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Star makes a
furry good point
A thank you to Pamela Anderson for stripping down to her bare essentials for PETA’s "I’d rather go naked than wear fur" campaign, drawing attention to fur-mongers JLo and Beyonce and showing that even a big-time celebrity can slow down and care about the animals we so often forget about.
Maybe some other Hollywood "stars" will follow suit (cough, cough, a one Miss Star Jones) and lose the murder.
Perhaps they can set an example for all those who look up to them.
Let’s leave the fur where it looks cute — on the animals.
Alicia Pharo
Oxford Circle
Please clean up
your act
I have lived in Mayfair for 30 years. I walked along Rowland Avenue from Princeton Avenue to Wellington Street (on the east side of Rowland). People just don’t care about grass that is growing along the curbside. Some of the grass is a foot tall, especially in front of businesses (it looks like we live in the ghetto sometimes).
Be proud where you live. Take pride and a little time to groom your properties.
Joe Gilmore
Ah, the good
old days
Talk about memories of Mayfair. Did anyone remember when the Shallcross School address was Torresdale, Pa.? (1957).
The kids who were sent there went to school (one year 24/7) and worked on the farm, picking every thing under the sun. Also, if they acted up they had their heads knocked around by the "house fathers," and they didn’t spare the rod.
Anthony "Tony Irish" Porta
Sebring, Fla.
It’s better to stay
and fight . . . or is it?
I am responding to Tim Rogers’ recent letter, Don’t run away from the problem.
I couldn’t agree with you more about putting an end to these many For Sale signs in our historic neighborhood of Tacony.
We have to stick together and continue to urge what remains of the good people of this community to simply "stop running!"
Those that think the "grass is greener" are not only obligating themselves to higher mortgage payments, they are losing the camaraderie of their old neighborhood.
Philadelphia has always been a city of neighborhoods, and now it just seems it’s turning into a "grab the money" and go. I don’t even know where everyone’s going!
Unfortunately, I don’t like the number I do see leaving, nor the fact that many people who raised families here now will just sell out to people not even from our community looking to rent to people with no interest in these properties, nor who contribute to the neighborhood.
Tacony and Mayfair have always been the "twin cities" of the Northeast, and they offer fantastic churches, schools, parks and shopping to be proud of.
We can still share this pride!
We must stop the bleeding now and band together to keep these neighborhoods as two of finest in the city.
I urge others to write letters to local politicians ending the rampant rental/Section 8 fiasco, and also, if you agree with Tim and myself, please flood the paper with letters letting us know you are willing to stay, stick it out and fight to preserve our neighborhoods.
With positive feedback, it may stop us from seeing one more "for sale" sign, or maybe someone who simply has to move will be more considerate of whom they sell their home to.
If we become optimists, we can take pride in the beautiful letter written by Kristen Gibson, Mayfair memories.
Reading that letter should rejuvenate us all to become tolerable neighbors and hope for a better, brighter future.
Please do not let these neighborhoods fall victim to the mass exodus and destruction that some others have seen!
Lori Miller
Tacony
• • •
The responses in last week’s issue to Tim Rogers’ recent letter really hit home with me, since I have been a resident of Northeast Philadelphia for most of my life.
In the last 17 years alone, since I got married, bought a home here and had children, I have witnessed a decline in our neighborhoods. I agree with Ted Haskins (Finger pointing does not help) that blaming people doesn’t change anything.
That’s a given. However, Ted, people will blame others simply because they can. It also makes them feel better about themselves — the "well, at least I know it’s not me" kind of thing.
Loretta Sharkey (She’s fed up in Wissinoming) offers some real solutions to the people who are to blame by providing guidelines to live by. These are great, Loretta, and I agree 100 percent, but unfortunately, these people are not reading the Northeast Times, and even if they did, they would resent your telling them how to be decent human beings.
To Matthew Ferragame (…And he’s hopeful in Mount Airy), congratulations on your optimism. I’m a "the glass is half-full" kind of person myself, but I have tried to live by example, and all it’s gotten me is feeling defeated, stressed out and taken advantage of by my apathetic neighbors. So here’s my solution — I’m getting out. As soon as we can afford to, my husband and I will sell our house and move, just like all our friends did.
Philadelphia has been my home for many years, but it is changing for the worse, and that is the reality.
