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In this Update:
Visiting Northeast Airport to See the Electra EL9
I recently had the opportunity to visit Northeast Philadelphia Airport for a live demonstration of Electra’s hybrid-electric aircraft. Electra is developing the EL9, a nine-passenger aircraft designed to take off and land in just 150 feet. Technology like this could create new connections between smaller regional airports, giving communities like Northeast Philadelphia more options for moving people and goods while supporting new economic opportunities. With Northeast Airport right in our backyard, it was exciting to see this technology up close and learn what the future of aviation could mean for our community. Thank you to Our Summer Interns, Jim and Jason!
A big thank you to our second round of summer interns, Jason and Jim, for all their hard work this summer! Jim, a junior at Holy Family University, and Jason, a sophomore at Penn State Abington, jumped right in – helping our team with constituent calls, unclaimed property, attending events, and so much more. We’re grateful for everything they brought to our office this summer and wish them both the best as they head back to school. Thanks for being a part of the team! Cleaning Up Around the District
Abandoned Trailer Across from Edwin Forrest School: After I was notified about the abandoned trailer surrounded by trash across from Forrest Elementary School, my office immediately contacted the City and called on multiple Departments to address the situation and have it removed. I am happy to share that following our requests, the City responded and worked together to remove the trailer and clean up the surrounding debris. Thank you to the resident that brought this to our attention and to the City departments that answered our call and helped get this job done. Trash Dumped At Thomas Holme School: Neighbors brought to our attention that there were trash and debris dumped on the fields at Thomas Holme School. I went to Thomas Holme myself and immediately contacted Brett Schaeffer at the School District of Philadelphia to get it taken care of. The School District responded quickly and removed all of the trash and debris and emptied all the trash cans. Thank you for taking care of this! Keeping our neighborhoods clean and safe starts with listening to residents and acting when there’s a problem. Our office is always here to help when something is impacting your neighborhood. Veteran Office Hours
We will be hosting Veteran Office Hours at my district office on September 8th! A Veteran Service Officer will be on hand to assist veterans and their families with benefits, claims, and available resources. Please bring your DD-214 paperwork to the office hours. Mobile Office Hours
My team and I are bringing constituents services directly into the community! We look forward to seeing you and helping you with any state-related issues. Photo of the Month
We are excited to continue highlighting the people, places, and moments that make Northeast Philadelphia special. Residents can submit photos that capture the spirit of our neighborhoods. We look forward to showing the pride, character, and community that makes Northeast Philadelphia such a great place to live. This week, we have a photo from Jason in Normandy at the Dining Car! You can submit your photos here. School Bus Safety Legislation Awaits House Action
Over the past five years, 25,136 Pennsylvania drivers have been cited for school zone violations, including 8,302 for overtaking or illegally passing a school bus. The Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania breaks down the numbers here. In September 2025, the Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 65, Enhancing the Safe Transportation of School Children, which would extend the stopping distance requirement from 10 feet to 15 feet before reaching the bus when the red signal lights are flashing and the side stop arm is activated. It also develops a tiered penalty system for a second or subsequent offense. Current law does not penalize repeat offenders. With the start of a new school year nearly a year later, it still awaits a vote by the full House of Representatives. Read more about this effort to boost school bus safety here. Schools Can Apply Now for Safety, AED Training Grants
School districts can apply now for the latest round of funding to improve safety, including an initiative passed by the General Assembly to increase the presence of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) at school events. Under the School Safety and Mental Health Grant Program, school districts, career and technical centers, intermediate units, charter schools and cyber charter schools are eligible for funding to use for safety and security assessments, staff training and more. It can also be used to improve CPR training and AED preparedness. In addition, nonpublic schools can apply for CPR/AED Training for Nonpublic Schools Grant Program that can be used for CPR and AED training. The AED funding is made available through Greg Moyer’s Law, named in honor of Pennsylvania student-athlete Greg Moyer, who died after suffering sudden cardiac arrest during a high school basketball game. Strategies to Prevent Electric Bill Spikes Highlighted at Senate Hearing
Strategies to increase energy production and lower utility bills for Pennsylvanians were the focus of a public hearing by the Senate Majority Policy Committee. The committee heard from energy generators, utilities, business groups, taxpayer advocates and more. Pennsylvania is the top electricity exporter and supplier of natural gas, but the retirement of generation sources is driving up prices and risking electric grid reliability. Testifiers noted the commonwealth needs to build more reliable baseload generation to keep prices stable and ensure access to energy. Read more and access hearing video here. What to Know About Teen Gambling
Just because teens aren’t allowed to gamble doesn’t mean they don’t. Gambling among teenagers is a growing problem. Information is available to learn what teen problem gambling is, how to recognize the warning signs and where to go for help. Topics include: Why do people gamble? The “gambler’s fallacy,” and Who’s at risk? Learn more here from the Pennsylvania Department of Education. |
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