May 9, 2007

CONTACT: Solomon Jones
(215) 370-5681 - mobile
(215)636-9850 - office

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FATTAH: "NOTHING MORE IMPORTANT THAN GIVING YOUNG PEOPLE A SAFE PLACE TO GO"

Re-states his pledge to give every young person 12 to 16 years old a place to go

PHILADELPHIA, PA - On the heels of the recent attack on prioritizing after school programs, Mayoral Candidate Chaka Fattah today restated his commitment to provide after school programs for every young person ages 12 to 16.

"The monetary cost of keeping our young people safe is nothing compared to the human cost of violence," Fattah said. "As Mayor, I will make sure that every young person in Philadelphia has access to after school programs."

Fattah has pledged to spend an additional $15 million per year to expand after school programs. He plans to pay for it with funds from his proposed airport lease. During Monday's debate, Fattah said that he is so committed to expanding funding for after school programs that he would be willing to cut in other areas of the city's budget or consider raising taxes to do so.

Philadelphia Safe and Sound estimates that 100,000 Philadelphia young people have no place to after school. According to FBI statistics, 47 percent of violent juvenile crimes take place on weekdays between the hours of 2:00 P.M. and 8:00 P.M.

"My opponents want fiscally irresponsible tax cuts for wealthy businesses. I want after school programs for every child. The choice is clear," Fattah said.

This afternoon at 4 pm, Fattah will visit Catholic Social Services' Beacon program at Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament in West Philadelphia as part of his weeklong "Keeping Our Kids Safe" tour.

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Last Updated: May 9, 2007