Yes, Matthew, it is right to fight for positive change and to "take back" our neighborhoods, but quite frankly, after 17 years of useless "fighting," I’m smart enough to admit defeat. I’ll see you in the suburbs!
Barbara Pileggi
Rhawnhurst
For the kids’ sake,
let reform take hold
Guest Opinion
By John M. Perzel
Reform under any circumstances is always difficult, but crucial when the stakes are as high as providing 178,000 Philadelphia public school students with a quality education, and the necessary tools upon graduation to secure a job in the marketplace or continue on to higher learning.
While it seems a very basic goal, for most urban school districts throughout Pennsylvania and the nation — including Philadelphia — it is difficult to achieve when students are forced to confront the destructive consequences of neighborhood and domestic violence, joblessness and drug and alcohol abuse among family members, as well as urban blight and general neglect, to name a few.
I am a product of the Philadelphia public school system, and recently I gave the commencement address to the 2006 graduating class at Lincoln High School — my alma mater. I told the graduates that I wasn’t the best student when I attended Lincoln, but in the end I graduated and went on to college and eventually became speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.
In spite of my less than stellar academic performance at Lincoln, I was still prepared to go on to college — and that was the key.
Each and every one of us is different. We all have our own unique strengths and weaknesses and our own timetables for excelling. I was a slow starter and somewhat of a late bloomer.
I don’t know if a student like me would be able to thrive — or even survive in today’s educational environment, where there doesn’t seem to be allowances for slow starters and late bloomers who can get lost in the shuffle — even in the best academic surroundings.
The fact remains that according to the most recent state assessment, nearly one in four students graduating in the class of 2006 across Pennsylvania cannot read or do math at grade level. That has to change. We need a school system that can cater to all types of students on all academic levels and from a variety of diverse socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds — all of which will demand serious change and reform.
In 2001, the Philadelphia School District was adrift with low student test scores combined with a level of violence that was reaching near epidemic proportions. Its annual operating budget had to be continually plugged with emergency funds from a state legislature that was expected to fill the yearly financial gaps in Philadelphia — often times at the expense of other well deserving but hard-pressed school districts throughout the state.
It has only been four years since state Rep. Dwight Evans and state Sen. Anthony Williams joined me in initiating legislation that led to the 2001 state takeover of the Philadelphia School System and the ensuing reforms. Already we are seeing some concrete results from those reform efforts.
The School District operates on a balanced budget, while implementing an array of new initiatives — including school choice — that cater to all our students.
Test scores are rising and while more must be done to establish stricter district-wide disciplinary standards, progress is being made on reducing the level of violence in our schools — especially with alternative placement programs for students with violent and disruptive behavior problems.
On the question of whether School District CEO Paul Vallas should remain, I would caution the School Reform Commission that the decisions they make today could possibly impact a whole future generation of children.
Change and reform does not come easy, nor does it occur overnight. I believe under SRC chairman James Nevels and Paul Vallas, the Philadelphia School District has laid the necessary foundation for serious change, and has started down a path of reform that needs to be nurtured and supported in order to bear fruit. I believe both James Nevels and Paul Vallas are well positioned to continue managing and directing the reform effort.
While some questions have been raised recently on the issues of employee spending and outside contracts, I would urge openness by the school district and independent oversight to ensure that these mistakes are quickly addressed and do not derail a reform effort that can provide our public school children with the quality education they deserve — and which we are required to provide. oo
Mr. Perzel is speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
A few questions
about Perzel’s funds
House Speaker John Perzel recently named four companies as recipients of the first annual Speaker’s Economic Development Awards. Wow that is just wonderful, Mr. Speaker!
One of the four companies, Ehmke Manufacturing, received "Strategic Grant Funding" that "helped this small business nearly quadruple its workforce and more than triple its annual sales."
According to its Web site, it has a chief operating officer by the name of Samuel Clifford Stokes, who "became a principle of the business in 1990."
Does "principle" mean like some sort of owner?
Doesn’t Perzel’s wife, Sheryl Stokes Perzel, have a brother (the speaker’s brother-in-law) with a similar name like Samuel C. Stokes? There is even a "Sam Stokes" that receives checks from Perzel’s campaign funds (Friends of John Perzel).
Are they all the same person? Is Ehmke a for-profit company? Did Stokes somehow personally gain from these "grants"? Were those "grants" government monies?
