Votes counted, cash isn’t

As the winners of the primary election celebrated last Wednesday afternoon, Shaniya Randolph did a slow burn.

The resident had been promised $50 to pass out fliers for the Democratic ticket at local polling places during the May 17 primary.

After laboring for nearly eight hours, Randolph returned to the home of the woman who hired her that morning only to find out that her money was unavailable. Other Election Day workers – many of whom look forward to the opportunity twice a year to make some quick cash – also demanded answers.

"They were all waiting out here. Everyone was bum-rushing the door," said Randolph, 18, standing outside the woman’s residence on the 1400 block of South 22nd Street last Wednesday. "They let us all go in and told us to come back today at 12 p.m."

The patience of Randolph and some 50 other residents wore thin as morning turned into a sultry afternoon with no sign of their compensation.

"I’m pregnant with twins. I was supposed to be in Horsham this morning," said Randolph, of 23rd and Gerritt streets. "I have no time for this."

As rumors surfaced that their money was on its way, Bessie Jackson angrily yelled, "So is Jesus, but we don’t know when he’s coming."

Jackson, who was stationed at 23rd and Reed streets on Election Day, found out about the job through another resident.

"I’m a diabetic and I’m sitting out here in the sun – with no money," said Jackson, 56. "I’m from a small town in Connecticut. I’ve never seen a city run like this."

Randolph blamed the pay delay on a lack of organization.

"I’m highly disappointed in the way it was run, not to mention how all of these people were treated," she said.

ABOUT 150 RESIDENTS were hired to distribute the fliers last week, and roughly two-thirds of the workers received their money on Election Day, said Carolyn Sapp, a self-described community activist and founder of South Philadelphia Leaders, a group that she said aims to lend a hand to needy neighbors.

Sapp, who has organized and paid workers to pass out fliers during elections for more than 20 years, attributed the delay in compensation to one check.

"The check did not get cashed. We’re getting the check cashed now," Sapp said from her home last Wednesday. "That’s why my door is open. I’m not running from anything."

She said she understood why the workers were upset and promised speedy payment for their services.

"It is a problem. They worked all day long and they need to get paid," Sapp said. "It’s not an injustice. It’s a misunderstanding and they want to get paid."

Though Sapp said at the time she expected the money to arrive "any minute," poll worker Kevin, who declined to give his last name, still had not received his $50 three days after Election Day.

Kevin ventured to Sapp’s house three times last week, and said he was told "the money is on its way" and "you have nothing to worry about."

"I just know that I will be working for someone else next year, but not her," said Kevin, who has received a call from Sapp for the past three years asking him to work the polls.

Kevin added that his father picked up his lunch from Sapp’s house on Election Day since one of her workers never dropped it off during his 13-hour workday as originally promised.

When contacted by the Review on Tuesday, Sapp mentioned that 12 people still did not receive their $50, citing a "mismanagement of things." She would not elaborate on this statement, but said the funds for the operation came from her pocket.

The remaining workers will be paid this week, she added.

Lou Farinella, a staff member at the Democratic City Committee, said Sapp has no affiliation with the committee and was not authorized by the group to distribute the fliers.

Sapp lives in the 36th Ward, where City Council President Anna Verna is ward leader.

Kathleen Murray, special assistant to Verna, maintained that Sapp is "definitely free-lancing and not associated with her office in any way."

There have been a handful of past complaints about independent free-lancers who promised to pay poll workers, she added.

"It’s required that if you give money to Election Day workers, you have to report it," she said. "If you’re promising money, there should be a discernible trail."

All complaints regarding similar instances should be filed through the offices of the district attorney and attorney general, added Murray.

Sapp, for her part, maintained the whole incident was blown out of proportion.