por Christin Brown | 30 de noviembre de 2023 | reportaje, Comunicados de prensa
30 de noviembre de 2023 - Los miembros del Caucus Demócrata del Senado de Pensilvania, incluyendo el senador Vincent Hughes, el senador John Kane, la senadora Christine Tartaglione, y el senador Lindsey Williams, emitieron una declaración conjunta en respuesta a la opinión de la Corte Suprema de Pensilvania que apoya la jurisdicción de PennDOT para hacer cumplir la Ley de Salarios Compensatorios y su autoridad para descalificar a G.O. Hawbaker Inc. de los contratos de obras viales del estado.
Los cuatro senadores son patrocinadores del proyecto de ley 987 del Senado, legislación que obligaría a los empresarios a notificar a los trabajadores la práctica ilegal del robo de salario, al tiempo que ayudaría a proteger de represalias a los trabajadores que lo denuncien.
"Cuando nuestra Commonwealth hace negocios con organizaciones privadas, los ciudadanos de Pensilvania merecen saber que las empresas con las que contratamos son lo mejor de lo mejor y actúan con total transparencia. Aplaudimos al Tribunal Supremo de Pensilvania por responsabilizar a G. O. Hawbaker del robo de dinero a sus empleados. Y apoyamos los esfuerzos de PennDOT para descalificar a G. O. Hawbaker de futuros proyectos estatales.
El robo de salarios es una práctica moral y financieramente aborrecible. Cualquier empleador al que se descubra apropiándose indebidamente de la paga y las prestaciones de sus empleados debería ser obligado a indemnizarlos, como se hizo con G.O. Hawbreaker, y se le deberían imponer otras normas en el futuro. No debería permitirse a estas empresas reanudar su actividad con normalidad después de haber mostrado una intención tan maliciosa y una falta de respeto por el tiempo y el trabajo de los empleados.
Los trabajadores merecen el apoyo y las protecciones que han afirmado tanto el Tribunal Supremo de Pensilvania como PennDOT. En movimiento El proyecto de ley 987 del Senado y otras propuestas demócratas para combatir el robo de salarios (como el Proyecto de ley 46 del Senado, Proyecto de ley 47 del Senadoy Proyecto de ley 577 del Senado), sería otro tremendo paso adelante para los trabajadores de Pensilvania.
Esperamos que todas las empresas tomen nota de nuestro feroz compromiso con los trabajadores y con los salarios que justamente se les deben."
by | Noviembre 22, 2023 | News Releases
FILADELFIA, 22 de noviembre de 2023 - La senadora Christine Tartaglione emitió la siguiente declaración sobre el tiroteo masivo en Fairhill.
"Ayer por la tarde, a sólo unos cientos de metros de mi oficina de Allegheny Avenue, se produjo un desgarrador incidente de violencia que arrojó una sombra escalofriante sobre nuestra comunidad pocos días antes de Acción de Gracias. Un trágico tiroteo masivo se saldó con la pérdida de dos vidas y otros cinco heridos.
El omnipresente problema de la violencia con armas de fuego se ha convertido en una aflicción en nuestra nación, mancomunidad y ciudad, desgarrando el tejido mismo de nuestras comunidades.
Es crucial que nos unamos en solidaridad para abogar por la promulgación de medidas de control de armas sensatas y exhaustivas. Además, debemos apoyar activamente y elegir a políticos y líderes que compartan la creencia de que podemos tomar medidas significativas para frenar esta violencia sin sentido.
Debemos actuar y actuar con rapidez para salvaguardar nuestros barrios y trabajar colectivamente para prevenir el ciclo generalizado de estos desgarradores sucesos en nuestra ciudad."
por Christin Brown | 14 de noviembre de 2023 | reportaje, Comunicados de prensa
Harrisburg, PA - 14 de noviembre 2023 - Hoy en día, los senadores estatales Christine Tartaglione (D-2), John Kane (D-9), y Jimmy Dillon (D-5) anunció un paquete de legislación destinada a revisar el sistema de recuperación de la adicción de Pennsylvania.
Los estados de todo el país, incluido Pensilvania, se enfrentan a una alarmante crisis de adicción. Con la novena tasa más alta de mortalidad por sobredosis de drogas en 2021, está claro que hay que hacer más para combatir este problema devastador.
"Nuestra Commonwealth se enfrenta a una adicción sin precedentes y la crisis de sobredosis que está asolando las comunidades y las familias", dijo el senador Tartaglione. "La legislación que destacamos nace en parte de mi experiencia de 20 años de recuperación y sobriedad de una adicción al alcohol junto con innumerables conversaciones con personas de todos los lados del sistema de tratamiento de adicciones y ayudará a nuestros vecinos a tener acceso a la atención que salva vidas que tan desesperadamente necesitan."
El paquete legislativo anunciado hoy incluye seis proyectos de ley destinados a reforzar los esfuerzos de recuperación de adicciones en toda Pensilvania:
SB 874: Anima a los consejeros SUD a unirse a la lucha, ofreciendo la condonación de préstamos estudiantiles para un compromiso de 2 años. Los profesionales de Salud Mental y Discapacidad Intelectual que se comprometan por 4 años también califican. Debemos retener e inspirar a nuestra fuerza de trabajo dedicada.
SB 875: Aborda la escasez de mano de obra de recuperación garantizando prácticas de certificación claras y alcanzables para los trabajadores de recuperación y considera el acceso de las comunidades marginadas a estos puestos.
SB 876: Mejora la calidad asistencial al obligar a los profesionales sanitarios a recibir formación continuada sobre adicciones y refuerza el vínculo de derivación entre hospitales y organizaciones de tratamiento de adicciones.
SB 877: Aumenta la transparencia y la divulgación de la cobertura del tratamiento de la adicción al exigir a las aseguradoras que proporcionen notificaciones semestrales claras a los asegurados.
SB 878: Introduce la presentación de informes normalizados por las aseguradoras en relación con el tratamiento de la adicción para identificar las lagunas en la cobertura y el acceso.
SB 879: Obliga a las aseguradoras a declarar que cumplen la Ley federal de Paridad de Salud Mental y Equidad en Adicciones, que obliga a las compañías de seguros a tratar la salud mental y el consumo de sustancias en pie de igualdad con las dolencias físicas.
"Estos proyectos de ley proporcionan el apoyo que necesitan desesperadamente las personas en vías de recuperación, abordando los retos de la mano de obra, impulsando el desarrollo profesional, mejorando la transparencia en la cobertura de seguros y aplicando medidas de información para orientar las mejoras estratégicas en los servicios de adicción", añadió el senador Dillon.
El paquete legislativo anunciado hoy se une a un gran grupo de otros proyectos de ley bipartidistas relacionados con la recuperación de adicciones presentados en ambas cámaras de la legislatura de Pensilvania y se redactó en consulta con la Organización de Proveedores de Servicios de Drogas y Alcohol de Pensilvania (DASPOP).
"Hace cuarenta años, comencé mi propio viaje de recuperación. Hoy, estoy orgulloso de formar parte de esta iniciativa que simplificará el proceso para otros que siguen el mismo camino", declaró el senador Kane. "A través de nuestra asociación con DASPOP, nuestro objetivo es garantizar que a ningún ciudadano de Pensilvania se le niegue el tratamiento que necesita para salvar su vida debido a las confusas normas de cobertura de seguros. Estamos comprometidos a derribar las barreras entre las personas que necesitan ayuda y el tratamiento que merecen."
Más información sobre los proyectos de ley de este paquete y otros paquetes legislativos en internet.
by Christin Brown | Octubre 10, 2023 | feature, News Releases
PHILADELPHIA – Octubre 10, 2023 – State Senators Steve Santarsiero (D-10), Tina Tartaglione (D-2), Jimmy Dillon (D-5) and John Kane (D-9), and representatives from the building trades announced Build Better PA, a package of bills to promote fairness, quality, and skilled craftsmanship within the tax incentive programs designed to stimulate economic growth.
“Union labor means quality work done right the first time,” said Senator Steve Santarsiero (D-10). “As businesses enjoy the benefits of tax incentive development zones, it is in the best interest of taxpayers and workers to make sound investments in how the work is done. While these programs have been instrumental in driving economic development, they also provide a unique opportunity to raise the bar in terms of labor standards and workforce quality. Building trades and apprenticeships invest in workers, ensuring fair, family-sustaining wages and high-quality final products.”
Build Better PA introduces two essential benchmarks for businesses making capital investments exceeding $25,000 in construction, reconstruction, demolition, alteration, or repair of facilities within designated tax zones:
- Prevailing Wage Requirement: This provision ensures that businesses within the tax program pay their workers fair wages in line with regional standards. It aims to prevent the exploitation of labor and maintain equitable compensation for workers contributing to these projects.
- Skilled Craft Labor Mandate: To further enhance the quality of workmanship, the bill mandates that at least 70% of the workforce on prevailing wage-eligible projects are “skilled craft laborers.” This criterion ensures that projects funded through tax incentives maintain high standards of craftsmanship and expertise, promoting both worker skill development and the overall quality of construction.
