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Thanks for nothing,
Mr. Mayor
After reading your Sept. 2 editorial concerning the tragic death of the two heroic firemen and the mayor’s continuing plan to close their station, I could not help but think about another tragedy that occurred on that same day — the drowning of a little boy in Fairmount Park’s Tookany Creek.
It’s somewhat ironic that the police officer that pulled one boy from the water but unfortunately was unable to save his friend despite his efforts, was a former member of the mounted patrol unit, which was closed by the mayor as a budget cut.
Perhaps if we still had a mounted patrol unit to police the 9,200 acres of parkland in Philadelphia — and act as a deterrent not only to murderers and rapists, but to ILLEGAL SWIMMING — a tragedy like this could have been avoided.
To quote your editorial, "You can’t put a price on public safety. On life."
Once again, a very sarcastic "thank you" goes to Mayor John Street.
Anna MacAfee
Academy Gardens
Get wire cutters
for firefighters
On Aug. 20, Capt. John Taylor and firefighter Rey Rubio died under horrible conditions when they became trapped in the basement of a house on Belgrade Street. Somehow, their equipment became entangled with some wires involved in the fire.
I have a suggestion that could possibly prevent this tragedy from happening again: All firefighters should have insulated wire cutters ready for use at any time.
Businesses in Philadelphia could possibly donate the wire cutters to the fire department.
Bernice D. Hall
Frankford
An offer she
can refuse
I am writing with infuriation of the latest scam Comcast has going on to try to take yet more of our money.
The other day, a Comcast telemarketer contacted me for about the fourth time to try to sell me digital cable. I explained to the gentleman that I rarely watch TV as I don’t have much time, and for all I really keep my cable is The Sopranos. I now pay an extra $20 per month to have HBO for just one show per week.
It’s a popular show, so I am sure many people do the same.
He then informed me that the HBO channel that airs The Sopranos will be "migrating" to digital cable, and the show won’t be viewable without it. This would then cost me $10 more per month than I pay now. So, for us, this one HBO channel alone would then cost an extra $30 per month. I called Comcast and they confirmed this.
My adult family members and I really get a kick out of The Sopranos, but the kick is just not worth $30 per month. I thought we would have to rely on conversation of co-workers and customers to get our Soprano laughs, as there is no way we will allow Comcast to bully us like this.
The next day, by coincidence, I was talking to a Comcast service technician who said that it is Channel 28 that is to be migrated, and not Channel 26, (The Sopranos channel). I called Comcast once again, and once again, they confirmed, now confirming the opposite of what they confirmed two days prior. What is going on?
They know it’s a very popular show, and they are trying to use it to scam people into upgrading to digital. If it does migrate to digital we won’t be trapped. We will do something else on Sunday nights. Those two new football video games are looking pretty good about now, and we can take the 30 bucks we would save each month and go buy some shrimp and a box of Whitman’s Samplers, or go out to dinner before game time.
Maria Dorval
Rhawnhurst
Let’s see that
fire hydrant!
I can understand when neighbors try to make their environment look nice by planting trees and shrubs. I appreciate it. But for some reason, someone in my neighborhood at the corner of 9900 Hegerman St. (the intersection of Hegerman Street and St. Denis Street) has planted some sort of tall pant around the fire hydrant.
This plant now stands about 4 feet tall and completely surrounds the fire hydrant. Someone not from the area would not even know a fire hydrant was there; people even park in front of it, which may be inadvertent.
This is a huge concern to me and my family, and it is an incredible hazard. God forbid, but if there was a fire in the neighborhood, the firefighters would be lucky to find it, even in the middle of the day.
I have called the Philadelphia Streets Department on several occasions and have been told that it is "in the system."
If something is not done soon, I plan to remove the tree myself. That may, unfortunately, cause a confrontation between neighbors.
Patrick J. Austin
Brookhaven
It sounds like blackmail
On the settlement of the neighbors with WOW on the Boulevard: The neighbors were complaining about noise and the kids in the neighborhood after an event. The settlement has nothing to do with that.
I thought if you have a problem with the noise you’d want to address the noise. Instead the neighbors seem to be saying, "If you give us free nights and money, we’ll look the other way when it comes to noise."
It sounds like blackmail from the neighbors. They accepted payment to not say anything else about the noise, and there seems to be nothing in the settlement to address the noise.
Brad Zacharia
Bustleton
Perzel’s tactics
are McCarthyism
U.S. Sen. Joseph McCarthy died in 1957 but his spirit is alive and well in Pennsylvania. McCarthy made a name for himself in the early 1950s by declaring that there were hundreds of Communists in Harry Truman’s State Department (the number varied from speech to speech). He ruined the careers of many decent, patriotic Americans by accusing them of being Communists.
