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Playing chicken
is very stupid
Here is a wake-up call for parents: On Wednesday, Aug. 22, at approximately 9:30 p.m., I was traveling off the Roosevelt Expressway and onto Route 1 north. After passing the first traffic light, out of nowhere four young teenagers were crossing against traffic and blatantly laughing at the oncoming traffic.
The events that saved their lives were two things — I was driving under the speed limit and there was no other oncoming traffic. This has happened to me a couple of times, but never so close and always during the daylight hours.
The young teenagers were wearing dark clothing and were not crossing at a light but in the middle of a block, which is unexpected to any driver.
Parents, please talk to your children about this stupid behavior. Next time it may not be someone as careful as I driving the Boulevard.
I couldn’t imagine anything more terrifying than hitting another human being with my car.
Not only would it devastate your life, but mine as well.
Fran Lindmar
Upper Holmesburg
He’s sorry . . .
not so sorry
Keep in mind that Michael Vick apologized, to the people he has hurt and for getting involved with the wrong people. He never apologized to the dogs he has helped torture or dogs he has killed. He never admitted that what he had done was wrong, cruel and inhumane. It’s almost like saying that the next time he does this he’ll try not to involve his friend so they don’t get hurt. Hang ’em!
Brad Zacharia
Bustleton
Rhawnhurst Town Watch:
We’re alive and well
Rhawnhurst Town Watch is alive and patrols the community. We always need new members and families that are interested in keeping our community safe.
Right now, we are also in need of a base station so that we can set up a meeting room and operation center in one building.
Our original base at 1910 Ripley St. was sold by the owners. We would welcome any group that has such a facility to contact our president.
We are the oldest Town Watch in the city. Over the years, since 1977, we have been involved in many activities that still continue, including distribution of holiday baskets, security details for Special Olympics and the Somerton parade, 2nd Police District fairs at the mall, participation in the 2nd and 7th District Youth Aid Panels, and graffiti cleanups, just to name a few.
We were invited to help in organizing Baltimore’s Operation Crime Watch and continue a close relationship with many of their citizens on patrol groups.
We have received personal thanks from Gov. Martin O’Malley of Maryland; Baltimore’s Council President Stephanie Rawlings Blake; Kevin Cleary, former OCW chief (now assistant to Blake); the Youth Aid Panel program; and the Delaware Valley Citizens Crime Commission.
For those that ask, where is Rhawnhurst Town Watch, the question is, where are you? If you would like to join us and help, just call 215-333-5412 and leave your name, address and phone number.
Remember, evil triumphs when good men do nothing.
Ed Paczkowski
Rhawnhurst
Still more stupid
driver tricks
I have been a driver for 37 years and I agree with letter writer Jennifer Johnson on Five Stupid Driver Tricks, but I want to add three more to her list:
6. Drivers who yak, yak, yak on the cell phone (what do they talk about? A lot of nonsense, I suppose?) and not pay attention to the road, nearly causing accidents as well as getting in accidents.
7. People who drive under the influence (alcohol, pot, etc.) while driving all over the road.
8. Idiots who clown around while driving, trying to make an impression on their friends and girlfriends as well. That’s what irritates me the most.
Robert F. Schaffer
Millbrook
Theresa benefit
was a great success
I am writing to thank the Northeast Times and reporter Tom Waring for such a wonderful article that was written about Theresa Taggart in the Aug. 2 edition. Thanks to you guys, our benefit was a great success.
I would like to put a thank-you article in the paper from the Taggart family to all the family, friends and neighbors for their generous donations and support and hard work. This article touched many of Theresa’s grade school and high school friends who haven’t seen or heard from Theresa in many years due to this illness. We just wanted to thank you for helping us reach out and to thank everyone.
Ann Kalitz
L&I is a-OK in her book
I am so grateful to Licenses & Inspections. On Aug. 3, I spotted Carlos and Clayton, who work for L&I, removing the many union stickers from light poles on Townsend Road. I got out of my car and told them "I love YOU!"
