President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris listen as Garnell Whitfield Jr., who lost his mother Ruth Whitfield in the Buffalo mass shooting, speaks during an event Monday outside the White House celebrating the passage of the “Bipartisan Safer Communities Act.” — AP Photo/Evan Vucci
Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown, center, listens as President Joe Biden speaks during an event to celebrate the passage of the “Bipartisan Safer Communities Act,” a law meant to reduce gun violence, on Monday. — AP Photo/Evan Vucci
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden welcomed a crowd to the White House lawn Monday to showcase a new law meant to reduce gun violence, celebrating “real progress” after years of inaction. But he also lamented the country remains “awash in weapons of war” — with the 16-day-old law already overshadowed by yet another horrific mass shooting.
The bill, passed after recent gun rampages in Buffalo, New York, and Uvalde, Texas, incrementally toughens requirements for young people buying guns, denies firearms to more domestic abusers and helps local authorities temporarily take weapons from people judged to be dangerous.
But the “celebration” Monday morning came a week after a gunman in Highland Park, Illinois, killed seven people at an Independence Day parade, a stark reminder of the limitations of the new law in addressing the American phenomenon of mass gun violence. And it comes as Democratic governors have taken up the mantle of offering outrage in the face of gun violence.
Biden hosted hundreds of guests on the South Lawn, including a bipartisan group of lawmakers who crafted and supported the legislation, state and local officials — including Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering — and the families of victims of both mass shootings and everyday gun violence.
“Because of your work, your advocacy, your courage, lives will be saved today and tomorrow because of this,” Biden said.
“We will not save every life from the epidemic of gun violence,” he added, “But if this law had been in place years ago, even this last year, lives would have been saved.”
Still, Biden said, “we’re living in a country awash in weapons of war.” He repeated his call on Congress to pass a federal ban on assault weapons and high capacity ammunition magazines — or at minimum to require more stringent background checks and training before purchases.
He also said Congress should pass legislation to hold gun owners legally accountable if their weapons are improperly stored and are used to commit violence. He noted that he owns four shotguns and said he keeps them secured at his home.
“We can’t just stand by,” Biden said. “With rights come responsibilities. If you own a weapon, you have a responsibility to secure it and keep it under lock and key.”
Biden on Saturday invited Americans to share with him via text — a new White House communications strategy — their stories of how they’ve been affected by gun violence, tweeting that “I’m hosting a celebration of the passage of the Safer Communities Act.” He told some of their stories on Monday — of people traumatized by shootings and kids left orphaned.
The new law is the the most impactful firearms-violence measure Congress has approved since enacting a now-expired assault weapons ban in 1993. Yet gun control advocates — and even White House officials — say it’s premature to declare victory.
“There’s simply not much to celebrate here,” said Igor Volsky, director of the private group Guns Down America.
“It’s historic, but it’s also the very bare minimum of what Congress should do,” Volsky said. “And as we were reminded by the shooting on July 4, and there’s so many other gun deaths that have occurred since then, the crisis of gun violence is just far more urgent.”
Volsky’s group, along with other advocacy groups, was holding a news conference on Monday outside the White House calling on Biden to create an office at the White House to address gun violence with a greater sense of urgency.
Biden has left gun control policy to his Domestic Policy Council, rather than establishing a dedicated office like the one he opened to address climate change or the gender policy council he started to promote reproductive health access.
“We have a president who really hasn’t met the moment, who has chosen to act as a bystander on this issue,” Volsky said. “For some reason the administration absolutely refuses to have a senior official who can drive this issue across government.”
During his remarks Monday, Biden was heckled by Manuel Oliver, whose son Joaquin was killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. Biden briefly paused his speech and asked Oliver, who was shouting, to sit down, before adding “Let him talk, let him talk,” as he was escorted out of the event.
The president signed the bipartisan gun bill into law on June 25, calling it “a historic achievement” at the time.
On Monday, Biden said the law’s passage should be a call for further action.
“Will we match thoughts and prayers with action?” Biden asked. “I say yes. And that’s what we’re doing here today.”
On Friday, Biden responded to the assassination of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe by taking note of how the shooting had shocked people in Japan. The country has a strikingly low incidence of gun violence compared to the U.S., which has experienced thousands of gun deaths already this year.
Most of the new law’s $13 billion in spending would be used for bolstering mental health programs and for schools, which have been targeted by shooters in Newtown, Connecticut, and Parkland. The law was the product of weeks of closed-door negotiations by a bipartisan group of senators who emerged with a compromise.
It does not include far tougher restrictions that Democrats and Biden have long championed, such as a ban on assault-type weapons and background checks for all gun transactions. Prospects are slim for any further congressional action this year.
PlayStreets’ play captains facilitate a game of hopscotch Monday on Otter Street in West Philadelphia.
