Welcome to the February 26 2024, Meet Mack Monday Zoom meeting presentation! I’m John Mack, your host and a Newtown Township Supervisor.

The goal of Meet Mack Monday Zoom meetings is to inform residents of township issues that impact them and to get feedback and comments from residents about such issues. This helps me keep better informed of residents’ concerns when I vote on the issues at Board of Supervisors meetings.

TOPICS COVERED:

• LED Streetlight Project – What’s the Savings?
• Trash Collection Rising Rates – Time for a Change?
• Borscht Belt Neon Sign Decision Update
• Newtown Place Apartments – Revised Plan
• Single-Use Plastics Ban – What You Need to Know
• Bucks NAACP Race & Policing Report Briefing Summary
• Mack’s Pothole Patrol: If You See Something, Say Something!
• Human Relations Commission Report: Proposed Mural Project
• What’s With Wawa on Bypass?
  
  Download the PPT Notes: https://rebrand.ly/26Feb24mmm_notes

A bill to broaden protections for LGBTQ+ people passed the Pennsylvania state House of Representatives on Tuesday - the first to advance this far after yearslong efforts by Democrats - though it faces strong headwinds in the Republican-controlled Senate.

The bill passed 102-98 in the House where Democrats have a razor-thin majority, becoming the first of its kind to see a floor vote. Gov. Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, said he supports it.

Similar legislation - long supported by LGBTQ+ advocates, and even a priority of former Gov. Tom Wolf - has failed to get a floor vote in either chamber, despite clearing committee years ago.

Under the bill, it would be illegal to discriminate against LGBTQ+ people in housing, workplaces and public services.

The legislation would add the categories "sexual orientation, gender identity or expression" to a law that empowers the state Human Relations Commission to investigate complaints of discrimination because of someone's race, sex, religion, age or disability. The commission can impose civil penalties, such as back pay or damages.

On Wednesday, March 29th, 6-8 PM, the Rainbow Room in Doylestown (along with PFLAG Bucks County & Eastern PA Trans Equity Project) will host a special event: “Trans Day of Visibility: A Conversation About Trans Care, Equity & Access.”

This event/discussion is open to the community!! Join us for a special Trans Day of Visibility program on Wed March 29th, 6-8pm at the Rainbow Room in Doylestown. LINK: https://facebook.com/events/s/trans-day-of-visibility-a-conv/201817669111052/

Topics for discussion include…

• Trans Rights* (fighting bans on books, flags, athletes & more)
• Name changes
• Supportive services
• Financial grants
• Education & outreach

The Neshaminy School District's "Redskins" moniker and former mascot does not violate a Pennsylvania law that prohibits discrimination, a state appeals court has ruled.

The Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania on Monday overturned a decision by the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission. Many groups and individuals consider the nickname to be racist, offensive and hurtful due to its history and origins.

The PHRC previously said Neshaminy could continue using the word Redskins so long as it also provided education regarding its "negative and positive attributes."

Among them, it is associated with the practice of scalping. For a time, the U.S. government paid monetary rewards for killing Native Americans and providing scalps as evidence.

The PHRC, in a ruling in November 2019, also also directed that the school district cease using “any and all logos and imagery in the Neshaminy High School that negatively stereotype Native Americans.”

The district appealed the decision, in part, saying it had received no clear guidance from the PHRC on what specific images it considers stereotypical or what curriculum changes need to be made regarding Native American education.

Introducing the 2021 Human Relations Commission: In January 2021, the Newtown Township Board of Supervisors appointed new members to the Human Rights Commission (HRC), which was established by the 2018 Anti-Discrimination Ordinance.

Read more about the members...

View the video archive...