If you haven’t yet noticed, all the stickers have been removed east of Roosevelt Boulevard on Southampton, McNulty and Townsend roads. The community looks so much better! Thank you very much!
Margaret Philippi
Parkwood
School reform must continue
under new SRC leadership
Guest Opinion
By John Perzel
The School District of Philadelphia today stands at a precarious juncture, the most critical since the state takeover that initiated our reform agenda five years ago.
As the search for a new chief executive officer begins, and a new School Reform Commission member is appointed, it is vital that these new individuals be committed to reform and possess the same zeal and enthusiasm for innovation that brought us to the point where test scores have improved for five consecutive years.
I welcome Sandra Dungee Glenn as the new SRC chairwoman and trust she will build on this progress.
The most recent Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) test results show a record fifth consecutive year of improvement in math and reading for all district students. This is proof that the reforms are producing substantial, measurable results.
Since 2002, math scores have jumped a solid 26 percentage points and reading scores have risen 17 percent.
The improvement in these key subjects came at every grade level. Grade 8 had the largest percentage increase in math, with a 7 percent jump for students performing at advanced and proficient levels over last year.
Just as important, the percentage of students scoring below the basic level in math plunged 26 percent since 2002. In reading, the percentage of students performing below the basic level dropped 12 percentage points.
The news at our charter schools is just as good. While their reading scores have historically trailed district schools, this year marked a significant reversal. Math and reading scores at charter schools grew at double the rate of district schools.
This good news proves that hard work, patience and determination pay off.
The improvements brought about by the School Reform Commission have taken hold and formed a foundation on which teachers, principals and students can achieve future academic excellence.
Our students are to be commended and our teachers are to be congratulated for a job well done.
We must also remember that behind every successful student is an involved parent or caregiver. The latest test scores illustrate that their efforts are paying off, and the partnership between the district and parents is critical to our children’s futures.
This achievement also sends a message to the business community that Philadelphia schools are producing a bright, capable workforce. It gives local entrepreneurs an incentive to remain in Philadelphia and will attract outsiders looking for fertile ground for expansion.
These test scores are a testament to the partnership of teachers, parents, administrators and state and city officials, all committed to dismantling the wall of mistrust that stood between our children and their lifeline to Harrisburg.
I remain committed to the reform efforts initiated by the School Reform Commission and will continue the fight in Harrisburg for the necessary funding to ensure the continued academic success of students in Philadelphia and throughout the state.
They deserve nothing less. Education must be our top priority. ••
John Perzel, a former state House speaker, represents the 172nd Legislative District.
Animal rights activists:
Insults won’t stop us
This is a letter concerning the circus that was held Aug. 22 and 23 at the National Guard Armory at Roosevelt Boulevard and Southampton Road.
First, I’d like to offer some information about animals in circuses. The animals perform months at a time, not just the two nights here in Philadelphia. The vehicles that are used to transport them do not have climate control, so while people attending circuses arrived in cars with cold a/c, the animals are transported in hot trucks, often chained while standing in their own waste.
It is also common practice to use bull hooks to strike and prod the animals to "train" them, something not seen by those who attend a circus. A good Web site for more information is www.MoreBeautifulWild.com about the treatment of animals in circuses.
Next, I’d like to briefly address the comments made by those attending that felt moved to verbally insult me and the others who demonstrated. Let me point out that your insults don’t affect us; in fact, it makes us more convinced that people need to be informed of animal issues.
"Get a life" is a common such insult, and I’m pleased to announce that we do have lives, families, friends and interests beyond animal rights demonstrations. We choose to spend the small amount of free time that we have to try to show another side of an issue. Shouting insults at us doesn’t change our commitment, only your inability to try looking at another side of an issue or your own self-interest.