Maybe we should also look at what Perzel does rather than what he says.
Mayer Krain
Modena Park
Thank goodness
for Mr. Perzel
I have lived in Mayfair all my life. When I was a child, my parents used to take me shopping along the avenue. Something I always remembered from the time I was a child was how clean the avenue was, and how exciting it was to walk along and see the people! Christmastime was my very favorite!
I am much older now, and the other day I was shopping on Frankford Avenue and my mind raced back to my childhood.
I saw one of those green "street sweepers" that state Rep. John Perzel brought to Mayfair. What a marvelous thing!
The avenue was neat and clean, and the machine was busy picking up dirt and debris left behind by careless people.
Thank goodness for Mr. Perzel, who I know lives in the area and shops on the avenue, too (I have seen him walking near Frankford and Cottman).
It’s good to have a neighbor in Harrisburg who cares about his hometown and community!
Eugene P. Malin Sr.
Mayfair
The semantics
of abortion
In the article McDermott gets ready to take on Perzel (June 29 edition), the following appears: "McDermott, who is pro-life, questions Perzel’s commitment to the cause. The challenger points to the speaker’s support for pro-choice GOP candidates such as Arlen Specter, Barbara Hafer, Sam Katz and Tom Ridge."
Once again, we have misnomer time. Their position on abortion is pro-abortion, not pro-choice. One can understand the above’s attempt at distortion, since, how many times regarding air travel have we heard the following: "Because of inclement weather, the flight had to be aborted."
In essence, the plane’s flight was "terminated." In abortion, the infants’ lives are terminated. It’s unclear who identifies the pro-abortion’s position as "pro-choice," but whoever it is, they get to add to the distortion.
Thomas McIlhenny
Somerton
Perzel can’t fix his image
Your June 8 editorial was right on the money (Speaking of waste).
Come on, wake up. Perzel only does things if it benefits himself. I resent that I am paying for him to have a media consultant.
He already pays a staff to do that job. There isn’t anything he could do to better his image, anyway. I guess he thinks he is underpaid because him and the rest of the thieves in Harrisburg had to try to sneak through a raise in the middle of the night. People like him don’t bring any prestige to the district. He puts a stain on the district, as far as I am concerned.
A manager of a chain supermarket should certainly make more than a representative in Harrisburg. You can’t even compare the amount of work each one does. The politicians do what they have to do to get re-elected, and they will never change as long as they have blind constituents to re-elect them. I hope we see the last of him at the next election.
Vince Mosiniak
Torresdale
New Hope floods give
new hope for Northeast Philly
I live in a nice Philadelphia neighborhood; during heavy rains, houses on our block get water in their basements. This is what I want from the government: offer low rate loans to fix it so we no longer get water in our basements, and build recreational rooms for us (equivalent to raising New Hope/Yardley homes to offset floods).
A recent article regarding the New Hope/Yardley floods made me angry. Claire Shaw, a New Hope councilwoman, said after the last flood they had trouble finding enough bleach to wash down walls coated in river scum. She says, "Maybe we could get people to donate bleach and their time to help clean up houses and stores."
Geri Delevich, councilwoman, stated, "I’d like to ask contractors to donate a day of their services to people with homes along the river to help them recover."
Wait, we’ll be right up with bleach to help.
Sen. Arlen Specter declared the area a disaster, AGAIN. Has Arlen Specter jumped offering low-rate loans and money to fix some areas of Philadelphia? The irony — people with money get more and the poor get NOTHING.
I don’t want my tax dollars used to rebuild/purchase their houses; they choose to live there. Yes, you love where you live and wouldn’t want to live anywhere else, and we should help you live there.
Move! Oh no, you couldn’t downsize and live in a $500,000 house in a no-flood zone; that would be too common.
Also, please share your property taxes to help our schools, donate your time and some bleach to clean; some schools are pretty dirty. After all, we are all equal!
Eileen Rosenbaum
Mayfair
She’s proud to be an American
in one nation under English
In the July 6 edition of the Northeast Times, I read the article on the English-only bill.
I would like to say THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU to state Rep. Adam Harris for introducing the English-only bill, and also, Reps. Sue Cornell, Dennis O’Brien, George Kenney, John Perzel and Mike McGeehan for voting for it.