“For decades our Commonwealth has supported business development and created special tax incentives to drive growth,” said Senator Tina Tartaglione (D-2). “These bills will make sure while we keep driving Pennsylvania forward, we don’t leave the working class behind. Unions, skilled trades and apprentice programs are the key to continuing to grow the middle class, which is imperative for our continued success.”
“I have witnessed the challenges that workers in the construction industry face, both as a plumber and as the Business Manager for the largest Plumbers Union in Pennsylvania. This legislation will benefit our labor force by giving them a stronger voice, ensuring fair wages for their hard work, and emphasizing apprenticeships that will properly train our next generation of skilled laborers,” said Senator John Kane (D-9). “As Minority Chair of the Labor and Industry Committee, I am committed to doing everything I can to create a more equitable future and improve Pennsylvania’s position in the construction industry, and this legislation does exactly that.”
The “zone” programs the legislation would apply to are: City Revitalization and Improvement Zones, Neighborhood Improvement Zones, Keystone Opportunity Zones, Keystone Opportunity Expansion Zones, Keystone Opportunity Improvement Zones, Keystone Special Development Zone Program, Keystone Innovation Zones and Airport Land Development Zones.
“These tax incentive programs have fueled economic development across the Commonwealth, but we owe it to ourselves to make sure they also uplift our workers,” said Senator Jimmy Dillon (D-5). “I’m honored to partner with Senators Santarsiero, Tartaglione, and Kane to make sure that businesses investing in our communities benefit both themselves and the hardworking men and women who make it all possible.”
“Thank you, Senators Santarsiero, Tartaglione, Kane and Dillon for recognizing the value of union labor to ensure quality construction projects, and fair wages with good benefits for workers,” said Fran McLaughlin, Business Manager for District Council 21. “Apprenticeship programs offer a path for individuals looking not just for a job, but a career that offers family-sustaining wages. Quality work and fair wages will enable us to build a better Pennsylvania and protect investments for taxpayers.”
Senator Nikil Saval (D-1), a co-sponsor of the legislation, voiced his support saying, “Any form of state investment, whether direct or through tax incentives, that drives our Commonwealth’s economic growth should primarily center the creation of jobs with family sustaining wages. This legislation will ensure that Pennsylvania carefully balances our responsibility to attract capital investments and do so in a manner that lifts working class families.”
Any business found in violation of the law would have to refund the full amount of the tax exemption, deduction, abatement or credit awarded for the year that they violated the provisions, as determined by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry.
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by Christin Brown | Septiembre 20, 2023 | feature, News Releases
Harrisburg PA – Septiembre 20, 2023 – Today Sen. Tartaglione announces over $16 million in funding for Philadelphia County-based agencies and organizations from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD). This funding will deliver support and resources to keep Philadelphia County residents safe in the places they call home.
“Our city and commonwealth for too long have experienced the pains that come with the epidemic of crime we have been seeing,” said Senator Tartaglione. “The investments we are making through PCCD will help organizations across the city serve and support the victims of crime. As we continue the work to prevent violent crime, it is crucial we don’t forget the victims of crime and the ramifications of victimization.”
The recipients are listed below:
Continuing County Adult Probation and Parole Grant Funds
- Philadelphia County – $4,018,618 for CCAPPG Funds
Federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Funds
- Central Division Victim Services – $446,337 for CDVS VOCA Grant
- Anti-Violence Partnership of Philadelphia – $945,033 for AVP VOCA 2023-2025 (non-Competitive)
- Center for Advocacy for the Rights & Interests of the Elderly – $486,415 for Providing Advocacy for Victimized Elders (PAVE)
- Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia – $141,048 for Addressing Psychosocial & Concrete Needs of Young
- Congreso De Latinos Unidos, Inc. – $843,082 for LDVP and East Division Crime Victim Advocacy
- Council of Spanish Speaking Organizations – $175,966 for Concilio’s East Division Victim/Witness Services
- Drexel University – $157,343 for Healing Hurt People: Providing Trauma Services
- E.M.I.R. – Every Murder Is Real – $267,999 for 2023-2025 VOCA
- HIAS & Council Migration Services Inc. DBA HIAS PA – $574,317 for Immigrant Victim Access Collaborative (IVAC)
- Lutheran Social Mission Society DBA Lutheran Settlement House – $500,646 for LSH Bilingual Domestic Violence Program
- Mothers In Charge – $254,278 for Trauma-Informed Support of Homicide Survivors
- Nationalities Service Center of Philadelphia – $521,703 Services for Immigrant Victims of Crime
- Northeast Philadelphia Victim/Witness Service – $227,220 for Victim Assistance and Advocacy
- Northwest Victim Services – $215,742 for Serving Victims of Crime in Northwest Philadelphia
- Philadelphia Children’s Alliance – $447,358 for Philadelphia Children’s Alliance Direct Services
- Philadelphia City Treasurer – $403,671 for Philadelphia DAO Cares 3
- Philadelphia Corporation for Aging – $388,424 for PCA Victim Support Program
- Support Center For Child Advocate – $708,419 for Child Victim Assistance Project
- Temple University of The Commonwealth System of High Education – $421,500 for Support for Victims from Marginalized Communities
- Uplift Center for Grieving Children – $100,139 for Uplift’s VOCA Continuation 2023
- Victim/Witness Services of South Philadelphia, Inc. – $306,428 for Neighborhood Based Program for South Philadelphia
- WOAR-Philadelphia Center Against Sexual Violence – $324,372 for Sexual Assault Sexual Violence
- Women Against Abuse, Inc. – $1,271,658 for Sustaining Legal Services for Survivors
- Women In Transition, Inc. – $327,057 for Core Domestic Violence Services
- SeniorLAW Center – $1,531,487 for Keeping Elder Victims S.A.F.E.
- Children’s Crisis Treatment Center – $103,817 for Clinical Care Coordination for Child Victims
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por Christin Brown | 7 de julio de 2023 | reportaje, Salario Mínimo, News Releases
Harrisburg, PA - 7 de julio de 2023 - El domingo 9 de julio se cumplen diecisiete años desde que los legisladores de Pensilvania aumentaron por última vez el salario mínimo.
El 9 de juliothEn 2006, el gobernador Ed Rendell se unió a la senadora Christine Tartaglione, al senador Vincent Hughes y al senador Jay Costa para firmar la Ley del Senado 1090, la legislación de la senadora Tartaglione que elevaba el salario mínimo de Pensilvania a 7,15 dólares.
"Cuando el proyecto de ley del Senado 1090 se convirtió en ley en 2006, fue una promesa de seguir luchando por los que menos ganan de nuestra Commonwealth y garantizar que las necesidades de los que menos ganan de Pensilvania nunca se olviden o se dejen de lado", dijo el senador Tartaglione. "Volví a presentar el proyecto de ley del Senado 12 porque yo, como muchos de mis colegas se niegan a quedarse de brazos cruzados como los Pennsylvanians que ganan nuestro salario mínimo nivel de pobreza siguen luchando para llegar a fin de mes. Pensilvania necesita que su gobierno actúe con rapidez y decisión en nombre de los trabajadores de nuestra Commonwealth que más lo necesitan."
Los demócratas del Senado siguen apoyando un salario mínimo más alto. En junio, los demócratas de la Cámara de Representantes aprobaron un proyecto de ley que elevaría el salario mínimo de Pensilvania a 15 dólares la hora para 2026. La senadora Christine Tartaglione (demócrata de Filadelfia) presentó el proyecto de ley 12 del Senado, un proyecto similar.
"Pensilvania está fallando a nuestros trabajadores", dijo el senador Vincent Hughes (D-Phila./Montgomery). "Durante diecisiete años, los legisladores estatales republicanos no han hecho nada para garantizar que las personas que trabajan duro reciban un salario justo y adecuado por sus contribuciones a nuestra economía. Me sentí orgulloso de unirme al gobernador Rendell en 2006 para apoyar una retribución que beneficiara a los trabajadores y a las familias. Espero unirme algún día al gobernador Shapiro para poner fin a diecisiete años de inacción en favor de los trabajadores con salario mínimo en Pensilvania."
El salario mínimo actual de Pensilvania se sitúa en el requisito federal de 7,25 dólares. Según el Instituto Tecnológico de Massachusetts (MIT), el salario mínimo de Pensilvania dista mucho de ser un salario digno en el estado. El coste de la vivienda y otros gastos de subsistencia han seguido aumentando mientras que el salario mínimo de Pensilvania ha permanecido estancado durante más de una década.
Un aumento del salario mínimo a 15 dólares la hora afectaría a un millón de trabajadores que actualmente ganan menos de 15 dólares la hora en Pensilvania.
"Todos los que trabajan para ganarse la vida merecen ganar un salario digno, y el salario mínimo actual en Pensilvania no lo es. Ya es hora de hacer lo correcto para nuestras familias trabajadoras y asegurarse de que podemos criar a nuestros hijos en un buen trabajo", dijo el senador Jay Costa (D-Allegheny). "He estado orgulloso de defender un salario digno para cada Pennsylvanian, y espero con interés trabajar junto a sus colegas legisladores, trabajadores y activistas para cumplir con este valor crucial."
