the right to vote. 

· It was not until 1965 that President Lyndon B. Johnson signed into law the Voting Rights Act designed to prevent state and local governments from subverting the 15th Amendment. 

· As we approach the November 2022 election, a pervasive Republican Party strategy consists of preventing those who don’t share their agenda from voting.

As the foregoing voting history indicates, the denial of oppressed peoples’ voting rights has been a major method of maintaining systemic racism, sexism, and White male privileged patriarchy. However, history also demonstrates that, when woke folks vote, then significant societal changes take place.

If wokefolks had not voted in sufficient numbers during the past national election, then [1] we would have gained neither our first Black female Vice President nor our first Black Female Supreme Court Justice; and [2] we would not have the following judicial outcomes reported by the Pew Research Center: “As of Aug. 8, the first day of the U.S. Senate’s August break, Biden has successfully appointed 75 judges to the three main tiers of the federal judicial system: the district courts, appeals courts and U.S. Supreme Court. That’s far more than the number appointed by Donald Trump (51) and Barack Obama (42) at the same stage in their presidencies, and slightly more than the number appointed by several other recent presidents – including George W. Bush (72), Bill Clinton (74) and Ronald Reagan (72) – by this point in their tenures…” (August 9, 2022).

As many have said, “elections have consequences” and one of the most significant consequences of the last national election was that President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act which, among other things, lowered health costs for millions of Americans. Biden’s approval of student loan forgiveness debt is estimated to impact many millions of borrowers, with reductions related to Pell Grants possibly as high as $20,000.  

Regarding the importance of voting in the Pittsburgh Pennsylvania area, one needs to look no further than the recent election of Black Mayors. As the New Pittsburgh Courierreported, “Allegheny County is home to just a 14 percent African American population among its 1.2 million residents, but there are eight Black mayors overseeing cities and boroughs in the county…” Those elected include, “Ed Gainey, Pittsburgh Mayor; Joelisa L. McDonald, Rankin Mayor; Dontae Comans, Wilkinsburg Mayor; Delia Lennon Winstead, Braddock Mayor; (Bottom Left) Betty Copeland, Bridgeville Mayor; John Burwell, Homestead Mayor; Val Pennington, Bellevue Mayor; Cletus Lee, North Braddock Mayor.” (February 17, 2022). 

If anyone has an iota of a disposition regarding it not being important to vote, then I urge them to consider the following words of former First Lady Michelle Obama, “…In this tumultuous period, they’ve (young people) been learning something that often took previous generations years, or decades, to understand: that life can be unfair. It can be unjust and more than anything is always uncertain. But if you live by foundational truths—like honesty, compassion, decency—and if you channel your frustration into our democracy with your vote and your voice, you can find your true north even in times of crisis.

…So, every single person out there needs to ask themselves, do they trust the folks in charge to make the right call? Whether it’s school boards or statehouses or those in Washington—are my neighborhood’s interests being represented, or are they being ignored? They’re questions we should be asking every year, in every election, and at every level of government. …what happens when you don’t vote, you are giving away your power to someone else—someone who doesn’t see the world the same as you. You’re letting them make some really key decisions about the way you live. And the truth is, that’s exactly what some folks are hoping you’ll do. They’re hoping that you’ll stay home so that they can make these important decisions for you.”  (Cox Media Group National Content Desk July 12, 2020). 

Regarding Ms. Obama’s main contentions, why would eligible women voters not vote and thereby leave it to ill-informed, ill-willed, misogynistic elected officials to pass legislation that will have adverse impact on all aspects of reproductive justice, including literally the lives of women. 

At a time when misguided armed people cause chaos at public school board meetings, why would parents eligible to vote permit the election of officials who will have adverse impact on their children’s education? Why, by not voting, permit the election of school board members with little if any positive regard for LGBTQ children? Why permit the election of school board officials who liken Black children to monkeys?

In my opinion, the conscious failure of an eligible Black voter to vote is tantamount to a betrayal of those who, since the days of chattel slavery to date, struggled to end systemic racism; structural poverty; health and housing disparities; educational achievement gaps derived from the lack of equal opportunities; poor policing; discrimination based on sexual orientation or religious beliefs; White male privilege; violent neighborhoods; absence of appropriate gun legislation; and other major oppressive factors in America. How dare you not vote when, in 2022, [1] a Republican political tool consists of arresting people for voting after Florida officials certified their rights to vote; [2] a delusional, egotistical tyrant seeking to become President again believes he can declassify secret documents “even by thinking about it; and [3] on October 4, 2022, USA Today reported, “Hundreds of elections deniers running for office nationwide in 2022 pose 'major threat' to U.S. democracy.”

Jack L. Daniel

Co-founder, Freed Panther Society

Contributor, Pittsburgh Urban Media

Author, Negotiating a Historically White University While Black

October 25, 2022

Part of our role as legislators is to help increase access to opportunities for those we are elected to represent. Act 77 of 2019 did just that.

It was a bipartisan bill that expanded access to the ballot by moving the Commonwealth on a path towards normalizing no-excuse mail-in voting. Simply put, Act 77 provides voters with the opportunity to have more options to cast a ballot.

We live in a 24/7 world, yet we have often been stuck in a 9-to-5 form of government.

Government’s role is not to force citizens to adapt their lives to government. Instead, we should figure out how to leverage government to improve their quality of life.

This includes not expecting the majority of Pennsylvania’s 8.7 million+ registered voters to cast a ballot on two specific days of the year or else risk not having their voice heard in this process called democracy.

And wouldn’t you know it? Many of the same people who voted for Act 77 have publicly discredited that same piece of legislation.

Fast forward, however, to last week when the Pennsylvania Supreme Court validated mail-in voting as safe, legal and…CONSTITUTIONAL!

The onslaught of COVID-19 changed life as we know it. One of those changes has been a tremendous uptick in mail-in/absentee ballot requests for those unwilling to risk exposure to the virus.

Being forced to choose between your health or casting a ballot is a false choice.

But let’s think from another practical perspective. More people voting by mail means fewer people waiting in long lines to vote on Election Day. That means less stress put on our volunteer poll workers to manage those long lines.

Voting by mail also gives voters an opportunity to see who or what is on their ballot and have time to do their own research on a candidate(s) or issue(s) before making a selection.

The alternative is to show up on Election Day and see names for a down-ballot race for school board or borough council for the first time, for example, and have no clue who they are or what they stand for.

In fact, many of those kinds of positions are won by just a few votes and can have a bigger impact on citizens’ everyday quality of life than the U.S. president ever will.

Any efforts to continue this race to nowhere by appealing this court decision is a terrible use of time, energy, and taxpayer dollars.

Instead, let’s talk about making a plan to vote and creating positive voting experiences.

Most of all, let’s talk about getting out and making our voices heard on Nov. 8th.

Aerion Abney is the state representative for the 19th Legislative District in Allegheny County.