EPX Co-chair Joseph F. Marino Quoted in BillyPenn.com Article About Next Mayor

In reference to Jim Kenney’s Mayoral candidacy:.

Is the candidate involved? For the members of the East Passyunk Crossing Civic Association, Jim Kenney is pretty much the man. Joseph F. Marino, co-chair of the group’s board of directors, said Kenney — a now-former at-large city councilman — attended the group’s first community meeting nine years ago and has had a presence ever since. Marino noted that Kenney often stays in the background and allows the neighbors to make decisions, but Marino recalled that after the association’s first organizing meeting, Kenney approached him and said: “I like your style. You’re like a benevolent dictator.”

What the neighborhood wants from its next mayor: Marino said members of the civic association and neighbors have expressed their biggest concern, and it’s not all that unique: Education.

“I don’t think there’s a Philadelphian who’s not concerned about how our education system is working,” Marino said. “Everything from grade schools and librarians to higher degrees, colleges students, graduates and doctoral degree students.”

He added that neighborhood members are also of course concerned with crime rates, trash, recycling and streets — “the same issues every citizen is concerned about” — but educations falls highest on that list.

Full article here.