Los demócratas del Senado están dispuestos a votar el proyecto de la Cámara, pero los republicanos del Senado, que son mayoría, deben someterlo a votación. Mientras tanto, todos los estados que rodean a Pensilvania han subido el salario mínimo. Nueva York, Nueva Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia Occidental y Ohio pagan un salario mínimo más alto. Pensilvania ocupa el último lugar en lo que se refiere a prestaciones a los trabajadores.
"Aumentar el salario mínimo es fundamental para respetar la dignidad de las personas trabajadoras, para que puedan permitirse una vivienda y alimentos, y para que no tengan que elegir entre comida, calefacción, ropa y otras necesidades básicas", dijo el senador Art Haywood (D-Phila./Montgomery), que también ha sido un feroz defensor del aumento del salario mínimo de PA.
Y continuó: "Se trata de ayudar a los padres y permitirles ser padres, dejando de tener que trabajar en dos o tres empleos y teniendo mayor libertad para proporcionar a sus hijos una mejor educación, enriquecer a sus pequeños con oportunidades como actividades recreativas, ser más activos en sus comunidades y pasar tiempo con sus familias."
by Christin Brown | Junio 30, 2023 | feature, News Releases
Senate Democratic Whip Christine Tartaglione released the following statement regarding her no vote on the Commonwealth’s budget today:
“The budget is supposed to reflect our Commonwealth’s moral priorities and aspirations for the future. The bill we voted on today does nothing to move Pennsylvania forward. From failing to act to raise the minimum wage for our Commonwealth’s lowest earners, to failing to fund mass transit, and continuing the systemic underfunding of public education, this bill, and this budget fall far short of the needs of our Commonwealth.
I am hopeful the leadership in the Pennsylvania House will see the failures and shortcomings of this proposed budget, and make the necessary changes to ensure ALL Pennsylvanians are heard and represented in our Commonwealth’s budget.”
by sdcsapps | Mayo 1, 2023 | News Releases
1 de mayo de 2023, Harrisburg Pa - Hoy, el Senado de Pennsylvania aprobó el proyecto de ley del Senado 165, del senador Tartaglione Lugar de Inyección Segura prohibición por un voto de 41-9. Proyecto de ley del Senado 165 se enviará ahora a la Cámara para su concurrencia.
"En toda la Commonwealth, los ciudadanos de Pensilvania luchan contra la adicción", dijo el senador Tartaglione. "Cuando mi comunidad vino a pedirme que presentara el proyecto de ley 165 del Senado, sabía que era imperativo construir una coalición bipartidista de senadores de toda Pensilvania para apoyar el proyecto de ley. La votación de hoy demuestra que no importa cuán rural o urbano, liberal o conservador, o lejos al este o al oeste de su distrito es, las adicciones afectan a cada centímetro cuadrado de Pennsylvania, y tenemos que dar prioridad a la recuperación y la sobriedad."
El proyecto de ley 165 del Senado pondrá a Pensilvania en consonancia con el artículo 856 del Título 21 del Código de los Estados Unidos, que ya prohíbe el mantenimiento de locales en los que se consuman drogas en cualquier lugar de Estados Unidos. La legislación no afectará a otros esfuerzos de reducción de daños, como los intercambios de agujas limpias y el tratamiento asistido con medicación.
La senadora Tartaglione, que lleva mucho tiempo recuperándose de una adicción al alcohol, ha vuelto a presentar el proyecto de ley 165 del Senado en esta sesión después de que no se tomara ninguna medida al respecto en la sesión anterior. La senadora Tartaglione, que lleva sobria más de 20 años, utiliza su experiencia con la adicción y la recuperación, así como sus contactos en el ámbito del tratamiento y la recuperación del alcoholismo y la drogadicción para impulsar sus prioridades legislativas.
El proyecto de ley 165 del Senado pasará ahora a la Cámara de Pensilvania para su aprobación.
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by sdcsapps | Abril 25, 2023 | News Releases
Abril 25, 2023, Harrisburg Pa – Today, The Senate Judiciary Committee voted to move Senate Bill 165, Senator Tartaglione’s Safe Injection Site Ban out of committee and to the full Senate by a bipartisan vote of 11-3.
“Day in and day out I hear from my constituents about their opposition to safe injection sites,” said Senator Tartaglione. “I introduced Senate Bill 165 because I see the pain and suffering addiction causes every day in my district, and I believe it is imperative Pennsylvania be in the business of helping people access recovery, not empower addiction.”
Senate Bill 165 will prohibit the establishment of safe injection sites and supervised consumption sites across Pennsylvania. The legislation will not impact other harm reduction efforts including clean needle exchanges and medication assisted treatment.
“As legislators we are tasked with making our constituents voices heard in the halls of power in Harrisburg. When 40 community organizations from across Philadelphia filed amicus briefs in US vs Safehouse, they made their voices loud and clear in saying ‘Philadelphia does not want supervised consumption facilities in our city.’ We must listen to the groups doing the work in our neighborhoods and communities and take them at their word,” added Senator Tartaglione.
Senator Tartaglione, who is in long-term recovery from an alcohol addiction reintroduced Senate Bill 165 this session after no action was taken on the legislation last session. Senator Tartaglione, who has been sober for more than 20 years, uses her experience with addiction and recovery as well as her connections in the drug and alcohol treatment and recovery space to help her drive legislative priorities.
Senate Bill 165 is now in the full Senate where a vote is expected to be held as early as next week.
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por Jessica Marpe | 19 de abril de 2023 | Comunicados de prensa
Filadelfia, PA - 19 de abril de 2023 -Hoy, la senadora Christine M. Tartaglione, portavoz demócrata en el Senado, ha recibido al zar antidroga de la Administración Biden y a responsables políticos estatales para hablar sobre la crisis de la adicción y los opioides.
El Dr. Rahul Gupta, Director de la Oficina de Política Nacional de Control de Drogas (ONDCP) de la Casa Blanca, se unió al Senador Tartaglione, a la Dra. Latika Davis-Jones, Secretaria en funciones del Departamento de Programas de Drogas y Alcohol (DDAP), y a un grupo bipartidista y bicameral de 12 legisladores en la Universidad de Temple para debatir la asociación entre los esfuerzos estatales y federales para combatir la creciente crisis de drogas y opioides que afecta a Pensilvania.
"Filadelfia ha sido el epicentro de la crisis de las drogas y la adicción a la que se enfrentan demasiadas comunidades tanto en Pensilvania como en Estados Unidos", dijo el senador Tartaglione. "Reunir una coalición de legisladores bipartidistas tanto de la Cámara Estatal como del Senado para mantener estas importantes conversaciones es crucial para avanzar y ayudar a Pensilvania y a los pensilvanos a recuperarse de los efectos dañinos de la adicción a las drogas."
La mesa redonda, celebrada en el campus de la Universidad de Temple, puso de relieve la importancia de garantizar una asociación sin fisuras entre los programas locales, estatales y federales.
"Esta epidemia está destejiendo el tejido mismo de nuestra Nación, y eso es inaceptable para mí y es inaceptable para el Presidente Biden", dijo el Dr. Gupta. "Por eso la Estrategia de la Administración se centra en abordar dos factores clave de la epidemia: la adicción no tratada y los beneficios del narcotráfico que la alimentan. Los funcionarios locales y estatales son vitales para garantizar que nuestra respuesta colectiva esté a la altura de esta amenaza histórica, por lo que me alegro de haber tenido la oportunidad de debatir la respuesta al fentanilo, la xilacina y otras amenazas de las drogas con legisladores estatales tan comprometidos. Esta crisis no es una cuestión de estados rojos o azules, es una cuestión de Estados Unidos. Y trabajando juntos, podemos vencerla".
Legisladores de toda la Commonwealth se reunieron para compartir las perspectivas únicas de sus comunidades sobre la crisis de los opiáceos y la adicción, y cómo Pensilvania puede utilizar los recursos estatales y federales para ayudar a impulsar los esfuerzos de recuperación y tratamiento de las personas que sufren adicción.
En la mesa redonda participaron los siguientes legisladores:
- Sen. Tartaglione
- Calle Sen. Sharif
- Sen. Jimmy Dillon
- Senador John Kane
- Senador Dan Laughlin
- Sen. Cámara Bartolotta
- Senadora Michelle Brooks
- Senador Anthony Williams
- Diputado Joe Hohenstein
- Diputado José Giral
- Diputado Anthony Bellmon
- Diputado Malcolm Kenyatta
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by Jessica Marpe | Abril 14, 2023 | News Releases
Philadelphia, PA- Abril 13, 2023 – Today Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Whip Christine Tartaglione announced she, along with Pennsylvania Senators Sharif Street, Anthony Williams, and Jimmy Dillon filed an amicus brief in the US vs. Safehouse case, in hopes to prevent Safehouse from opening a safe injection site in Philadelphia.
