More Endorsements for Toy

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CONTACT: Marilyn Kai Jewett                        FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

                      215/379-1163 or 215/253-9738

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NEWS RELEASE

TOY CONTINUES TO GAIN SUPPORT

PHILADELPHIA, April 16, 2007 -- Andrew Toy, candidate for City Council at-Large is steadily gaining support throughout the city.  Toy was recently endorsed by Philly for Change, Minority Political Action Committee (MPAC), Liberty City Democrats and the Ninth Ward.  Governor Ed Rendell also has good things to say about Toy.

"Andy was an important member of my team for the eight years that I was mayor of
Philadelphia, said Rendell. “His work ethic, integrity and ability to get things done
served all Philadelphians well".

Philly for Change is a progressive grassroots organization affiliated with the national PAC, Democracy for America.  They work to elect socially progressive and fiscally responsible candidates to all levels of office.  They also work on progressive issues at the local, state and national level.  Their primary focus currently is to elect a more progressive City Council in Philadelphia.   

Minority Political Action Committee (MPAC) is a statewide, bipartisan, political action committee founded by a diverse group of people of color and women. “First, Andy offers a high level of diversity to City Council no other candidate is offering,” said Fareeda Mabry, chair of MPAC.  “Secondly, he genuinely cares about Philadelphia and increasing the quality of life for Philadelphians, focusing on reform and ethics, progressive hot topics.” 

“Lastly, and certainly not least, Andy is not part of the machine or the status quo. He breathes a fresh breath of air into our dying community. We need innovation instead of those same old stale politics, thus stagnation.  Philadelphia needs complete revitalization and not just in our neighborhoods, within our city government as well. There needs to be representation for all people, not just cronies. There needs to be a sense of equity within our city government and Andy Toy brings that.”

MPAC’s mission is to empower people of color and women by expanding their sphere of political influence, linking them with leaders, organizations and the institutions that shape policies that will affect their future. 

Toy is one of several candidates endorsed by the groups. Additionally, he was previously endorsed by Neighborhood Networks and Asian Pacific Americans for Progress.

Andrew Toy, board chair of the Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation, has over 20 years of expertise in economic and new business development with the City Commerce Department, City Planning Commission and Amtrak.  As head of the Commerce Department’s Special Projects, Toy developed an award winning Brownfields program to clean and redevelop contaminated sites in the city and was successful in identifying and attracting $2.5 million in state and federal funding to implement the program.   He recently worked at Local Initiatives Support Corporation where he created the Neighborhood Commercial Corridor Redevelopment Initiative in nine commercial corridors throughout the city.  Toy accessed over $2.5 million in funding for the program. 

A third generation Chinese American, he is the first of his ethnic group to run a serious campaign for City Council.  Toy also is board chair of Free Schuylkill River Park, a member of the Governor’s Commission on Asian American Affairs and the Neighborhood Tourism Network among other organizations.