W. Phila. politician, union activist dies

The city of Philadelphia lost one of its most prominent political fixtures on Friday morning with the passing of former United States Congressman Lucien Blackwell. Blackwell, a Democrat and longtime political activist in West Philadelphia, died at the age of 71. As a congressman, he represented the Second Congressional district of West Philadelphia and the surrounding area from 1991 to 1994. Blackwell is survived by his wife of 30 years, Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell of West Philadelphia, with whom he worked tirelessly to better the lives of Philadelphia residents. Before becoming a congressman, Blackwell spent more than 30 years advocating for organized labor in Local 1332, International Longshoreman's Association, AFL-CIO. Throughout the course of his time working with the union, he worked his way up from laborer to president of the organization. He also served as the representative from West Philadelphia on the Philadelphia City Council, where he served as majority whip and chairman of the Council's Finance Committee. In addition to shaping local politics for so many years, Blackwell also spent much of his time mentoring and guiding future politicians. "Congressman Lucien Blackwell was my dear friend, political mentor and an inspiration to me for so much of my life," Mayor John Street said in a Friday press release. "Any small successes I may have enjoyed can in part be attributed to the help and presence of Lucien Blackwell in my life. Words cannot adequately express how deeply I will miss him." Governor Ed Rendell echoed Street's sentiments, noting the influence that Blackwell had on the Philadelphia community. "Over the decades he served Philadelphians, he made an indelible mark on our hearts and minds," Rendell said in a press release on Friday. "His legacy will include the countless number of families he represented with dignity and verve, as well as initiatives he crafted and defended as a member of the Philadelphia City Council and U.S. Congress that improved the quality of our lives."