by Christin Brown | March 9, 2021 | News Releases
Senators Sabatina and Tartaglione collaborated to get site in their community.
Philadelphia, March 9 2021 − Sen. John Sabatina (D-Philadelphia) and Sen. Christine Tartaglione (D-Philadelphia) are pleased to announce there will soon be a new COVID-19 vaccination location in Northeast Philadelphia. The state senators worked diligently with city officials to secure the Northeast’s first municipal vaccination site, which will serve constituents from both of their senate districts.
“According to the city’s own published data, some of the hardest hit ZIP codes are in Northeast Philly,” Sabatina said. “Yet many of my neighbors would have to travel quite a distance to get a vaccine when eligible.”
Senator Tartaglione agreed.
“Every day constituents call my district offices to ask how they can sign up for a vaccine and why there are few if any convenient vaccination sites in their neighborhoods,” Tartaglione said. “This new vaccination site will be much more accessible for the people of the Northeast.”
The site will be located at Cannstatter Volkesfest Verein, a landmark catering facility at 9130 Academy Road, in the 19114 ZIP code. The next closest city-operated site is at Community Academy Charter School in the Juniata Park neighborhood.
Sabatina praised Cannstatter’s for stepping up.
“Such great people at Cannstatter’s, they’re always there for us,” said Sabatina, who has hosted community events there. “It’s a convenient location for many of our friends and neighbors and the property layout presents many advantages for an operation like this.”
The city is getting a boost with the FEMA site at the Convention Center in Center City. Sabatina called the new Northeast location a no-brainer.
“Northeast Philadelphia is an incredibly diverse region, has a large senior population and is roughly one fourth of the city,” Sabatina said. “I’m glad that this important section of the city is being recognized as deserving of a vaccination site.”
Senator Tartaglione added: “I appreciate and thank all the community organizations and volunteers who have led efforts to distribute vaccinations throughout the city. The people of the Northeast have been very patient throughout this process, and I’m glad to see that the city will be directly addressing their needs.”
The site is scheduled to open the week of March 22. The City of Philadelphia will release more details on hours of operation and how to sign up. Both Senators recommend their constituents register their names on the COVID Vaccine-Interest website at https://covid-vaccine-interest.phila.gov/
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by Christin Brown | June 5, 2020 | News Releases
Letter signed by 17 Senators Calls for Immediate Hearings
Harrisburg, June 5, 2020 − Senator John Sabatina (D-Philadelphia) implored Governor Wolf to suspend the termination of 700 Pennsylvania employees until public hearings can be held on the clandestine decision by the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC).
“It is absurd that we would send 700 more Pennsylvanians to the unemployment line during this crisis,” Sabatina said, who serves as the Democratic Chair of the Senate Transportation Committee. “We agreed these loyal state employees would be retained until the end of 2021, when the Turnpike would go cashless.”
Sabatina wasn’t alone in his dismay. Senator Tartaglione, Democratic Chair of the Labor Committee, also questioned the decision.
“This sudden decision to terminate 700 hardworking Turnpike employees violates the agreement we had in place and comes at a time when the Commonwealth should be doing everything it can to curtail the loss of jobs,” said Senator Tartaglione, the Democratic Chair of the Senate Labor and Industry Committee. “We must insist that all stakeholders have their say in a public forum as part of any decision-making process of this magnitude.”
In all, 17 Senators are calling for the hearings before the June 18th termination date. The letter was sent to Governor Wolf on Friday.
You can read Senator Sabatina’s letter here:
The Honorable Governor Tom Wolf
Office of the Governor
508 Main Capitol Building
Harrisburg, PA 17120
June 5, 2020
Re: Suspend Elimination of Toll Collector Positions
Dear Governor Wolf:
We are deeply disturbed at the stealthy manner in which the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission voted to eliminate over 700 toll collector jobs this week.
Prior to Tuesday June 2nd, all parties understood that under the original agreement, the PTC promised to employ these Pennsylvanians until the exits went completely cashless at the end of 2021. During this timeframe, the remaining toll collectors would be able to apply for existing positions within the Commission, help get placed in appropriate Commonwealth vacancies, or receive a tuition credit to help receive new job training. To our knowledge, none of the above terms of the agreement have been met.
Also prior to June 2nd, we believed that we had an open and transparent relationship with the PTC. On May 12, 2020, during a Senate Transportation Committee Hearing regarding Turnpike finances, the opportunity presented itself for the PTC to discuss potential layoffs. Despite questions raised by Senate members on the future of the toll workers, no meaningful discussion on this topic was advanced by any member of the PTC.
We, therefore, believe that it is necessary to conduct an informational hearing to determine the fundamental reasons behind the PTC’s failure to abide by the original agreement regarding termination as well as its failure to notify, inform and discuss this matter with the Legislature. We understand the financial difficulties placed upon the Turnpike, however, it is blatantly unconscionable to mislead employees into thinking that their jobs were somewhat secure for the next year and a half, while knowing that these loyal employees really had less than a month to find another job in the midst of a pandemic.
These people have families that depend on them to provide necessities during this extremely difficult time and adding 700 Pennsylvanians to the unemployment rolls will not benefit the Commonwealth.
