Harrisburg Lawmakers Welcome the PAA

Delegates from the Western, Central and Greater Philadelphia Apartment Associations, which comprise the Pennsylvania Apartment Association, met in Harrisburg in March, 2009 for our second annual PAA Harrisburg Capitol Conference. Dedicated industry leaders met with Senate Urban Affairs Chairman Gene Yaw (R, Bradford) and nine other Representatives and Senators from around the Commonwealth. They updated the legislators on issues including the need to revise the Landlord and Tenant Act and evictions proceedings, and current bills covering carbon monoxide detectors, fire extinguishers, access to apartments in the event of a resident’s illness, monitored security systems and the vital role the apartment industry plays in Pennsylvania.

Attendees included Andrew Kaehler from Central PA, Craig Davis, Janice Jones and Caroline West from WPAA, and Steve Altman, Paul Cohen, Mike and Kathy Woodward and Bob Gilberg from Greater Philadelphia. The conference opened with an informal dinner at Bricco, one of Harrisburg’s popular places to gather. AAGP staff Pam Bennett, Christine Young Gertz and the Association’s lobbyist Kim Sokoloski hosted the evening. Breakfast and an issues briefing followed at Kim’s offices the next morning, after which everyone received their legislator appointment assignments. Lunch “on the Hill” with State Representative Rick Mirabito (D, Lycoming), who is a rental owner, capped the day at the Capitol and provided a chance to talk about the morning’s meetings.

Politics is first and last about relationships. Legislators have to be able to “relate” to those affected by an issue before they can support or oppose it. They must stay in touch with constituents and those who share their own political philosophies. If they are neutral about something, they want to hear arguments from both sides. If they adhere to a rigid viewpoint, they will want to advance it and will promote laws consistent with it. They want and need to meet us and talk things over. The time our members spend in Harrisburg is priceless to our industry.