I invite you and your family to attend my open house in my district office from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 13 at 7178 Ogontz Ave., Philadelphia, 19138. My staff and I will be available to answer questions and provide information on the SEPTA Photo ID program, Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program, unclaimed property and many other state-related services and programs. For more information about this email or any state-related concern, please don’t hesitate to contact me . Read more

Forms for Pennsylvania’s Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program for the 2018 tax year are available – and my office staff is ready to help you file yours for free ! The rebate program benefits eligible Pennsylvanians 65 or older, widows and widowers 50 or older, and people with disabilities 18 or older. The income limit is $35,000 a year for homeowners and $15,000 annually for renters. Half of Social Security income is excluded and the maximum standard rebate is $650. Claimants must reapply for rebates every year because they are based on annual income and property taxes or rent paid each year. Spouses, personal representatives or estates may file rebate claims on behalf of deceased claimants who lived at least one day in 2018 and meet all other eligibility criteria. The rebates normally are distributed by the Department of Revenue beginning July 1. So, the sooner you file, the sooner you will receive your money. Read more

PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 16 – State Rep. Jason Dawkins, chairman of the Philadelphia House Delegation, along with delegation members today announced their legislative agenda during a news conference at the state Capitol. The delegation said its top priorities for working toward a better Philadelphia include investing in education and schools, criminal justice reform, health care for all, strengthening commercial coordinators, and alternative energy methods. "We are joining forces to work as one unit for the betterment of all Philadelphians, and that begins with fighting for what our constituents need the most,” Dawkins said. "We are also focused on making sure that everyone gets a fair shot and equal treatment." “Last session we worked in bipartisan fashion to get clean slate legislation signed into law and bring real criminal justice reform to those who need it,” said Rep. Jordan Harris, the Democratic Whip. “Now, we must continue fighting for further reform to reduce recidivism and allow Pennsylvanians who have paid their debit to society to pursue a productive path to citizenry.” “For too long our criminal justice system has been an injustice system for the mentally ill, the poor, and people of color,” said Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta. “While we’ve made progress, our prisons remain overcrowded, inmates mistreated, and mental health problems ignored. I stand with my Philadelphia colleagues to address Read more

PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 11 – State Rep. Isabella Fitzgerald will be joined by Reps. Stephen Kinsey and Chris Rabb, Sen. Art Haywood and Councilwoman Cherelle Parker to co-host an annual summit to help current and future business owners succeed and prosper. The 2 nd Annual Northwest Economic Empowerment Business Summit, organized by Fitzgerald, will be held from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 19 at Masjidullah, the Center for Human Excellence, 7433 Limekiln Pike, 19138. The theme of this year’s summit is “Continuing the Journey.” Those attending the summit can take part in a variety of workshops and hear from expert panelists about starting a business or making an existing business thrive. “Business owners are a vital part of our community,” Fitzgerald said. “We want to provide constituents with the opportunities and resources to assist them, whether it’s starting their own business venture or growing their existing business.” Fitzgerald said there will be door prizes and continental breakfast and lunch will be served. Congressman Dwight Evans will be the keynote speaker. Representatives and their staff also will be available to answer questions and provide information on state government-related services. For more information and to RSVP, please call Fitzgerald’s office at 215-549-0220 or by email at repizzy@pahouse.net . Read more

PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 9 – State Rep. Isabella Fitzgerald, D-Phila., announced she will host an event to remember Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy while promoting peace. The MLK Day of Service will be held from 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Monday, Jan. 21 at the West Oak Lane Senior Center, 7210-18 Ogontz Ave., 19138. “Many people see this holiday just as a day off from work or school. I believe Martin Luther King Jr. Day should be celebrated as a day on and not a day off,” Fitzgerald said. “We can best honor his legacy by volunteering to help our fellow citizens and creating opportunities to promote a better community. I hope everyone will join us to celebrate what we have accomplished coming together, and what we envision for the months and years to come.” Fitzgerald said the service project consists of creating banners expressing the vision of a world without gun violence. Projects will be displayed in Fitzgerald’s district office. Fitzgerald added she and her staff will be on hand to answer questions and provide information on state services. Attendees can also meet with staff from the offices of: Councilwoman Cherelle Parker Sen. Art Haywood Congressman Dwight Evans Fitzgerald said representatives from Nicetown CDC NAC & Energy Center will be distributing information on weatherization and weatherization kits. Oak Street Health will be offering resources on healthy lifestyles. Read more

