by Christin Brown | April 23, 2020 | News Releases
The Continuing of Education Equity Grants may be used to purchase computer equipment, such as laptops, tablets and internet hotspots, as well as paper lessons and coursework.
Philadelphia, PA – State Senator Christine Tartaglione (D-Philadelphia) announces that the Pennsylvania Department of Education has awarded $128,450 in grants to schools within the 2nd Senate District as well as $500,000 directly to the School District of Philadelphia for the purchase of computers and other instructional materials.
Continuing of Education Equity Grants (CEEG) are designed to help provide access and inclusion for all learners by bridging the gap for students who are limited in their ability to participate in continuity of education. The new awards are applicable for the current 2019-2020 academic year.
“I applaud the Department of Education and the Wolf Administration for recognizing the urgent need among our schools for these resources in light of the COVID-19 disaster emergency,” Senator Tartaglione said. “Brick-and-mortar schools are closed to mitigate the public health threat of the coronavirus, but student learning must continue. We owe it to our children to provide them with the resources they need to learn and prepare for their future.”
The School District of Philadelphia was awarded $500,000. Additional grant recipients in the 2nd Senate District included Mastery Charter-Smedley Campus ($36,500), John B. Stetson Charter ($43,950), Antonia Pantoja Community Charter ($40,000), and Northwood Academy Charter ($8,000).
CEEG funding may be used to purchase computer equipment, such as laptops, tablets, and internet hot spots, as well as other instructional materials including paper lessons and coursework. Schools with the highest percentages of students lacking access to resources were given priority in receiving these grants.
For additional information about the grant program and COVID-19 resources for schools, visit the Department of Education website at education.pa.gov.
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If you would like more information about this topic, please contact William Kenny at 215-533-0440 or William.Kenny@pasenate.com.
by Christin Brown | April 15, 2020 | News Releases
Philadelphia, PA, April 15, 2020 – State Senator Christine Tartaglione (D-Philadelphia) today applauded Pennsylvania Department of Health Secretary Rachael Levine and Governor Tom Wolf for issuing an executive order implementing the senator’s legislation that bolsters COVID-19 protections for employees of businesses that are authorized to continue in-person operations during the statewide disaster emergency.
Among many new mandates, the order establishes requirements for social distancing, for the provision and use of facemasks in the workplace, for the reduction of large gatherings, for limited visitor access to workplaces, and for sufficient staffing levels. In addition, all components of the order must be communicated to employees in their primary language, thereby ensuring that all workers can understand the new requirements.
All of these elements and many others had been proposed by Senator Tartaglione in two Senate bills: the COVID-19 Food Worker Safety Act (SB 1101) and the COVID-19 Grocery Store Safety Act (SB 1102). Earlier today, the Senate’s Rules & Executive Nominations Committee refused to adopt the language from Senator Tartaglione’s bills as part of an omnibus amendment to a Republican-sponsored bill focused on the reopening of non-essential businesses in the Commonwealth amid the pandemic.
In a party-line vote, the Senate adopted the Republican bill without Senator Tartaglione’s comprehensive worker protections. At Tartaglione’s urging, Secretary Levine and Governor Wolf implemented those protections through the executive order.
“It is vital that we require businesses to practice these common-sense and scientifically proven safety protocols for the protection of workers and the public at-large. And that is what this order does,” said Senator Tartaglione, who is Democratic chairwoman of the Senate Labor & Industry Committee. “Many of the measures included in this order were part of legislation that I proposed. I applaud this swift action by Secretary Levine and Governor Wolf to implement these much-needed protocols.”
Specifically, the order establishes protocols to help employees maintain social distance during work. Employers that are authorized to continue in-person operations are required to:
- Provide masks for employees to wear during their time at the business, and make it a mandatory requirement while at the work site, except to the extent an employee is using break time to eat or drink, in accordance with the guidance from the Department of Health and the CDC. Employers may approve masks obtained or made by employees in accordance with this guidance;
- Stagger work start and stop times for employees when practical to prevent gatherings of large groups entering or leaving the premises at the same time;
- Provide sufficient space for employees to have breaks and meals while maintaining a social distance of 6 feet, including limiting the number of employees in common areas and setting up seating to have employees facing forward and not across from each other;
- Conduct meetings and training virtually. If a meeting must be held in person, limit the meeting to the fewest number of employees possible, not to exceed 10 employees at one time and maintain a social distance of 6 feet.
- Ensure that the facility has a sufficient number of employees to perform all measures listed effectively and in a manner that ensures the safety of the public and employees;
- Ensure that the facility has a sufficient number of personnel to control access, maintain order, and enforce social distancing of at least 6 feet;
- Prohibit non-essential visitors from entering the premises of the business; and
- Ensure that all employees who do not speak English as their first language are aware of procedures by communicating the procedures, either orally or in writing, in their native or preferred language.
Upon discovery of an exposure to a person who is a probable or confirmed case of COVID-19, businesses are also ordered to implement temperature screenings before employees enter the business prior to the start of work and send any employee home who has an elevated temperature of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. Sick employees should follow CDC-recommended steps. Employees should not return to work until the CDC criteria to discontinue home isolation are met, in consultation with the health care providers and state and local health departments. Employers are encouraged to implement liberal paid time off for employees who are on home isolation.
Upon an exposure, businesses are also ordered to do the following:
- Close off and ventilate areas visited by that individual;
- Wait a minimum of 24 hours, or as long as practical, before beginning cleaning and disinfection;
- Clean and disinfect all spaces, especially commonly used rooms and shared electronic equipment;
- Identify and notify employees who were in close contact with that individual (within about 6 feet for about 10 minutes); and
- Ensure that the business has a sufficient number of employees to perform these protocols effectively and immediately.
In addition to the social distancing, mitigation and cleaning protocols, businesses that serve the public within a building or defined area are ordered to implement the following, based on the size of the building and number of employees:
- Require all customers to wear masks while on premises, and deny entry to individuals not wearing masks, unless the business is providing medication, medical supplies, or food, in which case the business must provide alternative methods of pick-up or delivery of goods, except individuals who cannot wear a mask due to a medical condition (including children the age of 2 years) may enter the premises without having to provide medical documentation;
- Conduct business with the public by appointment only and, to the extent that this is not feasible, limit occupancy to no greater than 50 percent of the number stated on their certificate of occupancy as necessary to reduce crowding in the business and at check-out and counter lines in order to maintain a social distance of 6 feet, and place signage throughout each site to mandate social distancing for both customers and employees;
- Alter hours of business so that the business has sufficient time to clean or to restock or both;
- Install shields or other barriers at registers and check-out areas to physically separate cashiers and customers or take other measures to ensure social distancing of customers from check-out personnel, or close lines to maintain a social distance between of 6 feet between lines;
- Encourage use of online ordering by providing delivery or outside pick-up;
- Designate a specific time for high-risk and elderly persons to use the business at least once every week if there is a continuing in-person customer-facing component;
- In businesses with multiple check-out lines, only use every other register, or fewer. After every hour, rotate customers and employees to the previously closed registers. Clean the previously open registers and the surrounding area, including credit card machines, following each rotation;
- Schedule handwashing breaks for employees at least every hour; and
- Where carts and handbaskets are available, assign an employee to wipe down carts and handbaskets before they become available to a new customer.
Failure to comply with these requirements will result in enforcement action that could include citations, fines, or license suspensions. Compliance with the order will be enforced beginning Sunday, April 19 at 8:00 PM.
