Councilwoman Cindy Bass is a tireless fighter for quality of life issues affecting Philadelphians.   Since taking office in 2012, she has fought against blight and trash in our neighborhoods, worked to organize schools and community leadership to stay connected to neighbors, and has identified and spoken out on the issues that people care about.  Councilwoman Bass is honored to take on these challenges on behalf of her constituents and all Philadelphians. 

Councilwoman Bass has a reputation for coalition building, community engagement and rolling up her sleeves to get the job done without fanfare.  She has advocated to keep schools open on behalf of parents in underserved communities, and is making sure that the changes to our city’s tax structure doesn’t tax people out of their homes, particularly in gentrifying neighborhoods.  She also recognizes the power of an organized community and local participation to make neighborhoods destinations of choice.  Bass’ philosophy of building and strengthening partnerships as a way to accomplish community-driven goals embodies her approach to development and government’s role in neighborhood improvement.   

Currently in her second term, Councilwoman Bass is known for her accessibility and numerous outreach events, designed to empower, engage and inform her constituents throughout the 8^th District.  Her work as the Chair of City Council’s Committee on Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs has led to the unprecedented transformation of recreation centers and playgrounds.  Through her initiative which was supported by all of her colleagues, cameras and anti-loitering devices are being installed in every location in Philadelphia, keeping our children safe. She has advocated for public playgrounds to include play equipment for children with developmental delays as well as assuring fitness equipment for older adults, ensuring that all centers are both intergenerational and welcoming.

Councilwoman Bass has sponsored groundbreaking legislation and initiatives on other fronts, including (1) requiring the City of Philadelphia to offer a tax credit to businesses that are harmed by significant infrastructure improvement projects, (2) recently introducing a bill to address nuisance businesses which she believes tear down neighborhoods and in some cases are predatory in nature, and (3) calling for an investigation into the lack of minority participation in the city’s building trades, by determining if the city should develop a local Mentor-Protégé Program, and others.

And as the new Chair of the Council Committee on Health and Human Services, Bass is planning an aggressive and comprehensive agenda to promote public health.  Recognizing the disconnect between the number of individuals without quality healthcare in Philadelphia, a city with a reputation as one of the largest and best healthcare networks in the world, Bass knows that more can and must be done. 

Councilwoman Bass has experience working in the United States Congress and Pennsylvania State Senate.  She has also worked on numerous campaigns, supporting progressive candidates from Presidents to local committee people.  She has served as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2012, and has been a member of Democratic State Committee for more than 12 years.  She has also been a local Democratic Committeewoman in the 22^nd Ward since 1998.

 

Beyond her political background, Bass has had extensive experience in the areas of economic development, banking, housing and civic engagement.  Councilwoman Bass is a life-long Philadelphian, having grown up in North Philadelphia, public school graduate, and recipient of a Bachelor’s degree from Temple University.  She has resided in East Mount Airy for the past twenty-five years and is the proud mother of her eight year-old daughter.