“My constituents and people from across Philadelphia have made their voices clear, they do not want Safehouse or any other organizations opening any safe injection sites in their neighborhoods,” said Senator Tartaglione. “When community and recovery organizations from all over the city approached me and asked me to be a part of this lawsuit seeking to block Safehouse I knew I had to offer my voice and my platform.”
The filing introduced by the Senate Democrats argues even if the United States Department of Justice and Safehouse reach an agreement, it may still violate state law that gives community organizations the ability to sue to prevent “drug-related nuisances” in their communities.
While Senator Tartaglione is participating in the ongoing legal process to block safe injection sites in Philadelphia, she has also introduced Senate Bill 165 that would outlaw supervised consumption and safe injection sites across the Commonwealth.
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by Jessica Marpe | Marzo 21, 2023 | News Releases
Harrisburg, PA- 20 de marzo 2023 - El senador estatal Katie Muth (D-Chester / Montgomery / Berks), Presidente del Comité de Política Demócrata del Senado, y el Presidente del Comité de Política Demócrata de la Cámara Ryan Bizzarro (D-Erie) se unieron a la senadora Christine Tartaglione (D-Filadelfia) y el representante Patrick Harkins (D-Erie) para co-anfitrión de una audiencia pública conjunta sobre la legislación que ampliaría la Seguridad Ocupacional y Salud (OSHA) protecciones a los empleados públicos en Pennsylvania.
La audiencia, celebrada hoy en el Capitolio del Estado en Harrisburg, contó con dos paneles de testimonios de ambos lados de la cuestión de la ampliación de las protecciones de OSHA a los empleados públicos en Pennsylvania.
"Todos los residentes de Pensilvania merecen un lugar de trabajo seguro y tenemos que asegurarnos de ampliar las protecciones de seguridad en el lugar de trabajo bajo la OSHA a los empleados públicos en toda la Commonwealth", dijo Muth. "Hay tantos empleados públicos que ponen sus vidas en la línea todos los días para proteger a nuestras comunidades, para mejorar nuestras carreteras, y para responder a las emergencias - estas personas merecen algo mejor y merecen protecciones de seguridad en el lugar de trabajo."
La OSHA fue creada en 1970 por el Congreso de Estados Unidos para garantizar condiciones seguras a los trabajadores y trabajadoras. La OSHA cubre a la mayoría de los empresarios y trabajadores del sector privado en los 50 estados, ya sea directamente a través de la OSHA federal o a través de un plan estatal aprobado por la OSHA. La protección de la salud y la seguridad en el trabajo en virtud de la OSHA no cubre automáticamente a los empleados del sector público de las administraciones estatales y municipales.
"Como hemos escuchado hoy, el derecho de los trabajadores a saber que están seguros y protegidos en sus puestos de trabajo no debería depender de para quién trabajan", dijo el senador Tartaglione. "Tenemos que aprobar el proyecto de ley del Senado 93 para asegurar Pennsylvanians todos tienen protecciones de OSHA, independientemente de su empleador."
Los Estados tienen que optar por ampliar estas protecciones, y más de la mitad ya lo han hecho a través de "planes estatales" aprobados por la OSHA que permiten a los Estados gestionar sus propios programas de salud y seguridad en el lugar de trabajo que cubren a los trabajadores del sector público y/o privado; Pensilvania no es uno de esos Estados. El proyecto de ley 93 del senador Tartaglione establecería la Junta de Revisión de Seguridad y Salud en el Trabajo de Pensilvania en el Departamento de Trabajo e Industria y ampliaría las normas de seguridad de la OSHA a los empleadores públicos.
"Hemos oído el clamor de que los municipios no pueden permitírselo, y mi respuesta siempre ha sido: ¿qué precio estamos poniendo a la vida humana?". dijo el diputado Pat Harkins. "Es realmente una vergüenza que no podamos permitirnos proteger a nuestros trabajadores. ¿Dónde está la justicia y dónde está la oportunidad para la justicia? Por eso estoy impulsando el proyecto de ley 299".
El representante Harkins ha presentado el proyecto de ley 299 de la Cámara de Representantes, el proyecto de ley sobre la seguridad de los trabajadores Jake Schwab, que también ampliaría las protecciones de la OSHA a los empleados del sector público en Pensilvania. El proyecto de ley del representante Harkins fue nombrado en memoria de Jake Schwab, residente de Erie, que fue fatalmente herido en el trabajo en 2014 trabajando como mecánico con la Autoridad Metropolitana de Tránsito de Erie, un empleador del sector público exento de las regulaciones de OSHA.
"La audiencia de hoy ha arrojado luz sobre la necesidad de garantizar las condiciones de seguridad para casi 600.000 trabajadores del sector público en Pensilvania", dijo el presidente del Comité de Política de la Mayoría de la Cámara, Ryan Bizzarro. "Los trabajadores del sector público no pueden y no deben seguir siendo tratados como empleados de segunda clase. Ha llegado el momento de ampliar las protecciones de la OSHA para todos los trabajadores del sector público."
Participaron en la audiencia Keith Wentz, Director de Gestión de Riesgos de la Asociación de Comisarios de Condados de Pensilvania; Angela Ferritto, Presidenta de AFL-CIO de Pensilvania; Arthur Steinberg, Presidente de la Federación Americana de Profesores de Pensilvania; y J. David Henderson, Director Ejecutivo del Consejo 13 de AFSCME.
"Cientos de miles de trabajadores del sector público de Pensilvania no cuentan con las mismas protecciones de seguridad que sus homólogos del sector privado por una sencilla razón: Las normas federales de la OSHA no se aplican al sector público. Pero además de no contar con la protección de las normas de seguridad de la OSHA y de las inspecciones periódicas, estos trabajadores no disponen de las protecciones de los denunciantes que necesitan para protegerse de las represalias si denuncian condiciones de trabajo inseguras", añadió la senadora Lindsey Williams (D-Allegheny). "Eso significa que un empleado puede ser despedido, tener sus horas reducidas, o sufrir otras consecuencias adversas simplemente por usar el único recurso que tienen para mantenerse a salvo en el trabajo-su voz. Debemos hacer más para proteger a los trabajadores del sector público de Pensilvania. Eso significa extender las normas de la OSHA a los trabajadores del sector público y reforzar la protección de los denunciantes para TODOS los empleados, tanto del sector público como del privado."
Todos los testimonios presentados en la audiencia y el vídeo completo están disponibles en SenatorMuth.com/Policy
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by sdcsapps | Marzo 16, 2023 | News Releases
Philadelphia, PA – Today, Senator Christine Tartaglione announced that more than $3.8 million in grants would be coming to projects and programs across the 2nd District. The funds being awarded are from the Commonwealth’s Local Share Account and Multimodal Transportation Fund.
The Local Share Account and Multimodal Transportation Fund grants were approved by the Commonwealth Financing Authority (CFA) which was established to administer Pennsylvania’s economic stimulus packages and grant programs.
“It’s always great to see our Commonwealth invest in projects that will directly impact and improve our communities and neighborhoods,” said Senator Tartaglione. “The resources being announced today will help clean up our streets and make our community safer for its residents.”
Projects awarded grant dollars include:
Local Share Account:
- Philadelphia City – Cohocksink Recreation Center – $1,000,000
- PIDC Financing Corporation on behalf of Frankford Community Development Corporation – Frankford Transportation Center Transit Oriented Development – $1,000,000
- PIDC Financing Corporation on behalf of New Kensington Community Development Corporation – Kensington Anchor Acquisition and Renovation: 2917-21 Kensington Avenue – $976,900
Multimodal Transportation Fund:
- Kensington Castor Partners, LLC – Maken East sidewalk replacement – $241,235
- Charles Jacquin Et Cie, Inc. – Trenton Avenue Streetscape Improvement – $615,165
More information on the CFA and the grants awarded can be found on their website.
by Jessica Marpe | Marzo 9, 2023 | News Releases
Harrisburg, PA - 8 de marzo 2023 - Hoy en día, el senador Christine Tartaglione anunció $ 2,993,346 en subvenciones de la Comisión de Pensilvania sobre el Delito y la Delincuencia (PCCD).
La Comisión sobre Delincuencia y Crimen de Pensilvania asigna y concede subvenciones a organizaciones que demuestran su compromiso con las prioridades estratégicas y la misión de la Comisión. Las subvenciones anunciadas hoy incluyen fondos procedentes del Federal JAG State Share Funds, del Federal American Rescue Plan Act Funds - Local Law Enforcement Support Grant Program y del Federal/ State Opioid Response Funds.
"Como hemos visto con demasiada frecuencia, pasamos demasiado tiempo ocupándonos de las consecuencias de la delincuencia sin abordar las causas profundas y su prevención", dijo el senador Tartaglione. "Los fondos que el PCCD está liberando para las organizaciones con sede en Filadelfia como la Universidad de Temple proporcionarán recursos críticos y apoyo a las organizaciones de toda nuestra ciudad que trabajan para encontrar soluciones a los problemas sistémicos detrás de la delincuencia y crear una Filadelfia más segura y pacífica para todos."
