The Pennsylvania Progressive

Ferlo, ACORN Work to Save Homeowners

State Senator Jim Ferlo and ACORN held an event in Pittsburgh to help homeowners facing foreclosure.  Ferlo's bill requiring mortgage lenders to be state licensed has yet to pass the House and be enacted into law. 

"In Pennsylvania you have to have a license to cut someone's hair. You have to have a license to sell a house," Ferlo said. "But you don't need a license to engage in the predatory practice of selling subprime loans."

The ACORN workshop was designed to help those facing the loss of their homes with options and information.  ACORN has been working to stop predatory lenders for years, long before this crisis manifested itself.  PNC Bank also cohosted the event.   Help is available to homeowners, from organizations such as ACORN, the state banking website and nationally through Hope Now.  I have several articles outlining these in our archives.

Sam Bennett Launches Her Congressional Campaign

Sam Bennett kicked off her Congressional campaign in Allentown last night to a roomful of hopeful Lehigh Valley Democrats.  Yes, I said "her."  Sam is a woman for those not familiar with her candidacy.  Actually named Siobhan for her Irish heritage she began the evening with a reading from a Gaelic poem to recognize her Irish roots.  Introduced by Lehigh County Executive Don Cunningham and surrounded by her family and friends, Sam spoke about the importance of the issues and for the Valley to have a Member of Congress who represents the true values of those in the area, especially working and union families.

Charlie Dent currently holds this seat in a Democratic District.  With a 10,000 person voter registration advantage this seat should be Democratic but isn't.  There are reasons for that I won't get into here but suffice it to say the LV area seems to have a strong candidate this year in Bennett.  She is raising money for a campaign far in excess of what her predecessors did and is speaking out against the war in Iraq differently.

Concentrating on Iraq and health care she kept repeating her mantra:  "we can do better, we need an agent of change in Washington."  Bennett said she would be that agent of change and vote for the interests and values of the Lehigh Valley and not "how she is told."

Here are some pictures, I'll add the video clips once they've uploaded.

Don Cunningham:
Sam appreciating the crowd and an enthusiastic introduction:

Chelsea Clinton Schedule

Chelsea Clinton Continues Pennsylvania Trip On Friday, March 28

   

PHILADELPHIA, PA – Chelsea Clinton will continue campaigning in Pennsylvania on Friday, March 28. She will greet commuters in Philadelphia, hold a question and answer event at Lehigh Valley Hospital, and attend an “Our Voices, Our Future” event at Northampton Community College.

   

FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 2008

   

Philadelphia  Easton

   

 

   

7:30 a.m. EDT

   

Chelsea Clinton Greets Commuters with Mayor Nutter

   

Olney Terminal

   

5600 N. Broad Street (at N Broad St & W Olney Ave)

   

Philadelphia, PA

1:30 p.m. EDT

   

Chelsea Clinton Attends “Our Voice, Our Future” Event

   

The College Center, Laub Lounge      

   

Northampton Community College

   

3835 Green Pond Road

   

Bethlehem, PA

Actress Kate Walsh To Campaign For Obama

Television Star Kate Walsh to Campaign on Behalf of Barack Obama

Actress will speak at several different venues throughout eastern Pennsylvania on Friday, March 28^th

                                                                        

PHILADELPHIA – Grey’s Anatomy and Private Practice star Kate Walsh will be campaigning in Pennsylvania on Friday, speaking at several venues throughout the day.  She will continue to campaign on behalf of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama by speaking at five different events, starting in Downtown Doylestown.

Walsh has been campaigning for Obama since January when she went to Nevada in advance of the Caucuses there.  Since then, she has campaigned in Arizona, Texas, California, and Nevada.

She will speak in Downtown Doylestown, at the home of Maureen and Chris Serpico, Lafayette College, Levittown Campaign Office, and Bryn Mawr College.

Event information:

 DOWNTOWN DOYLESTOWN

WHAT:    Speak to the community in Downtown Doylestown
WHEN:   Friday, March 28, 20   11:30am

WHERE:    Starbucks

                  10 North Main Street

                  Doylestown, PA 18901

 

HOUSE OF MAUREEN AND CHRIS SERPICO

WHAT:     Speak at an event at the home of Maureen and Chris Serpico

                                                      
WHEN:    Friday, March 28, 2008

                         12:00p.m

 

WHERE:     Home of Maureen and Chris Serpico

                    50 South Chapman Street

                    Doylestown, PA 18901

 

