Clean Government
On January 2, 2007, Seventy delivered an Ethics Agenda to all 2007 Philadelphia Mayoral candidates and potential candidates urging their commitment to three overarching principles and 28 specific reforms.
In April of 2006, Seventy's form Chair filed a lawsuit against active 2007 Mayoral candidates to seek compliance with the City's campaign finance restrictions. As a direct result of the Committee of Seventy's public stance, candidates are accepting, and donors are contributing, few dollars. This effort was done to drive down the opportunity for pay-to-play and the cost of elections.
Seventy was a key force behind legislation to create an independent, Charter-sanctioned Board of Ethics, with prescribed powers and duties. In May 2006, 80% of voters approved this measure.
Seventy helped lead the most successful ballot question campaign in Philadelphia history, where 87% of voters in November 2005 supported a change in how the City awards non-competitively bid contracts.
Seventy is heavily involved in helping to improve Fairmount Park by establishing a better governance and funding structure to attract more public and private investment in this major regional asset.
Seventy is examining the City Home Rule Charter to develop an agenda of changes to create a more efficient and accountable governing document for the 21st Century.
Fair Elections Seventy is upgrading its already well-recognized Elections Oversight program by expanding volunteer recruitment, and training efforts, improving field operations to better identify problems requiring swift resolution, strengthening methods for analyzing and publicly reporting Election Day information an making essential voting information available in Spanish.
Seventy's Citizen Access Center enables voter to easily find their polling place, political districts and names of their elected representatives both online and through our automated phone system by calling 1-866-268-8603.
Informed CitizensSeventy is supplementing its "How to Run for Political Office" manual with civic education program for current and prospective candidates for elective office on all levels. Nearly 3,000 people attended the programs in 2006 and more are being planned for 2007.
Seventy's Citizens Guide is a one-of-a-kind resource that contains voter information, explains the political structure of Philadelphia and provides contact information for all Philadelphia elected officials and even expands into the suburbs. Call (215) 557-3600 to get your copy.
Seventy is committed to bringing more young people into the political process. Aggressive voter registration campaigns are being conducted with Campus Philly (local college students), Student Voices (an Annenberg Public Policy Center initiative), Philadelphia Citizens for Children and Youth, the Philadelphia School District and the League of Women Voters.