Finally, thanks to those who stopped and asked for more information. With Michael Vick’s abuse of dogs in the news, we don’t need to limit our interest or shock and sadness to only our pets. As the Northeast Times editorial stated on Aug. 23, "the way society treats its animals...says a lot about how it treats itself."
It’s time to show respect for all of the non-human inhabitants of the earth.
George W. Wilson Jr.
Burholme
Jeanes workers could
certainly use a remedy
I want everyone out there that frequents Jeanes Hospital to know they may have to wait quite a while to be seen in the ER, due to the fact that it’s steadily short staffed and no one seems to care.
As a former employee of this institution, I have come across the complete neglect and lack of caring the staff is shown by administration. As is living under a dictatorship, so is working at Jeanes. The nursing staff is ruled over by the tyrannical hand of the director of nursing, nurse managers, and nursing supervisors. When these people were asked for more help with the staffing of the ER at night due to the recent expansion, they told the nurses no, which did not come as a shock to them.
People have to understand that during the day there are orderlies to take patients upstairs, techs to help the nurses, a unit clerk to put in orders, and a greeter to let the nurses know when there is someone for triage. At night in the ER, they are lucky to have a fourth nurse for triage, one tech and a greeter. The staffing on the average night, no matter how busy, is three nurses and an aide if the nursing supervisor is fond of the nurses working that night.
So please, next time you visit Jeanes, don’t take the extended time in the waiting room out on your nurse. She is probably one of the few people there that looks at you as a person and not a dollar amount.
Wake up, Jeanes Hospital administration, you didn’t want a nurses union, but you brought it on yourselves. Canceling a fourth nurse because they will be getting paid overtime and then citing a policy that is not in the new employee handbook nor on-line is not the way to run a hospital.
Treating your staff like trash is the reason it went through, and hopefully it will improve employee satisfaction as I cant see it getting any worse. An expanded ER is great, but you have to have adequate staffing and functioning equipment for it to work. But you don’t want to hear that, and this is why staff is steadily quitting and you can’t find replacements.
Joseph Harkins
Bustleton
Up to your neck
in taxes? Tell Kelly
On Monday, Aug. 13, the Board of Revision of Taxes started to mail Philadelphia residents property tax reassessments. These reassessments (413,000 of them) are scheduled to take effect in 2008 and will likely raise property owners’ tax bills. These notices that will be arriving (or have already arrived) in mailboxes citywide are the largest quantity of reassessments that the Board of Revision of Taxes (BRT) has sent out since 2002, at which time they sent out 270,000 notices.
I have voiced my opinions regarding increased taxes (on numerous issues) several times in the past, and I am going to do the same in this instance – I VEHEMENTLY OPPOSE this real-estate tax increase!
The only people that this tax reassessment is going to hurt is the middle class. I think that it is irresponsible and unjust that the BRT is currently sending these notices, especially since the national real-estate market is presently headed in a severe downward spiral. Philadelphia has the highest wage taxes in the country, the highest business privilege tax, and a very hefty transfer tax (properties that are sold pay this tax).
As much as the Center City area is booming and bringing people to live there, I am sincerely concerned that outlying neighborhoods throughout the city are losing Philadelphians because we are so overtaxed.
I have spoken to countless blue collar citizens/senior citizens who are living on budgets and fixed incomes who cannot afford even a minimal increase on their property taxes.
As always, I am prepared to stand with you and defend you by appealing your new tax-assessment before the Board of Revision of Taxes.
The BRT bases real-estate tax assessments on comparables… in short, the BRT looks at what other homes in your area are worth/selling for, and bases the taxes in your area on that data. Unfortunately, this method of assessing real-estate does not take into consideration those homes that do not have all of the extra improvements (both on the inside and outside) of other homes in their area.
For example, let’s say that a house on your block just sold for $250,000, and has a totally new kitchen, tile floors, new electric, and all new masonry throughout the property. Now, you have lived in your home for some time, and your home has nowhere near the amount of new improvements as the home that just sold on your block — why should you pay an assessment based upon what that home on your block just sold for?
