‘Make Philly Affordable’ campaign looks ahead after hunger strike ends - Philadelphia Gay News

In an Instagram video uploaded by the Philadelphia chapter of the Sunrise Movement last week, Erica Brown, the organization’s executive director, encouraged those who were following her 21-day hunger strike to “eat the rich” as she broke her fast by biting into a piece of bread that symbolized the wealthiest class. Brown — who is just 23 years old — participated in the hunger strike under the banner “Make Philly Affordable,” a campaign that attempted to convince Mayor Cherelle Parker to use the upcoming record budget surplus to fund programs that directly benefit the most marginalized Philadelphians. To Brown, who is a mixed-race trans woman and Philadelphia native, the hunger strike emphasized “the kind of urgency that this city and this country and this world need” right now. She underlined that she wants people “to realize we are running out of time.” The demands are specific. Activists want a portion of the $1.1 billion surplus — $415 million — to be distributed to various programs and projects: $120 million to food, $20 million to housing, $25 million to education, $90 million to rec centers, $80 million to libraries, $30 million to public transit, and $50 million to renewable energy. But after weeks of debate, the budget passed without those changes — keeping the surplus completely intact for now. Brown hopes to hold the “fire of hope, the fire of courage, the fire of love” to Parker’s feet until the next opportunity for budget allocations in November. “Today I’m resting,” said Brown on the day after she broke her fast. “And tomorrow we’ll get back to planning. If we’re going to win in November, we gotta start now.” There hasn’t been enough transparency around the budget or surplus, Brown said. The Make Philly Affordable coalition has tried to change that by educating followers about why the surplus even exists. It’s a result of higher-than-expected business and real estate tax revenue, unspent COVID-19 relief funds, and cost savings from long-standing employee vacancies within city departments. The latter, Brown argues, is not something to celebrate. She explained that the city’s hiring process is also a problem — with applicants waiting months to hear back about city positions, leaving roles unfilled. A working group has emerged to begin exploring these topics. The coalition also wants Parker and City Council to consider revenue sources that wouldn’t harm average Philadelphians — such as a wealth tax, which was introduced by Councilmember Kendra Brooks. Maintaining the surplus (rather than spending it) safeguards the city’s finances against economic downturns and plans to meet future obligations, such as the 2029 pension fund replenishment. But such a large surplus isn’t necessary, activists argue — as some of the money could be immediately leveraged without completely draining reserves. The Make Philly Affordable coalition is growing. It already includes various organizations: Sunrise Movement Philly, Philly Thrive, Just Nation, Brewerytown Sharswood Neighborhood Coalition, Stand Up for Philly Schools, and CAPhilly. And it’s already achieved incremental wins. Parker met with the team about two weeks into the hunger strike and sent a follow-up letter explaining that she’d like to continue working with the group. Councilmembers Kendra Brooks, Nicolas O’Rourke, Jamie Gauthier and Rue Landau signed a pledge that they’ll use their own power to meet the demands in November. Councilmember Katherine Gilmore Richardson did not sign the pledge but sent a personal letter of support to the activists. Brown said that building people power has also been a success. Activists hosted two civil disobedience trainings, held three rallies, and participated in four acts of civil disobedience throughout Brown’s 21-day hunger strike. Brown and other activists were physically removed from a public town hall event and handcuffed as they were removed from a sit-in at City Hall during their advocacy efforts. “All of this is just a springboard,” she underlined. “We have so much momentum to carry into the summer and fall and next year as well.” Brown noted that many supporters have been following the movement online — liking and commenting on Instagram posts, for instance. This is still the best way to keep tabs on the coalition right now, she said, but she also wants more people to come out to events because physical numbers at in-person gatherings can make a stronger difference in spreading the message. “The only way our public servants will serve us is if we make them, and that’s what civil disobedience is for… this is our most powerful tool,” Brown said. “Changing the world means changing your life too — and if you’re not someone who has ever brought their physical body to a location for community organizing or direct action, then it’s going to be a change in your life to do that,” she said. “But that’s a change we have to make in our lives to get any decision makers to change or any systems to change or any money in the budget to change.” Brown joined the Sunrise Movement when she was 16 after recognizing that the decisions of leaders affect whether or not people’s basic needs get met. People have more in common than the billionaire class wants them to believe, she explained — underlining that they introduce controversies to divide and pit communities against each other as a distraction from the true obstacles that prevent wellbeing and progress. This new movement is about bringing together neighbors to create access to the lives she believes they deserve. “We’re all human beings,” Brown said. “We all need food to live, and that includes the mayor. She’s a human being. She knows what it’s like to be hungry. She loves her family, her kids. But that’s the love and that’s the attitude she and every public servant has to apply to everyone.” A spokesperson for Mayor Parker did not respond to a request for comment.