Philadelphia, PA (November 4, 2020) – Philadelphia City Councilmember Kenyatta Johnson (2nd District) today issued the following statement on the overwhelming approval on November 3 of Philadelphia Ballot Question number two, creating a new Office of Victim Advocate in Philadelphia. Johnson is the prime sponsor of the legislation to create the office:
“I want to thank all Philadelphians for voting overwhelmingly to approve Ballot Question #2, which will create a new Office of Victim Advocate in Philadelphia. Thank you for supporting the mothers, fathers and families who have lost loved ones to gun violence in recent years by approving the Office. I put this question on the ballot for them.
“Thank you to the many city leaders who supported passage of Ballot Question #2: Dr. Dorothy Johnson-Speight, Founder/National Executive Director of Mothers In Charge, Inc.; Aleida Garcia, co-founder, National Homicide Justice Alliance; Chantay Love, Program Director of E.M.I.R. (Every Murder is Real) Healing Center; Stanley Crawford, leader of Black Male Community Council of Philadelphia; Felicia Pendleton, Founder, Mothers United By Angels; Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner; all members of Philadelphia City Council and Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney.
“I will now work with the Kenney Administration to fund the office, find it a home, select the new Victim Advocate, and assemble an advisory board of citizens to help guide the work of the Victim Advocate. Our hope is the new office will be up and running by the middle of 2021.
“The new Philadelphia Office of Victim Advocate will be separate from the Pennsylvania Victim Advocate Office.
“If the public has suggestions for the soon-to-be Philadelphia Office of Victims Advocate, email them to my office via phlcouncil.com/kenyattajohnson”
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Councilman Kenyatta Johnson, a former Pennsylvania State Representative, represents the 2nd Council District which includes parts of Center City, South Philadelphia, and Southwest Philadelphia. He is also Chairman of City Council’s Special Committee on Gun Violence Prevention and Vice-Chair of Council’s Public Safety Committee.
