Photo from allen2014.com
Editor’s Note: This is the first in a series of Q&A’s with local political candidates. Next up is Allen’s opponent, incumbent Jim Roebuck.
You probably know Algernong Allen. Whether it’s as the former owner of Elena’s Soul or as a community activist, Algernong Allen is a household name around these parts.
Tonight, Allen, along with incumbent James Roebuck, will answer prepared questions and address community concerns in a Candidates’ Forum hosted by the Garden Court Community Association (GCCA). The forum will begin at 7 p.m. at the Community College of Philadelphia’s west campus (4725 Chestnut Street), and is open to the public. A food and networking event will precede the forum at 6 p.m.
Residents of the 188th District can also offer feedback and share their thoughts with Allen through a community survey he is currently hosting on his campaign site, allen2014.com. Click here to complete the survey.
As part of our political interviews series, West Philly Local had a chance to chat with Allen about his campaign, the issues most important to him, and what his vision is for the 188th District.
West Philly Local: Why are you running?
Algernong Allen: I am running to give back to a community that has given so much to me. As a father and husband living here, I am concerned about the condition of nearby schools for my daughter, the safety of our streets, and the deep poverty in some parts of our community. I’ve spent most of my life living right here, I’ve built a business here, and I’ve provided jobs here. I want to be a part of supporting a community vision of growth that respects our differences and acts on our common interests.
WPL: What are two or three important issues for you?
AA: As a parent, the quality of our local schools is an urgent issue. Public schools are the cornerstone of our neighborhoods, yet we see schools like West Philly High graduating only half of its students. I will advocate for properly funding our neighborhood schools and will seek to expand pre-K options to get more students prepared for eventual graduation.
We also see an urgent need to create opportunities for people who have made mistakes with the law, so that they can become productive citizens again. This can be done by vocational and life skills training as well as incentives for businesses that assist with this transitional goal. If we can achieve this, we will all benefit, and break a vicious cycle.
Finally, I believe we can do much more for the local economy with efforts that support vibrant commercial corridors. I have personal experience in corridor development, owning Elena’s Soul, curating Jazz in Cedar Park, working with University City District on the implementation of the Dollar Stroll, working with the Baltimore Avenue Business Association, and bringing the community together to collaborate on a better vision for our blighted gaps. We can leverage resources and continue to come together as a community to create more walkable shopping districts that provide local access to culture, shopping, and employment.
WPL: Why the state legislature rather than, say, City Council?
AA: My goal is to be a forceful voice in Harrisburg for fairness and equality. At the state level I can affect policy to advocate for marriage equality, educational equity, and civil rights in Pennsylvania. I find being able to change people’s lives for the better in this way across the Commonwealth very appealing.
WPL: We have seen a shift in demographics over the past several years. How do you balance the needs of a more diverse constituency?
AA: The beauty and strength of this community is in the diversity of its people and cultures. It is the reason many people choose to live here. However, there are some stark contrasts in terms of income, home values, education, and safety within our district that cannot be ignored. We must use our collective energies to narrow the gap in order to fully enjoy what this area has to offer.
WPL: What is your overall vision for not only your role in the state legislature, but also for the West Philly area?
AA: I believe in the potential of a community empowered. We have some of the brightest, most engaged, compassionate and creative people in our universities, hospitals, and our neighborhoods. I see our community growing past its challenges by further empowering neighbors to be stewards of improvement. We see this empowerment working in Clark Park, Cedar Park and the Kingsessing Rec. Center. We see this working in the greening of Lea School, and the Pentridge Children’s Garden. Neighbors are opening businesses. People are getting involved to create positive changes they want to see. My vision of West Philadelphia is a destination of active avenues, that are walkable and bikeable from one end to the other with access to food and shopping, offering a diversity of cultural experiences throughout. It will be a place supported by good schools, and great ideas, where we each can feel welcomed. I see my role as a representative as being a legislator, constituent service provider, and an active promoter of the energy in this area.
WPL: If elected, what would be the first issue you’d address in the West-Southwest-University City community?
AA: Our most urgent issue is the safety of our schools, for our children and our teachers. My priority will be to seek funding and partnerships in the community, non-profit, private or public sector to get that done.
The area is undergoing rapid change, which impacts the community in positive and negative ways. If elected, how do you plan to foster the positive growth, such as the redevelopment of the Baltimore Avenue corridor, with the negative outcomes, such as the sharp increases in rent that are starting to push out long-time neighbors?
Improving our community is a good thing, which betters the living conditions of the neighborhood, especially when neighbors come together to shape development. Baltimore Avenue has benefitted from private investment in businesses, the non-profit services of UCD, and the work of community organizations to create vitality. At the same time, rent increases are never palatable, and we have to be especially mindful to protect our long-term neighbors who have been here through the ups, the downs, and the ups again. That’s why we should continue to look at options like tax freezes to make sure our seniors can stay in place. .
WPL: What would you bring to the table that is different from incumbent Jim Roebuck’s work?
