Editorial for March 22, 2007 edition:


Stop the nonsense

It’s high time folks who think cancer is not horrible enough to warrant the most vicious attack possible change their evil ways. Fox Chase Cancer Center’s plans to make itself bigger and better continue to get stymied by a group of misguided souls who want to preserve open space in Burholme Park at all costs, maybe even human lives.
Some malcontents in the community are fighting a city zoning board ruling that permits the cancer center to build a patient care and research pavilion on its existing campus next to the park. Never mind that the Fox Chase Homeowners Association is fine with the plan. Never mind that the plan is not related to the cancer center’s proposed long-term expansion into a relatively small part of Burholme Park. The FCCC’s opponents have a one-track mind with regard to anything the esteemed center wants to do: Continue to be obstructionists in the FCCC’s mission of fighting cancer.
Expansion foes’ argument that Robert Ryerss’ will granted use of the park to the people of Philadelphia forever and prohibits development in Burholme Park is spurious at best. How do the naysayers explain an entertainment complex on park property — a small restaurant, miniature golf course, driving range and batting cages? Where were all the tree huggers when commercial use of Burholme Park was proposed decades ago?
Just last weekend, Burholme Park’s high hills were packed with sledders. That’s not going to change, no matter what FCCC does. The cancer center has bent over backward to accommodate overzealous park proponents. The woods and open space in Burholme Park will remain mighty and majestic and plentiful whether FCCC expands or not.
It’s time for the extremists to put an end to their monkey business. Admit you’re wrong to stifle efforts by FCCC to do all it needs to fight cancer. Some day your own lives might depend on it. ••

Respond to this editorial . . .

Letters to the Editor . . .