La financiación del PCCD se concedió del siguiente modo
JAG Federal Fondos estatales compartidos
- Universidad de Temple: 235 380 dólares para hacer frente a las disparidades raciales y étnicas.
Fondos federales de la Ley del Plan de Rescate Americano - Programa de subvenciones de apoyo a las fuerzas de seguridad locales
- Universidad de Temple: 1.767.049 dólares para mejorar los sistemas de formación y vigilancia.
Fondos federales/estatales de respuesta a los opiáceos
- Centro de Salud Courage Medicine: 500.000 dólares para programas de tratamiento de trastornos por consumo de sustancias y opiáceos.
- Philadelphia Legal Assistance - 490.920 dólares para Medical Legal Community Partnership para programas de tratamiento de trastornos por uso de sustancias y opiáceos.
Más información sobre el PCCD en el sitio web de la Comisión.
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by Jessica Marpe | Marzo 6, 2023 | News Releases
HARRISBURG, PA – Marzo 6, 2023 – On Viernes, Marzo 3rd Senators Street, Schwank, Tartaglione and Hughes, reintroduced Sacred Spaces legislation, amending Section 3307 of Title 18 (Institutional Vandalism) to enhance the existing statute to give District Attorneys expanded options for combating vandalism of sacred spaces such as faith institutions, cemeteries, or memorials.
Senator Sharif Street shared that “at minimum, it is our responsibility as a government to ensure Pennsylvanians are free to express themselves, including their religious beliefs, without fear or risk of retribution. The continued defacement of places of worship is meant to intimidate whole communities and an inadequate response to these acts of hate inevitably results in more violent acts of intolerance.”
In recent years there has been an increase in the deliberate vandalism of churches, synagogues, mosques, and other places of worship by those who wish to express hate. On Febrero 25, 2023, a “National Day of Hate” garnered significant attention and warnings from law enforcement about rising antisemitism and possible attacks on religious institutions across the United States.
Senator Judy Schwank stated that “Faith-based hatred and vandalism is deeply disturbing and has no place in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Unfortunately, we’ve witnessed vandalism at religious and sacred spaces increase over the past few years. The protecting sacred spaces legislation we are introducing will send a clear message to those that wish to spread hate and intimidate other that they will be held accountable for their actions.”
In Philadelphia Jewish cemeteries have been targeted by vandals and on Febrero 24th, 2023, the Philadelphia Masjidullah Mosque was defaced. On Febrero 8th, 2023, in Reading, the Jesus is Alive World Center was severely damaged accruing more than $70,000 in repair costs. Religious intolerance, whether through rhetoric or acts of hate, have increasing consequences.
“In a state that was founded on the principle of religious liberty, it is abhorrent to see continued attacks and intimidation on and to our Commonwealth’s places of worship,” said Senator Tartaglione, “expanding the tools prosecutors across Pennsylvania can use to protect sacred spaces is a crucial step in combatting the hate we have seen grow out of the dark and dangerous fringes of society.”
Senator Vincent Hughes echoed that sentiment, stating “I’m proud to partner with my colleagues on this legislation, because acts of vandalism and hate against our sacred spaces have no place in Pennsylvania.”
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by Jessica Marpe | Febrero 2, 2023 | News Releases
PHILADELPHIA – Feb. 2, 2023 – Today, Sen. Art Haywood (D-Montgomery/Philadelphia) joined Sens. Jimmy Dillon (D-Philadelphia) and Christine Tartaglione (D-Philadelphia) for a check presentation and press conference at the Fox Chase Cancer Center in the Northeast Philadelphia. The senators presented a $1.1 million grant to Temple Health to fund mobile health services at four sites in Philadelphia.
With the support of the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus, Sen. Haywood secured $10 million for statewide mobile and community clinics, including over $1 million for Temple Health, as part of the COVID-19 Public Health Equity Initiative (PHEI), made possible by State Fiscal Recovery Funds from the American Rescue Plan.
In Diciembre 2022, Sen. Haywood announced this strategic investment, which helps medically underserved communities impacted by the pandemic to access to public health services. This PHEI funding benefits 45 awardees for services across the state, including $5 million for mobile health clinics to provide jobs, $3 million for health equity to improve accessibility, and $2 million for trauma-informed care to heal communities of color.
“Health equity is health access,” said Haywood. “Funding and expanding mobile health clinics and community health centers will help communities to obtain access to health care across the Commonwealth.”
The five grants for Temple Health include:
- Begin the Turn Mobile Suboxone Unit – Suboxone prescriptions – $250,000
- Begin the Turn Mobile Suboxone Unit – Trauma-informed counseling – $100,000
- Fox Chase Cancer Center Mobile Screening Van – Mammography and preventative care – $250,000
- Healthy Together Mobile Unit of the Temple Center for Population Health – Community engagement, screenings, vaccination, and education – $250,000
- Miriam Medical/Zion Baptist Church/Temple University Lewis Katz School of Medicine (MZT) Collaborative Mobile Clinic – COVID-19 testing, COVID-19 vaccination, and chronic disease monitoring – $250,000
Sens. Haywood, Dillon, and Tartaglione displayed the check in front of the four mobile units facing the Fox Chase Cancer Center. Leadership from the health system, including Michael A. Young, MHA, FACHE, president and CEO of Temple Health, Amy J. Goldberg, MD, FACS, dean of the Lewis Katz School of Medicine, and Robert Uzzo, MD, MBA, FACS, president and CEO, Fox Chase Cancer Center, gladly accepted the funding. President Young welcomed guests to the event and thanked Senate delegation, including Sen. Sharif Street (D-Philadelphia), for their partnership.
“Temple Health would like to thank Senators Dillon, Haywood, Street and Tartaglione for their dependable partnership over the past few years – including this support of our mobile screening units,” said Young. “Temple is the Commonwealth’s largest safety net provider servicing Pennsylvania’s most challenged communities and the ongoing support of Senators Dillon, Haywood, Street and Tartaglione has been critical to us achieving a stronger financial foundation that enables us to invest in our clinical programs, our facilities, technologies, employees – and most importantly, our patients.”
Sen. Haywood delivered opening remarks and outlined the process to launch this initiative. As Democratic Chair of the Pennsylvania Senate Health and Human Services Committee and a former member of Governor Tom Wolf’s COVID-19 Vaccine Task Force, Haywood is a longtime advocate for health access. In 2021, he pushed for equity in the vaccine distribution in 66 counties across the state. He also increased access for Black and Brown Pennsylvanians, people with disabilities, non-English speakers, and residents in congregate care, jails, and long-term facilities.
Through his research on the task force, Sen. Haywood learned there was no formal registry for mobile and community clinics to show where services should be expanded. He successfully developed the first mobile clinic registry in the state.
In Septiembre 2022, Sen. Haywood co-hosted a virtual public hearing with Sen. Katie Muth (D-Berks/Chester/Montgomery) to discuss strategies to enhance statewide mobile health clinics and community health centers in Pennsylvania. During the hearing, he described the importance of securing mobile health funding. “The health system is broken,” said Haywood. “These grants make some repairs.”
Sen. Dillon proudly cohosted today’s event in his district. “Funding for mobile and community clinics can lower healthcare costs, improve access, and, hopefully, save lives,” said Dillon. “I am proud to stand with Senator Haywood and Temple Health to celebrate the good work the Mobile Screening Units will be able to do with this grant.”
The Temple University Lewis Katz School of Medicine Center for Urban Bioethics (CUB) received three of the grants, including the Begin the Turn Mobile Suboxone Unit and the MZT Collaborative Mobile Clinic. The school’s dean, Dr. Goldberg, expressed her gratitude to the senators.
“The Lewis Katz School of Medicine is incredibly thankful to Senators Dillon, Haywood, Street, and Tartaglione for their continued support of our programs, but more importantly, their dedication to improving the health of the community we serve, that provides the foundation for which we can continue to our work to address and eradicate the health disparities that plague our community,” said Goldberg.
Fox Chase Cancer Center’s president and CEO, Dr. Uzzo, was pleased to open the doors of the research facility and hospital for the event.
“Long before it became ‘best practice,’ Fox Chase Cancer Center recognized the need for cancer screening in the community and we have been providing this critical service for more than 38 years,” said Uzzo. “We are grateful to our partners in the Commonwealth whose support is helping us to advance our efforts with a next-generation Mobile Screening Unit and the ability to reach more people with screenings for more types of cancers, including breast, cervical, skin, and head & neck cancers; screening for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, a key risk factor for liver cancer; bilingual cancer education; and collection of biospecimens to help us learn more about cancer health disparities.”
Sen. Tartaglione expressed the significance of the mobile health grants. “Quality healthcare without boundaries and barriers is one of the surest ways to increase the quality of living for Pennsylvanians,” said Tartaglione. “It means nothing to build hospitals without ensuring everyone that needs access has access to the care provided.” Tartaglione continued: “These funds will allow the work of ensuring access to continue expanding into neighborhoods that are traditionally underserved and underinvested.”
