Our Principles

The ward is the most basic level of local government—connecting our blocks to citywide politics.  If our ward leadership is not uplifting politics in the interest of diverse working class communities, then a piece of our democratic process is broken. Our political system too often serves the corporations and developers who profit at our expense—and many wards remain complacent toward this corrupt status quo that is crushing the working class. We’re fighting for wards that work for all of us. We commit to these principles, dedicating ourselves to:

  • Wards that demand more for our communities. Philadelphia should be a vibrant and safe city where working-class people can afford to live well. We must tax the rich to fund the public programs and services that benefit us all.

  • Wards that build power by coming together. Working class people joining forces across races and communities is the only way to counter the developers, bosses, landlords, and the rich who rig our political system.

  • Wards that fight against racism, sexism, and prejudice. We attack all forms of oppression and resist stereotypes and assumptions, with the humility to listen to diverse experiences and find the common ground that unites us.

  • Wards that foster grassroots leaders. We know real change doesn’t come from above. We’re committed to supporting what it really takes: thousands of ordinary people all over Philadelphia stepping up to organize their communities.

  • Wards that support democracy. We work to increase voter turnout and civic engagement. We support “open” and active wards where committee people discuss and vote on candidate endorsements.

  • Wards that do the work. As committee people, we will get out the vote on Election Day, come to ward meetings, knock on doors to maintain and build new connections, help elections run smoothly, and listen to and to take care of all our neighbors.

  • Wards that are transparent. We don’t stuff ballots or intimidate voters. We support ward financial transparency. Likewise, we want candidates who can serve residents because they aren’t funded by profiteering corporations or real estate developers.

  • Wards that practice solidarity. We build alliances with other working-class groups like labor unions and grassroots community organizations, and we support politicians, ward leadership, and people everywhere who share these principles.

Ward Governance Platform

As committee people, we are dedicated to running wards democratically and transparently to build power with the neighborhoods we represent. Together, we are running a diverse slate of committee people to create a ward that represents the communities that are our homes. When we are in a position to govern wards, we are committed to upholding the following practices:

  • Transparency. We will make ward finances publicly available. We will schedule and promote meetings in advance and make meeting notes available to all committee people after.

  • Democracy. At a time when our institutions are under attack from the GOP, and the Democratic party has failed to protect them, the only way to combat authoritarianism and apathy is with real democracy. Our endorsement processes will be fair and transparent – endorsements and substantive political decisions will be voted on by all committee people.
     

  • Power together. We believe in building power by coming together in organizations. We will work with each other to use the ward system to advance our values and priorities, including working hard to get as many committee people canvassing for our endorsed candidates as possible. We see this work as a way to strengthen and grow leftwing organizations, bring more people into the fight, and build durable power that can outlast any single election.

  • Connection and Community. Our committee people will canvass their neighbors regularly and get out the vote before each primary and general election. Outside of elections, committee people should work to connect their neighbors with services that address community needs. Our committee people understand that politics are the everyday issues we struggle with and  fight for every day of the year.

  • Leadership Development. We believe we need more leaders in our communities. Our wards will have associate or auxiliary committee person programs for the purpose of increasing the ward’s capacity, developing new leaders, and increasing diversity of representation, including of residents who cannot vote.

Policy Platform

As committee people, we are united by a vision of a safe and affordable city for everyone. We aim to build power for working class communities that have suffered exploitation and disinvestment for generations. The candidates we endorse should share our vision. They must be accountable to the people they represent, not bought and sold by campaign donations from landlords, developers, and corporations. We will use the ward to endorse and elect representatives most willing to fight for the values and policies below.

  • Tax revenues should be spent to ensure we can afford to live and raise families in our neighborhoods. We will support candidates who stop landlords from exploiting our need for housing, invest in public services, and push for the construction of truly affordable housing. 


    • Pass rent stabilization; fund proactive inspections to ensure rental properties are safe for families; and fight for new investment and preservation of public and affordable housing. 

    • Anchor neighborhoods with fully funded public schools where students and staff thrive, plus vibrant programming at libraries, parks, and rec centers open seven days a week.

    • Fully fund SEPTA to increase the frequency and quality of transit and provide free rides for people living paycheck to paycheck.

    • Advance Vision Zero by building safe, accessible streets that protect walkers, bikers, and neighborhoods citywide.

  • Our wages have declined while the cost of living soars. Companies have captured our government to skirt workplace protections won by the labor movement and exploit workers. We will endorse candidates fighting for policies that uplift wages, improve working conditions, and grow our unions as vehicles for workers to unite and fight back against corporate greed. 


    • Raise the state minimum wage to $25 an hour and automatically increase it with the cost of living.

    • Expand the right to unionize, prosecute wage theft, and fund enforcement so that every worker is treated fairly and with dignity.

    • Elect politicians who will leverage their power and public platform to help workers win unions, contracts, and strikes against major corporations.

  • Working class communities and small businesses face declining incomes and rising costs as the public services we rely on crumble around us. The ultra-wealthy and massive corporations grow their fortunes by paying us less for our labor. Our elected officials must redistribute that wealth to build a fair and flourishing society with strong public services that support all our neighbors. 


    • Pass a wealth tax on capital gains, which disproportionately benefit the rich.

    • End the uniformity clause and establish progressive income tax.

    • Increase taxes on corporations, and increase the exemption for small businesses.

    • Push huge non-profits like Penn and Jefferson to pay property taxes or make Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILOTs) on the billions of dollars of real estate that they own tax-free.

  • Philadelphia is a diverse working class city that is over-policed and under-resourced. We will reduce crime in our city by eliminating poverty and ensuring prosperity for all Philadelphians. We will support candidates who will fight to end mass incarceration, police brutality, and attacks on immigrant communities. A fair legal system makes us all more safe and free.


    • Strengthen and expand our status as a Welcoming City and protect our neighbors against ICE.

    • Reduce the number of residents sitting in jail, oppose harsh minimum sentences, stop creating new crimes, and decriminalize drug use and “crimes of poverty.”

    • Hold police accountable and end discriminatory policing practices by renegotiating the police contract to allow the Citizens Police Oversight Commission to conduct independent investigations of police misconduct.

    • Expand citywide-wide mobile service units so mental health professionals respond to people experiencing nonviolent mental health episodes rather than police.

    • Elect pro-peace candidates who will oppose foreign wars, apartheid states, and acts of genocide.

  • The climate crisis is urgent and life-threatening. An effective response will require nothing less than the restructuring of our society. We can move away from a world in which power and wealth are concentrated in the hands of those who control finite, toxic resources like fossil fuels – toward a future where renewable energy is widely distributed, and we have democratic control over decisions that shape our lives and communities. 


    • Build publicly owned renewable energy, and renovate public buildings like schools, rec centers and libraries with efficient and healthy heating, cooling, and lighting systems.

    • Keep residents in their homes and save them money with grants for home repairs, energy efficiency, and solar.

    • Grow green spaces in every neighborhood in Philadelphia, including community gardens, public pools, tree-lined streets, public parks, and playgrounds.

    • Move Philadelphia toward zero waste through repair, reuse, and composting — not waste export or toxic incineration that poison other communities.