The governor has directed the following state agencies and local officials to enforce orders related to the COVID-19 pandemic to the full extent of the law:
- Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board
- Department of Health
- Department of Agriculture
- Department of Labor and Industry
- Pennsylvania State Police
- Local officials, using their resources to enforce closure orders within their jurisdictions
This order follows another order by Dr. Levine providing direction for maintaining and cleaning buildings for businesses authorized to maintain in-person operations under her and Governor Tom Wolf’s life-sustaining business orders announced March 19.
Governor Tom Wolf also recommends that Pennsylvanians wear a mask any time they leave their homes for life-sustaining reasons.
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If you would like more information about this topic, please contact William Kenny at 215-533-0440 or William.Kenny@pasenate.com.
by Christin Brown | April 8, 2020 | News Releases
Harrisburg, PA − April 8, 2020 − The Senate adjourned Tuesday afternoon after the House Republicans indicated they would not be taking up Senate Bill 841, legislation that would have enabled local municipalities to hold their meetings remotely, permitted e-notary use; lengthened the time period a property tax payer can receive an early payment discount and delay penalties for late payments to Dec. 31st; and allowed businesses to make delayed payments on EITC. Another important amendment offered by Senator Pam Iovino (D-Allegheny) allowed school districts to renegotiate contracts to ensure contracted school workers can get paid and continue to receive benefits.
The amended SB 841 passed the Senate with bipartisan support. While the Senate Democrats and Republicans chose to put partisan difference aside, the House Republicans were pushing to please special interests and big donors. Intending to use this crisis as leverage, Speaker Turzai and his caucus passed legislation to prematurely allow businesses to reopen during this public health crisis and create a partisan task force to interfere with the Governor’s disaster response, both of which unnecessarily risk lives and threaten to expend the emergency.
“While the Governor and Department of Health Secretary offer leadership on public safety in daily briefings and Democratic members of the PA House and Senate draft legislation to protect working people who are either out of work or employed on the front lines of essential businesses, Republicans are putting lives at risk and undermining the Governor and Secretary Levine’s best efforts to end this crisis,” said Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, Jr. “Instead of taking the advice of our Health Secretary, they are trying to slow down our response and hasten the re-opening of non-essential businesses against the guidance of every public health entity in the country.”
The House Republicans were seeking even more egregious measures to provide civil immunity to big businesses, upend school districts ability to pay their teachers, and leave our corrections department employees at serious threat of the Coronavirus. Perhaps worst of all, the language does nothing to protect frontline workers, provide assistance to those that are out of work, or to help small businesses weather this crisis.
In an amendment to Senate Bill 327, House Republicans designed a task force with partisan appointees to usurp the Governor’s ability to rapidly respond to this quickly-evolving crisis. Their bill would require the Secretary of Health to leave PEMA, take hours away from public health crisis planning and defend her work in front of a redundant, political body.
The Senate Democratic Caucus will not support these bills. Alternatively, this caucus will be supporting legislation on the following issues:
- The American Working Family Relief Action Plan for front-line worker protections (Collett/L. Williams)
- Protecting workers during public health emergencies (Santarsiero)
- COVID-19 Food Worker Safety Act (Tartaglione)
- COVID-19 Grocery Store Worker Safety Act (Tartaglione)
- Payment of contract services in schools (Iovino)
- Childcare assistance (Schwank/L. Williams)
- Emergency expansion of the Family Medical Leave Act to provide paid sick leave (Farnese)
- Crisis grants for volunteer fire and EMS companies due to COVID-19 (Brewster)
- Require business interruption insurance to cover COVID-19 related business closures (Hughes)
- Eviction protection for all disaster emergencies (Farnese)
- Coronavirus disease and schools: allowing for online instruction (Dinniman)
- Creating a Common Wealth Fund to collect donations from individuals to provide for essential needs of those in need (AH Williams)
- Providing a presumption of eligibility for Workers’ Compensation benefits for workers that get sick in the workplace (Tartaglione)
- Ensuring receipt of a stimulus check from the Federal government is not included in an individual’s income for purposes of qualifying for social safety nets (Schwank)
- Exempting stimulus checks from the Federal government from State and local taxation (Brewster)
- Collaborating with financial institutions to mandate mortgage loan forgiveness, assistance to homeowners that were laid off due to state emergencies (Farnese)
“While many working Pennsylvanians are suffering from the COVID-19 pandemic, facing lost hours or even complete unemployment, others who find themselves in more fortunate circumstances have expressed a desire to help their fellow citizens by either donating to a local charity or patronizing local businesses,” said Senator Anthony H. Williams. “By establishing the “Pennsylvania Common Wealth” restricted account, taxpayers could redirect all or a portion of their stimulus check to the state, which in turn would be authorized to direct those funds into programs which help the neediest Pennsylvanians – property tax & rent rebates, temporary assistance for needy families, CHIP or medical assistance.”
“Pennsylvania needs solutions that help protect its working people who have been hit the hardest by the fallout of the coronavirus pandemic,” Senator Vincent Hughes said. “We in the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus have put forth a number of policy proposals that would do just that, meanwhile House Republicans have chosen to ignore these needs and push an agenda that jeopardizes public health and puts additional pressure on working people by delaying immediate relief. Our mission should be helping people in this unprecedented time of need and we will remain vigilant in protecting hardworking folks across the commonwealth.”
“As public servants, our most important duty is to protect the health, safety and welfare of our citizens. This includes making difficult decisions in challenging times. We all want businesses to reopen, employees back on the job, students back in classrooms and some semblance of normal life to resume, but that cannot happen unless we first continue mitigation efforts and follow the advice of our scientists and experts,” said Senator Wayne D. Fontana. “Anything contrary can set back progress and cause further harm on our economy and most importantly, on human health. The bipartisan legislation the Senate approved provides some necessary guidance and relief to local governments, businesses, school employees and property taxpayers during this unprecedented situation. It is unconscionable that House Republicans blatantly disregarded that duty and have chosen not to act.”
“The spread of coronavirus has not quieted the voice of special interests in Harrisburg and that’s tragic,” said Senator Larry Farnese. “Mitigation through isolation is working and we have to recognize that sacrifice through legislation that actually helps front-line workers instead of just saying nice things on social media.”
“This crisis and the Commonwealth’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic requires leadership, transparency and cooperation – not partisan politics,” said Senator John Blake. “While we’ve worked well with the Senate majority on real solutions that actually help people in this crisis, the House majority looks to undermine the executive authority of the Governor as well as the advice of medical and scientific experts regarding public health. I applaud the work being done by Governor Wolf and his administration to keep Pennsylvanians safe and to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. I will continue to support important legislation to help our business community, front-line workers and medical professionals; and to protect our citizens, schools and local governments across this state. We need to remain vigilant in following the recommendations of the PA Department of Health and the federal CDC.”
“Issues that the Commonwealth was already facing have been exacerbated by this pandemic, and child care services and early learning programs are near the top of the list. Childcare centers are teetering on the brink of insolvency, which is why part of our legislative package addresses early childhood learning and safe, quality childcare. We will not be able to restart Pennsylvania’s economy without this key component,” Senator Judy Schwank said. “Additionally, it’s vital that the income requirements of state programs like PACENET and Property Tax and Rent Rebate are adjusted so that Pennsylvanians receiving federal aid are not penalized later.”
“The key to an effective response to the pandemic is to ensure that our citizens are protected, health risks are addressed, and our economy restarts quickly,” Senator Jim Brewster said. “That’s why I introduced a six-point stimulus plan that will help small business, protect workers and create jobs once we are clear the threat posed by the pandemic. In addition, we need to make sure to address the immediate and long-term needs of first responders and all workers and businesses who are providing essential services during this time of extraordinary stress.”
