Welcome to my website and thanks for reading! On the right, you can find an archive of all my op-eds that have appeared in the Philadelphia Daily News as well as links to longer articles that have appeared in other publications.

If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact me by e-mail at benwaxman(at)gmail.com. Looking forward to hearing from you!

My twin brother is also a writer and he just had something published by Alternet. It's called "Repeating a Fatal Mistake." You can read it here.

By Ben Waxman
Philadelphia Daily News, 7/31/07

PHILADELPHIA'S murder rate seems to be rising along with the temperature.

An explosion of crime and violence has erupted in neighborhoods across the city. It's at a crisis level and there is need for dramatic, immediate action.

So the governor or the speaker of the House needs to call a special session to focus on guns and crime. Philadelphia needs Harrisburg to pass stronger gun laws - and it needs to happen now.

The mayor, the DA and City Council seem to be powerless to stop the shooting. In their defense, they lack the ability to legislate one of the most important issues: gun control. That's why Gov. Rendell or Speaker O'Brien needs to call a special session of the legislature to deal with crime and violence. Our local elected officials cannot act, so they must.

The legislature is not due back before late September. But that's too late to consider gun control - people are dying now. Something has to be done to stop the flow of illegal guns.

The governor and the leaders of the legislature have the power to call emergency sessions at any time. The sharp rise in the number of people being killed by guns in Philadelphia, and around the state, is, in my view, an emergency that warrants such a special session.

Right now, the city is on pace to have its deadliest year in more than a decade. At the end of July, at least 241 people had been killed in the City of Brotherly Love. I've seen the maps with the red dots in the city's neighborhoods. The map looks as if it was hit by a shotgun blast. The killings are concentrated in some areas, but there is no region of Philadelphia untouched by violence.

Clearly, there is a homicide emergency on our streets.

It's true that there are a lot of factors, like poverty or education, that will need to be addressed to deal with crime in the long run. But the most immediate truth is that the easy availability of handguns on city streets contributes to people getting shot. That's a no-brainier.

Gun control is also one of the few issues that affect crime and violence that can be addressed right now. The growing number of homicides is just the sort of issue that requires an emergency legislative session.

Some in the legislature argue that this is just a Philadelphia problem. This simply isn't true. Lancaster, population 60,000, has experienced a sharp increase in murders over the last few years.

The number is in the single digits, but it's a lot for a small city. York, population 40,000, has had four people killed and 50 wounded by guns. Handgun violence is a statewide emergency - and Harrisburg has to respond.

FRANKLY, IT'S troubling that I even have to make the argument that Harrisburg should do something because it's a statewide problem.

I find it outrageous that lawmakers touting the National Rifle Association line argue that the rest of the state don't have to care about its largest city. Philadelphians, mostly young, are being shot to death at an alarming rate.

We need help. And it's time to act like we're one state.

I'm not so naïve to think that gun control will solve the problem. But reasonable limits on gun purchases, such as one gun a month, could have a serious impact on the number of illegal guns available to criminals.

Gov. Rendell has promised to take up the issue when the legislature gets back into session. That's not enough. The news gets worse with every passing weekend - and we need immediate action.

A special session of the state legislature should be called to deal with the issues of crime and violence. The victims of crime, including those too scared to leave their homes, demand that lawmakers get off their butts - and do something. *

Ben Waxman is a recent graduate of Juniata College and a frequent contributor. He can be reached at benwaxman@gmail.com.

Here is a preview of my column that will appear in tomorrow's Philadelphia Daily News.

"From a soaring crime rate to troubled public schools, there are a wide variety of challenges faced by Philadelphia. To successfully confront these problems, elected officials must seek input from a wide variety of perspectives. On May 16th, voters have a chance to help young people have a formal voice in the process. Philadelphians should vote “Yes” on creating a citywide youth commission.

Sponsored by Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds-Brown and endorsed unanimously by City Council, this proposal would amend the City Charter to create a body called the Philadelphia Youth Commission. Its 21 members will be responsible for assessing the impact of public policy on young people and informing elected officials of their findings. This commission will ensure that the needs of youth people are never overlooked by lawmakers.

It is a very important ballot initiative and should be supported by the voters on primary day. Young people have a unique voice that can help find real solutions to the problems facing Philadelphia. Often times, the process is so dominated by petty politics that common sense gets thrown out the window. The Youth Commission could provide a breath of fresh air to municipal affairs. A shot of youthful energy might be exactly what Philadelphia’s government needs.

Members of the commission will be drawn from young people between the ages of 12 and 23. They will be drawn from community organizations, student government associations, and youth-focused activist groups. Each member of City Council will have one appointment to the commission and four will be appointed by the mayor. Young people can also apply directly to the commission.

Some might claim that too many young people are apathetic and therefore this commission will be useless. This is not borne out by the facts. Youth are engaged in our communities in a variety of ways. According to a study from the Center for Information and Research on Civic Engagement, the highest level of volunteerism occurs among people aged 18-25. Many high school and college students across Philadelphia are working to make the city a better place to live. Their voices should be heard by elected officials.

Another concern is that some young people are not mature enough to wield this kind of political power. I don’t necessarily agree with the premise of that argument, but it should not be a concern. The Philadelphia Youth Commission will only act in an advisory role. Members of the commission will not be able to vote on or introduce legislation. Commissioners can only see their ideas turned into legislation if a member of council sponsors the bill.

