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Keep “east” in
Northeast Philly
Regarding editor John Scanlon’s commentary last week (Photo of slain guard needed to be seen): Bravo to you, Mr. Scanlon. You explained your point very clearly. The part of your column that caught my eye was the end where you brought up the changes that have taken place in the Northeast in the last decade.
I moved to the Far Northeast 45 years ago. I grew up in North Philadelphia (Swampoodle neighborhood). When I got married I decided to get out of North Philly because of some incidents that occurred in the changing neighborhood that affected my family.
I had a 75-year-old grandmother mugged and robbed of her pocketbook, I had a brother come home one evening and he was assaulted a couple of houses from where we lived. The neighborhood was changing for the worse and it was time to leave.
I see the same changes taking place in the Northeast. There aren’t enough police patrols in the Northeast part of the city. You go into some sections of the Northeast and the streets are dirty, the homes are getting run down and there is an abundance of drug use and drug selling going on, devaluing the real estate in the area.
I don’t know the answer to these problems, but you are going to have another North Philly in the Northeast, unless the city and politicians act to put a stop to blight and drug use. The number of assaults and shootings is on the upswing in the Northeast neighborhoods.
The problem isn’t just one race, it’s black and white thugs gradually taking over.
Frank Dillon
Normandy
Let’s stick it to
the murder suspect
I would like to see them drop off Mustafa Ali, the suspect in the murders of the armored-car guards, at an ATM machine and do the same thing to him.
Let him know what it felt like for those men to be gunned down right there. He deserves to die in the same manner and eye for an eye, or put him in a room with the victims’ families and leave them alone for a while. But of course, he is entitled to a fair trial and he has rights, yet he took away the victims’ rights.
The problem with our country is we do not make a big enough deal over anything. We murder kids, torture people, have sex with children, shoot anyone at a drop of a dime, and it doesn’t even faze anyone anymore. Yet, if you abuse a dog or cat, it’s front-page news for a month.
This world is out of control. My brother is a police officer, and if anything ever happened to him, God help the person that was responsible.
Amy Anderson
East Torresdale
• • •
It just goes to show the differences in the neighborhoods of Philadelphia. If this would’ve happened in one of the frequent problem areas of the city, the killer would most likely still be on the loose.
Kudos to all those who helped in tracking down this scumbag. Hopefully he will get what he deserves and this doesn’t turn into another Mumia fiasco. One lethal injection, coming right up!
Steve Pham
Parkwood
Fox Chase station is
a ticket to frustration
There is a serious problem at the Fox Chase train station. Unless you are a commuter who uses the R-8 into the city or have family and friends that use the station, you won’t know about this annoyance. The city runs the lot and installed the supposed high-tech new parking meter machines recently. We have to pay a dollar a day in quarters, bills or credit card. The machines replaced antiquated ones that were constantly broken.
For the past two mornings, two out of the four machines were not operating. We had to stand in long lines to pay. The only saving grace was it wasn’t pouring or snowing. If the machines don’t work in the Rockwell Avenue side, you have to use the machines in the other side. When the train pulls in, it blocks the tracks so you have to climb on board the train, and when they finally open the doors, you go down on the other side and walk to the other machines. This is particularly difficult for me because I walk with a cane.
To make matters worse there are only four handicapped spots in the lot, and I usually have to park at the far end. On the first morning the conductor held the train for a moment. On the second morning, he couldn’t wait. This means being late for work. When we call the Parking Authority to complain, you get a recording.
I asked the attendant in the ticket office at Fox Chase, and he said that as long as one machine was working, we had to pay! To make matters worse, the screens are so hard to see and I plugged in the wrong number. If you don’t pay correctly, you get a $26 parking fine.
The city wants us to use public transportation? Not only do we pay well over $100 a month for the train and $20 for parking, we have to be extremely aggravated, too. When the new mayor takes over, he should address the problem with the parking authority as a top priority.
