Blondell Reynolds Brown: Difference between revisions
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==Ethics Board Settlement== |
==Ethics Board Settlement== |
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On September 21, 2012 the City of Philadelphia Ethics Board entered into an agreement with the campaign of Blondell Reynolds Brown, which was signed and agreed to by City Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown. Some contributions were not reported in a timely way on finance disclosure forms and numerous donations were over legal limits.<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20130413020541/http://www.phila.gov/ethicsboard/pdfs/Settlement%20Agreement%20-%20Friends%20of%20B%20Reynolds%20Brown%20-%20Approved%20by%20Board%209-21-2011.pdf |
On September 21, 2012 the City of Philadelphia Ethics Board entered into an agreement with the campaign of Blondell Reynolds Brown, which was signed and agreed to by City Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown. Some contributions were not reported in a timely way on finance disclosure forms and numerous donations were over legal limits.<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20130413020541/http://www.phila.gov/ethicsboard/pdfs/Settlement%20Agreement%20-%20Friends%20of%20B%20Reynolds%20Brown%20-%20Approved%20by%20Board%209-21-2011.pdf *Ethics Board of the City of Philadelphia - Campaign Violations Adjudication Settlement," retrieved from Internet Archive. Archived April 13, 2013.</ref> |
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*Ethics Board of the City of Philadelphia - Campaign Violations Adjudication Settlement," retrieved from Internet Archive. Archived April 13, 2013.</ref> |
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==References== |
==References== |
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Revision as of 17:37, 16 August 2013
Blondell Reynolds Brown | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Philadelphia City Council from the At-Large District | |
| Assumed office January 3, 2000 | |
| Preceded by | Augusta Clark |
| Personal details | |
| Born | October 16, 1952 Sumter, South Carolina |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Alma mater | Penn State University |
Blondell Reynolds Brown is an American politician and member of the Democratic Party. She is currently serving her fourth term as a member of Philadelphia City Council.
Reynolds Brown is the only woman to win a Philadelphia At-Large Council seat since 1999.[1]
On January 2, 2012 Reynolds Brown was elected the Council's Majority Whip, and is currently the only woman serving in City Council Leadership.[2]
Biography
Reynolds Brown was born on October 16, 1952, in Sumter, South Carolina. Her parents are Sadie, a schoolteacher, and the late Whittimore Reynolds, who worked in construction. She is the oldest of seven children.
After graduating from the Philadelphia High School for Girls in 1970, Reynolds Brown earned a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education in 1974 and a Master of Science in Education with a focus on counseling and guidance in 1975, both from Penn State University. That year she began teaching elementary school in the School District of Philadelphia.
In 1982, Reynolds Brown began a career as a professional dancer, ultimately earning a place as a professional company member of the Philadelphia Dance Company, also known as Philadanco. Following her company membership, she would continue her affiliation with Philadanco, becoming a dance instructor and later a board member for 20 years.
From 2002–2005 Reynolds Brown served as a national Robert Wood Johnson Foundation fellow in the area of Urban Health Initiatives providing an intensive learning experience in planning and implementing strategic and innovative policy system changes for children, youth and families. She is also a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania's Community Leadership Program and the Philadelphia Urban League Leadership Institute.[3]
She currently resides with her family in Philadelphia’s Wynnefield section.[4]
Early political career
From 1982 to 1986, Reynolds Brown served as a committee person for the Third Division of Philadelphia’s 24th Ward, beginning her career in politics. In 1991, she was hired as legislative director for then Pennsylvania State Senator and current Congressman Chaka Fattah. She went on to serve as Community Affairs Director for State Senator Vincent Hughes.[5]
Reynolds Brown was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1984, 1988, 1996, 2000 and 2008.
Campaigns
Philadelphia City Council is composed of 10 District Councilmembers and 7 members At-Large. At-Large members are elected city wide.