Again, I see no justification at this time to increase real-estate taxes, particularly since the Philadelphia residential real-estate market value has been decreasing in the past 16 months.
Once you receive your new assessment, and you feel that you were unfairly assessed, or that the extra amount is going to create a burden for you, please contact my City Hall Office at 215-686-3452/53, and my staff and I will assist you step-by-step in APPEALING your tax assessment. I look forward to hearing from you and continuing to serve as your councilman at-large.
Jack Kelly
Editor’s note: Councilman Kelly, a Republican from Somerton, is the only at-large member from the Northeast.
Hold the line
on the poor people
You can’t preserve or perpetuate middle-class neighborhoods by having some quasi-government agency send thousands of poor people to live in them. When this happens, you destroy the dynamics of a middle-class neighborhood and begin to engineer another ghetto or slum.
Our congressional reps have to recognize this and update these 30-year-old laws with a heavy emphasis on caps and quotas so that these neighborhoods aren’t inundated with poor people.
If these laws aren’t changed, you can say goodbye to the middle-class neighborhoods in this city.
Ron Zabielski
Mayfair
A message of faith
for the St. Leo kids
I am a teacher at St. Josaphat Ukrainian Catholic School and took interest in your recent article about the new charter school opening up at the former St. Leo School.
Unfortunately, this charter school has had a devastating effect on our enrollment and could be the death knell of our wonderful school.
I find it appalling that what was once St. Leo Catholic School has been given over to a school that is non-faith based. I find it even more disheartening that some of my former students will no longer learn about God in their new school.
No more Veggie Tale Fridays, no more Bible stories and songs while waiting in line for the bathroom, no more religion classes, no more celebration of the Divine Liturgy, no more visits from St. Nicholas, no more Christmas pageants, etc. Christ is no longer allowed in their school anymore. How sad! In my opinion, this is far too high a price to pay just to save some money.
So to my dear little ones, never EVER forget what you learned about your faith at St. Josaphat School, and know that even though you are not among us you are always in the hearts and prayers of your former teachers.
Our doors are always open to welcome you whether or not you are one of our students. You are a precious gift of God and are now His ambassadors at your new school. Give them the love of Jesus that you learned about at St. Josaphat School and once more fill that school with what was once its mission: GOD!!
(Mrs.) Jeanette Scally
First grade teacher, St. Josaphat Ukrainian Catholic School
Zoning reform commission
needs some reform
The Philadelphia Zoning Code was created in 1933 to insulate and protect residents of the city from inharmonious or offensive land uses that could detrimentally impact neighborhoods. The antiquated code results in countless hours spent by civic and community organizations defending against proposed variances that seek to legalize uses which would vary from the zoning code.
As one of the more active zoning volunteers in my community, the news that a commission was being established to reform the code was viewed as a welcome, refreshing change from an administration that has affected mostly negative change over the past eight years.
Despite its many flaws, the existing code is at times the final frontier for communities when it comes to land use disputes typically pitting well-heeled developers seeking to profit vs. residents protecting their collective quality of life. This can sometimes be a daunting challenge in the "pay to play" culture that continues to indirectly erode the fabric of many neighborhoods.
Having read various articles about the newly formed zoning reform commission, including Lauren Fritsky’s article (New zoning commission is a success...so far) in the Aug. 23 issue, it appears that the appointments for these important commission posts are dominated by lawyers and developers.
Although I see references to "community members," where are those from the Northeast? Where are the hard-working, knowledgeable representatives from communities like Mayfair, Holmesburg and Somerton who I see regularly at hearings of the Zoning Board of Adjustment (ZBA)?
I am unsettled that the monumental task of overhauling an outdated zoning code, which will firmly dictate citywide land use for decades to come, is in the hands of primarily lawyers and developers. These are individuals who bring a certain level of professional expertise to the table, but they are also those whose livelihoods will be directly impacted by this "overhaul." What about the livelihoods of entire communities? How will they be represented? There needs to be a fair balance here.
