Marc Stier

Marc is a teacher and community activist who has taken an active role in politics and community service for most of his life.  Wherever he has been, commitment to his community and those around him as been most important to him -- whether as a son, a father and husband, a teacher giving back to the community, or a community activist assisting those around him.

As a Son, Father and a Husband

Marc was born in 1955 in Liberty, New York, a small town in the Catskills. His parents are Lawrence and Dorothy Stier. His father’s family owned Stier’s Hotel from 1920 to 1973. From the time he was 11 Marc working in the family business as a bellhop, busboy, waiter, handyman, plumber, and when he became 16 as the manager of the kitchen.

Marc married Diane Gottlieb in 1986. Diane was born in Philadelphia and grew up in Lafayette Hill. She is a community psychiatrist at Temple University. Diane’s father, Harry Gottlieb, was a doctor who practiced at MCP for over forty years. He later became an administrator at MCP. Many of Dr. Harry Gottlieb’s patients came from Germantown and Mt. Airy and still remember him today for his caring manner and incisive mind.

Marc and Diane live in Mt. Airy with their daughter, Katja, and Diane’s mother, Betty Gottlieb.

Growing Up

Marc became active in politics early in life. At the age of eight he helped put up campaign signs for his father, Lawrence Stier, who successfully ran for councilman in his hometown of Liberty, New York. (Later he became a town and village justice.)

At 16, Marc helped run George McGovern’s primary campaign in Liberty. Since then, he has worked in every Democratic presidential election campaign and many state and local races. (His most heartbreaking moment in politics was when Harvey Gantt lost in close race to Jesse Helms in 1990.)

Marc was elected as a Democratic Committeeperson in the 24th Division of Ward 21 in May 2002 and reelecteed in May 2006. With his partner Brenda Taylor and volunteers, Marc has worked to bring home overwhelming Democratic majorities in his division. His division was in the top ten city wide in bringing votes to Governor Rendell and Senator Casey.

As a Teacher

About a decade ago, Marc took a teaching job in the Intellectual Heritage Program at Temple University. He served as the internet coordinator and Associate Director of the program for a number of years. Prior to teaching at Temple, he taught for ten years at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Before that he taught at the City College of New York and the University of Alaska at Fairbanks where he was named the Outstanding Member of the Faculty in 1984.

He was trained as a political scientist, receiving a B.A. from Wesleyan University in 1976 and a Ph.D. from Harvard University in 1989. He has written many articles on political philosophy, American politics, democracy and community and completed a three volume work entitled Politics and Reason. He has given talks on these subjects throughout the United States.

As a Community Activist and Reform Leader

As President of West Mt. Airy Neighbors, Marc helped to bring a new supermarket and pharmacy to his community, to fight harmful development, to create a school – community playground, and to save beautiful, historic buildings from destruction.

As a leader of the Pennsylvania Transit Campaign, Marc helped stop drastic service cuts and fare increases at SEPTA. He is working again, right now, to secure the dedicated funding we need for transti.

As a founder of Neighborhood Networks, a city-wide progressive organization, Marc has played a vital role in supporting Ethics Reform Charter Changes, in raising the minimum wage to $7.15, in fighting for handgun control, and in working for affordable housing.

As the coordinator of NeighborhoodDefense.org, Marc is working to protect our right to control development in our own neighborhoods. See a sample of some of the other work that he has done with his highlighted projects.

An Example of his work: Mt. Airy Neighbors

About eight years ago, Marc was recruited to become a board member and Vice President for Community Affairs of West Mt. Airy Neighbors (WMAN). He has been President of the organization since July 2002. Marc has worked with incredible volunteers and staff members to make WMAN an extraordinarily effective community organization. Among the highlights:

• Marc worked with other community groups, Councilwoman Donna Reed Miller, 22nd Ward Leader Vernon Price, and State Senator Allyson Schwartz on a two-year effort to bring a new Acme Supermarket store to Mt. Airy. Two unsatisfactory plans were rejected before Acme put forward a plan acceptable to the community. \
• Marc worked to bring appropriate development to the important corner of Mt. Pleasant and Lincoln Drive. WMAN successfully blocked a 7-11 store and then welcomed a proposal to build a new CVS pharmacy. In doing so, WMAN secured funding for a multi-year landscaping and streetscape plan for this entire commercial district.
• After an intensive five week period of negotiations, Marc forged a compromise between the Houston School Playground Raising Project and the near neighbors of the Houston School that allowed a new $160,000 school / community playground to be built (below)

• Marc led the process by which disputes between the New Covenant Church, one of the largest property owners in Mt. Airy, and its neighbors are being resolved.
• Under his leadership WMAN worked with Senator Allyson Schwartz to close a facility for the mentally ill, Mt. Airy Commons, that mistreated patients and created a serious burden on the community.
• Marc worked with Homeowners United to Protect Pelham to thwart a proposed development at the Cecilian Academy property that threatened the integrity of zoning regulations in both Pelham and West Mt. Airy as a whole. Under his leadership WMAN supported two low-income senior housing projects at more suitable locations in the community.
• Marc has supported the Mt. Airy Schools Committee’s efforts to expand its programs in the schools and, especially, to bring a new tutoring program in reading to the Mt. Airy Schools.
• Marc helped create the Mt. Airy Neighborhood Network, WMAN’s grass roots block organizing effort. The Neighborhood Network brings together existing and new neighborhood, block, and town watch organizations. Marc also was instrumental in creating the Mt. Airy Neighborhood Summits.

Other Interests

Marc is an avid fan of the Philadelphia 76ers. He stills plays basketball when he can and has been a coach in the Chestnut Hill Youth Sports League. Marc and Diane go to movies and the theatre and listen to music of all kinds, but have a special love for jazz.