Per the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter, a candidate for City Council At-Large must place 5th or higher in their party primary held in May. Those candidates advance to the November general election where they must place 7th or higher to win a seat.
| Year | Democratic Primary Ranking | Number of Primary Candidates | General Election Ranking (Out of 10) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 6th | 12 | N/A |
| 1999 | 3rd | 52 | 5th |
| 2003 | 1st | 10 | 3rd |
| 2007 | 5th | 19 | 4th |
| 2011 | 1st | 14 | 3rd |
Philadelphia City Council
Legislative agenda
Reynolds Brown’s core issues are women, children, education, arts and culture, and small business development. She has emerged as a leader on energy conservation, sustainability and environmental issues.[citation needed] Legislative accomplishments are as follows:
Fund for Children: As a freshman Councilmember, along with Mayor John F. Street, brokered a deal that established the Fund for Children during the new sports stadium negotiations in 2000. Consequently, the Philadelphia Phillies and Philadelphia Eagles will donate $1 million per team per year for 30 years, yielding more than $60 million to help children in Philadelphia. [6]
Menu Labeling: Authorized legislation requiring chain restaurants with 15 or more locations nationwide to label menus with nutritional information, the most comprehensive menu labeling bill in the country. The bill requires the listing of fat, sodium and sugar in addition to calories [7]
Department of Parks and Recreation Merger: Worked with Council President Darrell Clarke to overhaul Philadelphia’s Parks and Recreation system, merging Fairmount Park with the Department of Recreation creating increased efficiency and savings. [8]
Lead Paint Disclosure and Certification: Requires landlords to have a certified technician conduct a dust-wipe test when property built before 1978 is turned over to a new tenant, all designed to protect children. .[9]
Curfew: Worked with Mayor Michael Nutter to introduce The Curfew Bill requiring unaccompanied children 13 and younger to be off the streets by 8 p.m.; 14- and 15-year-olds by 9 p.m.; and 16- and 17-year-olds by 10 p.m. during the school year. In the summer, each age group would get an extra hour. [10] This bill was introduced in response to a wave of teenage violence in the summer of 2011.
Green Building: Requires City buildings and renovations to reach a high sustainability standard. [11]
Percent for Art: Secured increased funding for the arts in the City’s budget and fought for the integrity of the “Percent for Art” programs. [12]
Equal-Benefits: Requires companies that contract with the city for more than $250,000 to provide domestic-partner benefits to their employees.[13]
Pension Forfeiture: Requires any city employee convicted of sexual abuse of a minor to forfeit his or her city pension. [14]
Women on Boards: Advancing female entrepreneurship opportunities and leveling the playing field on business and governmental contracts. [15]
Groceries for Guns: Reynolds Brown and Congressman Fattah created the “Groceries for Guns” buyback program that provided $200 in grocery tokens in exchange for firearms. The program is credited with removing over 1,000 guns of the streets of Philadelphia. [16]
ATVs: Restricts ATV use on public sidewalks or private properties unless authorized by law, and gives the Philadelphia Police Department authority to confiscate vehicles or impose a fine on riders. [17]
Early Childhood Funding: Allocated $500,000 to the Office of Housing and Community Development to expand quality early childhood education in Philadelphia. [18]
Hospitality Promotion: Increased funding for the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation and the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau, organizations which promote the tourism industry. [19]
Committee assignments
Brown is a member of the following City Council committees:
- Environment (Chair)
- Commerce and Economic Development (Vice-Chair)
- Disabled and Handicapped (Vice-Chair)
- Education (Vice-Chair)
- Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Affairs
- Ethics
- Finance
- Fiscal Stability
- Health & Human Services
- Legislative Oversight
- License and Inspections
- Rules
- Whole[20]
Community involvement
Since 1999, Reynolds Brown has become an honorary mentor to thousands of women and girls through her signature program, The Celebration of Moxie Women, on the occasion of Women's History Month in March. Through this program, Reynolds Brown has honored hundreds of successful business and professional women, working mothers, and Philadelphia’s “Next Generation of Female Leaders: Rising Stars”.[citation needed]
In 2010, Reynolds Brown filmed an It Gets Better video as part of a national campaign to combat bullying-related suicide by LGBT youth.[citation needed]
Reynolds Brown serves on the board of directors of the following community organizations:[citation needed]
- Philadelphia Convention and Visitor’s Bureau
- The Marian Anderson Award
- The African American Museum of Philadelphia
- Philadelphia Young Playwrights
- City Year Greater Philadelphia
- Please Touch Museum
- The Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance
- Girl Scouts of Easter Pennsylvania
Additionally, she is a member of the following :[citation needed]
- Philadelphia Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta sorority.
