Thank you to For Our Future Pa for providing this article.

Digital ads will run in Philadelphia to raise awareness and garner thousands of petition signatures for December delivery in Harrisburg

(Philadelphia, PA) — Today, For Our Future PA announced the launch of a paid digital advertisement campaign that will hold Harrisburg Republicans accountable for their inaction on Philadelphia’s public school safety crisis. For Our Future PA is a member of the Fund Our Facilities coalition, which is led by the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers.

The digital ads can be viewed HERE. 

The geofenced digital ad buy will reach thousands of Philadelphians across multiple channels and drive citizens to take action about asbestos, lead, and other hazardous conditions in public schools across the city.

Despite the $12M in regular capital project funds the district recently designated to deal with lead and asbestos issues, the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers estimates that $170 million more is needed to remediate facilities across the city. Harrisburg Republicans have turned a blind eye to the calls for action from the union of educators.

In December, For Our Future PA and partners within the Fund Our Facilities coalition will deliver the petition signatures to House Speaker Mike Turzai’s office.

For Our Future PA State Director, Ashley McBride, released the following statement:

“Students and teachers across Philadelphia shouldn’t fear for their health simply by attending class or going to work. The radio silence from Harrisburg Republicans is incredibly disappointing. Speaker Turzai should be ashamed for ignoring more than 200,000 students in Philadelphia’s public school system whose lives are at risk in these hazardous facilities. The Harrisburg GOP needs to step up to the plate and fund Philadelphia facilities now.

President of the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers, Jerry Jordan, released the following statement:

“It should shock and horrify us to know that even one child or one educator is exposed to toxic conditions in their school. But in Philadelphia, nearly 3/4 of our schools qualify as being in poor or critical condition. Very real hazards are threatening the future of our young people and their educators. Just this year, one of our beloved educators was diagnosed with asbestos-induced mesothelioma. While no definitive connection can be made between her diagnosis and her work, she has spent her whole career thus far teaching in schools with confirmed asbestos. It is unconscionable that any lawmaker could allow these catastrophic conditions to continue. The PFT founded the Fund Our Facilities Coalition to further bring urgent attention–and more importantly, resources–to the work that must be done to ensure that our schools are safe and healthy. Our Coalition has identified the resources needed for immediate, urgent repairs–and the time is now for every lawmaker to come to the table and prioritize the health and safety of every child and educator working day in and day out in conditions that can quite literally poison them.”

Quick facts about Philadelphia’s public school safety crisis:

• 175+ schools still have asbestos insulation
• 3 schools have been closed indefinitely due to asbestos
• A long-time teacher who worked in a public school facility known to have asbestos has been diagnosed with mesothelioma

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For Our Future is a progressive political action committee that runs the largest permanent field program in the country. Along with a related social welfare organization For Our Future Action Fund, we operate active programs in 7 critical swing states, including Pennsylvania, aiming to turn out Democratic voters by engaging in person-to-person conversations ahead of Election Day and building lasting relationships around issues to build legislative change. Founded in 2016, For Our Future and For Our Future Action Fund are part of a collective effort backed by the leading labor organizations including AFL-CIO, AFSCME, AFT, CWA, NEA, SEIU, and the advocacy group NextGen America.