Sometimes, I think the biggest problem in Philadelphia politics is cynicism. It seems that too many politicians, pundits, and members of the public have come to believe that nothing will ever change. They believe that our city will always have a soaring murder rate, thousands of people in poverty, and crumbling schools. The Philadelphia Youth Commission could be a way to shake things up a bit and provide some new perspectives.

Perhaps, more than all the fancy reforms, Philadelphia needs to rediscover a sense of idealism and hope. We need more imagination in government. Creating a Youth Commission will make certain that lawmakers have access to a unique and important perspective. Voters should support the proposal on Election Day and vote “Yes” on creating a Philadelphia Youth Commission.

Link: Virginia Gunman Identified as a Student

Another day, another senseless tragedy involving young people. A gunman went on a rampage throughout Virgina Tech's campus yesterday and killed over thirty people. Across the country, colleges and universities are in mourning. President Bush flew back from a trip abroad to attend the memorial service.

According to New York Times, there was a two hour gap between first two shootings and the mass killing that occurred later. During that time, campus administration failed to take several key steps that could have saved the lives of students. The university discovered the dead bodies, but did not issue a campus wide alert until the second round of killings. Security personal thought the problem had been contained to one dorm.

At tragic moments like this, it's often best not to run to judgment. It's important that we not automatically point fingers. After all, the real culprit is already dead. Still, students and lawmakers should carefully look at Virgina Tech's response and evaluate it. If there were mistakes, campus officials across the country need to learn the lessons.

Link: College grads prospects improve

A new study by Monster.com found that seventy-six percent of employers are planning to hire college graduates over the summer. This is up four points from last year. However, the same survey found that employers are not planning to raise wages or benefits for new workers. In fact, companies are finding they have, on average, 70 applicants for each job.

This story confirms something that I suspected based on talking with my fellow classmates. It is really hard to find a job. Even though employers are hiring more people, positions are still scarce. It's even more distressing to learn that wages and benefits are remaining static.

The first draft of my senior thesis is due tomorrow. Blah.

Link: Evans and Knox try to knock Brady from ballot

Dwight Evans and Tom Knox have jointly filed a challenge to Bob Brady's ballot petitions. They charge that the longtime party chairman failed to disclose a portion of his income on the disclosure form. The challenge appears to have a lot of potential for success, throwing the entire mayor's race in flux.

It's certainly ironic that one of Philadelphia's biggest power brokers is poised to get knocked out by a technicality. Still, Bob Brady should stay on the ballot. He should be judged by the voters.

Here is a little conspiracy theory: Bob Brady wants to be kicked off the ballot. He's looked at the polling and decided that he can't win. A loss would seriously damage his ability to remain chairman of the party. After all, if ward leaders like one thing, they like a winner. This allows him to leave gracefully.

There is something happening this year in Philadelphia politics. There are a ton of good people running for city council. There are some incumbents offering new ideas—Jim Kenney’s proposal for a citywide 311 system comes to mind—but the real story this year is the challengers.

We’re really seeing the future of Philadelphia politics unfold. A lot of the challengers might not win this time around, but I have no doubt that people like Halie Johnston, Matt Ruben, and Maria Quinones Sanchez will play a major role in the future of Philadelphia. It would be impossible to write about everyone, but here is my take on a couple of key races.

There are several in particular that I think are exciting. I will write why below. As you read, keep in mind that I don’t actually live in Philadelphia—I’m a student at Juniata College in Huntingdon, PA. I try to follow Philly politics closely, but I mostly rely on the telephone and e-mail to know what’s going on. Take everything I say with a grain of salt.

At-Large: There are a number of great at-large candidates, but I think Marc Stier offers a unique opportunity to build progressive power. As dozens of candidates try to court our votes, let’s remember that Marc has been there from the beginning. Marc has been a leader in local campaigns for both social justice and reform. He not only talks the talk, he walks the walk. If elected to council, Marc will undoubtedly be a dynamic force for change.

1st District: I have known Vern Anastasio for about three years—actually longer than I’ve been contributing to Young Philly Politics. We first met when I was working at AFSCME DC 47. Vern impressed me then with his energy and enthusiasm. Everyone knows that I am big geek for public policy and Vern is the kind of person that appeals to me. If elected, he won’t be afraid to roll up his sleeves and make stuff happen.

2nd District: Damon Roberts is on the cutting edge of Philadelphia politics. His campaign is talking about crime and poverty in a way that really drives home the problems with economic disparity in our city. Damon is a powerful voice for those often left behind by politics. Not to mention, Alex UA is running the campaign—so we’re bound to see some innovative campaign techniques that will benefit all progressive in the long run. Look for this race to be the surprise of the cycle.

7th District: Vote for Maria! Maria Quiñones Sanchez is has been around for a while, but she is still a breath of fresh air. She has a strong record of accomplishment and will bring great leadership to city council. She’s got great political instincts and is a tireless campaigner. Her combination of experience in both government and the private sector will make her a great addition to city council.

8th District: Irv Ackelsberg has something that few challengers have: a record. Irv has spent the last 30 years fighting for working Philadelphians. If elected to council, he’ll scare the hell out of every corrupt scam artist (like Tom Knox) who tries to make money ripping off poor people. There are a couple of good candidates running against Donna Reed Miller (Cindy Bass, Greg Paulmier), but Irv is the one who will fight the hardest for Philadelphia. Go Irv!

Those are my picks. As I said, there are a ton of great people running this cycle. It would be impossible to mention them all. These are just the races that I think are particularly exciting, well-organized, and competitive.

(Disclaimer: I am currently working as a consultant for Marc Stier’s campaign)