LAFAYETTE COLLEGE

WHAT:    Speak to students at Lafayette College

WHEN:    Friday, March 28, 2008

                         1:30p.m

WHERE:    Lafayette College

                  50 South Chapman Street

                  Oeschle Hall 224

                  Quad Drive

                   Easton, PA 18042

BRYN MAWR COLLEGE

WHAT:    Speak to students at Bryn Mawr College

                                                      
WHEN:   Friday, March 28, 2008

                         5:00p.m

WHERE:   Bryn Mawr College

                  Marion Edwards Park Science 243

                  Old Gulph Road

                   Bryn Mawr, PA 19010

Waltner Campaign Events

DEMOCRAT MIKE WALTNER (PA-3) TO KICK OFF

"7 COUNTIES IN 7 DAYS" DISTRICT TOUR

IN MOBILE CAMPAIGN HEADQUARTERS

Waltner to cover entire third district in week-long barnstorm

Erie, PA - On Wednesday, April 2, Democratic congressional candidate Mike Waltner will kick off a week-long tour of the third district, covering all seven counties in seven days. The tour will be conducted from a fully-wired mobile campaign headquarters, where Team Waltner will be able to run the campaign while on the road.

MIKE'S DISTRICT TOUR

The district tour will include stops in all seven counties of the third district within seven days. Events along the way will include business and residential canvassing, town hall meetings, community service events, endorsement announcements, and other exciting campaign happenings. "My campaign is based on the theme that ‘to lead is to serve,' Waltner said. "The only way that I can truly represent the people of this district is to hit the road, speak with as many people as possible to find out their needs, and discuss my plan for positive change and how I can serve them in Congress." Team Waltner will kick off the tour at 9:30 AM at 650 W 18^th Street, Erie, our non-mobile headquarters. 

WALTNER'S MOBILE CAMPAIGN HEADQUARTERS

The mobile campaign headquarters will have all the capacities of a regular campaign office. Mike and 5 campaign staff will be fully wired, and able to conduct all business from the vehicle. An office area will provide Mike with the space he needs to make phone calls, hold meetings and accomplish whatever else he needs. Members of the press are invited to join Mike on a tour of the mobile unit, and at any stop along the tour.

BASIC ITINERARY:

Wednesday, April 2 - Kick off in Erie, events in Armstrong County

Thursday, April 3 - Butler and Venango Counties

Friday, April 4 - Warren County

Saturday, April 5 - Crawford County

Sunday, April 6 - Mercer County

Monday, April 7 - Mercer County

Tuesday, April 8 - Erie County

For a more detailed itinerary feel free to contact David Kirk

WHAT:

Waltner Campaign Kicks of "Seven Counties in Seven Days"

District Tour in Mobile Campaign Headquarters

WHERE:

650 W. 18^th   St, Erie, PA

WHEN:

Wednesday, April 2, 9:30 AM

WHO:

Mike Waltner, Democratic Candidate for 3^rd Congressional District

SPECIAL PRESS OPPORTUNITY & GREAT VISUALS

FOR STILL AND VIDEO CAMERA:

As a part of the launch, the campaign will be unveiling a mobile campaign headquarters. 

Reporters are invited to join the candidate for a tour of the vehicle and at any stop along the way. Please contact David Kirk at the campaign to RSVP.

About Mike Waltner

As a community organizer and Erie native, Mike Waltner has faced many of the hardships facing the people of Northwest Pennsylvania. Like more than 40,000 people in the 3^rd district he doesn't have health care. To this day, his mother still works the graveyard shift at a gas station because she can not afford to retire. This background compelled Mike to dedicate his professional life and training as a Lay Minister to working in community service, helping ordinary Americans meet the extraordinary challenges that they face every day. This passion for public service and history of community leadership make him a new type of leader to represent the people of his district and bring positive change to Washington.

Details On Obama Bus Tour

“Road to Change” Bus Tour to Visit Johnstown, Penn State

 

Six-day bus tour will feature stops across Keystone state to continue dialogue with voters

 

PHILADELPHIA, PA—Senator Barack Obama will kick off his “Road to Change” bus tour across the Keystone State Friday morning with a community event at the Soldiers and Sailors Military Museum and Memorial in Pittsburgh.  Friday afternoon, Senator Obama will hold a Town Hall Meeting at Hempfield Area High School in Greensburg. 

 

From Greensburg, the bus tour will make stops in Johnstown on Saturday and at The Pennsylvania State University on Sunday along with other stops around the state before concluding Wednesday in southeastern Pennsylvania. 

 

Over the course of the tour, Obama will continue his dialogue with voters about the need to change Washington in order to tackle challenges like creating jobs, improving our schools and making health care available to every American.

 

Further details of the trip will be announced as they become available.

 

FRIDAY, MARCH 28

Pittsburgh, PA à Greensburg, PA

 

Pittsburgh, PA

COMMUNITY EVENT WITH BARACK OBAMA

Soldiers and Sailors Military Museum and Memorial

4141 Fifth Avenue

Pittsburgh, PA  15213

Doors Open: 9:00 AM

Program Begins: 11:00 AM

The event is free and open to the public.  Tickets are required.  Seating is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.  Unfortunately the event is at capacity and tickets are no longer available.