Janice Jakubowitcz
Rhawnhurst
Big kudos and a small
slice of humble pie
I offer staff writer Diane Prokop a congratulatory note on a really wonderful article about Tony’s Place (For decades, an alluring slice of life, Oct. 18 edition).
Tony’s is one of those places that is the essence of the concept of "neighborhood" — a place not unlike TV’s Cheers, but a real and actual place. In a relatively short time and space, you’ve effectively captured and shared something that’s easily obscured in today’s world, intangible things of enduring value.
In an otherwise perfect article, the only negative thing was the mistake made during layout in a photo caption identifying longtime pizza maker John Lindel as Joe Mallamaci. Congratulations in serving the community in such a human yet professional way. You did a great job.
Matt Lydon
Tony’s Place patron
Food for thought?
Just keep on thinking
Regarding your editorial last week on trans fats, banning trans fats saves no one from the heart attack that awaits them. Taking the trans fats out of fast food, cheesesteaks or bakery items doesn’t make them healthy.
Your editorial stated, "If we can put a man on the moon, we can put a tasty and healthy cake on the table."
That’s great, but we all shouldn’t be forced to eat it. I’m pro-choice on the kind of food I want to eat. Nobody’s forcing these people to be fat — they are fat by choice.
Besides, this ban probably enables people to eat more. Now, the fat guy that supersizes three orders of fries, supersizes five orders of fries because they aren’t as bad for him. It’s not the trans fats that make people fat, it’s eating too much that makes people fat. Whether food is healthy or not, if you eat too much of it you are going to be fat.
Why should you be denied your favorite bakery treat because some fat person can’t stop himself from eating an entire cake in one sitting? That’s not fair and that’s not America. If anyone wants a really tasty treat, let me know. Maybe I’ll start a black market for unhealthy food because I’m an American and I believe in freedom.
It’s amazing that an elected official can vote for this ban — it’s just hypocritical. Instead, we should increase taxes on these foods. Make the fatties pay for their mistakes and lower property taxes as a result.
The fat people will learn they shouldn’t eat this food and our property taxes will be lowered — everybody wins. But a more likely scenario is that next spring, City Council approves a citywide bedtime.
Ed Vassallo
Mayfair
David Oh: Is he a
go or a no-go?
Regarding David Oh’s letter dated Oct. 4 (Council candidate: I have guts), Mr. Oh wrote of the Northeast: "Neighborhoods are not what they used to be and more and more good families are moving out." Then Mr. Oh says, "I served our city as a prosecutor, so you know I will be tough on crime."
What Mr. Oh forgot to mention is that he is currently a defense attorney and about three years ago he defended The Purple Orchid II, a nuisance strip club in Burholme that was shut down and the manager was arrested and charged with possession with intent to distribute cocaine! Hmmm...Mr. Oh is defending nuisance strip clubs, drug dealers and many other villains — your idea of being tough on crime?
Slick attorneys like you who defend these low-lifes who live, rent houses and operate businesses in our neighborhoods is the reason why we are moving out!. There is absolutely no way I will be voting for you!!
I urge Northeast Philadelphians to boycott David Oh on Election Day!!!
Beth Laure
Burholme
• • •
Mr. Oh, I am a city employee, father of five children, all of whom attend Catholic School here in Mayfair. I too am a veteran (U.S. Marine Corps ) and would like nothing more than to spend the rest of my life in my modest home on the 3200 block of Wellington St.
I am slowly but surely realizing that dream is falling apart as each day passes. For years I have been a registered Republican in this town, which only means something during presidential elections. I guess what I am trying to say is I wish you the best of luck in your campaign, but remember you live in a town controlled by self serving Democrats who for the most part could not tell you how to get to Cottman and Frankford from City Hall.
Hopefully for your sake, enough people, Republican or Democrat, that live here will take a moment to think about what is at stake here — saving the last decent spot in William Penn’s dream gone bad, the once-great Northeast.
