Van Stone,
Democrat for Pa State Rep 190th Legislative District Phila. Special
Report: Why I Am Running For State Representative Of “The Burning Sands”
Democratic Party-endorsed G. Roni Green
faces Republican Party-endorsed Wanda
Logan in a February 25th
Special Election in Philadelphia’s 190th State House District.
The legislative district covers a very
small portion of the North beginning, independent neighborhoods University
City, Pine St – Market St, 52nd St. to 59th St., Haddington,
West Philly, , West Park (Market
St/Powelton Ave. – Haverford Ave.), 42nd St. to 49th St.,
Mill Creek, West Mill Creek, Cathedral Park, Carroll Park, Belmont, Wynnefield,
East Parkside, Fairmont Park, East, Allegheny West and Lehigh West. And a piece of the Kelly Drive Loop that hugs both sides of
the Schuylkill River unto the Upper Roxborough East Side.
Basically, because
Registered Democrats make up 87% of voters in the district, (largely the West
Philadelphia neighborhoods), Green is heavily favored to win the election.
But this is a Special Report
for West and North Philly residents of the state rep 190th District
because most registered voters, especially Black voters, doesn’t understand how
elections are run followed by… are won.
For the past 20 years, for
sure, this divided and unique territory – people like me call it the endearing
nickname, the Burning Sands- has had Democratic state representation
leadership.
We call it overall the
Burning Sands, because living in any one of the many independent neighborhoods
in the territory is literately and figuratively just like life in the desert -the
desert sands.
It’s extremely cold during
the winter and extremely hot during the summer. Traveling across any number
street is most often always treacherous, adventurous and struggling to say the
least. There is no money. There are very little resources. There is walking
children and adults always busy developing story after story about someone
turning daydreams of being on cloud nine into dreams of being whatever positive
thing they want to be.
And then, there is always
breaths of fresh air in the 190th- what sets off the on-going
goodness of proud West Philly and North Philly into the Southwest, South, East
and Northeast sections of my Philly town.
We the greatest big city!
However, most recently and
unfortunately, beloved Ex-state rep Movita Johnson-Harrell vacated the seat in
December.
Johnson-Harrell was the
second elected representative to forfeit the seat in about a year.
Former state representative
Vanessa Lowery Brown resigned in December 2018.
The Philadelphia County/City
Democratic Party is in need of a revival as a whole. This is especially the
case when covering the 190th District concerns and its people.
At this time, the
Philadelphia County/City Republican Party sees an opportunity to take control
of the 190th District. Republicans see a Democratic candidate for
the 190th District -nominated true, but who may not be like
battle-tested, like volunteer-tested within the areas of boundaries of the West
Philly areas.
I have been battle-tested
and extremely volunteer-tested in both the West and North- working throughout
the Burning Sands and living for what seems to be like forever, in the Burning
Sands.
As a professional
journalist, a childcare professional (Daycare Teacher, School Volunteer,
Crossing Guard, Business Empowerment Coach and Surviving Family Court/Criminal
Court Legal Situations Advocate), a pastor, I share this story because it was
largely through these experiences that I learned that being a giver is one of
the most realistic ways to help any community under duress survive and keep you
strength moving.
I have a story to tell…
As a native of Philadelphia,
a Black man, a family man, I am an eye witness to the community being dictated
to do the same ol’ same ol’ – loading up the car, if you have one, walking to
the trolley or bus stop, if they are even there, and heading to the job. I have
watched the quality of life in our city change–jobs from local, family-owned
businesses and clean streets have gone. Gentrifications.
Democratic popular leaders
targeted using sly ongoing discrimination tactic.
I decided to keep showing up
as your friendly neighbor advocate for my city.
I humbly ask for your
precious signature and your breath of fresh air vote. Your Democrat you can trust.