 

***For security reasons, do not bring bags. Please limit personal belongings.  No signs or banners permitted.***

Greensburg, PA
TOWN HALL MEETING WITH BARACK OBAMA
Hempfield Area High School Gymnasium
4345 Route 136
Greensburg, PA 15601

The event is free and open to the public.  Tickets are required. Seating is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Unfortunately the event is at capacity and tickets are no longer available.

***For security reasons, do not bring bags.  Please limit personal belongings.  No signs or banners permitted.***

SATURDAY, MARCH 29

Johnstown, PA

 

Further details to be announced as they become available.

 

SUNDAY, MARCH 30

University Park, PA

 

“ROAD TO CHANGE” RALLY WITH BARACK OBAMA

Old Main Lawn

The Pennsylvania State University

University Park, PA 16802

 

Gates Open: 11:30AM

.
The event is free and open to the public. Tickets are not required but an RSVP is strongly encouraged. To RSVP please visit www.barackobama.com. A limited number of Preferred Viewing tickets are available at the times and locations listed below: 

 

Limited preferred viewing tickets will be available at:

Obama for America

224 S. Allen St.

State College, PA

P: 814-867-2689

Thursday, March 27    6:00 PM to  9:00 PM

Friday, March 28        9:00 AM to 9:00 PM

Saturday, March 29    9:00 AM to 9:00 PM

 

Pennsylvania State University

Hetzel Union Building

Pollock Road

University Park, PA 16802

Friday, March 28        9:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Saturday, March 29    9:00 AM to 5:00 PM

 

***For security reasons, no bags are allowed.  Please limit personal belongings.  No signs or banners permitted.***

 

Further details to be announced as they become available.

Kanjorski Calls For Doubling of Block Grants

Congressman Paul Kanjorski called today for a doubling of federal Community Development Block Grants.  CDBG's finance projects in every county and today they highlighted the effects of CDBG funds in Luzerne County.  Kanjorski said he would hope the program can double from the current level of $4 billion a year to $8 billion under a new Democratic Administration and Congress.

George W. Bush has cut CDBG funds every year of his Administration.  The event today, outside Hazleton, a town of crumbling sidewalks, empty buildings and a main street so decrepit you almost need an SUV to traverse it, highlighted the use of CDBG funds to bring new jobs to the area.  The Humboldt Industrial Park North is being developed with these federal funds which are locally managed.  Following an initial projection of 250 jobs this complex has already created 750 new ones with more to come on the 237 acres yet to be developed.

Community Development Block Grants fund local projects all over Pennsylvania.  They are administered by your County government so there is local control since local governments understand the best places and most important needs for these funds.  They build roads, bridges, sewers, water systems, make buildings ADA compliant and help our communities expand economically.

It's been a constant battle to maintain funding as each successive federal budget under George Bush has seen another cut in CDBG funding.

Take Back America Conference Commences Monday

One of these years I hope to get to Washington for the Take Back America conference.  Something always seems to come up, this year a presidential battle in our own back yard, which takes priority.  Take Back America is a progressive cavalcade of luminaries, bloggers, activists and leaders in Washington, D.C.  It's sponsored by the Campaign For America's Future and goes for three days of meetings, speeches, workshops and conferences. 

If you're a Democrat in eastern Pennsylvania you'll see a familiar face on the event's website.  There are five themes this year:  economic strategy, green jobs, health care for everyone, Iraq and social justice.  Some of the sessions scheduled include Building Our Own Media, The Politics of Health Care, The Crackup of Conservatism, and Empowering Workers.   Norman Lear is being honored with the America's Future Lifetime Leadership Award and there is also a candidate development and leadership program.

Obama Event Video

Thanks to reader Erick Sowell for the information.

You can see a slide show here.

Michelle Obama in Abington, Villanova

Thanks to a reader for providing this information:

Rally with Michelle Obama in Abington

Abington Senior High School
900 Highland Ave
Abington, PA

Thursday, March 13, 2008
Doors open: 2:30 p.m.

The event is free and open to the public. Tickets are not required, but an RSVP is encouraged. Space is limited, and admission is first-come, first-served.

For security reasons, do not bring bags.  No signs or banners permitted.

Rally with Michelle Obama in Villanova

Villanova University Athletics
Jake Nevin Fieldhouse
800 East Lancaster Avenue
Villanova, PA

Thursday, March 13, 2008
Doors open: 5:00 p.m.

The event is free and open to the public. Tickets are not required, but an RSVP is encouraged. Space is limited, and admission is first-come, first-served.

For security reasons, do not bring bags.  No signs or banners permitted.