“There is no segment of our Commonwealth that hasn’t been upended by this crisis. Everything is a priority. But in order to save livelihoods, we must first save lives,” said Senator Maria Collett. “As a nurse, I know firsthand the challenges our health care workers are up against and the urgency of passing legislation like the American Working Family Relief Action Plan for Front-Line Workers. Our doctors, nurses, first responders, senior care aides and others should not have to worry about getting sick or infecting others while performing their essential work.”
“It is irresponsible for the state to reopen businesses at the height of the COVID-19 outbreak. Those who are not essential workers should remain home,” said Senator Art Haywood. “We need to do all we can as legislators to support essential employees risking their lives on a daily basis,” said Senator Haywood (D-Montgomery/Philadelphia). “I will continue to support the work Governor Wolf and Secretary Levine have done to inform the public to remain safe and stay home.”
“The citizens of Pennsylvania are counting on their elected representatives to save lives by responding swiftly, pragmatically, and in a bipartisan manner to slow the spread of this highly contagious virus,” said Senator Pam Iovino. “To fulfill our duty to the public, we must follow the consensus guidance of public health professionals, focus on protecting front-line essential workers, and put in place protections that allow furloughed or unemployed workers and small businesses to weather the economic disruption.”
“As the Democratic chair of the Local Government Committee, I worked with stakeholders for weeks to craft the provisions of SB 841, I am disappointed these commonsense measures, which passed the Senate with bipartisan support, are being held up by House Republicans for little reason,” said Senator Tim Kearney. “The House should immediately pass SB 841 and focus on bringing relief to Pennsylvanians, rather than sabotaging the Governor’s efforts to keep our families safe.”
“Yesterday, the majority party in both chambers failed to use their legislative power, where they can literally pass any bill they want to, and instead decided to pack up and go home without,” said Senator Katie Muth. “Failing to pass meaningful bills when people are fighting for their lives is simply negligent.”
“Now is not the time to play politics,” said Senator Steve Santarsiero. “Saving lives has to be the first priority. In order to do that, we must all do our part and follow the Governor’s and Department of Health’s plans as they’ve been explained to us countless times. SB 841 is just one of many ways our caucus has worked in a bipartisan effort to provide relief to those who need it most. However, SB 327 is exactly what our healthcare professionals warn us against. Promoting a premature return to normalcy will only undermine our effort to keep the public safe, and further endanger thousands of lives.”
“Government’s most important role is the protection of its people. Since the COVID-19 crisis the Senate has met three times, with little to show for it. Communities across the commonwealth have no interest in the paralysis of government especially in the most desperate of times. What they do care about is the protection of our essential workforce, the interruption of our small businesses, job loss, staying in their homes and educating their children. The only thing that matters is the preservation and protection of every resource needed to keep families safe during this health crisis,” said Senator Sharif Street.
“We need to be back in Harrisburg, we need to get back to work. We must work together to ensure our communities are protected during uncertain times.”
“As thousands of Pennsylvanians continue to get sick and hundreds die, now is no time to play partisan politics,” Senator Tina Tartaglione said. “As public leaders, we must unite behind the common goal of reducing the threat of this virus and mitigating the harm being done to our constituents. The package of bills we have proposed will directly help all Pennsylvania families, including essential workers, displaced workers, first responders, school children, those who have become sick, and those in need. I urge all legislators from all political parties to support these bills.”
“Stopping the spread of COVID-19 and saving lives is our top priority. We also need to protect and support our constituents, our communities, and our businesses,” said Senator Lindsey Williams. “Our front-line essential workers – our hospital workers, grocery store workers, emergency service personnel and others – cannot afford to wait for PPE. They needed it weeks ago. Our childcare facilities need our help to stay open and provide care to the children of our essential workers while they risk their lives for us. Our small businesses need financial support to stay afloat. Our municipalities need the ability to meet remotely and make decisions that will ensure the safety of all of residents. There are a lot of needs right now and our constituents do not have time for us to waste playing partisan games or naming bridges. The Senate Democrats have offered concrete solutions that will help people. We should all be working together to get them to the Governor’s desk for signature as soon as possible.”
More information on the work of the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus during the COVID-19 crisis can be found at pasenate.com/covid19.
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by Christin Brown | March 26, 2020 | News Releases
Philadelphia, PA, March 26, 2020 – State Senator Christine Tartaglione (D-Philadelphia) advises Pennsylvanians who are seeking to maintain or enter outpatient drug and alcohol recovery programs during the COVID-19 emergency that help is available to them through online and telephone-based counseling services and meetings.
“At this difficult time for all Pennsylvanians, it is imperative that we as a community redouble our efforts to support those among us who struggle with substance use disorder and those in recovery,” Senator Tartaglione said. “I am pleased to report that the Commonwealth’s Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs, as well as many private-sector programs are acting to mitigate the new challenges created by the coronavirus pandemic.”
While Pennsylvania remains under the disaster emergency declared by Governor Tom Wolf on March 6, all designated Single County Authorities that have received grant funding from the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs for outpatient substance use disorder services may use those funds to provide counseling and other clinical services using telehealth technology.
Qualified counselors may provide telehealth using real-time, two-way interactive audio-video transmission services in licensed Drug and Alcohol Outpatient clinics. While the two-way interactive transmission is the preferred method, services provided by telephone and in the home are also acceptable.
For further information from the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs, visit: https://www.ddap.pa.gov/pages/default.aspx
In addition, numerous Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous groups are conducting meetings online and via teleconferencing. The following links provide information for online Alcohol Anonymous groups:
In addition, the following links provide information for online Narcotics Anonymous groups:
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If you would like more information about this topic, please contact William Kenny at 215-533-0440 or William.Kenny@pasenate.com.
by Christin Brown | March 25, 2020 | News Releases
Philadelphia, PA, March 25, 2020 – State Senator Christine Tartaglione (D-Philadelphia) joined her Senate colleagues and members of the Pennsylvania House today as they unanimously adopted comprehensive COVID-19/coronavirus relief legislation for workers and employers throughout the Commonwealth.
Both chambers adopted an amended version of House Bill 68, which includes a provision that enables displaced workers to obtain unemployment compensation sooner, and a provision that relieves employers of unemployment benefits charges in instances where the coronavirus emergency caused the employee layoff.
“Just as the thousands of individuals afflicted by this illness need time and resources to recover, displaced workers and their employers need time and resources to get back on their feet again,” Senator Tartaglione said during the Senate’s remote legislative session. “This legislation provides them with the time and resources they need by helping to mitigate the financial setbacks caused by the coronavirus.”
As amended, HB 68 codifies the Wolf administration’s waiver of the one-week waiting period usually required for displaced workers before they may apply for unemployment benefits. The waiting period waiver will remain in effect for the duration of the coronavirus emergency declaration. The bill also codifies the administration’s suspension of the work search and registration requirements of the Commonwealth’s unemployment compensation law during the emergency.
To ensure that displaced workers receive comprehensive and timely information about the availability of unemployment benefits, the amended HB 68 requires employers to notify employees upon separation from the company of the availability of unemployment compensation, the employee’s ability to file a benefits claim, website information for filing a claim, and the information that the employee must provide to submit a claim.
The amended bill further requires the Department of Labor & Industry to provide companies relief from unemployment benefit charges in cases where the employee separation resulted directly from coronavirus or from restrictions implemented by the government in response to the pandemic. In addition, the bill extends the window for employers to request full relief from benefit charges from 15 days to 21 days.
The Department of Labor Industry projects that the bill will result in an increase of $6 million in relief from benefit charges granted to employers, as well as a reduction of $1 million annually in unemployment compensation contributions by employers.