— WHYY Photo/Kimberly Paynter
“Shout out, get out, hide out.”
It’s the active shooter equivalent of “stop, drop and roll,” and it’s a crucial piece of knowledge for the crew of teenagers running Philadelphia’s “PlayStreets” program this summer. They started work this Monday, hoping to create a safe and educational environment despite the city’s ongoing gun violence crisis and a Fourth of July weekend disrupted by gunfire.
The city’s Parks and Recreation Department and nonprofit Fab Youth Philly are employing 45 “play captains” this summer to post up on designated streets four days a week, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The streets are closed to traffic so that staff can run educational and physical fitness programs as well as meal distribution. It’s an effort to prevent “summer slide,” or the loss of academic gains during the school break that can worsen the racial and economic achievement gap.
But providing the service now requires a full set of safety plans in the event of gunshots, said Kevin Veltri, manager of operations for Fab Youth Philly.
“Everybody is trained to get out of that area,” he said. “Everybody will get together, check in, make sure they have everybody, and then the check out is essentially making sure everybody has a safe plan to get back home.”
Program staff are in regular contact with the Philadelphia Police Department about potentially dangerous activity near PlayStreets, he said, and certain streets have been retired from the program because they weren’t easily accessible in emergencies. Veltri has talked to businesses in the areas around PlayStreets to make sure staff and participants have a place to duck into if violence erupts.
Noelia Bedoya, 16, said she had second thoughts about taking the job because of the frequency of shootings in Philadelphia. She said she feels better after being trained, but she’s still a little nervous about being in charge during a dangerous situation.
“I’ll be prepared, but I’m just not sure,” she said.
In 2020, there were eight shooting incidents on or near PlayStreets with 13 people shot and five fatalities, according to news reports. Still, Parks and Rec officials have been encouraging parents to bring their children out to city-funded programs. The idea is that busy, active streets are a deterrent for crime. Some researchers refer to this as “busy streets theory,” and argue that creating a sense of empowerment and connection in a community reduces the likelihood that people will perpetrate violence.
Some Philadelphia parents are worried about sending their children out into neighborhoods this summer, and some groups have canceled big public activities such as block parties.
But the play captains say they aren’t giving up. On Monday, they loaded jump ropes, multi-colored parachutes, activity books, and sidewalk chalk into wheeled carts, and headed out to the streets for the day.
Ameerah Chennault, 15, read out the mission statement to the group. She said being a leader in the program makes her feel empowered.
“Being here, they really treat us like we matter in the world, and want to make sure we’ve got input on everything,” she said.
And she thinks that employing people her age in programs like this one could help them avoid getting involved in gun violence. Studies of summer youth employment programs in other cities have shown that they reduce criminal activity among teens.
“Teenagers these days, they really are getting into dangerous stuff,” she said. “So them taking us in, it’s helping us get a better future.”
This summer a few PlayStreet sites in Kensington are extending play hours to 7 p.m. by taking children to a nearby park for the end of the day.
The city’s reassessment of property is expected to result in higher rents, experts say. — Tribune Photo/Stephen Williams
APM recently broke ground on affordable apartments for seniors on Berks Street. — Tribune Photo/Abdul R. Sulayman
Like everything else, rents in Philadelphia are rising and could go higher with the average 31% property tax increase coming next year.
“Typically, in our previous research looking at property tax increases, the evidence shows that the landlords pass it on to the tenants,” said Michael Shields, director of research for the Economy League of Greater Philadelphia.
Average rents in the city were $1,659 in April, an 8.5% increase from the same month in 2021, according to a report from the Economy League. The group crunches numbers based on estimates by Zillow, which tracks rental and home prices nationwide.
About 48% of Philadelphia households are considered to be “rent burdened,” that is, spending more than 30% of their income on rent, according to the league’s report. That number has been consistent since 2006.
By contrast, the national average of households who are considered “rent burdened’ has been going down since 2011, and is currently about 30%.
The percentage of rent burdened city residents could go even higher with the expected rental hike, experts said.
“The drum that we’ve been beating for a long time is that our region and especially the city have seen stagnant wage growth for decades,” said Shields, of the Economy League. “The fact that the cost of living keeps rising but people’s incomes are not matching the cost of living, we are setting ourselves up for major issues down the road.”
Typically, landlords raise rents to keep up with inflation. The 8.5% hike in April is in pace with inflation right now, landlords say.
Paul L. Badger, Jr., president and CEO of the Badger Group, LLC, which has rental properties throughout the city, said he has not yet calculated how the reassessment will affect any rental increase.
“Many landlords are anticipating the need to increase rents in order to stay afloat,” Badger said. “A major contributing factor is the tax reassessment, but also compounding the issue are increased maintenance, labor and material costs.”
Some property owners with adjustable mortgages are facing rising interest rates, he said.