- National League of Cities – Children, Youth, & Families Division
- Pinn Memorial Baptist Church in West Philadelphia
- National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Pennsylvania Chapter
Awards
Through 2012, Reynolds Brown has been honored with the following awards:
- National Coalition of 100 Black Women Woman of the Year award
- Philadelphia Young Playwrights Advocate Award[21]
- Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania Take the Lead award[22]
- Girls Inc. Strong, Smart & Bold Award[23]
- Women’s Way Powerful Voice: Leadership Award[24]
- School District of Philadelphia’s Obermayer Award: Outstanding Alumni[25]
- Mazzoni Center Justice in Action Award[26]
- United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania Women’s Initiative Award[27]
Ethics Board Settlement
On September 21, 2012 the City of Philadelphia Ethics Board entered into an agreement with the campaign of Blondell Reynolds Brown, which was signed and agreed to by City Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown. Some contributions were not reported in a timely way on finance disclosure forms and numerous donations were over legal limits.[28]
References
- ^ "It's A Man's World: In Recent Years, Only One Woman Has Joined the Club".
- ^ "Biography – Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown".
- ^ "Biography – Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown".
- ^ "Blondell Reynolds Brown Biography".
- ^ "Blondell Reynolds Brown Biography".
- ^ "Councilwoman Reynolds Brown recognizes the 10th Anniversary of the Fund for Children".
- ^ "Mayor Nutter, Councilwoman Reynolds Brown Mark First Day of Menu Labeling Law".
- ^ "Mayor Nutter Urges Philadelphia Voters To Back Fairmount Park – Department Of Recreation Merger".
- ^ "Reynolds Brown Would Get the Lead Out".
- ^ "Philadelphia City Council Passes New Youth Curfew Law".
- ^ "Philadelphia to pass green building bill".
- ^ "Biography – Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown".
- ^ "Equal-benefits bill passes Council committee".
- ^ "Measure Would Yank Pensions From Philadelphia City Workers Convicted Of Child Sex Abuse".
- ^ "Philly councilwoman joins push for adding women to corporate top tier".
- ^ "Citizens in Southwest Philadelphia Help 'Groceries for Guns' Reach 1,066 Firearms".
- ^ "Philly Police Can Confiscate, Fine ATV Riders In Violation Under New Bill".
- ^ "CITY ALLOCATES $500,000 FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION".
- ^ "City Council Passes Hospitality Promotion Bill".
- ^ "Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown".
- ^ "Philadelphia Young Playwrights Advocate Award".
- ^ "Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania Take the Lead Honorees" (PDF).
- ^ "Girls Inc. Strong, Smart & Bold Award Announcement".
- ^ "Women's Way 34th Annual Powerful Voice Awards Photos".
- ^ "Outstanding Graduates of The Philadelphia High School for Girls".
- ^ "Mazzoni Center Justice in Action Award Announcement".
- ^ "2012 United Way Women's Initiative Award Winner Announcement".
- ^ [http://web.archive.org/web/20130413020541/http://www.phila.gov/ethicsboard/pdfs/Settlement%20Agreement%20-%20Friends%20of%20B%20Reynolds%20Brown%20-%20Approved%20by%20Board%209-21-2011.pdf *Ethics Board of the City of Philadelphia - Campaign Violations Adjudication Settlement," retrieved from Internet Archive. Archived April 13, 2013.
External links
- Philadelphia City Council website
- Reynolds Brown – Electoral History
- Blondell Reynolds Brown Penn State African American Chronicles profile
 Members of the Philadelphia City Council | ||||||
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