PennEnvironment Endorses Gym, DiBerardinis, Almiron for Philadelphia City Council

PennEnvironment

[Philadelphia, PA] – With voters’ attention building ahead of next week’s May 21st primary election, the citizen-based environmental group PennEnvironment announced its endorsements today for Philadelphia City Council. The group is supporting incumbent councilwoman Helen Gym and at-large candidate Justin DiBerardinis and Erika Almirón.

“With dozens of candidates running for City Council who care about the environment, the exemplary environmental track records of Helen Gym, Erika Almirón, and Justin DiBerardinis garnered PennEnvironment’s endorsement,” stated PennEnvironment Executive Director David Masur.  “We hope that these endorsements will help inform voters for whom the environment is a top issue as they go to the polls next Tuesday to vote for the elected officials who will represent us in City Hall.”

PennEnvironment acknowledged Councilwoman Gym’s prolific leadership on environmental issues that have come before City Council when making their endorsement. From Councilwoman Gym’s efforts to halt the rollback of Philadelphia’s electric vehicle parking program, to opposing efforts to increase fossil fuel projects in the city, to being the lead sponsor of legislation to tackle the threat of lead in drinking water in Philadelphia’s public schools, Helen has been the best environmental advocate in city government.

“Endorsing Councilwoman Helen Gym was a simple choice for PennEnvironment,” noted Masur. “Helen has an unmatched voting record standing up for our environment in City Council.”

PennEnvironment was equally proud of its endorsement of at-large city council candidate Justin DiBerardinis. Prior to running for City Council, Justin cut his teeth in Philadelphia’s non-profit environmental community as the Director of Programming at Bartram’s Garden in Southwest Philadelphia, where Justin worked to engage the local community, educate the public and preserve one of the greatest parts of our city’s natural heritage.

“Given Justin’s track record of protecting our local environment, PennEnvironment is proud to endorse Justin DiBerardinis for City Council At-large,” stated Masur.

With Erika Almirón’s long standing experience fighting for social change and her commitment to doing the heavy-lifting to protect our environment, PennEnvironment is proud to endorse Erika for Philadelphia City Council.  Erika Almirón has been a non-profit leader for over 20 years in Philadelphia, most recently as the Executive Director for Juntos and made the environment one of her priority issues writing, “I have worked with hundreds of families who are climate migrants who were forced to come here because the land that sustained their people is being destroyed.”

“Erika has made the environment and addressing our planet’s climate crisis one of her top priorities as a candidate,” noted Masur. “Her experience and commitment on these issues are the type of leadership we need in City Hall.”

PennEnvironment noted that if Philadelphia is going to continue to make headway to solve the most pressing environmental issues facing the planet, like tackling climate change, reducing air and water pollution, addressing litter and single-use plastic pollution, and protecting Philadelphia’s parks and green spaces, more environmental leaders are needed in City Hall.

Primary Election Day is next Tuesday, May 21, 2019.

Paid for by PennEnvironment Action Fund and authorized by Friends of Erika Almiron, Friends of Justin DiBerardinis and Friends of Helen Gym.