Op-ed

2020 politicians: Stop pandering to black voters and actually come to our neighborhoods

2020 politicians: Stop pandering to black voters and actually come to our neighborhoods

Op-ed by Anthony H. Williams

There has been a lot of discussion about race and racism this political season. While former New York City mayor and billionaire Mike Bloomberg pours millions into ads appealing to African Americans, Sen. Bernie Sanders’s campaign preaches about a coalition including and highlighting African Americans and Latinos. Earlier this month, it was the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania versus the mayor and district attorney. Before that, it was President Donald Trump accusing Gov. Tom Wolf of denying a black Philadelphia girl a scholarship.

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OP-ED: It’s Time for Nonpartisan Municipal Elections

OP-ED: It’s Time for Nonpartisan Municipal Elections

Op-ed by Anthony H. Williams and David Thornburgh

In Philadelphia, 23% or nearly a quarter-million voters effectively don’t get a say in who becomes mayor, represents them on city council or runs the District Attorney’s office. Despite standing in line to cast ballots and informing themselves on candidate positions, these citizens are locked out of the process simply because they’ve not registered to vote as a Democrat. But what if when you went into a voting booth, there were no party labels – no Democrat, no Republican, no Green – but only names? For voters in 85% of America’s cities and towns, that’s the reality – and Philadelphia should join them.

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