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It’s official! Lauren Cristella was announced as President and CEO of the Committee of Seventy at Tuesday’s 2nd annual Women in Public Leadership event. Longtime civic leader and Urban Affairs Coalition CEO Sharmain Matlock-Turner was also honored for her contributions to the city and state. The event featured a discussion of the media's role in promoting diverse voices. Cristella, the first woman to hold the position in the Seventy’s 119-year history, discusses Seventy’s mission with Philadelphia Magazine.

Photo: (l to r) Kerry Sautner, Chief Learning Officer for the National Constitution Center; Errin Haines, Founder and Editor-at-Large of The 19th*; Lisa Hughes, Philadelphia Inquirer publisher and CEO; Sharmain Matlock-Turner, President and CEO for the Urban Affairs Coalition; Sarah Glover, VP of news and civic dialogue for WHYY; and Lauren Cristella, President and CEO of the Committee of Seventy.

PA budget month: The House’s opening volley

The Pennsylvania House passed budget legislation this week that added some $900 million to the proposal put forward by Gov. Shapiro in his March address. But House Republicans warn that the state won’t be able to afford it if the economy softens, and Spotlight PA reports that a debate over education and rainy-day funding will play out in negotiations between the Governor and Senate Republicans. The budget deadline is June 30, but it’s not uncommon for Harrisburg to produce late budgets.

Making the sausage: Spotlight PA has a guide to annual budget process for the many Pennsylvanians without the “time to prowl the halls of the Capitol in Harrisburg.”

Philly budget—We’re in the money: Increased tax revenues and federal COVID funds have put City Council and Mayor Kenney on a glide path toward wrapping up the final budget under the outgoing mayor and Council president Darrell Clarke. Council gave its approval to a $6.2 billion budget that includes business and wage-tax cuts, combined with notable increases for police, streets and transportation, and libraries. Council also beefed up spending on code enforcement, combating illegal dumping and youth workforce-development programs. The spending plan will continue into 2024, when the responsibility will be on the next mayoral administration to ensure services are delivered efficiently and equitably.

Where did Philly’s voters go?

Philadelphians have been voting in decreasing numbers in recent elections, and The Washington Post (paywall) has noticed: While turnout was up statewide for last November’s midterm election it was down by six percentage points from 2018 in Philly. Only one third of registered voters cast ballots in this year’s hotly contested Democratic mayoral primary. The Post cites the declining clout of the city’s Democratic Party infrastructure, as well as a pessimism among voters that election outcomes can actually lead to change. “Their lives aren’t getting better,” C70 CEO Lauren Cristella told The Post. “The issues aren’t getting solved.”

Lots of dollars chasing not a lot of voters: An Inquirer analysis of the record-breaking flood of money in the Democratic mayoral primary finds that the self-funded candidates raised far more for each vote they received than winner Cherelle Parker did. But part of the reason for the eye-popping numbers is that the money raised and spent was divided among a fraction of the overall electorate.

SCOTUS sends Alabama back to the drawing board

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the Alabama legislature racially gerrymandered the state’s congressional districts following the 2020 Census in violation of the 1965 Voting Rights Act. Roughly 27% of the state’s population is Black, yet the map drawn was likely to yield only one district of seven (or 14%) where Black voters would have a realistic chance to elect a candidate of their choice. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote the decision and was joined in a 5-4 majority by Justices Brett M. Kavanaugh, Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson. A similar interpretation of the VRA could impact 2024 House elections in Texas, Georgia, South Carolina and Louisiana.

And in Pennsylvania? Divided government during the last redistricting cycle—and the advocacy of Fair Districts PA, C70’s Draw the Lines and other groups–led to congressional and state legislative redistricting that was more transparent and accessible. ICYMI, a June 2 panel discussion explored the lessons learned and next steps for reform ahead of 2030.

Good ol’ girls club? Not yet, but a University of Virginia Center for Politics study titled “Moving Beyond the Good Ol’ Boys Club” finds increasing numbers of women serving in state legislatures. Still, women have achieved parity in at least one chamber in only five states.

Delco ballot suit: The ACLU is suing Delaware County over a handful of rejected provisional ballots in the May 16 primary that were cast by voters whose mail-in ballots had also been rejected because of technical errors. Votebeat reports clarity around the issue is especially important ahead of 2024.

Your tax dollars at work: Spotlight PA reports that state officials spent more than $12 million on private lawyers in their unsuccessful defense of PA’s funding system for public schools.

Next time…The recently passed law mandating campaign-contribution limits in races for Allegheny County elected offices will take effect in 2025. The $3.6 million raised in this spring’s county executive primary race set a record.

Eliminating paperwork: The state House passed a bill that would mandate e-filing of campaign-finance reports for state offices and increase late penalties. Sponsors say the electronic system will reduce both costs and reporting errors.

Personal foul on the Sixers: The Philadelphia Board of Ethics has fined a real-estate lobbying firm working for the 76ers for failing to disclose its work promoting the basketball team’s Center City arena proposal.

Elevating Civic Literacy in PA for a Brighter Economic Future

Tues., June 13, 11 AM

Zoom



C70 joins Business for America in hosting this webinar to give businesses an opportunity to learn how they can assist in elevating civic literacy in schools and communities to enhance both the economy and our democracy. Panelists include Former U.S. Rep. Jim Gerlach and CEO of Greater Reading Chamber Alliance; PA Youth Vote executive director Angelique Hinton; and Arielle Jennings, the chief partnerships officer at Generation Citizen. Register.

What Does It Take to Build a Culture of Performance in City Government?

Fri., June 23, 11 AM-12 Noon

Zoom

Join The Pew Charitable Trusts’ Philadelphia Research and Policy Initiative (PRPI) and C70 for a virtual panel discussion among national practitioners exploring how performance management can be relevant, sustainable, and impactful for local government. Panelists include former Kansas City mayor Sly James; Stefanie Costa Leabo, Boston’s chief data officer; and Megan Williams, director of Denver Peak Academy. Anjali Chainani, founder and principal, Anavi Strategies, is the moderator. Register.

C70 is looking for its seventh cohort of Buchholz Fellows — a group of emerging young leaders in the private or nonprofit sector — to serve on our board, help improve government in Philadelphia, and grow their leadership skills. Apply now.

Hey teachers and caregivers! Do you have a plan to help kids keep up with their civic education this summer? Check these C70 programs and resources to help children become engaged citizens. Learn more about our in-class sessions, parent training, reading lists and more.

Seventy's membership program broadens, diversifies, and expands our community of champions of local democracy. Become a member and receive notification about Event signups, Annual Membership Impact Reports, C70 swag and Invitations to members-only experiences and receptions.