We respectfully request that this decision to layoff 700 toll collectors on June 18, 2021 be suspended until it can be established with certainty through an informational hearing that there is not some reasonable alternative that allows the PTC to keep its original promise to its faithful employees.
Thank you for your immediate attention to this matter and we await your prompt response.
Sincerely,
Senator John P. Sabatina, Jr. Chairman, Transportation Committee
Senator Jay Costa 43rd Senatorial District
Senator Anthony Williams 8th Senatorial District
Senator Tina Tartaglione 2nd Senatorial District
Senator John Blake 22nd Senatorial District
Senator Vincent Hughes 7th Senatorial District
Senator Judy Schwank 11th Senatorial District
Senator Lisa Boscola 18th Senatorial District
Senator James Brewster 45th Senatorial District
Senator Wayne Fontana 42nd Senatorial District
Senator Timothy Kearney 26th Senatorial District
Senator Andrew Dinniman 19th Senatorial District
Senator Lindsey Williams 38th Senatorial District
Senator Maria Collett 12th Senatorial District
Senator Pam Iovino 37th Senatorial District
Senator Katie Muth 44th Senatorial District
Senator Larry Farnese 1st Senatorial District
by Christin Brown | November 15, 2019 | News Releases
La financiación del Programa Capital de Ayuda a la Reurbanización de Pensilvania servirá para financiar la construcción de un nuevo laboratorio de soldadura y la ampliación de un centro de excelencia académica.
Filadelfia, PA - 15 de noviembre de 2019 - Los senadores estatales Christine Tartaglione y John Sabatina visitaron hoy la Escuela Secundaria Padre Judge para presentar al liderazgo, los partidarios y los estudiantes de la escuela una subvención de reurbanización estatal de $ 1,5 millones para ayudar en la construcción de un laboratorio de soldadura de última generación y la expansión de un centro de excelencia académica en la escuela del noreste de Filadelfia.
Decenas de alumnos del programa de soldadura del Padre Judge participaron con entusiasmo en una ceremonia de entrega de cheques. La financiación se concedió a Friends of Father Judge High School, Inc. a través del Pennsylvania Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program, que apoya a organizaciones en su adquisición y construcción de proyectos regionales de mejora económica, cultural, cívica, recreativa e histórica.
"Me sentí honrado de abogar por esta financiación en nombre del Padre Judge debido a la educación de alta calidad que la escuela ofrece a los residentes del 2º Distrito del Senado y de toda la región de Filadelfia", dijo el senador Tartaglione. "El programa de soldadura y el centro de excelencia académica son ejemplos perfectos del enfoque innovador de la escuela para preparar a los estudiantes para el éxito académico y para carreras prósperas."
"Es un honor poder ayudar a la Escuela Secundaria Padre Judge a medida que continúa ampliando sus oportunidades educativas para los estudiantes de nuestra comunidad", dijo el senador Sabatina. "Como graduado del Father Judge, me complace enormemente ver cómo la escuela crece hasta convertirse en uno de los principales institutos de Filadelfia".
"Como Presidente de los Amigos del Padre Judge, estoy entusiasmado con las posibilidades que la subvención RACP de 1,5 millones de dólares ofrecerá a los Crusaders actuales y futuros", dijo William St. "Estamos muy agradecidos a la senadora Christine Tartaglione y al senador John Sabatina por apoyar nuestra solicitud y creer en nuestra visión de proporcionar un enriquecimiento académico ampliado, así como vías profesionales y técnicas para los estudiantes."
Soldadura es el primero de varios programas de orientación profesional en Father Judge que proporcionarán una formación profesional mejorada y prepararán a los estudiantes para los puestos de trabajo del presente y del futuro, que son demandados y que mantienen a las familias. Juntos, estos programas conforman la Academia de Educación Técnica Profesional Padre Judge, que se dedica a un plan de estudios de ciencia, tecnología, ingeniería y matemáticas (STEM).
"Debido a la escasez de mano de obra en el país, existe una gran demanda de todos los oficios cualificados. Y la soldadura encabeza la lista", dijo el senador Tartaglione. "El programa de soldadura en el Padre Judge está dando a los estudiantes locales una gran ventaja que van a utilizar en los próximos años para asegurar puestos de trabajo lucrativos y de apoyo a la familia."
El Centro Padre Brisson para la Excelencia Académica del Padre Judge se fundó en 2003 para ayudar a los estudiantes con habilidades vitales de lectura y matemáticas y prepararlos para las pruebas estatales y nacionales de las series de rendimiento. La subvención RACP permitirá al colegio reconfigurar y ampliar el centro para atender una demanda creciente de apoyo académico.
En conjunto, se espera que las renovaciones creen docenas de nuevos puestos de trabajo en la construcción y 10 puestos permanentes a tiempo completo en Father Judge, que atiende a unos 1.200 estudiantes que representan a 29 códigos postales diferentes de los condados de Filadelfia, Bucks, Montgomery y Delaware.
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Si desea más información sobre este tema, póngase en contacto con William Kenny en el 215-533-0440 o en William.Kenny@pasenate.com.