Another landlord with properties in north and west Philadelphia, who didn’t want to be identified, said he expects to raise rents by 4% instead of the usual 2%, because of the reassessment. But that will not keep up with inflation and doing so might hurt his chances of keeping and attracting tenants.
Barry Williams, 61, who is employed in city government, has been renting an apartment in the Mount Airy section of Philadelphia for the past several years.
“It shouldn’t go up significantly in one jump,” Williams said. “After a while, you get priced out. Some people can’t afford it.”
Affordable housing units are likely most at risk due to already slim profit margins and lost income as a result of the pandemic, Badger said.
Shields of the Economy League agreed.
“There is a lot of good housing stock in the city,” Shields said. “But the prices are astronomical right now. We are not really building much low- to middle-income housing. It’s all in the luxury high-end market because that’s where the most profit is to be made.”
Rental assistance is available for those who qualify
Anticipating the probability of rental hikes on people still financially hurting from the pandemic, City Councilperson Kenyatta Johnson got Council to increase the amount of rental assistance for vulnerable residents to $15 million and added another $1 million to the city’s recently passed budget for people who might be illegally evicted.
But the city is still working on the details on how the money will be allocated.
Property tax relief is available for those who qualify
The state Department of Revenue has extended the deadline to apply for state’s Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program from June 30 to Dec. 31.
State Treasurer Stacy Garrity is urging state residents who are eligible to apply for the program.
“The Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program may be more important this year than ever before,” Garrity said. “Far too many Pennsylvanians are struggling to make ends meet, especially in the current economic climate with inflation rates higher that they’ve been in 40 years. Extending the deadline will give more people time to apply and receive their rebates.”
To be eligible for the program, you must be 65 or older, or a widow or widower age 50 or older. In addition, people with disabilities who are 18 or older are eligible. The maximum rebate is $650. Some homeowners might qualify for supplemental rebate.
According the Department of Revenue, about 400,000 Pennsylvanians benefit from the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program each year, receiving a total of $250 million.
The treasurer’s office began processing the payments on June 30 and direct deposits began on July 1.
Find out if you’re eligible and how you can apply for the program by calling your state representative or state senator or visiting www.revenue.pa.gov. Submit an application at www.mypath.pa.gov.
After members of the far-right Oath Keepers extremist group stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, their leader called someone on the phone with an urgent message for then-President Donald Trump, another extremist told investigators.
While gathered in a private suite at the Phoenix Park Hotel, an Oath Keeper member says he heard their leader, Stewart Rhodes, repeatedly urge the person on the phone to tell Trump to call upon militia groups to fight to keep the president in power.
“I just want to fight,” Rhodes said after hanging up with the person, who denied Rhodes’ appeal to speak directly to the Republican president, court records say.
Federal prosecutors have not said who they believe Rhodes was speaking to on that call, which was detailed in court documents in the case of an Oath Keeper member who has pleaded guilty in the riot. An attorney for Rhodes says the call never happened.
The story, however, has raised questions about whether the extremist group boss may have had the ear of someone close to Trump on Jan. 6 — an issue that could take center stage when the House committee that’s investigating the insurrection holds its next public hearing on Tuesday.
The Jan. 6 committee has said it is looking closely at any ties between people in Trump’s orbit and extremist groups accused of helping put into motion the violence at the Capitol.
Top leaders and members of the Oath Keepers and another far-right group, the Proud Boys, have been charged with seditious conspiracy in the most serious cases the Justice Department has brought so far in the Jan. 6 attack.
Neither federal prosecutors nor House investigators have alleged that anyone in the Trump White House was in communication with extremist groups in the run-up to Jan. 6.
But at least two men close to Trump — longtime friend Roger Stone and his former national security adviser Michael Flynn — have known contacts with far-right groups and extremists who, in some cases, are alleged to have been involved in Jan. 6.
Cassidy Hutchinson, a former aide to Trump White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, also told the House committee that she heard the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers mentioned leading up to the “Stop the Steal” rally in Washington on Jan. 6. But no further details about that have been revealed.
Cassie Miller, a Southern Poverty Law Center senior research analyst who has provided the committee with information about extremists, said she expects lawmakers to build on that testimony and possibly reveal more information about connections between people close to Trump and groups like the Oath Keepers and Proud Boys.
“Right now, things are very blurry,” Miller said.
During the committee’s last televised hearing, Hutchinson told lawmakers that Trump instructed Meadows to speak with Stone and Flynn the day before the riot. Hutchinson said Meadows called both Flynn and Stone on the evening of Jan. 5, but she said she didn’t know what they spoke about.
In posts on the social media platform Telegram after the hearing, Stone denied ever speaking to Meadows on the phone. When asked by The Associated Press for comment about the call, Flynn’s brother replied in an email that the Jan. 6 hearing “is a clown show.”
