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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsJohn Fetterman, PA Lt. Gov: The Pool is Open ... for All The Children
Last edited Thu Aug 5, 2021, 11:30 AM - Edit history (1)
Last night I received this email from Lt. Gov Fetterman. IMO The guy is the REAL DEAL.
Now let me be very clear, Thomas. This is NOT my actual residence. I am the only Lieutenant Governor in the history of Pennsylvania to *reject* living in a huge estate with a chef, gardener, and pool paid for by taxpayers. And in late 2019 the Commonwealth divested itself of the property, saving taxpayers as much as $400,000 every year.
Pennsylvania does not owe me or my family a staffed mansion to live in. The supreme honor and privilege of serving as LG is many, many multiples more than enough.
Gisele and I chose to raise our kids and keep our residence, an old car dealership across the street from Andrew Carnegies first steel mill in Braddock, instead. Still, we have always maintained that if *our* children were welcome to swim in that beautiful 30-by-40 foot pool, so should every other child
...So in June 2019, we opened up the pool to the children of Pennsylvania! 😎
Now the pool gets put to good use every summer by public groups and nonprofits. Children with little to no access to a swimming pool can now learn how to swim in a beautiful pool at a historic estate.
The ugly truth is that swimming has a painful legacy of racial segregation. Gisele and I are committed to equity in all spaces. It is our hope that making this pool available to everyone will help end that disparity and allow every kid in Pennsylvania to have a fun + cool summer.
Equity everywhere is worth fighting for, Tommymac. And I *promise* that as a United States Senator, I will fight for equity in your community as if it were my very own.
...
Heres to another great summer,
John
John Fetterman
Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania
https://johnfetterman.com/
(My Bold)
We need John in the US Senate.
Vote 2022
bamagal62
(3,246 posts)Of coarse being a follically challenged man like myself may have a bit to do with it lol.
North Shore Chicago
(3,311 posts)and generous thing to do.
I doff my hat to them!
Tommymac
(7,263 posts)It started my day out with a really good feeling...wonderful to read about POSITIVE change that progressive leadership can bring about, no matter how small it may seem, instead of the constant drumbeat of rethuglican sponsored craziness.
Those children will probably lead a better life because of that experience. And THAT is always a great thing.
DFW
(54,330 posts)But so far, I like what I see of this guy and sent him a contribution. Where he got my address to send the solicitation, I dont know, but so far, he seems the real deal.
Finally a Senate candidate I like who was NOT in on the resignation of Al Franken! Nice to have one of them to contribute to again!
Maybe theres something in the water there, but 15 years ago, a friend of mine was Lt. Governor of Pennsylvania, and though a very different personality, I liked her a lot, too.
Tommymac
(7,263 posts)He has been a different kind of politician his whole career.
He 'saved' Braddock by caring about People, not dogma. He and his lovely wife really seem to care.
From The Wiki ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Fetterman ):
Mayor of Braddock (20052019)
Following his election, Fetterman initiated youth and art programs, created a community center, and tried to initiate development of the town's mostly ruined buildings and poor economy. With family money, Fetterman purchased the town's First Presbyterian Church before demolition for $50,000, living in the basement for several months.[15] He later purchased an adjacent warehouse for $2,000, placed two shipping containers on the roof for "extra living space" and moved in.[16][13] He has since purchased and renovated many additional houses and offered cheap, even free, rent. Fetterman has attracted many young artists to the town through cheap rent and starting various art exhibitions.[16] The town's "renaissance" has attracted individuals from cities such as Chicago and Portland, Oregon, drawn by the potential for development and growth.[17] Other programs include a two-acre organic urban farm, worked by teenagers of the Braddock Youth Project.[14]
Fetterman's commitment to the community of Braddock is shown with various tattoos. On his left arm are the numbers 15104 - Braddock's ZIP Code, and on the right, the dates of five murders that occurred in the town since he was elected mayor.[17] As mayor, Fetterman drew international attention for trying to revitalize the economy in Braddock, with an article in The New York Times, an appearance on Comedy Central's The Colbert Report, as well as a Levi's jeans ad.
In order to help fund programs, Fetterman established relationships with local non-profit organizations, Allegheny County's economic development program, and county executive Dan Onorato.[14]
A politician who has used his Harvard Education to help others.
DFW
(54,330 posts)It was enough so I had to fill out that "Federal law requires us to..... etc." part, although he used an old address, so it was obvious his staff was working off some purchased old mailing list. I'll also see how sharp his staff is. My checks (though not my mailing address) say "care of" a corporation, as I do not list my Dallas home address on them (I'm never there anyway). I always include a note informing the compliance officer of every campaign that the check is from a personal, private account, and not a corporate account.
If the compliance staff is alert, they pay attention, and deposit the check, If they are sloppy, they send it back, saying they can't accept contributions from a corporate account, blah, blah. If the contribution is important to me, I sent the check back, asking that they pay attention to what I told them the first time. If not, I just tear up the check and send the amount to Planned Parenthood, or NARAL or the American Cancer Society.
malthaussen
(17,183 posts)Maybe not perfect, but I think he's the best thing going. I would love to see him (at 6-7) have a face-to-face with the Turtle some time.
-- Mal
DFW
(54,330 posts)Probatim
(2,518 posts)The photo above is a bit dated - he's lost a lot weight over the last 5-6 years.
The tattoos on his forearms are the dates when residents of Braddock were killed by gunfire while he was mayor - the other is the zip code (15104). He also did a lot of little things for the community - set up several farming plots, created a free-cycle exchange program, and
Beetwasher.
(2,970 posts)Tommymac
(7,263 posts)I admit I had to look that one up.
Renew Deal
(81,852 posts)Tommymac
(7,263 posts)But I like it.
mountain grammy
(26,608 posts)a Democrat who talks the talk and walks the walk..
Butterflylady
(3,541 posts)A vote for PAs newest senator.
malthaussen
(17,183 posts)John is great, and I wish I still lived in PA to vote for him. But since he opened that pool, we've been plunged into the middle of a virus that is kind of dangerous. One wonders what regulations are in place for admission for masks, vaccines, etc.
-- Mal
Tommymac
(7,263 posts)lagomorph777
(30,613 posts)I've seen him on TV - he really has charisma.
ancianita
(36,016 posts)calimary
(81,191 posts)Sent his campaign a small contribution the other day.
liberalla
(9,234 posts)mopinko
(70,070 posts)why, one might even call this reparations.
good on him. i do love this guy.
also- he lives in an old car dealership?