PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Ten mayoral candidates on Saturday evening took questions at a forum focused on concerns of the area Muslim community. The public event took place at a mosque in West Oak Lane.
Dozens packed the worship room at Masjidullah Center for Human Excellence, where 11 candidates had been invited to participate. All but state Rep. Amen Brown showed up. With such a crowded field, candidates had limited opportunities to give answers that distinguished them from their opponents.
They generally agreed on some subjects: hiring more police, prioritizing Islamic holidays and providing halal meals in schools, and making sure Muslims are adequately represented in local government.
Everyone agreed on the importance of supporting Black small-business owners. Former City Controller Rebecca Rhynhart went a step further.
“I have pledged to double the number of black-owned businesses in our city [as mayor] by providing direct equity investment, direct cash, into businesses, as well as technical support,” she said.
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Former Councilmember Maria Quiñones-Sánchez spoke about her approach to gun violence in the city.
“We have to make sure that we support young people who are entering the criminal justice system, so they don't feel the hopelessness that has led to the price that we're seeing,” she said. “But part of that is making sure that we readdress the disinvestment that we have historically done in Black and brown communities, and support families, as opposed to destabilizing. I would work to make sure that we are doing that.”
A few moments stood out, like when former Councilmember Cherelle Parker gave insight into her plan to help people with substance use disorders.
“I can tell you that safe injection sites won't be a part of it,” she said. “Seventy-five percent of the people who are in Kensington right now suffering from homelessness and addiction — they don't live [in] or are not from the city of Philadelphia. We need a regional approach. We don't need a safe injection site. You need long-term care, treatment and long-term housing.”
Another highlight came when Rhynhart responded to a question about anti-Muslim hate and racism among Philly’s law enforcement community and in the city’s criminal justice system.
“I will make sure that anyone that did that type of behavior — racism, bigotry — was not on our police force. To me, this isn't about training. You can't train away that type of thing. You have to get rid of the person,” she said.
Candidates also addressed topics such as asbestos in schools, public safety, and the Black maternal mortality crisis.
Candidates also differed on the Philadelphia beverage tax, which Warren Bloom, David Oh, and Quiñones-Sánchez said they would not support.
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