Philadelphia’s politicians, those in office and seeking election, have no jurisdiction over certain policies that cause major problems and tensions for city residents, leaving frustrated taxpayers to seek redress from the state.
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The countless protests, rallies and press conferences held in front of the School District of Philadelphia’s headquarters over the years demanding officials abolish of the Philadelphia School Reform Commission, the body that governs Philadelphia’s schools, haven’t been in vain, they’ve kept journalists busy and spectators gawking; given mic time to politicos; allowed police officers to rake in overtime and enabled the formation of coalitions that are earnest in their pursuit of justice.
But in terms of affecting policy changes, the many actions anchored at 440 N. Broad Street in North Philadelphia have been unsuccessful, the School Reform Commission is no closer today to a defunct status than it was when activists in the summer of 2011 staged a mock SRC meeting at the district’s headquarters and shouted demands.
Activists, teachers and supporters of public education in 2014 rally in front of the School District of Philadelphia demanding the School Reform Commission abolished. Photo Credit: C. Norris – ©2015
The disruption caused by marches to the headquarters of the Philadelphia Police Department and City Hall over the last year in half demanding racist and vile officers be removed from the force have been beneficial in creating a climate for criminal justice reform dialogue to take place in communities and campaigns – the Mayor’s race towards the end of April and beginning of May was focused almost exclusively on policing issues, like stop-and-frisk.
But measured in changes to policy, and the activism would grade low, as arbitration – the legality that grants officers due process after a firing and which often results in them gaining their jobs back – hasn’t been reformed in the slightest and, according to democratic nominee for Mayor of Philadelphia, Mr. Jim Kenney, it won’t be augmented immediately by anyone due the complex and political nature of its existence.
Both issues – policing and education – are driving discontent in the City and, despite an election in less than two weeks, none of the elected officials will be in the position to mitigate either one, because those solutions lie with state legislators.
In regards to abolishing the SRC, the only known option has been the law that says board members must vote to dissolve the body, which no one on the SRC seems in favor of doing. But the state legislature could amend the law that created the SRC, which seems to be what the current Mayor of Philadelphia, Mr. Michael A. Nutter, is advocating for in his last days in office, though Mr. Kenney, likely believed to be Mr. Nutter’s successor, isn’t in favor of abolishing the SRC.
Amending state law is also what it would take to reform the arbitration process, as it would be considered a work rule change, suggested Mr. Kenney, at a Mayoral forum focused on police and criminal justice reform organized by Techbook Online and The Declaration, two online news organization.
Many Philadelphians, hopefully, will head to the ballots in a mere number of a days and vote for a new Mayor and other key positions – like City Councilpersons and Judges.
In my opinion, it would be in the best interest of Philadelphia’s future if those same citizens, who through their vote show that they, to a degree, care about the policies that govern the City, initiate direct actions in rural Pennsylvania, shutting down business as usual in the small towns and interrupting and inconveniencing the daily workings of lawmakers who, with the stroke of a pen and/or the raising of their hand, could change the political landscape in the nation’s fifth largest city, in particular, allowing the Mayor to make the executive decisions regarding policing and education so that taxpayers now who to hold accountability for wins and losses.
The first target of activism in Pennsylvania should be Mr. Mike Stack, a former State Senator, and the current Lieutenant Governor. Mr. Stack in the summer of 2011 introduced Senate Bill 1210, legislation that would abolish the SRC and replace it with a non-partisan, unpaid, elected school board “comprised of nine members elected by the citizens of Philadelphia.”
The bill went nowhere after its introduction and Mr. Stack was rarely heard from again on that issue. Whereas, Mr. Stack now holds an office with even greater weight in the state; and, whereas, the School District of Philadelphia is still grappling with the same issues it was in 2011 – among them, as Mr. Stack put it years ago, “dysfunctional governance” – the Lieutenant Governor appears to be a prime target, as he, if he still believes the words he uttered in August 2011, could help build the public will in the state needed to amend the law.
And if he doesn’t believe those words any longer, activists could challenge and, if need be, publicly shame his political evolution and inquire as to why, with conditions not improving at the School District of Philadelphia over the years, does he no longer want to rid the city of a governing body that he once said has let down the students, families and taxpayers of Philadelphia.
“The SRC had 10 years and billions of dollars to turn things around, ladies and gentlemen, we think it’s simply not working,” Mr. Stack said years ago.
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Thanks for reading. Until next time, I’m Flood the Drummer® & I’m Drumming for JUSTICE!™
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