Until he made the mistake of taking on the United States Army in 1954, he wielded incredible power.
Today, Pennsylvania House Speaker John Perzel is retracing McCarthy’s dirty footprints by trying to smear his Democratic opponent, Tim Kearney, with the Communist label.
A mailing sent by the Perzel campaign features a picture of Kearney juxtaposed with those of Karl Marx, Vladimir Lenin and Josef Stalin.
A Perzel volunteer had found a Kearney fund-raising letter on the Web site of the Communist Party of Eastern Pennsylvania and Delaware. Without trying to find out whether Kearney had approved the letter’s placement (he hadn’t, of course), the Perzel campaign launched its smear.
A public official who resorts to the base tactics of McCarthyism does not deserve re-election.
Stephen Wylder
Bustleton
The Bushies sink
to a new low
Just when I think the current administration can’t get any slimier, they rise to new depths. Dismayed that the Democrats finally have a candidate with valuable military experience who could actually win, and worried that their free ride for the rich is about to come to an end, they come up with a book and an "independent" ad to discredit Kerry’s honorable war record.
Never mind the fact that the Swift Boat veterans have been caught in lie after lie; the administration knew all that was needed was to raise his record to question to do its intended damage.
Never mind that Bush hid in the National Guard during the Vietnam conflict and couldn’t even show up for that.
Never mind that Kerry’s anti-war post-Vietnam activities were born of conviction from someone who was actually there and experienced the horror of war.
Never mind that in these uncertain times, the country would be better off with someone in charge who knows how to do more than play golf and pose for the camera.
The uninformed are still buying into this despicable smear campaign.
My ex-husband fought in Vietnam and spoke often about the brutality he witnessed there.
He died at the age of 47, leaving his daughter not much except memories of his nightmares.
If he were still alive, he would be horrified that the war is being used to discredit a man brave enough to enlist in the Navy, brave enough to speak out against the excesses committed there, and brave enough to take on an extremely corrupt administration so terrified of being exposed they will stop at nothing.
Shelly Quigley
Southampton
Kerry has more
heart than Bush
These so-called Swift-Boaters for the Truth attempting to distort John Kerry’s military service record are a bunch of whining crybabies.
One wonders what sick ax they have to grind against Kerry, a man who volunteered to serve his country in Vietnam and did so with distinction, according to both the record and to the men who actually served with him. Apparently the other "not-too-swift" boaters prefer a self-professed draft-dodger who didn’t even have the integrity to serve with honor in the Texas Air National Guard (defending the Lone Star State from, one supposes, the perceived threat of an aerial assault from Guadalajara).
John Kerry has three hearts, and two of them are Purple. George W. Bush only has one — and it’s yellow.
Carole M. Howey
Bustleton
Thank you,
Sen. Specter
I had the opportunity to speak to U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter at his recent town meeting in Northeast Philadelphia. During the question-and-answer section, I identified myself along with my friend, Cookie Catinella, as officers of Parents Against the Draft.
I asked the senator about the prospect of a draft in the future. He was adamant that there will be no draft and eloquently explained to everyone why it was important that we finish up in Iraq, what our future plans are, and why there will be no draft or any need for one.
We found Sen. Specter very knowledgeable and want to thank him for addressing and explaining this very complicated and troubling issue.
Beverly Cocco
Walton Park
A fine time to
fine the signs
I was surprised to find that the hundreds of political signs that litter the roads (including Academy and Knights) are actually allowed during election seasons.
If that’s the case, perhaps the city can either develop a certification (and small fee) per sign to cover cleanup costs, or a fine for any sign still up five days after the election. The city’s proof would be the confiscated sign.
Then maybe they’ll be more inclined to pick up their stuff — like the Hoffa signs that can still be found to this day. Given the amazing numbers the candidates use in such small areas, a fine of just $5 a sign could add up very quickly!
Anthony Burokas
Modena Park
• • •
Free public relations for a candidate! Brendan Boyle and Mike Stack signs covered the Boulevard. If you can’t understand the laws, how can you be a lawmaker? No signs on public property!
But the worst part is that your paper publicized the pictures showing Boyle’s signs, and that’s what they wanted — free public relations. The city should fine anyone who litters on any public property locations with their lawn signs. I believe littering is a $300 fine, so fine them $300 per sign! You’ll never see another sign, guarantee!
To all the people in the Northeast: If you see a sign on public property, pull it down. It’s your right as a taxpayer and signs only bring down our neighborhood!
