City Council District Seats Analysis 2023 Primary
Reclaim Philadelphia's Steering Committee recommends endorsement in the following District Council seats. City Council Members have a lot of power when it comes to influencing and shaping city policies, budgets, and programs. District Council Members hold near absolute power over development in their district because of "councilmanic prerogative."
3rd District
#80 Jamie Gauthier has passed legislation to ensure equity in development, including a pilot initiative that requires developers to make 20 percent of their apartments affordable in order to exceed zoning requirements. Her Just Services campaign, which pointed to the deep inequity in basic city services between neighborhoods, recognizes that equitable investment, rather than increases in policing or incarceration, are the most effective responses to quality-of-life issues and community violence.
7th District
#81 Andrés Celin comes from a social work background and has worked as a youth organizer for Youth United for Change. Celin makes clear in his questionnaire responses that he shares our political analysis and our vision for systemic change He also has the organizing experience needed to win. Andrés Celin’s campaign offers our city yet another chance this election cycle to move our shared vision for an equitable and just city forward.
8th District
#80 Seth Anderson Oberman’s decades of organizing with the American Federation of Teachers and SEIU lay a solid foundation for the coalition-building we need in City Council. In response to our question about addressing community safety, he proposes to triple funding for public housing to reduce homelessness and help provide housing stability. This proposed approach to addressing our community violence and housing crises together shows understanding that we need deep investment instead of over policing to heal and reverse the trauma of disinvestment.
Read our Analysis on our endorsement of Helen Gym for Mayor
Read our Analysis on City Council At-Large Endorsements
Read our Analysis on Judicial Races
Read our Analysis on Ballot Questions and Row offices
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