Pancakes and Politics brings election candidates to Pamela’s

The line outside of Pamela’s Diner extended to the corner of Forbes Avenue and Atwood… The line outside of Pamela’s Diner extended to the corner of Forbes Avenue and Atwood Street last night as students eagerly waited for the restaurant to re-open for a night of politics and free pancakes.

The Graduate and Professional Student Assembly collaborated with the Student Government Board to bring three local election candidates to Pamela’s. The event began at 7 p.m. and had a dual purpose, organizers said.

“We want to inform students so they can make thoughtful decisions in the upcoming primary,” GPSA President Daniel Jimenez said. “We want students to interact with politicians in a more open fashion, to lower the boundaries so they won’t be afraid to interact with politicians in the future.”

The candidates, Democrats running to represent the 19th Legislative District in the state House of Representatives, included former City Council member Tonya Payne, Pittsburgh Public Schools District 8 board representative Mark Brentley Sr. and Rep. Jake Wheatley, who currently serves in the position.

Pitt senior Austin Davis patiently waited next to the already-empty tray of pancakes before the discussion began. Davis knows candidate Wheatley personally, he said, having worked with him as an intern for the House Democratic Caucus. He added that he was there to support Wheatley and hear what the other two had to say.

“The free food was an extra enticement for the students to come down,” Davis said as he piled scrambled eggs on his plate.

The buffet of free breakfast food lined the right side of Pamela’s wall. Students sat on the restaurant’s left side while the candidates spoke at a microphone positioned on the far end of the line of tables.

Before Tonya Payne spoke, she expressed how impressed she was by the event.

“This is beautiful,” she said, sipping a cup of coffee. “If only we could get more young people to come out like this to talk about political platforms.”

Payne spoke first, saying she collaborated with Pittburgh students to kill Mayor Luke Revenstahl’s “Fair Share Tax” last year. Most of the credit goes to the students, she said, expressing interest in continuing such collaboration if she were elected.

Other issues Payne detailed included transportation policies, legislation to make kindergarten mandatory in the 19th district and how her honesty makes her the best candidate.

“I may not always tell you what you want to hear, but I’ll tell you the truth,” Payne said. “That’s what I want from you.”

Students asked questions after each speaker finished. Davis asked Payne what her plan is for making college more affordable. Payne said one way would be making sure the money Pennsylvania is gaining through gaming outlets like casinos goes toward education.

Brentley spoke next and encouraged his audience to give themselves a round of applause.

“It’s a Thursday evening, and we have a room full of young people talking about politics? Give yourselves a hand,” Brentley said.

Brentley stressed the importance of students getting involved in not just the election, but politics in general, even going so far as to dish out an assignment. He asked students to walk past the Stephen Foster Memorial on Forbes Avenue — a statue that has been criticized for racism — and ask themselves what they think about it.

If students want to change it, Brentley said he would work for changes on the state district level.

Leadership was one of the reasons Wheatley gave as why he would be the best choice. He emphasized support for small business owners as a way to stimulate the economy, and he outlined his Adult Protective Services legislation — an act that would protect individuals who find themselves being medically abused in a financial way.

When questioned by a student, Wheatley said he was “fifty-fifty” for legislation that would legalize marijuana, but he said that it would open a discussion for legalizing all drugs. The answer elicited both laughter and consenting nods from the audience.

SGB president Charlie Shull said he was pleased with the turnout of 60 to 70 people. He attributed the success to holding the event at Pamela’s and in the evening.

“We’ve had Pamela’s cater for us before, but we’ve never held an event here or this late,” he said.

Pitt student John Hasley appreciated the event as he stood in line to ask Wheatley a question.

“I liked to have the opportunity to get to know the people who represent me,” he said.

Mike Carmody, a Pitt student, was not impressed.

“I still don’t think they take the college vote seriously, I felt like they were telling us what we wanted to hear,” he said.

Voter registration cards and absentee ballets were handed out at the door to further encourage students to get involved in politics.