HARRISBURG, Jan. 1 – During a ceremony at the state Capitol to open the 203rd legislative session, state Rep. Isabella Fitzgerald took the oath of office to begin her second term in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. “What an honor it is to be re-elected to serve the folks from the 203rd Legislative District,” Fitzgerald said. “I want to thank them for continuing to put their trust in me, and I am driven to ensure that their interests are represented within their communities and across the state.” During her first term, Fitzgerald stood up for women’s health, victims’ rights, and fought against sexual harassment and abuse. She helped to bring enforcement to Stop-and-Gos, and awareness to the public health risk that bullying causes for our youth. “As I get ready to serve my next term, I am reminded of our victories for state funding to reduce gun violence, our hearings to support victim services, and legislative packages to help address the needs of incarcerated women. We have plenty to work on in the coming session. It’s going to take a lot of effort, but I and my colleagues look forward to the challenge,” Fitzgerald said. Fitzgerald encourages her constituents to contact her via email at RepFitzgerald@pahouse.net , through her website at www.pahouse.com/Fitzgerald , or on social media at www.facebook.com/RepFitzgerald and www.twitter.com/RepFitzgerald . EDITORS/ASSIGNMENT DESKS: A photo of Rep. Read more

With the holidays upon us, I want to remind everyone that the commonwealth offers some excellent resources to help families who may be struggling with food insecurity. Check out these links for: A list of food banks by county An interactive map of food pantries A list of state food programs Ideas for fighting hunger in your community If you don’t need help but want to volunteer your time or resources, you’ll find plenty of opportunities in the links above. This holiday season, let’s work together to make sure everyone has blessings to count. Read more

The 2018-2019 Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program – LIHEAP – is accepting applications for heating assistance grants. LIHEAP offers cash grants of $200 to $1,000 that are sent directly to the utility company to defray heating costs for eligible households, and crisis benefits of up to $600 for households in immediate danger of being without heat. Remember: These are grants and do not have to be repaid. This season’s income guidelines for both LIHEAP cash and crisis grants are $18,210 for an individual, $24,690 for couples and increases for each additional person in the household. Please click here for more LIHEAP information. Please consider visiting my office if you need help filing a LIHEAP application. Besides my office, LIHEAP information is available by: Contacting local County Assistance offices by phone or in person. Calling the LIHEAP Client Helpline at 1-866-857-7095 or PA Relay at 711 for the hearing impaired. Applying online at https://www.compass.state.pa.us . Read more

HARRISBURG, Sept. 7 – Members of the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus applauded the announcement made today by Gov. Tom Wolf that more than $1.5 million in funding will be allocated across the commonwealth to help reduce gun violence. "The crisis created by the illegal gun violence epidemic cannot be averted without those on the frontlines of this fight having access to the resources and tools needed to do the work of healing those affected,” said state Rep. Jordan Harris, D-Phila., PLBC chairman. “The PLBC is proud to stand with Governor Wolf as we begin to ensure that our communities have the support and tools needed to begin to address this public health crisis." “The PLBC has been working hard to address gun violence in our community as a public health issue, because we understood that resources follow public health concerns. Today’s grant is a result of our collective work with Governor Wolf, city officials, and local advocates,” said state Rep. Donna Bullock, D-Phila., vice chair of the PLBC. “As a member of the School Safety and Security Committee, I hope to bring more resources to Philadelphia to address gun violence in and around our schools.” “It is no secret there is a gun violence epidemic in the commonwealth. From Philadelphia to Pittsburgh and all points in between, shootings are taking lives one or two at a time, destroying our communities and families,” said state Rep. Chris Read more