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If you would like more information about this topic, please contact William Kenny at 215-533-0440 or William.Kenny@pasenate.com.
by Christin Brown | March 18, 2020 | News Releases
The Commonwealth Financing Agency has transferred additional funding into the Small Business First program to support low interest working capital loans.
Philadelphia, PA, March 18, 2020 – State Senator Christine Tartaglione (D-Philadelphia) is advising Pennsylvania small businesses that they may be eligible for low interest loans of up to $100,000 to fulfill their working capital needs during the COVID-19/coronavirus emergency.
The Commonwealth Financing Agency (CFA) has transferred $40 million into the Small Business First (SBF) program administered by the Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority (PIDA). This funding will be combined with $21 million from PIDA’s own resources for a total of $61 million in additional SBF funding.
“Small businesses are bearing a tremendous burden during the coronavirus emergency as they have been asked to reduce or suspend their non-essential operations and as Pennsylvania consumers have been advised to practice social distancing,” Senator Tartaglione said. “These loans will help small businesses pay their bills and keep the lights on until this public health crisis subsides.”
CFA moved $40 million from PIDA’s Machinery and Equipment Loan Fund to SBF with the support of the four caucuses of the Pennsylvania General Assembly and Governor Tom Wolf. These funds will be used to award working capital loans of up to $100,000 to businesses that employ 100 or fewer people. The current interest rate is 3.0% but the PIDA board is empowered to modify the rate.
SBF is the most logical program to assist small businesses quickly because this is already its intended purpose. It has the structure and regional infrastructure to help small businesses immediately, including partnerships with local Certified Economic Development Organizations (CEDOs) that help businesses prepare and submit applications to PIDA. As these loans have a maximum amount of $100,000, they can be approved by PIDA staff in a timely fashion providing that all application requirements are satisfied.
Information about Small Business First and other PIDA programs is available via https://dced.pa.gov/programs/pennsylvania-industrial-development-authority-pida/
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If you would like more information about this topic, please contact William Kenny at 215-533-0440 or William.Kenny@pasenate.com.
by Christin Brown | March 17, 2020 | News Releases
Provisions of Pennsylvania’s Unemployment Compensation Law will be relaxed for the duration of the COVID-19 Emergency to help workers displaced by the pandemic
Philadelphia, PA, March 17, 2020 – State Senator Christine Tartaglione (D-Philadelphia) welcomes Governor Tom Wolf’s directive to relax the waiting period, work registration, and work search requirements for Pennsylvanians who claim unemployment compensation benefits during the COVID-19 (coronavirus disease) pandemic.
Wolf has instructed the Department of Labor & Industry to suspend the waiting-week requirement in Section 401(e) of Pennsylvania’s Unemployment Compensation Law. As a result, the first week of a worker’s unemployment will be compensable. This suspension will remain in effect for the duration of the governor’s disaster emergency declaration for COVID-19.
The governor has also directed the department to suspend the work registration and search requirements. These measures will also remain in effect for the duration of the disaster emergency.
“As businesses throughout the Commonwealth make the difficult but necessary decision to close or reduce their operations temporarily in response to the public health emergency, many workers find themselves suddenly without income and wondering how they will pay their bills,” Senator Tartaglione said. “The measures initiated by the governor will allow these Pennsylvanians to collect unemployment compensation sooner and help them to protect their financial wellbeing as well as their physical health.”
Pennsylvania’s Unemployment Compensation Law allows for employers to be relieved of charges for compensation once there has been a federal disaster declaration under the Stafford Act and the individual claimants would have been eligible for Disaster Unemployment Assistance. Therefore, an employer may be relieved from charges for compensation paid to an individual with respect to any week of unemployment occurring due to COVID-19.
The Unemployment Compensation website offers up-to-date information for workers impacted by COVID-19. Workers may be eligible for compensation should the employer close temporarily or permanently or should the employee experience a reduction in hours. Displaced workers may apply for compensation online.
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If you would like more information about this topic, please contact William Kenny at 215-533-0440 or William.Kenny@pasenate.com.
by Christin Brown | March 13, 2020 | News Releases
Philadelphia, PA, March 13, 2020 – State Senator Christine Tartaglione (D-Philadelphia) today issued the following statement regarding the comprehensive response of the Governor Wolf administration to the COVID-19/coronavirus pandemic:
“As we all continue to monitor the steady stream of reports regarding coronavirus and its impact on our families and communities, I’d like to take a moment to recognize the diligent and effective work being performed by the Wolf administration in collaboration with the medical community to minimize the health risks for all Pennsylvanians. From the outset, the administration has provided us with detailed real-time information about the proliferation of the virus and measures we must take to prevent it. I highly recommend using the Pennsylvania Department of Health website as a primary resource for the latest updates.”
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If you would like more information about this topic, please contact William Kenny at 215-533-0440 or William.Kenny@pasenate.com.
by Christin Brown | March 12, 2020 | News Releases
Philadelphia, PA, March 12, 2020 – State Senator Christine Tartaglione (D-Philadelphia) today announced the award of a $116,485 Non-Profit Security Grant to Drizin-Weiss Post 215 in support of safety improvements at the Burholme veterans’ hall and its adjoining shopping center.
“The members of Post 215 served our community and our nation with pride and distinction, so I am thrilled to support their efforts to improve their meeting facility,” Senator Tartaglione said.
“We are enhancing security for the vets that visit the facility as well as the community that uses the center,” Post 215 Commander M.B. Kanis said.
The Post welcomes between 1,800 and 3,000 visitors each month. Its $116,485 grant is being administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development. Grants totaling $5 million were awarded to 113 organizations in 26 Pennsylvania counties as part of the Non-Profit Security Grant Fund. Amounts ranged from $7,200 to $150,000.
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If you would like more information about this topic, please contact William Kenny at 215-533-0440 or William.Kenny@pasenate.com.
by Christin Brown | March 6, 2020 | News Releases
The senator secured funding through the Department of Community and Economic Development to convert a debris-strewn property into multi-use public space.
Philadelphia, PA, March 6, 2020 – State Senator Christine Tartaglione (D-Philadelphia) delivered a $50,000 development grant to the Mayfair Community Development Corporation during the CDC’s executive board meeting last night. The state funding will support the acquisition and redevelopment of a vacant, debris-strewn lot on the 7300 block of Crispin St.
The CDC plans to repurpose the triangular-shaped lot, which measures more than one-third of an acre, into community park space as well as storage space for local non-profit organizations and businesses that routinely present public events in and around the nearby major intersection of Cottman and Frankford avenues.
“I am pleased and excited to bring this public investment into Mayfair, where residents, businesses and organizations like the CDC are working hard to perpetuate and grow their strong sense of community spirit,” Senator Tartaglione said. “There always seems to be something big and fun happening in Mayfair. I look forward to taking part in their many festivals and celebrations for years to come.”
The funding was awarded through the Department of Community and Economic Development’s Local Share Account program, which disburses a portion of slot machine revenue generated by casino operators in Philadelphia.
“The lot has been an eyesore for the neighborhood, for the (Mayfair) Civic Association and for the CDC for a long time,” CDC Vice Chairman Kevin Leonard said. “To be able to do something positive with that land to help the neighborhood is an excellent thing.”
