Dear Neighbors,

Last year when SEPTA 🚍 faced an immediate funding crisis, my colleagues and I showed up. We rallied, met with advocates, raised the alarm — and voted not once, not twice, but three times to fully fund SEPTA. After our effort, Gov. Josh Shapiro stepped in to flex federal dollars and temporarily avoid the “death spiral” SEPTA was heading toward.

Image: Speaking last session about increasing SEPTA funding in the state Capitol’s East Wing rotunda.

But now, we’re out of options for temporary fixes—and the consequences are real. SEPTA faces a $213 million deficit. Without sustainable funding, we could see:

45% service cuts.
9 PM regional rail curfews.
50 bus routes and 5 rail lines eliminated including the Chestnut Hill West.
Fare hikes that hit working families hardest.

These cuts would be devastating—especially for students, workers, seniors, and people with disabilities who rely on paratransit, with 40,000 rides at risk. I recently spoke with disabled residents who fear being completely cut off if these cuts go through.

The good news? This is avoidable. PA House Democrats passed full SEPTA funding three times last session. The Senate never brought it to a vote.

As a member of the Appropriations Committee, I’m proud to support Gov. Shapiro’s budget—it fully funds SEPTA without raising taxes. It’s smart, fair, and necessary.

Public transit is not a luxury—it’s a lifeline. Letting SEPTA collapse would be economic and moral malpractice. Senate Republicans must act. Until then, we’ll keep pushing: SEPTA needs this funding, and Pennsylvania needs SEPTA.

Click the image below to hear more from our press conference in front of Philadelphia's City Hall.

Image: Photo of me and constituents rallying at City Hall

Community Forum with a Member of Congress

Congressman Dwight Evans I will be hosting a community forum on Wednesday April 23 at the Schuylkill Center in Roxborough from 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Note the date change.

Community Forum with a Member of Congress

Congressman Dwight Evans I will be hosting a community forum on Wednesday April 23 at the Schuylkill Center in Roxborough from 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Note the date change.

Image: My mom and me with Congressman Evans

If you can join us, please rsvp at reptarik@pahouse.net. Here are more details:

Wednesday April 23 from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.

📍 Schuylkill Environmental Center Auditorium

8480 Hagys Mill Road, Philadelphia, PA 19128

5:30 P.M. – Doors Open, State & Federal Service Assistance
6 P.M. – Program Begins
6:20 – 7:30 P.M. – Audience Q&A

Rallying for home health care workers

The cost of living is skyrocketing, and the people who care for our loved ones—our home care workers—are being left behind. These essential workers help seniors and people with disabilities live safely and with dignity in their homes, yet many of them struggle to support their own families on poverty wages.

The home care workforce is in crisis: underpaid, understaffed, and overworked. In Pennsylvania, over 213,000 home health aides—many of whom are working full-time—live below the poverty line. The median wage? Just $13 an hour. As our population ages and more Pennsylvanians need care, the workforce simply can’t keep up. Today, there’s just one worker for every six people who need care in our state.

As a nurse, I know how vital these workers are—not just to families, but to our entire health care system. I was proud to stand alongside home care workers and my colleague, state Rep. Maureen Madden, to call for higher wages and real accountability from employers. It’s past time we ensure these critical workers are paid a living wage. Investing in the home care workforce isn’t just the right thing to do—it’s a smart policy that strengthens our communities and keeps Pennsylvanians safe and healthy in their homes.

Image: Screenshot from video of home care worker rally in Harrisburg

Thank you, 911 Workers

Last week, my colleagues and I had the honor of standing with AFSCME and SEIU 668 members to express our gratitude and appreciation in celebration of National Public Safety Telecommunicator Week. I’m deeply grateful for the dedication and hard work of our public safety telecommunicators—the first, calm voice people hear in moments of crisis. These professionals are the critical link between those in need and emergency responders, providing life-saving guidance, comfort, and coordination under extreme pressure.

As a nurse, I know how vital clear communication and quick decision-making are in high-stress situations. Public safety telecommunicators demonstrate those skills every day, often without recognition. That’s why I was proud to join state Rep. Roni Green in introducing a resolution to honor these frontline heroes during National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week.

To any 911 operators reading this email – your service matters, and we’re committed to ensuring you receive the support, recognition, and resources you deserve. You are true heroes, and we are thankful for all you do.

Click on the image below to hear me talk with a few of the 911 dispatchers who serve our neighborhood.

Community Forum with a Member of Congress

Rallying for home health care workers

Thank you, 911 Workers

Concerns About Washington?

Philly Schools Summer Programs Now Available

🗑️ Shredder Day