A representative from Sen. Street’s office, Lateefah Shakir, stood at the event in support of the health equity funding. “In the beginning of the pandemic, it was critical to marshal resources to meet the medical needs of underserved communities,” said Street. “I’m thankful for the leadership and partnership of Senator Haywood to secure $10 million for health equity, mobile clinics, and trauma-informed care.”
Following the press conference, the group participated in a roundtable to discuss healthcare priorities of the Commonwealth in their collective efforts to increase access to equitable, high quality health care, including screenings and treatments for patients in southeastern Pennsylvania.
The Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus will announce additional recipients of public health equity funding this year. Video of event will be available at senatorhaywood.com/video.
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by Christin Brown | Enero 11, 2023 | feature, News Releases
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania – Enero 11, 2023 – Today, Senator Christine M. Tartaglione, Democratic Whip, announced the Pennsylvania School Safety and Security Committee of the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency awarded $29,170,225 in grants to 31 separate programs tasked with preventing and intervening in violence across the 2nd District and the City of Philadelphia.
The grants are funded via two separate grants:
- The Coordinated Community Violence Intervention (CCVI) – The purpose of this program is to increase local coordination and collaboration to more effectively prevent, intervene and respond to gun and group violence.
- Violence Intervention and Prevention (VIP). The purpose of this program is to provide grants and technical assistance to address community violence throughout the Commonwealth.
“Philadelphia, just like cities across this commonwealth and nation are facing an unprecedented epidemic of violence,” said Senator Tartaglione. “The resources being announced today will allow programs from across our city and commonwealth to continue addressing the root causes of violence and in turn prevent the crime that plagues our streets.”
Programs receiving the grants announced today that will provide services in the 2nd District and city-wide include:
Philadelphia City Treasurer, Philadelphia Cure Violence Coalition – $1,892,369 to develop a coalition of Cure Violence-based programs. The Cure Violence Model is an evidence-based prevention program that takes a public health approach to reduce community violence. The Philadelphia Department of Public Health has spent the last year laying the groundwork for a coalition with members from all programs in Philadelphia using the Cure Violence model of violence prevention. These programs/partners include Cure Violence Philadelphia, Philadelphia CeaseFire, Community Crisis Intervention Program (a city program under the Office of Criminal Justice and Public Safety), and Penn Community Violence Prevention Program.
AMANDLA, Inc. – $147,595 to support violence prevention activities through expanding its Safe-Hub EduSoccer Program. The EduSoccer program reaches 500 young people from Philadelphia’s Kensington and Harrowgate neighborhoods, providing a safe space for young people while supporting anti-violence and anti-crime behaviors through targeting an array of socio-emotional program outcomes.
Artwell Collaborative, Inc. – $275,000 to implement its transformative and therapeutic multidisciplinary arts programming in schools, community centers, faith-based organizations, and behavioral health organizations. These funds will be used for: therapeutic arts programming in 10 Philadelphia schools (We the Poets and The Art of Growing Leaders); therapeutic arts programming in partnership with three community partners; trauma-informed response training for our team of Teaching Artists; inclusivity training for ArtWell’s leadership team; expanding the knowledge base and expertise of the organization’s leadership team by adding a part-time clinician.
Beyond Literacy – $1,311,266 to support the continuation and expansion of its Keystone Energy Employment Pipeline (KEEP) program, a community-focused strategy that transitions Philadelphia’s young, emerging adults ages 18 to 25 at risk of incarceration and gun violence into long-term financial stability through high-impact education, GED attainment, and pre-apprenticeship training for in-demand green energy sector jobs.
Boys & Girls Club of Philadelphia, Inc. – $1,970,477 to expand teen programming at six Club locations by hiring dedicated teen staff, keeping Clubs open until 10 pm on Fridays, and opening the Clubs from 5 pm to 10 pm on Saturdays. All teens participating in programming will be engaged in formal or informal mentoring and evidence-based violence prevention activities.
Build Our Lives Together Inc. – $50,000 to create an intensive 8-month program for grassroots leaders – people who are the most proximate to the problems to learn critical skills, expand their network, and get access to funding so they can accelerate their impact, for a radical reduction in gun violence.
Center for Families and Relationships – $999,000 to expand it’s existing Together Through Trauma Program into Philadelphia recreation centers in the most vulnerable districts impacted by gun violence.
Central Division Victim Services – $371,663 to continue providing services to crime victims in the 6th, 9th, and 22nd Philadelphia Police Districts along with gun violence prevention in the 22nd and 25th Philadelphia Police Districts.
Coalition of African Communities (AFRICOM) – $125,000 to provide an immigrant community engagement gun violence prevention initiative that will bring together faith-based leaders, individuals, families, groups, and business owners to build knowledge, establish strong networks, identify, and prevent risks and connect the community to support services.
Education-Plus, Inc. – $299,125 to provide universal mental health screening at five schools to provide evidence-based programs in concert with school-based health clinic staff in order to reduce/prevent violence in schools and communities.
Federation of Neighborhood Centers, Inc. – $1,250,000 to support nine diverse, unique, and collaborative projects addressing violence and related issues in Philadelphia. From street and community outreach, food distribution, non-traditional youth programming, career assistance to the previously incarcerated, and connecting community members with available resources, this funding will provide needed support for these groups to expand their work. Funding will support nine projects/organizations (Homies Helping Homies; The Apologues; City of Dreams Coalition; Double Trellis Food Initiative; Elevation Voice; Kensington Voice; Oronde McClain Foundation; Ones Up; Philadelphia Boom).
Girls Inc. of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey – $699,335 to expand the Bold Futures program, an intensive violence prevention mentoring program for high-risk girls who reside in Philadelphia with both individual and community risk factors between the ages of 9 to 14.
HIAS & Council Migration Services Inc. DBA HIAS PA – $2,124,484 to provide immigration legal services, some case management, and specialized victim services to low-income immigrant youth and their families who are eligible for legal status but have not yet obtained status and are therefore vulnerable to exploitation and abuse. Funds will support two attorneys, a Department of Justice Accredited Representative, a paralegal, and legal supervision to provide immigration legal services to at-risk youth referred to HIAS Pennsylvania by Philadelphia’s Department of Human Services, the Philadelphia School District, and through self-referral.
Oxford Circle Christian Community Development Association – $445,113 to support the establishment of a Success Center in the Samuel S. Fels High School of Philadelphia, PA. The Success Center will provide social-emotional learning (SEL) education to the students; non-academic, referral (case-management) support to students and their parents/ caregivers; an Oasis where students can safely retreat from and process stress or trauma they may be experiencing at school or at home; parent/ caregiver workshops; and field trips to enrich the lives of students and to give them new experiences and a new perspective on life.
Philadelphia City Treasurer, The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office “Data CoLab”- $1,772,966 to implement the “Data CoLab”, a data-informed community-based participatory initiative hosted by the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Transparency Analytics Lab (DATA Lab). This initiative fosters partnerships among the DAO and community-based organizations (CBOs) by hosting a series of participatory research workshops in the communities experiencing high levels of gun violence to provide data tools and engage in participatory research and interventions.
Philadelphia Mural Arts Advocates – $1,500,000 to expand its Restorative Justice Program into a cohesive pathway for justice-impacted people in Philadelphia neighborhoods with the highest rates of community violence.
Philadelphia Youth Network, Inc. – $2,000,000 to expand educational and employment pathway exploration for 12-24-year-olds through its portfolio of structured learning and skill-building opportunities. PYN is seeking to expand its provider network to create more opportunities for historically marginalized youth in Philadelphia to build stronger, safer communities through promoting summer employment opportunities.
Playworks Education Energized – $572,547 to advance the Community Coach Leadership Program (CCLP), a proactive, medium-to-long-term violence-prevention intervention strategy focused on serving kids most susceptible and impacted by violence. CCLP will engage School District of Philadelphia (SDP) high school students as program participants in leader-mentor positions with SDP elementary schools in violence-impacted neighborhoods.
Power of Paint Art Academy & Management – $86,981 to support a violence prevention and intervention program where trained staff will use art and therapeutic approaches, via outreach and referral services, to improve the quality of life for individuals who are victims and/or perpetrators of violence.
Rock to the Future, Inc. – $330,000 to support free music and mentoring programs in high-crime neighborhoods in North, West, and Northwest Philadelphia for teens that are at risk to be involved in violence, victims of violence, who have experienced trauma, and those from reentry and diversion programs.
Sharing Excess – $55,880 for the identification, outreach, and engagement of individuals who are most likely to be involved in violence and provide tailored, holistic supports to meet a wide range of education, employment, mental and behavioral health, and other basic needs.
Students Run Philly Style – $1,368,926 to scale current violence interruption and prevention efforts through recreation in and around the neighborhood of West Kensington. The goal is to have programs and activities for all ages, and family events throughout the year.