Anthony Mattia
Bustleton
McGreevey
and jughandles
Northeast Times, you are absolutely correct, three wrongs don’t make a right (Editorial, Aug. 19).
Who cares what James McGreevey does in his personal life? Personally, I don’t care if he’s homosexual, straight or none of the above. He can have a fondness for farm animals for all I care.
No matter what the outcome, I hope New Jersey gets rid of the jughandles. Those things are so gay.
Pat Hill
Pennypack
Kenney: Clean up
the gaming bill
Regardless of where you stand on the issue of expanded legalized gambling in Pennsylvania, it is simply a matter of ethical common sense to remove from the new slots law a provision that allows members of the Legislature and other elected officials to own up to 1 percent of slot machine parlors and other gaming venues.
The General Assembly must remain above reproach on the gambling issue, so the possibility that House and Senate members could personally profit from their pro-gambling votes is totally inappropriate.
I was one of the few legislators who voted for an amendment to strip the 1-percent ownership provision from the bill during debate, but that amendment was not adopted. I thought the provision was a bad idea at the time the legislation was introduced, and I still believe it’s a bad idea.
That’s why I will support forthcoming legislation that would strip the provision from the law.
I’m also pushing for increased oversight by law enforcement on gaming.
I support State Attorney General Jerry Pappert’s desire to see the gaming law amended to give the attorney general’s office concurrent jurisdiction with district attorneys in enforcing the law.
It is only logical that the commonwealth’s top law enforcement officer should have the authority to conduct any investigations in this realm, if necessary.
It’s my opinion also that the attorney general should be added to the newly created Pennsylvania State Gaming Control Board as an ex-officio member. Currently, the state treasurer is an ex-officio member of the board, but the attorney general is not.
Expanded legalized gambling is now a reality in Pennsylvania, and 61,000 slot machines are coming to the commonwealth. Everything that can be done to ensure the integrity of this endeavor must be done.
That includes removing the 1-percent ownership provision. Doing so would also help to maintain the integrity of our government.
George T. Kenney
State Representative, 170th Legislative District
‘Fahrenheit 9/11’ has its
fair share of flaws
Guest Opinion
Al Taubenberger
Over the summer I went to see Michael Moore’s Fahrenheit 9/11, and I am now reading the 9/11 Commission report; both are eye-openers. Moore wants President Bush defeated, better yet impeached and removed from office today. The commission offers at least 42 separate recommendations to win the war on terrorism and help make the United States safer.
Moore attacks Bush with such partisan hatred that his credibility must be questioned. Moore claims to be a strong Democrat but never mentions his support for Ralph Nader in the 2000 presidential election, nor the fact that Nader funded his newsletter, Moore’s Weekly. The commission was a bipartisan panel that found fault with both political parties, President Bill Clinton and President George W. Bush, while making it clear that Congress also shares in this failure.
Moore also omits in his discussion on the Iraq war President Clinton’s testimony before the 9/11 Commission that, "He believed that he had evidence that Iraq and al-Qaeda collaborated to develop a nerve gas factory; or that in 1999 Iraqi officials offered bin Laden a safe haven in Iraq."
Instead of addressing what is at issue, Moore integrates class warfare into his monologue against Bush. His point: the poor are doing a disproportionate part of the fighting in Iraq. I believe on closer examination the middle class is well-represented in the ranks, and in reality our servicemen and women come from a more diverse background than Moore wishes to acknowledge. In either case, they are brave men and women.
Commission Chairman Tom Kean said, "Americans need to recapture the sense of unified purpose they felt on Sept. 11, 2001, lest our creeping complacency and disjointed governmental strategies allow another terrorist attack."
In contrast, Moore went out of his way to show our military as foolish, showing one soldier in uniform protesting and other soldiers in stupid and silly situations. These are the same men and women who he feels are a disproportionate part of the military.
Moore portrays the beginning of the war with Iraq in his film by announcing the American invasion of the sovereign nation of Iraq and showing children playing in the streets, but all this wonderfulness comes to an end when the bad Americans arrive.
Moore does not show Kurdish children being gassed in their villages. Nor does he show political opponents of Saddam Hussein being dragged out of their homes and shot. Moore missed his chance to do a documentary film about Saddam during his reign in Iraq — now, that would have taken some guts, although, he could still go to Iraq and help start a democracy, and then move on to Iran to introduce democracy there.
