The campaign to make Philly more affordable
Sunrise Movement Philadelphia’s affordability agenda is broken into two categories: budget demands and systemic demands.
The group’s budget demands call for $415 million, to be split among each of its seven pillars — for example, an allocation of $120 million to create the One Philly Food Assistance Program, which would improve food security for 50,000 people who receive food stamps. Its systemic demands aim to address deeper structural issues, with proposals that include streamlining the city’s hiring process.
A banner hung up on Sunrise Movement Philadelphia’s tent outside City Hall reads “Make Philly Affordable.” (Hannah Pajtis/WHYY)
Sunrise Movement Philadelphia activists have experienced wins and setbacks over the past weeks. On May 21, the first day of the hunger strike, Brown and Troilo interrupted Parker’s budget address in West Philly to announce their strike and outline their demands. Brown was physically restrained and removed by three officers.
“I’m already hungry, but the city is starving,” Brown said in an Instagram video on that first day of the strike.
Brown met with Parker alongside other activists on June 2 to discuss their demands. On June 3, Brown escalated the protest by starting a thirst strike and was hospitalized the same day. In a June 6 video, Brown said that Parker and every Council member were aware of their demands and “have clearly stated that they support them.”
However, new challenges emerged. On June 10, she and a Sunrise Movement Philadelphia supporter were arrested by Philadelphia police for blocking traffic near City Hall while holding signs listing their budget demands.
“You don’t have to do this,” Brown says in an Instagram video, which shows her being pushed in a wheelchair into the back of a police vehicle. “You can make Philly affordable for everyone. We believe in you.”
When Brown was released the next day, she saw a letter from Parker in her inbox. Brown said she believes in Parker and her team, but that the letter was “pathetic.”
The letter, posted to Sunrise Movement Philadelphia’s Instagram, summarized the Parker administration’s work toward affordability but did not directly address Sunrise Movement Philadelphia’s specific financial demands.
The mayor’s office did not respond to WHYY News’ request for comment.
Brown said she feels disappointed, but “full of love.” Victories, she said, have included the meeting with Parker, commitments from Council, a written letter of support from Majority Leader Katherine Gilmore-Richardson and a commitment to create a working group on green jobs from Council President Kenyatta Johnson.
“Changing the world is about changing people,” Brown said.