The Lincoln Center for Family and Youth – $2,500,000 to support the implementation of a hospital- and community-based violence intervention program where trained Violence Intervention Clinicians and Specialists will provide assertive outreach and crisis response to individuals and families exposed to violence in the community, conduct clinical crisis assessments, provide trauma-informed therapy and case management services, and refer individuals and families to social safety net providers in the community for long-term support.
The Urban League of Philadelphia – $950,000 to continue and expand their proven Violence Prevention Programs that support and target at-risk Black and Brown youth and young men and men who are justice-involved.
Unique Dreams, Inc. – $85,000 to fund several programs that offer an array of opportunities within the community. Those programs include a crisis line, skill building in carpentry, plumbing and electrical trades, resume workshops, interview training, empowerment groups, assistance with transportation needs, an afterschool and summer program for youth ages 8-18 focused on guided group discussions and conflict resolution, and youth skill-building workshops on topics such as music, cooking, basketball, boxing, and weightlifting.
University of Pennsylvania (Center for the Treatment and Study of Anxiety) – $1,517,546 to expand the scope and reach of the Prolonged Exposure (PE) Therapy Initiative, a program that supports the implementation of Prolonged Exposure (PE) Therapy for PTSD in community mental health centers in Philadelphia, by creating the Philadelphia Prolonged Exposure to Address Community Violence (PEACE) Project, which will be a coalition of 60 providers who are trained to respond to the mental health needs of individuals who experience community violence.
University of Pennsylvania (Penn Injury Science Center) – $2,332,070 to expand and enhance the School District of Philadelphia’s (SDP) Safe Path to School program. The program will expand to 6-8 schools and have enhanced features such as training (e.g. trauma-informed care, cure violence models of violence prevention), access to referral programs, and regular meetings with local violence intervention programs.
Uplift Center for Grieving Children – $399,994 to provide additional resources for training and data collection for quality grief counseling services to youth in the city of Philadelphia. Components of this project include clinical training and supervision to cultivate staff aptitude and maintain up-to-date and high-quality mental health supports, the expansion of the Resilient Parenting for Bereaved Families (RPBF) program, providing caregivers with regulation skills and parenting tools over 10-week sessions to support their families, and training coordination to expand its capacity to train frontline professionals in racial/trauma-informed professional development offerings.
Uplift Solutions Inc. – $607,840 to grow and enhance their Workforce Solutions program, which serves justice-involved individuals through increased outreach efforts, increased trauma-informed behavioral health services, and increased capacity to serve more participants. Program components include life-skills training, case management, wraparound services, job readiness training, employer technical training, employment placement, and follow-up support 3 years post-graduation.
More information on the grants can be found here.
by Christin Brown | Enero 10, 2023 | feature, News Releases
Harrisburg, PA - 10 de enero de 2023 - La senadora demócrata Christine M. Tartaglione emitió la siguiente declaración con respecto a la consolidación de la enmienda constitucional sobre el estatuto de limitaciones en un paquete con las enmiendas constitucionales sobre la identificación de votantes y la revisión reglamentaria.
"Las víctimas de abusos sexuales no merecen que los políticos de Harrisburg jueguen con su destino", dijo el senador Tartaglione. "El lenguaje de esta enmienda constitucional ha sido aprobado por esta cámara tres veces, pero de repente el partido mayoritario ha decidido que jugar a la política con los derechos de las víctimas de abusos es más importante que proporcionar una ventana para permitir la rendición de cuentas. No puedo condenar estos juegos con la suficiente firmeza. Esta enmienda constitucional debería tramitarse en solitario.
by Christin Brown | Enero 3, 2023 | feature, News Releases
Harrisburg, PA – Enero 3, 2023 − Today, Pennsylvania Senator Christine M. Tartaglione was sworn into her eighth term serving as the Pennsylvania Senator from the 2nd District which includes portions of Philadelphia. Senator Tartaglione was also officially named Democratic Whip for the 2023-2024 legislative session.
Senator Tartaglione was one of 25 members sworn into the Pennsylvania Senate.
“Entering this legislative session, I am officially the longest-serving female in Pennsylvania Senate History,” said Senator Tartaglione. “It has been the honor of a lifetime serving the people of the 2nd district, and I am eagerly awaiting the coming legislative session and serving as Whip for the Senate Democratic Caucus. I am optimistic the legislature will spend the next legislative session working to pass crucial legislation that will put Pennsylvanians first.”
Serving in her 28th year, Senator Tartaglione is now the longest-serving female senator in Pennsylvania’s history, surpassing Senator Jeanette F. Reibman, who served from 1967 to 1994, the year Senator Tartaglione first won her seat in the Pennsylvania Senate.
Constituents can connect with Senator Tartaglione via her email: [email protected], her Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or website.
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by Christin Brown | Noviembre 15, 2022 | feature, News Releases
Harrisburg, PA – Noviembre 15, 2022 − Today, Senator Christine Tartaglione was elected by her Senate Democratic colleagues to become the first female to serve as Democratic Whip in Pennsylvania Senate history. Senator Tartaglione is also the first person with a disability to serve as the Whip of any caucus in the state’s 235-year history.
When the Senate returns in the ’23-’24 legislative session Senator Tartaglione will bring more than 28 years of experience and relationships to the Whip position.
“For nearly three decades, I have had the honor to serve the people of the 2nd district of Pennsylvania,” said Senator Tartaglione. “I have seen my fair share of bad bills pass and great bills squandered away into the abyss of parliamentary procedure. Being able to pull upon seven terms worth of experience and bi-partisan relationships will help our caucus move forward our progressive priorities.”
Other Senate Democrats elected to leadership roles include:
- Leader – Jay Costa, Jr.
- Appropriations Committee Chair – Vincent Hughes
- Chair – Wayne D. Fontana
- Secretary – Maria Collett
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by Christin Brown | Octubre 27, 2022 | News Releases
Philadelphia, Octubre 27, 2022 – Today, Senators Tina Tartaglione and Jimmy Dillon announced $2,500,000 for two projects in Northeast Philadelphia. The grants were awarded from the additional Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) to further support community and economic development throughout Pennsylvania.
“Philadelphia has long been known as a premier education and medical city,” said Sen. Tartaglione. “The funding of this grant will help support two great Philadelphia institutions and will enable both to continue to be leaders in their fields.”
RACP projects are authorized in the Redevelopment Assistance section of a Capital Budget Itemization Act, have a regional or multi-jurisdictional impact, and generate substantial increases or maintain current levels of employment, tax revenue, or other measures of economic activity.
“I’m always glad to team-up with my friend and colleague Senator Tartaglione,” said Sen. Dillon. “I’m proud we’re investing in cutting edge cancer research at Fox Chase and innovative vocational training at Father Judge. Working together, I know this is only the beginning of what we can accomplish for Northeast Philly.”
The two projects receiving fundings are:
- Research Facility Modernization, Fox Chase Cancer Center, $1,500,000 – the project will transform the FCCC Laboratory Facility into a cancer model production and analysis hub. It will also renovate the central Laboratory Facility building by overhauling the air handling controls and replacing the lighting systems.
- The Friends of Father Judge High School, Inc., $1,000,000 – Funds would be specifically allocated toward the construction of the Career Pathways Academy Building. Construction to include a state-of-the art 20,000 square foot two story structure built for the purpose of delivering high level vocational education and workforce development. The CTE Academy will have a large common area for multiple trade disciplines to be taught simultaneously while three classrooms and additional breakout spaces will be created on the first floor to allow for students to migrate from hands-on activities into classroom environments to further study their craft. The second floor will have additional workshop spaces, offices for instructors, and an observation deck for administrators to view the multiple disciplines being taught from a safe distance.
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by Christin Brown | Octubre 18, 2022 | feature, News Releases
Harrisburg, PA - 18 de octubre de 2022 - La senadora Christine Tartaglione organizó hoy el Día de la Concienciación sobre la Discapacidad en el Capitolio de Pensilvania para destacar octubre como el Mes Nacional de la Concienciación sobre el Empleo de Discapacitados en Pensilvania.
Tartaglione, el miembro discapacitado más antiguo de la Asamblea General de Pensilvania, organizó el acto para que las organizaciones de defensa de los discapacitados, junto con proveedores públicos y privados, compartieran información sobre servicios y tecnología de asistencia. Se invitó a asistir a todos los miembros de la asamblea legislativa y al público en general.
"Las personas con discapacidades físicas y cognitivas se enfrentan todos los días a una ardua batalla para acceder a lo esencial de la vida cotidiana, por no hablar de un empleo significativo", dijo Tartaglione. "Eventos como el Día de la Concienciación sobre la Discapacidad permiten a mis colegas venir y apreciar realmente los retos a los que se enfrentan cada día los residentes de Pensilvania con discapacidad".
Tartaglione utiliza una silla de ruedas desde que sufrió un accidente de navegación en 2003. Lleva mucho tiempo siendo una de las principales defensoras de las personas con discapacidad en Pensilvania y desempeñó un papel decisivo en la creación de la Oficina para Personas con Discapacidad del estado, que sirve como fuente de información sobre los numerosos organismos estatales y de condado que ofrecen servicios a las personas que necesitan ayuda en su vida diaria.