Neither Stone nor Flynn has been charged in connection to the Capitol riot, and both of them have invoked their Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination before the House committee. Trump pardoned each of them after they were convicted by jurors or pleaded guilty in cases unrelated to Jan. 6.
During events in Washington before the riot, Stone used members of the Oath Keepers — a far-right militia group that recruits current and former military, first responders and law enforcement — as security guards.
Photos and video on Jan. 5 and 6 show Stone flanked by people dressed in Oath Keepers gear. Among them was Joshua James, then the leader of the group’s Alabama chapter, who has pleaded guilty to seditious conspiracy and is cooperating with authorities investigating the insurrection.
Stone, an informal Trump adviser, has denied having any knowledge of or involvement in anything illegal on Jan. 6.
“The Oath Keepers provided security for me on the voluntary basis on January 5. Nothing more nothing less,” he wrote recently on Telegram.
On Friday, attorneys for Rhodes told the committee that their client wants to testify in person and publicly. A spokesperson for the committee declined to comment, but it’s unlikely lawmakers would agree to Rhodes’ conditions.
The committee already interviewed Rhodes for hours behind closed doors, but he invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination under the direction of his attorneys when asked about the post-election period, one of his lawyers, James Lee Bright, told the AP. Bright said Rhodes now wants to “confront the narrative they are portraying,” which he believes is “completely wrong.”
Rhodes, a former U.S. Army paratrooper, and four co-defendants are scheduled for trial in Washington in September. The Oath Keepers have largely avoided public forums since Jan. 6, and it’s unclear who is handling the “day to day” operations of the group with Rhodes behind bars, said Oren Segal, vice president of the Anti-Defamation League’s Center on Extremism.
The Oath Keepers have denied there was any plan to storm the Capitol. They say their communications and planning leading up to Jan. 6 was only about providing security for right-wing figures like Stone before the riot as well as protecting themselves against possible attacks from antifa activists.
Stone has also not been shy about a close association with Enrique Tarrio, the former Proud Boys chairman who is scheduled to stand trial in December on sedition charges alongside other members of the extremist group that refers to itself as a politically incorrect men’s club for “Western chauvinists.”
In February 2019 — one month after being charged with witness tampering and other crimes in special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation — Stone was summoned back to court to answer for a post on his Instagram account featuring a photo of the judge with what appeared to be the crosshairs of a gun. On the witness stand, Stone publicly identified Tarrio as one of five or six “volunteers” who provided him with images and content to post on social media. Stone said his house functioned as a headquarters for his volunteers.
Trump commuted Stone’s 40-month prison sentence in that case days before he was due to report to prison and pardoned him months later.
The Proud Boys have been trying to forge connections with mainstream Republican figures since Vice Media co-founder Gavin McInnes started the group in 2016, Miller said.
A Proud Boys member told the Jan. 6 committee that membership in the group skyrocketed after Trump refused to outright condemn the group during his first debate with Biden. Instead, Trump told the Proud Boys to “stand back and stand by.”
And while extremist groups tend to collapse after law-enforcement authorities jail their top leaders, that hasn’t seemed to have happened to the Proud Boys. Despite a brief lull in activity after the riot, 2021 became one of the most active years for the extremist group, according to Miller.
Flynn also had contact with some far-right groups before Jan. 6. In the weeks after the election, Flynn became a leading figure in the campaign to sow doubt about the results and urge Trump to take extraordinary measures to stay in power.
Flynn called Trump’s loss a “coup in progress,” and publicly suggested Trump should seize voting machines and floated the idea of martial law. He and several allies ultimately brought those ideas directly to Trump in an Oval Office meeting that December. Flynn was also a featured speaker at a large rally in Washington on Dec. 12, 2020, backing Trump’s desperate efforts to subvert his election loss.
In text messages later filed in court, Rhodes — the Oath Keepers leader — and other members discussed how members of the group had worked with another far-right group, 1st Amendment Praetorians, or 1AP, to provide personal security to Flynn that day. A photograph taken by UPI shows Flynn leaving the rally with Rhodes and at least one member of 1AP.
The House committee has subpoenaed 1AP Founder Robert Patrick Lewis, noting in a letter to Lewis that he claimed to coordinate regularly with Flynn and also claimed to be in contact with Rhodes prior to Jan. 6.
Lewis, who has not been charged in Jan. 6, has said the group was made up of military and law enforcement veterans, and provided pro bono security and intelligence in the months after the election. In a recent defamation lawsuit, Lewis and another member of 1AP, Philip Luelsdorff, have denied involvement with the planning or execution of the Capitol attack, and said that 1AP has never been a militia or paramilitary group.
Flynn pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI during the Russia investigation before being pardoned by Trump a little more than a month before the Capitol riot.
