Allan Domb

I have served as an At-Large City Councilman since my election in 2015. My experience on Council, combined with my background in Philadelphia business and real estate, has given me the expertise I need to continue my work for the people of Philadelphia in a second term.

My top three policy goals are the following:

1.  Making financial literacy and computer coding courses the standard across all Philadelphia public schools.
2. Raising the rate at which the city collects delinquent property taxes from out-of-town landlords.
3. Continuing to expand access to the Earned Income Tax Credit so that Philadelphians can put more of their hard-earned money back in their pockets.

I believe that the key to addressing the issue of poverty in Philadelphia is to put power back into the hands of our citizens.

Part of the solution comes from empowering entrepreneurship. I have brought financial literacy courses to public schools across the city, which give students the resources they need to make informed financial decisions and become the local business leaders of the future. I have also brought computer coding courses to public schools, which train students in the real-life skills they need to be the next generation of innovators in Philadelphia. Our city government should also levy less taxes on new business to give them the initial push they need to succeed and institute less red tape for new businesses to open and grow. Together, all of these things, make up a comprehensive method of empowering citizens.

Another part of the solution is expanding access to the Earned Income Tax Credit. On average, this refund gives around $2,500 per tax return to those who need it most, though people who qualify can receive more than double that. But even though 222,800 Philadelphians are eligible for this refund every year, nearly 40,000 haven’t applied. That means that almost $100 million of needed money is left in Washington D.C. when it could be here, improving the lives of the people who qualify.

Having sufficient affordable housing and programs to address homelessness should be a priority for City Council. I have worked with my colleagues to provide more funding for the Housing Authority budget and will continue to do so in the future. Though I need to do more research on best practices with land trusts and land banks, I am open to any ideas to address homelessness and land issues in Philadelphia.

While I know that Councilmembers of individual districts are particularly informed about the desires and needs of their constituents, I would certainly support efforts to make sure that Councilmanic prerogative is not abused.

I believe that we need to enforce the taxes that we already have before we consider levying new taxes on our citizens. In particular, one of my focuses has been on collecting delinquent property taxes from out-of-town landlords. These tax dollars belong in Philadelphia, supporting our citizens and a variety of city programs. The priority for revenues generated from collecting delinquent property taxes should go towards funding our public schools.

Collecting delinquent property taxes at a more successful rate is the first step we need to take. The revenue generated from these taxes has the potential to significantly impact our city’s spending power when it comes to properly funding our public school system.

While I am open to innovation in education, I believe that our public school system should be the focus of City Council and City Hall. Every child in Philadelphia deserves to have access to a good public education, no matter where they live in the city, and it should be our job to support the School District of Philadelphia first in making that vision a reality.

I believe that there are several areas in which policing practices could be reformed in Philadelphia. While our city has seen some improvement on the issue of stop and frisk over the last decade, there is more work to do to ensure that our citizens’ constitutional rights are protected, and I support efforts to curb stop and frisk. I also support diversionary programs for low-level offenders in our criminal justice system so that addiction can be treated primarily as a public health issue, rather than through cut-and-dry punitive measures. I also support greater oversight of the process of civil asset forfeiture to make sure that our citizens’ personal and property rights are protected.

I have sponsored and paid for financial literacy and computer coding programs for citizens seeking re-entry from our State Road correctional facilities, and I will continue to do this in the future, hopefully through City Council legislation and on a greater scale. Making these programs accessible to citizens seeking re-entry helps give them the tools they need to succeed once released and ensures that they have a competitive edge on the job market.

I believe that a fair balance must be struck that allows the growth of business while protecting public spaces in Philadelphia. I will push for oversight of plans to privatize public spaces and make sure that no plans infringe upon the reasonable ability of the public to use and enjoy public spaces.

Though I need to do some more research on specific action items when it comes to concrete policy, I will be eager to work with my colleagues and constituents to advance the rights of immigrants whenever possible.

One of City Council’s foremost priorities should be reducing Philadelphia’s carbon footprint. I will support legislation that encourages the use of public transportation, such as expanding free fares for young citizens to promote lifelong ridership. I will also support legislation that encourages alternative energy across the city whenever we can find ways to make this possible.