This makes me feel like we are finally taking back our American way; we have allowed too many things to be changed, and in doing so we lost our American Heritage.
Yes, many of us are descendants of immigrants, but we have abided by our country’s way of life. Too many immigrants coming in are demanding that we adapt to their way of life.
As an American born and raised in this wonderful country, I find that we cater too much to everyone else coming in. We have changed so much to suit them that we are losing ourselves. I do not know of any other country that caters to people coming into their country the way we do.
This should not be allowed. As the old saying goes, "when in Rome do as the Romans do." Therefore, most Americans believe that "when in America conform to our way of life," not change it.
If they want their way of life, then don’t come here — stay in their own country. They come to America because it’s the best, yet want us to change it all for them. This is wrong. You can speak any language you choose in your own home, but otherwise, SPEAK ENGLISH.
The cost for all these changes are a burden on America, and we have enough already.
So again, thank you all so very much. Proud to speak English.
Judy Brock
Parkwood
Thanks for giving
us our Angel
Our family would like to thank the person that found our black lab, Angel, on Thursday, June 29. Our dog was missing for more than two hours and we were told that someone had found her and had taken her to the Women’s Humane Society in Bensalem.
We wanted to thank you in person but the WHS has rules that do not allow them to tell us who brought her in. Our family is deeply grateful for what you did for us, and we all wanted to say, "thank you very much."
Mike, Dianne, Michael and Greg Hood
Parkwood
Panning Section 8 does
not make one a racist
I am writing in response to last week’s letter to the editor entitled, "Don’t expect much from the idiots."
I would like to applaud the author for his effort to address the Housing Choice Voucher Program, formerly known as Section 8. This program, administered by the Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA), has been and continues to be a major concern for Northeast Philadelphia.
I want to dispel the myth that criticizing the program brandishes the critic as a racist. There are many people of color who have moved into the Northeast to raise their families with reasonable expectations that they would have responsible neighbors. Many are homeowners looking for a new start and a safe environment for their children. They are voicing the same concerns about this program as many longtime residents do. I know, because I have spoken to them.
The complaints I hear are about irresponsible tenants and landlords that do not maintain their properties. These are the very same complaints Mayor John Street, former vice chairman of PHA, campaigned on in the Northeast in 1999.
According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, Street, along with state Rep. Michael McGeehan, blamed the problems on the past director of the program, John White. Passing the blame does not do justice for the program or the residents affected.
While there is a moratorium in place for the issuing of new vouchers, there are sections of the Northeast with a disproportionate amount of vouchers that are eroding our community.
I would also like to point out that not all PHA tenants and landlords disregard the guidelines in place under the program. Many that I have met are good citizens and take the opportunity afforded to them seriously. Furthermore, not all disheveled properties are linked to the voucher program.
The public needs to be informed. Everyone needs to take responsibility for their homes. The PHA needs to be more transparent because the decisions they make greatly affect our neighborhoods and communities. There must be a system of accountability in place so we may continue forward without the unnecessary stigmatization.
Reynolds Baldwin
Tacony
Editor’s note: Mr. Baldwin is the Republican candidate for the 173rd Legislative District seat presently held by Mr. McGeehan.
Help get the leakers,
congresswoman
The following is an open letter to Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz (D-13th dist.):
Ms. Schwartz, I am writing today to insist that you join other congressmen in DEMANDING the New York Times be investigated, charged and tried for treason regarding publication of sensitive intelligence information in a time of war.
I am referring to the recent publication of details of the Terrorist Finance Tracking Program (TFTP). This kind of irresponsible reporting MUST stop and the Justice Department MUST stop it. At the same time, those releasing this information to the media must also be investigated, charged and tried for treason. Nothing less is acceptable.
It is time to put the brakes on the anti-American pro-terrorists in the media, who broadcast or publish any information they can get their hands on, with no regard for the members of our armed forces, currently in harm’s way, or the lives of innocent Americans at home.
It is also time to send the message that the First Amendment DOES NOT COVER aiding and abetting the enemy in a time of war. The editors and writers at the New York Times have clearly chosen sides in this war and they are not on America’s side.
So, Ms. Schwartz, what will it be? Will you stand up as a patriotic American, or will you simply tow the leftist line of your leftist party?
George Tomezsko
Hollywood, Pa.
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