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If you would like more information about this topic, please contact William Kenny at 215-533-0440 or William.Kenny@pasenate.com.
by Christin Brown | February 27, 2020 | News Releases
Philadelphia, PA, February 27, 2020 – State Senator Christine M. Tartaglione (D-Philadelphia) today issued the following statement in response to the announcement by the Federal Trade Commission that it has authorized an action to block the proposed merger of Jefferson Health and Albert Einstein Healthcare Network:
“The merger of Jefferson Health and Einstein Healthcare Network would provide the residents of North Philadelphia and the surrounding region with improved access to high-quality, reliable medical care, so I am extremely disappointed that the FTC has chosen to challenge this definitive agreement. As a safety net hospital within a largely underserved community, Einstein has long been committed to securing the resources needed to deliver essential medical care to families in need. The merger with Jefferson would advance that noble mission and support community health for the foreseeable future.”
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If you would like more information about this topic, please contact William Kenny at 215-533-0440 or William.Kenny@pasenate.com.
by Christin Brown | February 27, 2020 | News Releases
Philadelphia, PA, February 27, 2020 – State Senator Christine M. Tartaglione (D-Philadelphia) today announced that the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency has awarded more than $5.3 million in grants to Philadelphia-based schools and community organizations for school safety and community violence reduction initiatives.
The Commission’s School Safety and Security Committee awarded $60 million statewide, including $52.5 million in School Safety and Security Grants and $7.5 million in Community Violence Prevention/Reduction Grants.
“Every Pennsylvania child deserves access to quality education. And it is our responsibility as a Commonwealth to provide every child with a safe, secure, and healthy learning environment,” Senator Tartaglione said. “This funding will help schools and communities in Philadelphia and across the state to bolster their security while implementing programs that reduce the threat of violence.”
The School District of Philadelphia was awarded $2.6 million to support numerous initiatives including conflict resolution, dispute management, and restorative justice strategies; positive behavior support; classroom management; anti-bullying programs; security-related planning and technology; staff and student training; training and compensation of school resource officers and school police; and implementing trauma-informed approaches to education.
Several independent Philadelphia schools received additional funding, including Belmont Charter, Mastery Charter – Pastorius Campus, Overbrook School for the Blind, Philadelphia Academy Charter, and Tech Freire Charter.
Community Violence Prevention/Reduction Grants were awarded to Women Against Abuse, Big Brothers Big Sisters Independence Region, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, MEE Productions Inc., Children’s Crisis Treatment Center, Temple University, and City of Philadelphia Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual Disability Services.
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If you would like more information about this topic, please contact William Kenny at 215-533-0440 or William.Kenny@pasenate.com.
by Christin Brown | February 4, 2020 | News Releases
During his annual budget address today, Governor Wolf said PA should invest in fixing toxic schools, raise its minimum wage, and require the reporting of lost or stolen guns. He is also calling for a lower corporate tax rate while closing the ‘Delaware Loophole.’
Philadelphia, PA, February 4, 2020 – State Senator Christine M. Tartaglione (D-Philadelphia) issued the following statement regarding the fiscal year 2020-2021 budget address delivered by Governor Tom Wolf today to a joint session of the Pennsylvania General Assembly.
Among the governor’s many policies to advance the Commonwealth on a “path to prosperity,” he proposed investing more than $1 billion toward identifying and removing contaminants such as asbestos and lead from schools; raising the minimum wage to $15; reducing the corporate tax rate while closing the “Delaware Loophole”; and requiring gun owners to report to authorities any lost or stolen firearms:
“I applaud Governor Wolf for embracing and taking action on many of the initiatives I have championed in the Senate for many years and those that I continue to advocate. Toxic schools are a statewide crisis that need immediate response from all stakeholders. We need local, state, and federal investment as well as a coordinated effort to protect the health of students, teachers, staff, and all people who visit our schools. I strongly support funding for toxic schools in pending capital budget legislation.”
“Minimum wage is another issue that affects all Pennsylvanians. Raising our minimum wage to a true living wage, as I have proposed in Senate Bill 12, would help us to reduce poverty throughout the Commonwealth and would help low-wage workers afford necessities like food, shelter, transportation, healthcare, and childcare. It would also help businesses by putting more spending money in consumers’ pockets and increase Pennsylvania’s tax revenues.”
“I also agree with the governor that closing the Delaware Loophole and lowering our Corporate Net Income Tax will benefit all Pennsylvanians. My legislation, Senate Bill 1032, would achieve this. Thousands of companies that do business in Pennsylvania and make money here aren’t paying their fair share of taxes. That’s unfair to all taxpayers. By requiring companies to reveal what they really make and pay what they really owe, we will be able to reduce our corporate tax rate, which is among the highest in the nation, and make the Commonwealth more attractive for businesses.”
“Public safety and gun violence is another fundamental issue that we must address. I’m glad that Governor Wolf is calling for common-sense gun laws, like those I have proposed in Senate Bill 483. We must reduce the number of illegal guns on our streets, and we can do that by stopping the people who deal in illegal guns, including straw purchasers. Mandatory reporting will help to protect all Pennsylvanians from gun violence, including law-abiding, responsible gun owners.”
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If you would like more information about this topic, please contact William Kenny at 215-533-0440 or William.Kenny@pasenate.com.
by Christin Brown | January 31, 2020 | News Releases
Philadelphia, PA – January 31, 2020 – In coordination with Governor Tom Wolf’s Reach Out PA: Your Mental Health Matters initiative announced earlier this month, Pennsylvania Department of Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine joined Sen. Tina Tartaglione to lead a roundtable discussion on the mental health challenges and needed supports for those with substance use disorder.
The Reach Out PA initiative is a multi-agency effort and anti-stigma campaign aimed at expanding resources and the state’s comprehensive support of mental health and related health care priorities in Pennsylvania. Reach Out PA will address many recommendations for improving mental-health services laid out by the Council on Reform, created last year by the governor’s executive order to protect vulnerable populations.
“As part of the Governor’s Reach Out PA: Your Mental Health Matters campaign, we want everyone to feel comfortable speaking about their mental health,” Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said. “Talking about mental health issues and the resources individuals need is essential to making sure every resident has access to the care they need. Understanding that it is okay to not feel okay is essential as we work to establish a healthy Pennsylvania for all.”
“At the same time, as advocates and leaders, we must acknowledge the weaknesses in the mental-health system and find ways to ensure that every Pennsylvanian has access to the care they need regardless of location, income and the type of care – including that to support substance use disorder – they need.”
According to a 2017 study from the University of Southern California, approximately 1 million adult Pennsylvanians struggled with serious psychological distress at least once in 2015. Of those adults, more than 27 percent had an unmet need for mental health care. That population includes 42 percent who did not receive mental health care because they could not afford it.
At Friday’s roundtable, mental health providers and advocates, along with community members joined Dr. Levine and Sen. Tartaglione to focus discussion on the mental-health needs and barriers to treatment for Pennsylvanians.
“I’d like to thank the Wolf administration, the medical community, the recovery community, and insurers for convening this roundtable to reinforce and expand our efforts to address Pennsylvania’s opioid emergency.” Sen. Tartaglione said. “As we strive to heal people who suffer from opioid use disorder, it is crucial that we identify and treat the mental health conditions that often contribute to and perpetuate their illness. We must develop and employ an integrated approach that treats the entire person, an approach that prepares patients for a healthy and productive life.”
If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis or is considering suicide, help is available. Reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or contact Crisis Text Line by texting PA to 741-741.
Find more information on the Wolf Administration’s fight against the opioid crisis here.
MEDIA CONTACT: Nate Wardle- 717-787-1783 or ra-dhpressoffice@pa.gov
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by Christin Brown | January 30, 2020 | News Releases
Asbestos and lead paint detection and remediation will be two focus areas for statewide targeted investments at schools, day care centers, homes, and public water systems.