Las organizaciones que compartieron información incluyeron el Centro para la Vida Independiente de PA Central, Susquehanna Service Dogs, PA Departamento de Envejecimiento, PA Oficina de Ceguera y Servicios Visuales y PA Oficina de Servicios de Rehabilitación Profesional, AgrAbility PA, UniqueSource Productos y Servicios, Parálisis Cerebral Unida de PA Central, TechOwl, PA Link, United Spinal Association, Instituto de Discapacidades de la Universidad de Temple, PA Fundación de Tecnología de Asistencia, y Moss Rehab/Einstein ahora parte de Jefferson Health.
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by Christin Brown | Octubre 13, 2022 | News Releases
Philadelphia Pa. − Octubre 13, 2022 − Today nearly 100 seniors, their direct caregivers, and vendors attended the first of three Senior Expos hosted by Senator Christine Tartaglione (D-Philadelphia).
The expo, organized and hosted by Sen. Tartaglione, at the St. Anne’s Rectory PAL Center in Philadelphia hosted representatives from various government agencies as well as public and private providers were on hand to discuss programs and services for older Philadelphians, as well as organizations providing health screenings. A free lunch was provided to attendees as well.
“One of my favorite aspects of being an elected official is helping to connect seniors with the services they need,” Sen. Tartaglione said. “These events are always a huge hit with my constituents, and every time I interact with constituents around the 2nd district, they always tell me how much they love the senior fairs and are already looking forward to the next one.”
Sen. Tartaglione will be hosting two more senior expos in the 2nd District:
- Viernes, Octubre 21st, 10 am-1 pm at the Lawncrest Recreation Center, 6000 Rising Sun Avenue, Philadelphia
- Jueves, Octubre 27th, 10 am-1 pm at the Mayfair Community Center, 2990 Saint Vincent St, Philadelphia
The Senior Expos are free to attend and open to all seniors and their caregivers in the 2nd district.
For more information contact Sen. Tartaglione’s district office at (215) 533-0440.
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por Christin Brown | 8 de julio de 2022 | reportaje, Comunicados de prensa
Harrisburg, PA - 8 de julio de 2022 - El viernes, la Asamblea General de Pensilvania aprobó el Presupuesto del Año Fiscal 2022-2023 (FY 22-23) de $ 44 mil millones y los proyectos de ley de código relacionados, que están a la espera de la firma del Gobernador Wolf.
"Este presupuesto es a la vez un gran paso adelante en su inversión histórica en la financiación de la educación, con un aumento récord de $ 1,1 mil millones en la financiación de la educación y $ 190 millones destinados al Distrito Escolar de Filadelfia. También fue una oportunidad perdida para hacer cambios significativos y sustanciales en la vida de Pennsylvanians - no hemos podido aumentar el salario mínimo de Pennsylvania o cerrar la laguna de Delaware, y nos redirigimos los ingresos del juego lejos de ayudar a Pennsylvanians pagar sus impuestos a la propiedad y hacia el Fondo General de Pennsylvania", dijo el senador Christine Tartaglione.
El proyecto de ley 1342 de la Cámara de Representantes, el Código Tributario de Pensilvania para los años fiscales 22-23, en el que la senadora Tartaglione votó 'NO', reducirá lentamente el Impuesto sobre la Renta Neta de Sociedades (IRNC) del 9,99% al 4,99% en 2031. No abordó las necesidades de los empleados que ganan un salario mínimo inadecuado ni cerró la laguna de Delaware que evitaría que las corporaciones trasladen ganancias a subsidiarias en el vecino Delaware y no paguen su parte justa en impuestos.
"Hace 150 días, el gobernador Wolf pronunció su último discurso presupuestario ante la Asamblea General. Durante su discurso, habló de la necesidad de abordar el CNI, pero hacerlo al tiempo que aumenta el salario mínimo y el cierre de la laguna de Delaware. Pero hoy en día, el partido mayoritario bajó el CNI dejando atrás a los que ganan menos en Pensilvania", dijo el senador Tartaglione.
Otros programas e iniciativas que reciben financiación incluyen inversiones de 125 millones de dólares para el programa Whole Home Repair, 100 millones de dólares para el Apoyo a la Salud Mental de Adultos, 90 millones de dólares para la Ayuda al Cuidado de Niños y 75 millones de dólares para los Programas de Intervención y Prevención de la Violencia.
Aquí encontrará un desglose más detallado del presupuesto de Pensilvania para el año fiscal 22-23.
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by Christin Brown | Junio 27, 2022 | feature, News Releases
HARRISBURG, Junio 27, 2022 − Seven members of the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus circulated a memo on Viernes afternoon to take steps to codify into state law the personal right to make decisions about health and reproduction, including access to safe and legal abortions.
The co-sponsorship memo was circulated by state Senators Katie Muth (D- Montgomery/Chester/Berks), Amanda Cappelletti (D-Montgomery/Delaware), Lindsey Williams (D-Allegheny), Maria Collett (D-Bucks/Montgomery), Judy Schwank (D-Berks), Christine Tartaglione (D-Philadelphia), and Carolyn Comitta (D-Chester).
“The Supreme Court decision handed down on Viernes was not made in the interest of the people and shows that the highest court in our nation has a majority that is being run by harmful right wing special interests,” Muth said. “If we cannot trust the Court to protect the rights of Pennsylvanians, then it is up to us in the state legislature to defend our rights to make decisions about our own bodies. We cannot and we will never back down in the fight to protect our rights, our bodies, and our right to choice.”
The legislation comes on the heels of the devastating ruling handed down by a partisan Supreme Court on Viernes that overturned the 1973 Roe v Wade ruling and eliminates the constitutional right to an abortion after almost 50 years.
“Codifying Roe will go a long way to protect the right to determine our own bodily autonomy here in the Commonwealth. Currently, the right to make decisions about our own bodies is under threat because extremists refuse to accept the reality that abortion is a necessary and vital health care procedure,” Cappelletti said. “We must do all that we can to protect and even expand access, and this legislation is the first step to doing so.”
In 1973, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Roe v. Wade that abortion rights being left to the individual states was a violation of the right to privacy and equal protection under the law. This ruling had provided American women the reproductive freedoms and personal health choices they deserve as equal citizens.
“Last week’s Supreme Court ruling took away the federal right for millions of Americans to seek life-saving reproductive healthcare. Abortion is only legal in Pennsylvania right now because the anti-choice bills run by Republicans in the legislature have been vetoed by the governor. The time is now to codify Roe into state law to ensure that reproductive healthcare remains safe and accessible for future generations,” Williams added. “Deciding if, when, and with whom to start or grow a family is a human right. I trust people to make the best decisions about their lives, families and their healthcare. This legislation is about our right to privacy and our right to bodily autonomy and I am proud to support it.”
In the dissenting opinion filed on Viernes, Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer wrote that “withdrawing a woman’s right to choose whether to continue a pregnancy does not mean that no choice is being made. It means that a majority of today’s Court has wrenched this choice from women and given it to the States. To allow a State to exert control over one of “the most intimate and personal choices” a woman may make is not only to affect the course of her life, monumental as those effects might be.”
“After nearly 50 years of legal precedent, we are seeing nothing less than a rollback of our fundamental rights to bodily autonomy. This ruling could be devastating to Pennsylvanians, but it does not have to be,” Collett added. “Our legislature must codify Roe v. Wade and ensure safe, legal, and accessible reproductive care for everyone, regardless of their income level or other social barriers.”
According to Abril 2022 polling done by Franklin & Marshall College, which has regularly polled on the issue since 2009, only 16 percent of Pennsylvanians believe that abortion should be illegal in all circumstances.
“Without Roe, state legislatures across the country will be lining up to restrict, ban or protect abortion access. Given that only 30% of Pennsylvanians agree with the overturning of Roe, I believe this legislation will do what our constituents expect us to do – protect access to abortion,” Schwank said. “We can’t allow the people of this commonwealth’s personal health care decisions to be made by a vocal minority.”
The Senators all agree that it is up to the legislature to step up and take action to protect women’s freedom of choice.
“While abortion currently remains safe and legal in Pennsylvania, we must take steps to keep it that way. In overturning Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court showed just how fragile protections for women’s health, women’s rights, and women’s choice are,” Comitta said. “Codifying these protections into law is a matter of representing the majority of Pennsylvania voters who believe abortion should be legal, standing up for all women, and saying no to an extremist agenda of government-mandated pregnancy.”
The Senators indicated that language is currently being drafted to codify the protections of the 1973 Roe v Wade ruling into Pennsylvania law and that it will be introduced soon.
“We just witnessed an unprecedented repeal of the rights of women in America by activist justices acting against the interest of the majority of Americans. Pennsylvania’s legislature needs to act now to ensure we protect the rights of women here in Pennsylvania,” Tartaglione said. “This legislation will ensure women retain the right to safe abortions and protects women from having the government interfere in the private decision-making process between her and her healthcare team.”
Click here to read the co-sponsorship memo that was circulated on Viernes.
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