The answer from the political and legal world may be that community groups are viewed as a part of the problem and not part of the solution. Perhaps the ZBA as currently composed is viewed as too community friendly. These answers may be why there are so few "real" community people on the commission to reform the zoning code. By "real," I mean those recognized as active participants in the zoning process and not beholden to a certain political party or politician.
I hope it is not too late for the scales to balance a bit to give neighborhoods a stronger voice in improving the soon-to-be-malleable zoning code. Our neighborhoods’ future depends on it.
My opinion is that at least one established community representative from each Council district should be represented on the reform commission. Mayor Street apparently will still be nominating five individuals. Is there a chance that any of these representatives will come from the Northeast? I guess we shouldn’t hold our breath.
Louis M. Iatarola
Vice president/zoning committee chairman, Tacony Civic Association
Accident victim
needs information
As a permanently disabled member of this community for several years, I have looked to this publication for the quality reporting and community news you never fail to deliver. It is with my reluctance that I ask for your assistance in reporting some news not typical of our neighborhood.
I was driving home at or around 4:21 p.m. Aug. 13, driving southbound, but stopped at a traffic light on Frankford Avenue. A dark-colored SUV (dark green or black) pulled out of the Hess gas station, attempting to go left onto Frankford Avenue. Driving recklessly through two lanes of traffic, he smashed into my car, leaving it basically totaled.
Fortunately, neither of us was hurt. As situations like this would dictate, both of us pulled over to the side of the road. He stopped his car approximately 50 yards from mine, and walked toward me, presumably to view the damage and exchange insurance information.
He was on his cell phone, and I figured he was calling 911, which is what I was doing. He approached me, asking me if I was OK. I said I was, and asked him the same. He said he was going back to his car to get his insurance information, and I was then on the line with a 911 dispatcher.
As I was explaining the situation, I saw him drive away, and take a left onto Princeton Avenue.
I am still shocked at the audacity of this individual. I realized at that moment he parked far enough away so I could not get his license plate information. In my naivete, I did not suspect someone would pull the wool over the eyes of someone in my predicament. After all, this is why people are required to keep insurance.
Due to my disability, I have limited career options, and therefore, cannot afford more than liability-only insurance for my vehicle. This of course will not cover the damage to my car and I surely cannot afford a car payment. My first course of action — after reporting the hit-and-run — was to contact the gas station and other surrounding businesses to see if a security camera may have picked up the incident. None did.
My car is not legally driveable, and since I do not have the financial means to purchase another vehicle and cannot afford a car payment, I am now required to take two trains and a bus to get to work. My disability causes great hardship, as I cannot walk any distance without enduring nagging pain and occasionally require the use of a cane.
Since I do not have any way to track the offender down and have no information on the driver or his vehicle, and the only piece of evidence I have is a digital voice recording of the short conversation I had with the driver, I am unable to pursue the matter through law enforcement or other legal means.
What’s more infuriating is that although my car is quite damaged and most likely legally considered totaled, I could have chased after the other driver and at least gotten a license plate. Instead, I did what a good citizen is supposed to do. I waited for the police to arrive. This took almost an hour. The police — although with the best of intentions, I’m sure — unfortunately were of little help other than to tell me the report would reflect this wasn’t my fault.
I am writing to ask for help in contacting any people who were at the scene of this crime at 4:21 p.m. Aug. 13.
It was rush hour. The gas station was full of people filling their tanks, the corner Walgreen’s was very busy, and there was a tremendous amount of traffic waiting for the light at Tyson Avenue, which had to wait for us to move our vehicles before they could proceed through the intersection. Any information would be helpful.
I encourage the fine members of our community to drive safely.
Tony Hinch
Mayfair
Editor’s note: Readers who have information are asked to call the Northeast Times tip line at 215-354-3025.
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