Harrisburg, PA, January 30, 2020 – State Senator Christine Tartaglione (D-Philadelphia) yesterday joined Governor Tom Wolf and many of her legislative colleagues to announce a $1.1 billion combined state and federal funding proposal for the remediation of toxic materials including asbestos and lead from Pennsylvania’s schools, day care centers, homes, and public water systems.
The major portion of the proposal is an investment of up to $1 billion in Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program grant opportunities for aging schools throughout the state where toxins threaten the health of students, teachers, staff, and the community members who visit the facilities.
“This is a timely and meaningful commitment to Pennsylvania’s students and educators, a far-reaching and comprehensive investment in our aging school buildings,” Senator Tartaglione said. “There is an urgent need for these resources because with every week, every day, and every hour that passes, countless individuals may be exposed to undetected toxic substances.”
The governor also proposed leveraging $4 million in state funding to obtain $10 million in additional federal funding through the Health Services Initiative (HSI), a collaboration involving the Department of Human Services and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to remediate lead in places where children have been exposed to high levels of the harmful substance.
Further, the governor proposed employing recently adopted federal legislation that allows states to transfer dollars from their clean water state revolving fund allocations into their drinking water state revolving funds. Doing so could free up to $90 million in Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST) grants for lead water service line replacements.
To address housing-related lead-based paint hazards, Pennsylvania and several local communities within the state have been awarded $22.5 million in grants through the federal Lead Based Paint Hazard Reduction Program since last September. The governor has proposed to convene a roundtable of these recipients coordinated by the state’s Department of Health to ensure collaboration in the implementation of their hazard reduction projects.
Finally, the Wolf administration has applied to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for a $1.7 million Lead Testing in School and Child Care Program Drinking Water Grant. The EPA has not announced the award recipients for the program. Funding would support environmental testing at 3,000 Pennsylvania schools and childcare facilities.
In recent months, Senator Tartaglione has worked closely with public school stakeholders from Philadelphia and from throughout the Commonwealth to develop solutions to the pervasive toxic schools problem.
Six public schools in Philadelphia, including several in Senator Tartaglione’s district, have been shut down for emergency repairs this academic year after environmental tests revealed the presence of hazardous asbestos. One elementary school was closed for more than three weeks, declared safe to reopen, then closed again just two days later when additional asbestos was detected.
“We know that until the late 1970s, asbestos was commonly used in school construction. In Philadelphia and communities of all sizes throughout the state, most schools fall into that category,” Senator Tartaglione said. “We know the threat. The fear is what we don’t know about. Experts tell us it can take years, even decades, after someone is exposed to asbestos for harmful and often fatal illnesses to surface.”
Earlier this month, Senator Tartaglione convened a summit of local, state, and federal elected officials, organized labor leaders, and public-school officials where participants shared knowledge and ideas on the issue.
“Our conversations then and those I have had with various stakeholders since then reaffirm that this is not just a Philadelphia issue, a Democratic or Republican issue, or an urban or rural issue,” Senator Tartaglione said. “It’s an issue for all Pennsylvanians. Protecting the health of our school children, teachers, staff, and administrators must be our highest priority as we fulfill our Constitutional obligation to provide all kids with access to equal and safe public education. We have inherited a heavy burden, and we all have a role in carrying the load.”
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If you would like more information about this topic, please contact William Kenny at 215-533-0440 or William.Kenny@pasenate.com.
by Christin Brown | January 17, 2020 | News Releases
Philadelphia, PA – January 17, 2020 – State Senator Christine Tartaglione (D-Philadelphia) issued the following statement regarding the School District of Philadelphia’s response to asbestos contamination at Alexander McClure Elementary School and at Francis Hopkinson Elementary School:
“I am extremely frustrated and deeply concerned that the School District of Philadelphia was forced to close Alexander McClure Elementary School for a second time today after new environmental testing revealed that the district failed to properly contain hazardous airborne asbestos in the building. The district spent more than three weeks on this emergency project before declaring McClure safe to reopen just two days ago.”
“I am equally disappointed that the district has also detected hazardous asbestos inside Francis Hopkinson Elementary School. Yet – in this case – it has chosen to keep the building open for regularly scheduled classes and activities. It is my understanding that the district notified students’ parents in a letter, but it did not promptly share its new knowledge of this threat with the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers.”
“These two cases, within the context of the citywide toxic schools crisis, raise serious questions about the district’s ability or will to systematically identify and promptly remediate materials that threaten the health of students, faculty, and staff. They also demonstrate a troubling lack of consistent and effective communication by the district with its many stakeholders including students and their families, teachers, staff, and the communities served by the schools.”
“In light of these two cases, and the unresolved complaints of environmental hazards at many other public schools, I call upon the district to complete comprehensive and fully transparent environmental inspections immediately at every public school throughout Philadelphia.”
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If you would like more information about this topic, please contact William Kenny at 215-533-0440 or William.Kenny@pasenate.com.
William Kenny
Communications Director for
State Sen. Christine M. Tartaglione
Office: 215-533-0440
William.Kenny@pasenate.com
by Christin Brown | January 14, 2020 | News Releases
The Frankford CDC will use the Local Share Account funding to stabilize the blighted Paul Street property and prepare it for commercial and residential redevelopment.
Philadelphia, PA − January 14, 2020 − State Senator Christine Tartaglione (D-Philadelphia) visited the headquarters of the Frankford Community Development Corporation (CDC) today to deliver a $54,610 state grant that will help the CDC to stabilize and rehabilitate a fire-damaged mixed-use property in the heart of the local commercial district.
“The CDC has made great strides in recent years to revitalize the Frankford Avenue corridor, remove blight, and promote the growth of new businesses. This public investment will enable the CDC to continue its work, which has had a tremendous positive impact throughout the community,” Senator Tartaglione said.
The grant was awarded through the Department of Community and Economic Development’s Local Share Account program, which reallocates a portion of the funds generated by casinos that operate slot machines within Philadelphia.
“The Local Share Account grant will allow the Frankford CDC to stabilize what is now a hazardous and blighted site at 4663 Paul Street,” said Kimberly Washington, Esq., executive director of the Frankford CDC. “This vacant property is the last remaining site on the block in need of improvements, making it vital to the Frankford CDC’s goals to revitalize Frankford Avenue as set out in its Reimagining Margaret-Orthodox initiative.”
On October 26, 2018, flames ravaged the three-story storefront, which is just two doors from the Frankford CDC office and less than a block from SEPTA’s bustling Market-Frankford El. The multi-alarm blaze largely gutted the property, which was being used as an unlicensed boarding house. It burned for several hours and spread to a neighboring building, causing severe damage to the second and third floors of both structures.
Frankford CDC bought the property last fall and will use the new grant funding for the first phase of its rehabilitation, including cleanout, demolition, framing, roof replacement, and floor stabilization. These measures will address any immediate safety issues and prevent structural damage to neighboring buildings.
The non-profit CDC will seek to raise additional funding to complete final renovations that will include commercial space on the ground floor, as well as four affordable housing units on the second and third floors.
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If you would like more information about this topic, please contact William Kenny at 215-533-0440 or William.Kenny@pasenate.com.
by Christin Brown | January 7, 2020 | News Releases
$50,000 in combined funding will enable teachers to visit local employers to learn the skills and industry trends that will improve their students’ career readiness.
Philadelphia, PA, January 6, 2020 – State Senator Christine M. Tartaglione (D-Philadelphia) today announced that two schools in the 2nd Senate District are among 92 Local Education Agencies (LEA) across Pennsylvania that have been awarded Teacher in the Workplace grants through the state’s Department of Education.