As part of the film, Moore makes and pokes fun at our allies in Iraq, sarcastically mentioning some by name for laughs in the movie, but he does not name Australia, the United Kingdom and Poland, which are very serious in their support for a free and independent Iraq. Moore’s knowledge of world history seems to be limited; he has forgotten that when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor in 1941, we also went to war with Nazi Germany. Also in Fahrenheit 9/11 Moore emphasizes in a major way his point that Saudi nationals leaving the country when air space was still closed, that none of the people were interviewed by the FBI, and that President Bush authorized all this.
The commission after a very thorough review has a different view found on Pages 329 and 330 of the report: "No evidence that any flights of Saudi nationals domestic or international, took place before the re-opening of national air space on the morning of September 13, 2001. No evidence of political intervention. The FBI interviewed all persons of interest on these flights prior to their departures."
Well, it is good that Fahrenheit has made a lot of money for Moore. Moore insists there is not a single factual error in the movie, and he is offering a $10,000 reward for anyone that can find a single fact that is wrong. So, Michael open up that checkbook of yours and write out the first check to the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States, Thomas H. Kean, chairman. ••
Al Taubenberger is president of the Greater Northeast Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce who ran unsuccessfully for Congress this year.
He has an Olympian
vision for Philadelphia
Guest Opinion
Gabriel Brandis
The Olympics stand for something wonderful, something sacred. The gods on Mt. Olympus must be smiling as the athletes of the world assemble to compete for the recognition of physical perfection.
The ideal of Olympian accomplishment and human potential is a metaphor each of us can apply in our lives. The problems of this world are created by humans; we are also capable of finding the solutions.
When we think of Athens, Greece, one thinks of the birthplace of democracy, of the cradle of western civilization, a city where great minds met to discuss deep philosophy.
What do people think of when you say, Philadelphia? Cheesesteaks, rude sports fans and nowhere to park. But they also think of the Liberty Bell. They think of Independence Hall, that cherished symbol on the back of a $100 bill. There’s hope.
Philadelphia, being the first city in America, also makes it the oldest city in so many ways. The proverbial "box," the rigid way of thinking and doing things, starts here. There’s no point in merely complaining about government leadership. Each and every citizen has the choice to be a hero, a leader by example.
Personal olympics — we can all strive to be heroes in our community, even silently. I suggest that as individuals and neighbors we voluntarily contribute to making our community a more pleasant, livable place. Personally, I get a real lift out of picking up trash that blows about my apartment complex, or that gets strewn over the fence adjoining SEPTA’s railroad lines. While cleaning up trash in Pennypack Park, I have at times been looked at funny, or asked if I have to do this chore, as in a court-imposed community service.
"No, I do it because I can’t stand living in trash," I reply. Often enough, if I don’t pick it up, the trash is still there the next day. I’m not looking for praise, just a helping hand. Community spirit is a beautiful thing.
Who said kindness is a sign of weakness? That is a philosophy from Hell. It’s easy to be rude or violent. It takes real strength to be gentle. I recall a Navajo vendor I met in Arizona. He could have crushed a coconut with one hand. The gentle giant was so soft spoken I could barely hear him, and my hearing is fine. That is strength.
I propose that we try smiling to our neighbors more often, even those we barely recognize. It’s sometimes disarming, but satisfying to all parties concerned. When I lived in Boulder, Colo., nine out of 10 strangers in passing, smiled and said "Hi." In the City of Brotherly Love, it’s one out of 10.
Instead of going into a rage over someone else’s lack of courtesy, take a deep breath or two and send them a silent or spoken wish of, "peace." Maybe nobody is ever kind to that person so they react with anger out of habit.
Remember how kind everyone was right after Sept. 11, three years ago? Even in New York City I observed how courteous people were to one another. People talked to each other. That horrific incident proved that we are capable of relating to one another as we all really want to be related to.
Whatever happened to the Guardian Angels, the band of red berets that rode the subways and watched over the streets in conjunction with the police? The young men, and some women, who might otherwise affiliate themselves with gang activity channeled that energy into protecting society from violence. That was a New York City concept that worked.
I’m not a preacher, friends — just a citizen with a vision, and a belief that we as individuals and a community can create our own paradise. Nobody else is gonna do it for us.
Philadelphia is bidding to host the Olympics in 2020. Sixteen years to create a utopia, a safe and pleasant place to visit, and to live. I think that’s a realistic goal. Each and every one of us, in his or her own way, let’s make the first city of the New World a shining example of what good living can truly be. One individual does make a difference.
Just as a pebble tossed into the lake ripples outward in all directions, voluntary community effort will make our community, our city, our nation and our world a better place to live. It’s an Olympian, gold-medal ideal worth striving for. oo
Gabriel Brandis lives in Fox Chase. He is a freelance writer with a vision for a better world.
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