AA: My story is that of a kid who grew up in a tough Southwest neighborhood, where crime and violence occurred far too frequently. I learned my sense of fairness by being a victim of bullying and crime myself. My parent’s investment in private education helped me beat the odds and survive. I came back to the neighborhood and invested here, hiring people in my neighborhood and giving them a chance to earn an honest living where they live. As a neighbor, I have rolled my up sleeves and worked with others to build on the strengths of our community. I can point to my business at Elena’s Soul, as economic development. I can point to my work with Cedar Park Neighbors in bringing Jazz to Cedar Park, UCD on the Dollar Stroll, and the Baltimore Avenue Business Association, as corridor development. I have demonstrated the importance of equality, by organizing the March on West Philly to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington. My part in the Greensgrow West deal, demonstrated a commitment to blight removal, and community building. My work has been hands on. I have been involved and visible on the ground. If I am elected state representative on May 20th, I will continue working to serve, partner, and empower on behalf of a better West and Southwest Philadelphia.
–Annamarya Scaccia
April 10th, 2014 at 8:29 pm
the last question wasn’t answered. Either he doesn’t like what Roebuck has done, or thinks he can do better. In any case it would be good to know his thinking. I hope its more then I’m a good man, elect me.
April 10th, 2014 at 8:45 pm
How come no one has ever wondered about Allen’s own tacit role in the Elena’s fire? It was common knowledge on that block that he kept the building in subpar condition. All you need to do was go to the diner to hear his employees talk about the faulty wiring. Yet no one is even asking these questions. Why not?
April 10th, 2014 at 10:26 pm
I think you’re jumping to some serious conclusions there, Kill the G Word. There were both city and independent fire inspectors that investigated the blaze and if there was something amiss, it would be in the courts now. Algernon lost not only a business in that fire but also so much of his personal items including much his childhood belongings – you could see them charred and water damaged falling out of the building during demolition. This was both Algernon’s and our community loss and you’re not doing any good accusing folks of wrongdoing when they had the most to loose. *** I speak as someone who lives nearby and was interested as a neighbor only. I am not directly involved in this nor did Algernon influence me to say any of this. I just call ’em like i see ’em. ***
April 11th, 2014 at 8:59 am
I guess the question really should be, if Allen was a complete and competent businessman was hasn’t the business been rebuilt. Did he have the proper insurance coverage? If he didn’t have the proper insurance on his business that indicates lack of professionalism and proper planning. Why should we entrust him to handle our business when he didn’t handle his…what’s his position on the take over of “James Dupree’s” Artist Studio? Is he for it? or Against?
April 11th, 2014 at 9:44 am
Or where he paid taxes on his business,and payroll tax.. Upper darby or Philadelphia. Wonder if any former employees will speak out.
April 11th, 2014 at 3:23 pm
If we utilize this as a forum of speculation on something we have no means of deriving the answer about, then we are not allowing a fair and open election process to take place. I think rather than focus on Elana’s which has been gone for over a year, we need to focus on the future and the economics of the district. Roebuck has been in office for 30 years and has looked at the evident issues that exists along our corridors and has done absolutely nothing about it. His idea for fixing this after 30 years is business need to stay open longer? WTF! Please! The district is at a culmination of a very important turning point and the lackluster leadership can not continue to exist. He has to accept what he ignored in the business of the public,especially if we are going to criticize what was ignored possibly in Allen’s private business.
April 11th, 2014 at 4:04 pm
Jim Roebuck proposed a $50M tax credit bill focuses on Pa.’s 406 lowest-achieving schools. He pushes to ensure children are challenged in their education; and he holds charters accountable. Higher educational attainment is of critical importance to the wellbeing of our schools, communities, and the city. As an educator and a parent I will continue to support Rep Roebuck, not a candidate I don’t trust. I’d rather not have a candidate at all like Mike Nutter, and frankly Al and Nutter are too much of the same salesmen in my opinion.
April 11th, 2014 at 4:55 pm
In the comments so far, I think there are a couple good questions, and it’s not going to be difficult at all to get answers to just about anything anybody cares about in this race before the May election.
One quibble with the tone … so many of us here know one or both of these guys personally or their family members personally, and as far as I know there’s not a good reason to attack either of their characters. They are in public service or trying to be in public service for the right reasons, and they’ve both proven themselves in a variety of ways in or out of office. Many districts aren’t as lucky as us in that regard.
The No. 1 reason we aren’t seeing the results we want politically in PA is that we’re not getting enough of Philly’s major democratic base out to the polls, and we end up with statewide representation by Republicans like Gov. Corbett (R) and Sen. Toomey (R). If we can elect people we’re passionate about at the local level, that’s a good thing because it’s more likely we’ll come out in numbers (I’m not saying it’s either of these people — maybe it’s one of us!) If we spend our time tearing people apart though, the result may be more low turnout, which doesn’t benefit us at all. So, my simple plea is, if you like your candidate, please tell us what’s so great, but pause before you follow it up with a swipe at the competitor, because it’s likely not much more convincing, and more likely it’s damaging to the larger goal of getting people hyped about going to the polls.
April 11th, 2014 at 9:53 pm
Well stated, Andy L.
April 12th, 2014 at 7:59 am
Uh, the state already has a real estate tax rebate for seniors and the disabled. The city already has the real estate tax freeze for seniors…because it is the one charging the real estate and can do so. The state can’t freeze a tax when it isn’t the one charging it.
The first comment had it right, if this guy really wants a $78,314/year job representing us, he’s going to have to show a little more understanding of the issues beyond being a nice neighbor and caring about the community.