Antonia Pantoja Community Charter School at 4101 N. American Street and John B. Stetson Charter School at 3200 B Street will each receive a $25,000 targeted grant to enable teachers to visit local employers and learn the skills and industry trends to enhance their classroom instruction, improve student learning, and improve students’ career readiness.
“The greatest professional challenge facing young people today is not finding a job. It’s finding a career that will support them and their families for many years to come,” Senator Tartaglione said. “To meet this challenge, it is vital for educators to understand the changing labor market and to learn what careers provide students with the best opportunities.”
The Department of Education awarded $2.2 million in targeted grants to schools statewide. Grants are also available through the Department of Labor for other LEAs including businesses, chambers of commerce, labor organizations, postsecondary institutions, community organizations, public libraries, trade associations, and economic development entities. Teacher in the Workplace grants consist of federal funding allocated through the Every Student Succeeds Act and state funding through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunities Act.
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If you would like more information about this topic, please contact William Kenny at 215-533-0440 or William.Kenny@pasenate.com.
by Christin Brown | December 20, 2019 | News Releases
Philadelphia, PA, December 20, 2019 – State Senator Christine Tartaglione (D-Philadelphia) issued the following statement regarding the School District of Philadelphia’s closures of Laura H. Carnell Elementary School and Alexander K. McClure Elementary School due to the detection of hazardous asbestos in the schools:
“I was disheartened and disturbed, but not surprised, to learn that hazardous asbestos has been detected at Carnell and McClure, both of which serve families of the 2nd Senate District. As a member of the Fund Our Facilities Coalition and through the diligent advocacy of the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers, I have become keenly aware of the pervasiveness of hazardous materials in public schools throughout the city and I remain committed to identifying resources that will enable the School District to eliminate the threats and protect the health of the people who occupy these aging facilities every day.”
“In addition, I will continue to fight for state legislation that will extend OSHA safety protections for state and local public employees, as well as all people who use our public buildings. It’s tragic that our schoolchildren and our dedicated educators cannot focus on the important work they do without fearing long-term and potentially fatal health complications. I commend the School District for taking swift action to close Carnell and McClure until the hazards are remediated. Yet, formulating, adopting, and funding a comprehensive plan to remediate ALL schools must be our top priority.”
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If you would like more information about this topic, please contact William Kenny at 215-533-0440 or William.Kenny@pasenate.com.
by Christin Brown | December 18, 2019 | Minimum Wage, News Releases
Philadelphia, PA, December 18, 2019 – Democratic legislators from both chambers of the Pennsylvania General Assembly evoked The Grinch and Scrooge to denounce the inaction by House Republican leadership on Senate Bill 79, legislation that would raise Pennsylvania’s minimum wage to $9.50 an hour by January 2022.
State Senators Christine M. Tartaglione and Art Haywood, and State Reps. Patty Kim and Christopher M. Rabb hosted the news conference with the support of their Democratic caucus colleagues and Secretary of Labor & Industry W. Gerard Oleksiak. All four lawmakers have introduced legislation aimed at modernizing Pennsylvania’s Minimum Wage Act to reflect the rising costs of living and raising families in the Commonwealth.
Senator Tartaglione, the primary sponsor of SB 79, read a passage from the Dr. Seuss classic, “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” while comparing House Speaker Mike Turzai to the poem’s infamous title character.
“There are literally millions of ‘Whos’ living in every city, every small town, and every ‘Whoville’ across this great Commonwealth,” Senator Tartaglione (D-Philadelphia) said. “Unlike the loveable creatures in the Dr. Seuss classic, their plight is nothing to delight us every holiday season.”
“Raising the minimum wage has been a priority this year, and we have failed hardworking Pennsylvanians to pass this bill into law,” Senator Haywood (D-Montgomery/Philadelphia) said. “I stand here with my colleagues to continue to offer support for raising the minimum wage in Pennsylvania and pull hardworking families out of poverty.”
Representative Rabb (D-Philadelphia) extended the holiday theme by quoting Charles Dickens’ novel, “A Christmas Carol,” equating Speaker Turzai to Ebenezer Scrooge, and warning that the spirits of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come may soon be paying him a visit.
“These working people aren’t asking for charity,” Representative Rabb said. “These people are working – working hard – for 40, 50 hours a week or more. These people are serving your Christmas dinners, cleaning the hotels your visiting relatives are staying at, and making sure you’ve got a place to get gas and batteries and milk when everything else is closed. They’re asking for the fair day’s pay for a hard day’s work they’ve earned and they’re owed.”
“The modest raise in Senate Bill 79 would make a major difference for so many families, especially families and households led by women,” Representative Kim (D-Dauphin) said. “I’m sad, I’m disappointed, but I’m also ready to fight until these people get the raise they’ve earned.”
Pennsylvania’s base minimum wage stands at the national minimum of $7.25 an hour and has not increased since 2009, when the federal rate took effect. Pennsylvania last enacted an increase to its minimum wage on July 9, 2006. That’s 4,910 days ago.
With strong bipartisan support, the Senate overwhelmingly adopted SB 79 on November 20. The legislation then moved to the House for consideration and was referred to its Labor & Industry Committee. House leaders have not advanced the bill or scheduled it for consideration by the committee.
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by Christin Brown | December 16, 2019 | News Releases
The investment will help to provide more than 900 public school students with new learning and active play opportunities in a safe and secure outdoor environment.
Philadelphia, PA, December 13, 2019 – State Senator Christine Tartaglione (D-Philadelphia) was joined by State Rep. Jared Solomon at Carnell Elementary School today for the presentation of a $200,388 Pennsylvania grant in support of a new Green Playscape and Community Design project at the school.
Coordinated by the non-profit Oxford Circle Christian Community Development Association, the project will transform a barren, asphalt-covered yard adjoining Carnell’s two instructional buildings into a vibrant recreational and educational space with a climbing wall, play surface and mounds, language path, basketball and soccer goals, and other interactive playground equipment.
“This Green Playscape project is a great example of the power of strong public-private partnerships to create positive change in our communities,” Senator Tartaglione said. “The investment we are making here today will help to create an attractive and useful recreational and learning space that will benefit thousands of children for many years to come.”
The grant was administered through the Department of Community and Economic Development’s Local Share Account, which distributes a portion of slot machine license fees paid by casinos operating in Philadelphia. OCCCDA Executive Director Pearl Wang-Herrera, Carnell Principal Hilderbrand Pelzer III, and Community Design Collaborative Director of Design Heidi Segall Levy took part in the check presentation ceremony.
“We are so thankful for the DCED LSA funding and are excited to transform the current empty asphalt lot to provide a playground to engage the 900 students at Carnell with creative activities and a safe environment,” Wang-Herrera said.
The conceptual plans include a centrally located mural on the ground and a walking path with images that celebrate the cultural diversity of the student population. Two basketball goals and two soccer goals will be installed with a 15-foot fence bordering the court. Recycled rubber surfaces and mounds will help to demarcate play areas dedicated to younger and older pupils.
In addition, a “rock” wall for climbing and surrounding play surface will enable students to strengthen their body coordination, while ADA-approved ramps and pathways will provide full accessibility to the facility. The total cost of the project will be about $1 million.
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If you would like more information about this topic, please contact William Kenny at 215-533-0440 or William.Kenny@pasenate.com.
by Christin Brown | December 3, 2019 | News Releases
The investment will help New Kensington CDC to create affordable, neighborhood-oriented commercial and residential units that will revitalize the business corridor.
Philadelphia, PA, December 3, 2019 – State Senator Christine Tartaglione (D-Philadelphia) delivered a $150,000 Pennsylvania grant today to the New Kensington Community Development Corporation (NKCDC) to help the non-profit organization redevelop two formerly vacant storefronts at 2513-15 Frankford Ave. The adjoining properties will be converted into affordable, neighborhood-oriented commercial and residential space that will revitalize the surrounding business corridor.
