Photo by West Philly Local

Newly elected City Councilwoman Jamie Gauthier says one of her top priorities when she takes office in January is addressing the development “frenzy” in West Philadelphia by pressing for more affordable housing.

“I think we should look at zoning with an eye toward equitability and affordability,” she told the Spruce Hill Community Association during its annual meeting at the Penn Alexander School on Tuesday.

Gauthier, who grew up in Kingsessing, will represent a district that has some of the most expensive real estate and the deepest poverty in Philadelphia. Development and issues related to zoning have become flashpoints in recent years.  Continue Reading

                             Jamie Gauthier

The Spruce Hill Community Association (SHCA) will hold its annual meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 12, at 7:30 p.m. in the Penn Alexander School auditorium (enter through cafeteria/blacktop entrance on 43rd street between Locust and Spruce).

Officers and board members get elected at this meeting and special guests talk about important community issues. The event is free and all community members are invited to attend to learn more about the organization and get involved (check out the Spruce Hill boundaries map below).  Continue Reading

Jamie Gauthier

Political newcomer Jamie Gauthier pulled off the biggest upset in Tuesday’s primary election, handily defeating longtime incumbent Jannie Blackwell in the City Council 3rd District race. The win appears to end the 45-year reign of the Blackwell family in the district, which has undergone massive demographic changes in recent years.

Gauthier garnered about 56 percent of the approximately 25,000 votes cast and with no Republican candidate in Tuesday’s primary, the win almost assures her victory in the November general election.  Continue Reading

City Council candidate for the 3rd District, Jamie Gauthier, is hosting two last meet-and-greets this week before the May 21 primary election. Both of these meet-and-greets will take place at her campaign headquarters at 5121 Baltimore Ave.:

Wednesday, May 15
Time: 6pm-8pm

Thursday, May 16
Time: 6pm-8pm

All interested individuals are invited to meet Ms. Gauthier and ask questions. Free dinner will be served at both events.

Jamie Gauthier is running against long-term incumbent Jannie Blackwell in the primary election.

Jamie Gauthier

City Council candidate for the 3rd District, Jamie Gauthier, will have meet-and-greets this week with two West Philly wards.

On Tuesday, April 23, Gauthier will meet with the 51st Ward at her campaign headquarters at 5121 Baltimore Avenue, from 6 to 8 p.m. She will have another at the same location and same time on Thursday, April 25 with the 46th Ward.

All interested individuals are invited to meet the candidate and ask questions. Free dinner will be served at both events.

The map with Philadelphia political ward boundaries is available here.

Jamie Gauthier is running against long-term incumbent Jannie Blackwell in the May 21 primary election.

             

Jamie Gauthier, a Garden Court resident and the former head of the Fairmount Park Conservancy, has announced that she will mount a primary campaign against Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell, whose family has controlled the 3rd District seat since the 1970s.

Gauthier is a former president of the Garden Court Community Association, was born in the district and returned as an adult to get a master’s degree at Penn and raise her children here. She served as executive director of the Fairmount Park Conservancy from October 2017 until yesterday when she stepped down to announce her candidacy. She previously served as head of the Sustainable Business Network, a non-profit started in West Philly that helps small businesses balance profitability with social and environmental responsibility. Gauthier has a master’s degree in city planning from Penn.  Continue Reading