WHEREAS, The Committee of Seventy was founded in 1904 by a group of prominent Philadelphians who were opposed to machine politics and committed to fair elections and honest and efficient government; and
WHEREAS, The Committee of Seventy initiated a citizen poll-watching program in 1905 with the intention of reducing both fraud and voter intimidation and which continues to serve the City of Philadelphia today; and
WHEREAS, The Committee of Seventy successfully advocated for the creation of the first Philadelphia Home Rule Charter in 1919, giving Philadelphians an unprecedented right of self governance, and was instrumental in the adoption of the current Home Rule Charter in 1951, and has been a vigilant defender of the integrity of our form of self-government in the five decades since; and
WHEREAS, The Committee of Seventy created and continues to publish the annual Election Calendar, a pamphlet and internet database important dates for voters and candidates, voter registration information, and a directory of elected officials and ward leaders to assist citizens in contacting their representatives and participating in the electoral process; and
WHEREAS, The Committee of Seventy established a citizen education and information program whereby Seventy fields thousands of calls and e-mails every year, providing information to voters, candidates, political organizations, and citizens who require the assistance of their elected officials, government agencies and legal services providers at no cost to the public; and
WHEREAS, The Committee of Seventy has produced several publications which facilitate the efforts of candidates to run for office, the rights of voters to exercise their franchise, and the efforts of poll workers to perform their duties in a fair and competent manner, as well as nine municipal governance studies which have favorably influenced the development of Philadelphia policy and municipal reform; and
WHEREAS, The Committee of Seventy played a significant role in Philadelphia's successful transition to electronic voting, which now promptly and accurately records the electoral decisions of our citizens, a major improvement for both voters and election administrators; and
WHEREAS, The Committee of Seventy is about to embark on its second century of service to the people of Philadelphia and this Commonwealth, meeting new challenges with the same determination as those who successfully joined together during the Progressive Era to remedy the most flagrant electoral and governmental abuses; now therefore
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That Council does hereby honor and commend the Committee of Seventy on the occasion of its 100th Anniversary.
RESOLVED FURTHER, That City Council proclaim the week of June 6th, 2004, as Committee of Seventy Week.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to the Committee of Seventy as a token of this legislative body's sincere appreciation for its contributions to good government and fair and free elections.
End