The grant was awarded through the Department of Community and Economic Development’s (DCED) Local Share Account program, a fund that distributes a portion of slot machine license fees paid by casinos operating within the City of Philadelphia. Senator Tartaglione visited New Kensington’s new Ruth Street offices to present the funding to CEO Felix Torres-Colon and other New Kensington officials.
“For more than 30 years, New Kensington CDC has done a tremendous job facilitating and overseeing the revitalization of the Frankford Avenue corridor. This is an area that fell on hard times due to the decline of local manufacturing, but it is now growing once again thanks to their efforts,” Senator Tartaglione said. “This state funding will assist the local renaissance by bringing affordable retail and residential space to the avenue, along with jobs and commerce.”
“NKCDC is very excited to receive this Local Share grant from Pennsylvania DCED,” Torres-Colon said. “When we moved our offices to Orinoka Civic House on Somerset Street this year, we saw an opportunity to make another investment in our old office space on Frankford Avenue. In their neighborhood plan, East Kensington residents asked for development that promotes local businesses and maintains affordability. We look forward to creating commercial space and rental apartments that will add to the lively, walkable neighborhood along Frankford Avenue.”
NKCDC acquired the Frankford Avenue properties from the City of Philadelphia in the late 1980s. They were vacant at the time. The non-profit organization established its offices there as it grew to employ 25 people. Earlier this year, NKCDC completed its conversion of a former mill building at Ruth and Somerset streets into Orinoka Civic House. The CDC offices are now located there along with 51 affordable apartment units.
Re-establishing the Frankford Avenue properties as mixed-use, commercial/residential buildings will restore their original, intended use and will be consistent with the city’s Philadelphia2035 Comprehensive Plan for the River Wards. The project will make the properties fully ADA compliant, provide much-needed affordable housing, and expand neighborhood commerce while creating new jobs.
NKCDC, which manages the corridor and maintains it under contract with the city, will market the new commercial properties to potential tenants and support the new businesses as they grow with the community. For information about NKCDC, visit nkcdc.org.Frankford Avenue Storefronts, Senator Christine Tartaglione, Grants
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If you would like more information about this topic, please contact William Kenny at 215-533-0440 or William.Kenny@pasenate.com.
by Christin Brown | November 27, 2019 | News Releases
After delivering the Local Share Account grant to Impact Services Corp., the senator and State Rep. Angel Cruz served Thanksgiving meals to formerly homeless local veterans.
Philadelphia, PA − November 27, 2019 – State Senator Christine Tartaglione (D-Philadelphia) and State Rep. Angel Cruz delivered a $427,479 grant from Pennsylvania’s Department of Community and Economic Development to Impact Services Corp. today in support of the nonprofit organization’s renovation of a former Kensington textile mill into a community gymnasium and multi-use campus.
The 12,000-square-foot gymnasium project is part of a $30 million mixed-use redevelopment of the former Downs Carpet Mill on the corner of ‘A’ and Indiana streets. Impact Services’ longterm plans for the site – which is part of its “Hope Park Focus Zone” – also include 48 affordable housing units, 60,000 square feet of commercial space, a community center, a health center, and a business incubator. Impact Services already provides housing and supportive services for formerly homeless veterans on-site.
“This project has the potential to completely transform this block and the surrounding neighborhood into a social, cultural, and economic destination. So I was thrilled to help Impact Services secure this major state funding,” Senator Tartaglione said.
“I am pleased that DCED awarded a grant for this project because it is much-needed for the community,” Representative Cruz said. “And I hope to continue supporting the redevelopment of this site.”
“This development is an example of what becomes possible when neighbors and government come together to strengthen a neighborhood,” Impact Services CEO Casey O’Donnell said. “We are grateful that state officials share in the vision and are making the needed investment.”
The grant presented by Senator Tartaglione and Representative Cruz will specifically be used for site preparation, utility separation, demolition of non-historic buildings, heating, air conditioning, and bathroom upgrades. The overall redevelopment project is detailed in Impact Services’ “Heart of Kensington” neighborhood plan and involves the entire 140,000-square-foot former mill. Information about the plan is available at www.impactservices.org/neighborhoodplan/.
The Hope Park Focus Zone contains some of Philadelphia’s most-active blocks for drug activity and crimes. The presence of vacant buildings and lots throughout the area contribute to the drug and crime problems. Yet, the vacancies also provide “clean slate” opportunities for redevelopment.
Impact Services has been working in the Kensington neighborhood since 1974 to help residents get job training, reenter the workforce, find housing, and build the community. In the last two decades, the agency has developed a specific focus on building a continuum of services including housing for homeless veterans. The agency offers transitional and permanent housing for about 200 veterans in two large facilities and several scattered sites.
The grant presented by Senator Tartaglione and Representative Cruz today was administered through DCED’s Local Share Account program, which distributes a portion of slot machine license fees paid by casinos operating within the City of Philadelphia.
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If you would like more information about this topic, please contact William Kenny at 215-5330440 or mailto:William.Kenny@pasenate.com.v
by Christin Brown | November 20, 2019 | Minimum Wage, News Releases
Harrisburg – November 20, 2019 – Today, State Senator Christine Tartaglione (D-Philadelphia), joined State Senator Art Haywood (D-Montgomery/Philadelphia), State Representative Patty Kim (D-103), State Representative Chris Rabb (D-200), and advocacy organization State Innovation Exchange (SiX) for a news conference. This media event was in response to the Senate passage of legislation to increase the minimum wage rate to $9.50 by January 2022.
“Any increase in the minimum wage is a step in the right direction, but the bill adopted by the Senate today falls far short of what Pennsylvania workers need and deserve. This is not the bill that I have been fighting for. It’s not the bill that my colleagues in the Senate and House have been fighting for,” said Senator Tartaglione. “And it’s not the bill that workers have been fighting for. Pennsylvania workers deserve more. We must keep fighting for more and we will not stop until we get it.”
“Today, I voted yes to increase the minimum wage rate to $9.50 over a period of 24 months. There is still no change in the tipped wage for restaurant workers, no annual cost of living adjustment with inflation, and it keeps the ban on cities from increasing their own minimum wage,” said Senator Haywood. “The change from $7.25 to $9.50 gives minimum wage workers a $4,680 raise. I will continue efforts in my district to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour business by business and block by block until there is a fair wage.”
“After nearly a decade of Pennsylvania lagging behind neighboring states, Republicans are finally acknowledging that our current minimum wage is nothing short of a poverty wage. Yet, their response to H.B. 1215 and S.B. 79 is an inadequate counter-proposal to the substance of one fair wage. It is akin to keeping the economic knife in the side of the working poor, yet seeking praise for pulling it out an inch,” said state Rep. Chris Rabb. “More than 40% of the Pennsylvania workforce is working minimum wage jobs. We must ensure workers can adequately provide for their families by fighting for a living wage while breaking the scourge of poverty.”
“According to a poll commissioned by the State Innovation Exchange (SiX) and conducted by TargetSmart, Pennsylvania voters support a wide range of policies in the state to raise wages, strengthen our democracy, reform the criminal justice system, and protect the environment,” said Pennsylvania Director for State Innovation Exchange (SiX), Nikkilia Lu. “62% of voters support raising Pennsylvania’s minimum wage to fifteen dollars an hour over the next five years.”
This legislation is currently awaiting a vote by the Pennsylvania House.
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by Kyrie George | November 20, 2019 | Minimum Wage, News Releases, Videos
