Posted by: wcdem2 | June 21, 2017

Disarm Hate Act background / June 23 rally

from Concerned Constituent Action Group, hosts of event “Calling on Costello – West Chester: Prevent Gun Violence”, Friday June 23 at 11:30 AM – 1 PM, 21 W Market St, West Chester

According to Everytown Research, 93 Americans are killed with guns on an average day. Common-sense gun control laws could prevent many of these deaths. Under current laws, domestic abusers, the mentally ill, and suspected terrorists—such as the shooter at Pulse nightclub in Orlando, who killed 49 and wounded 53 members of the LGBTQ community—are all allowed to possess guns. In addition, convicted criminals can buy guns online or at gun shows because unlicensed private sellers aren’t required to perform background checks.

The gun lobby has spent tens of millions of dollars (including more than 30 million on the Trump campaign) to gain power in Washington DC. In February, Trump and the GOP-led Congress overturned an Obama-era rule that prohibited certain mentally ill people from buying guns. The NRA and gun manufacturers are now pushing Congress to pass the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2017, which would allow gun owners from states with loose (or no) restrictions on concealed carry permits to bring their concealed weapons into all other states, in effect overriding state laws that require safety courses or live-fire training for permit-seekers.

America is a great nation, but a gun homicide rate that is twenty-five times higher than the average of all other developed countries is not something to be proud of. Research has shown that gun violence most frequently afflicts the most vulnerable groups among us, such as low-income people and minorities (National Crime Victimization Survey). One step in the right direction is the Disarm Hate Act (S. 1324 / H.R. 2841), a bill that would prevent anyone previously convicted of misdemeanor hate crimes from purchasing a gun. Closing this loophole in current laws will keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people and prevent more acts of heinous violence”. (5calls.org)

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Posted in Gun violence | Tags: , ,

Posted by: wcdem2 | June 13, 2017

West Chester mayor backs clean energy despite U.S. backing out of Paris accord

By Bill Rettew Jr., Daily Local News, 6/12/17

WEST CHESTER >> In light of President Donald Trump’s decision to dump the Paris accord, Mayor Jordan Norley is committed to meeting the clean energy goals of the agreement on a local level.

More than 150 mayors in the United States have endorsed the 100 percent clean energy goal, or making all use of energy clean and renewable, as part of the Sierra Club’s Ready for 100 Campaign.

“The people of this world have a fundamental right to the ingredients of life — clean air, clean water and a sustainable future,” Norley said. “There is no better place to take a stand than our own homes, our own communities. With our national politics, the action we can take is local.”

Locally, Norley supports the international Paris agreement which sets a voluntary 2 degrees Celsius guardrail, and meets clean energy goals, in a bid to maintain a stable climate and stable economy.

Norley wants local governments to have control.

“We reject the notion that the state or federal government can override our rights as a community to a sustainable future,” the mayor said….

read more at Daily Local News

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Posted in Environmental, Mayor | Tags: , ,

Posted by: wcdem2 | June 12, 2017

Councilman Bernie Flynn honored for beautifying West Chester

by Bill Rettew, Daily Local News, 6/11/17

West Chester Borough Councilman Bernie Flynn, left, accepts an award from Charles J. Walsh of West Chester Off-Campus Housing. Flynn was lauded for his volunteer work beautifying the borough, including removing graffiti and painting curbs. Flynn is a former basketball referee and recently became a first-time councilman in Ward 6.

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Posted in Borough Council | Tags: , ,

Posted by: wcdem2 | June 8, 2017

Off the Sidelines endorses Houlahan in 2018

Big news! In the last few weeks, we have received endorsements from VoteVets and Plumbers Local 690. Today, we’re excited to add Off the Sidelines to our growing list of endorsements!

Off the Sidelines is a growing national organization founded by New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand that supports women candidates. This is huge news for our campaign.

Help us spread the word about the endorsement. Share this post with your friends on Facebook today.

In their endorsement, Senator Gillibrand discussed Chrissy’s leadership, saying:

“Throughout her career that included service in the U.S. Air Force, growing and running three small businesses, and working as an educator, Chrissy has demonstrated her service to our nation. We need more women like Chrissy in Congress to cut through the partisan politics and focus on getting things done and helping people. Chrissy has a proven track record of creating good paying jobs through her work as COO of And1 Basketball and through her work as the founding COO of B-Lab, a nonprofit that promotes B Corporations and good business practices, and Off the Sidelines is proud to endorse her campaign for Congress.”

It’s exactly that type of experience that makes Chrissy the best candidate for the job — and today, Off the Sidelines made that clear.

Thanks for your help,

Team Chrissy

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Posted in 2018 election, US Congress | Tags:

Posted by: wcdem2 | June 4, 2017

Administration by smokescreens

from a contributor in the Borough

This is an administration by smokescreens. The President screamed that there was “voter fraud” (where the evidence is that any voting errors had a de minimus effect on the election) so that Republicans have an excuse for restrictions that discourage the minority vote. That’s a trick of the old post-Civil War South. 

The President screamed about illegal immigrants and attempted to ban immigrants from Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia, Yemen and Iraq who he claimed threatened the U.S. But that was simply to distract Americans from the fact that he is doing business with Saudi Arabia — the native country of the majority of 9/11 terrorists, and with United Arab Emirates.

