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Piccola Criticizes Rendell for Failure to Act
Regarding Philadelphia Gun Violence
HARRISBURG -- Senate Majority Whip Jeff Piccola (R-15) today released a
letter (below) to Governor Rendell criticizing his Administration for its failure to
release funding to implement a public relations campaign to advertise the new
mandatory five year prison term for drug-dealing with a gun.
Piccola led the fight for the measure at the urging
of the Pennsylvania District Attorneys’ Association which was lobbying for the
number one legislative recommendation of the Blueprint for a Safer
Philadelphia. “The new law, specifically designed to combat the recent rash of
gun-related homicides in Philadelphia, will also assist police and prosecutors
in addressing the increase in gun violence in Harrisburg and York,” Piccola
said.
It contains a unique provision which requires the
Commission on Crime and Delinquency to develop a public relations campaign to
advertise the new tough penalty for gun violence. This provision was inserted
because prosecutors and legislators acted together to create a similar campaign
in the 1980’s when the first drug mandatory sentences were enacted. A study
showed that the highly visible advertising had an impact on the level of drug
dealing in the regions where advertising occurred.
“Our experience from the successful advertising
campaign on the drug mandatories in the 80’s convinced me that advertising of
the new mandatories for drug dealing with a gun was a critical component of this
new assault on violence,” said Piccola.
When
Piccola learned that the Administration failed to release money for the
advertising campaign, he released the below letter to Governor Rendell.
* * * * * * * * * *
April 6,
2005
The Honorable Edward G. Rendell
Office of the Governor
Room 225, Main Capitol Building
Harrisburg, PA 17120
Dear Governor Rendell:
During November of last year, I
was pleased to lead the effort in the Senate for the passage of House Bill 447
which imposed a mandatory five year prison term for drug-dealing with a gun. As
you know, this bill was the Blueprint for a Safer Philadelphia’s top legislative
proposal for combating gun violence in the City of Philadelphia.
You may also know that the
legislation contained a provision which required your Administration, through
the Commission on Crime and Delinquency to establish a public information
campaign aimed at high drug trafficking areas. The law has been in effect for
two months. Further, the General Assembly appropriated $4.2 million dollars in
this year’s budget for the implementation of this and other programs recommended
by the Blueprint.
It has come to my attention
that your Administration did not release the money required for the public
relations campaign. I have been informed that the Philadelphia District
Attorney’s Office and the Office of the United States Attorney of the Eastern
District had to seek pro bono services from an advertising firm to develop the
ads. Further, the staff of these two prosecutorial agencies has been
distributing the flyers to the appropriate neighborhoods.
This is certainly contrary to
language in the statute. And most unfortunate in light of the tremendous
demands which this crisis has placed upon the Offices of the District Attorney
and the United States Attorney.
As your Commission has begun
its exploration of what other initiatives should be undertaken by the General
Assembly to address the gun violence in Philadelphia, may I suggest your
Administration’s compliance with its’ duties under existing law should be a
priority.
Sincerely,
Jeffrey E. Piccola
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