He screamed that President Obama had wiretapped his New York office. But that pile of bunk was just to distract us from the number of people in his campaign who were in direct contact with Russian agents. 

No more smokescreens!

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Posted in US Presidency

Posted by: wcdem2 | June 1, 2017

whose america are we living in?

by Carla, chestercountyramblings, 6/1/17

When you see photos like this they just make you happy. Obviously in love, on their wedding day, their whole lives ahead of them. Until ICE (immigration) shows up like modern day Nazis at the Septa train station in Haverford and arrests the husband.

I used to live in Haverford. I used to work near Haverford Train Station. I grew up in Haverford. I just can’t imagine the terror this man felt. I learned about his plight when a friend posted on Facebook…

read more at chestercountyramblings

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Posted in Immigration | Tags:

Posted by: wcdem2 | May 30, 2017

Primary election turnout May 2017

Dem voters in the Borough turned out on May 16 at a 20% rate. Sure, we’d like 100%, but 20% is the highest anyone can recall for an “off-year” primary election.

The trend began by 2013, when D turnout increased 5% over 2011. In 2015, D turnout gained 48% over 2013. And in 2017, about 400 more Dems voted than in 2015, a 31% increase over 2015 compared to a 13% R increase.

As a result, in 2017 almost twice as many D’s voted in 2017 as in 2013, for an increase of 94% compared to 9% for R’s. The largest % Dem increases were in wards 2E and 4, the lowest in 5 and 6.

Now our task is to hold all our primary voters, and to add a lot more for the November vote!

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Posted in 2017 election | Tags: ,

Posted by: wcdem2 | May 19, 2017

2017 Dem candidates on the November 7 West Chester Ballot

Dem voters in the Borough turned out on May 16 at a 20% rate. Sure, we’d like 100%, but 20% is the highest anyone can recall for an “off-year” primary election. So let’s keep up the good participation level!

The November 7 ballot will have the primary winners, as shown below.

Borough Wards 3, 6, and 7 include the Dem candidate for Magisterial District Judge, Bret Binder. Web site. Facebook.

The Dem candidate for School Board Director (region 1) is incumbent Joyce Chester. For more on Joyce, see the West Goshen Dems’ candidate page.

West Chester Mayor: Dianne Herrin  Website  Facebook

Borough Council races (all currently serving):

Ward 1: Bill Scott

Ward 3: Mike Galey

Ward 5: Don Braceland

Ward 7: Denise Polk

For statewide (judges) and countywide (row offices) candidates, see CCDC.

To check turnout figures for both parties, download info for the precincts you want at Voter Services. (West Chester’s 8 precincts are at the end.)

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Posted in 2017 election

Posted by: wcdem2 | May 18, 2017

This is obstruction of justice — WC resident to Sen. Toomey

Dear Senator Toomey:

“I hope you can let this go.” When the President says this to the FBI Director, it is obstruction of Justice. The Republican Party now stands for principles that are utterly antithetical to Democracy: bald-faced lying (Sessions); intolerance (the President, Sessions); undermining the Constitution (McConnell); voting rights manipulation (the entire Party); the ends justify the means (the entire Party); obtaining advantage for the rich at the expense of the poor (the entire Party); now, no surprise, obstruction of Justice.

Where will it end?

When will you show some moral fiber and individual courage?

Sincerely,

James Sargent, West Chester PA
May 17, 2017

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Posted in US Presidency, US Senate | Tags:

Posted by: wcdem2 | May 17, 2017

Dianne Herrin wins mayoral primary

from WCDem chair Stephanie Markstein:

Congratulations to Dianne on her primary win! She did an outstanding job and should be commended on her efforts. Let it also be said that the Democratic Party in West Chester had three hard-working candidates. Thanks to Cassandra Jones and Kyle Hudson for their contributions of integrity and effort in this primary. May we continue to work towards a better community and be united in our vision as we look towards the fall.

See more on this primary in “Dianne Herrin wins Democratic Primary for West Chester mayor” by Bill Rettew, Daily Local News, 5/17/17:

WEST CHESTER >> Voters overwhelmingly gave the nod for mayor on the Democratic ballot to Dianne Herrin in Tuesday’s Primary Election.

Herrin received 756 votes or 61 percent of the tally. Cassandra Jones was second with 286 votes, or 23 percent, and Kyle Hudson placed third with 182 votes, or almost 15 percent.

All election results are unofficial until verified by the county board of elections.

No Republican candidate was listed on the primary ballot. Herrin will likely run unopposed in November during the General Election, unless a write-in candidate surfaces from the Grand Old Party.

Herrin will likely succeed Mayor Jordan Norley, who was chosen by borough council to serve as interim mayor. He is completing the final eight months of Carolyn Comitta’s term and decided not to run for a full term. Comitta was elected as a Democratic state representative for the 156th Legislative District in 2016, after a lengthy recount.

Herrin is vice president of a local West Chester-based energy consulting firm. She has a history as an environmentalist, was the only mayoral candidate endorsed by the Sierra Club and worked on the borough’s climate action plan….

read more at Daily Local News

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Posted in 2017 election, Mayor

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