Mike Tait
Mayfair
Oh: Let me replace
the lazy do-nothings
Regarding Kevin Coughlin’s letter in the Oct. 11 edition (How will you fix the woes, Mr. Oh?):
Dear Kevin,
I have advocated real solutions for the problems facing the Northeast, since I first ran in 2003. The Northeast Times has reported on these ideas on several occasions. You and the other readers are welcome to read the articles in full, on my Web site, www.DavidOh.org
In brief, we have to develop our neglected economic engines, which provide tens of thousands of good, family-sustaining jobs. Having plenty of good jobs will reduce crime, increase our population and allow our city to provide better services while reducing taxes.
We especially need blue collar jobs for people who live in our neighborhoods. Knowing that a good job is waiting for you when you graduate from high school, makes school a lot more meaningful to teenagers. It fosters respect, discipline and a positive attitude. It also encourages young people to get married and have families. Having children under these circumstances fosters responsibility and concern for the community.
We have to address the root of the problem where it begins. That is not something we have done in this city. As a former prosecutor I will drop a heavy hand on crime. Our prison space must be prioritized for violent offenders so that we can keep them off the street, prosecute them quickly and send them to a state facility.
In terms of job creations, I will push for shipping, film production, rotocraft research, high-speed transportation, international trade, establishment of an "innovation and conversation" area, tax reform, support for small businesses, development of the waterfront around family use, and many more things that should have been done decades ago.
I want to reform our public school system so that parents have great say in the process. I will also push for relief for parents who send their children to Catholic school and private schools.
Coming up with effective ways to solve our most pressing problems is not hard and it is not the problem. Re-electing the same old, familiar politicians who have a record of poor performance and lack of effort is the problem. People are disgusted with politics in this city and they are discouraged to the point that they don’t want to vote.
Unfortunately, that is the best way to ensure that things continue to get worse and that the lazy, do-nothing politicians who are responsible for this mess, stay in office. Thank you for your concern.
David Oh
Republican candidate for City Council at-large
Please check your
priorities, Maria
I don’t think Maria Quinones-Sanchez has her priorities straight in her campaign for the 7th Councilmanic District.
Ms. Sanchez does not think cutting the city wage tax is a priority. Well, I do. My family and I could use the almost $100 a week I pay in city wage tax.
Next she wants to offer businesses tax incentives to hire individuals who are just getting out of jail. How about an incentive for people who have never been in jail and pay all the taxes already?
Thanks to redistricting I am now in the 5th Councilmanic District. Maybe I should just do what most other taxpaying citizens from the Northeast have done — MOVE OUT of the city I love.
John Barzeski
Northwood
Ban cell phone use
while driving
When in the world is someone going to enact a cell phone ban in cars while driving?
Too many people don’t pay attention to driving while they use their cell phones in the Northeast Philly area. Something needs to be done immediately. I am worried that a driver will hit me in the rear, and I already have a bad back.
Barbara Snyder
Pennypack
Parents, where are
your daughters?
If it’s Saturday night, chances are if you live near Lincoln High School, your daughters aren’t too far. That’s a relief, right? Wrong.
On any given weekend night you can most likely find your daughters (and sons) getting in touch with nature in Pennypack Park. Do you know that for these teens, getting in touch with nature really translates to getting in touch with alcohol, drugs, etc? Or do you opt for the traditional course of denial, i.e., the "not my child" road to perdition? Remember, there is currently an unidentified rapist prowling these grounds.
Returning from dinner on a recent Saturday night, my friend and I were astonished and nauseated to see these young girls entering the park in masses. Having been girls in our mid-20s ourselves, we reminisced about the excitement they might be feeling. Oh, wait, there was nothing to reminisce about because our parents taught us better.
Fortunately for us (and our parents), my friend and I are still here and healthy enough to even think about this because we were not so clueless as to play in the dark. My mother, living in New Jersey, still instills enough fear in me to be careful and "watch out for that man in the park," so I wonder why can’t you when you live here? Parents, please! Just because there hasn’t been a rape recently, doesn’t mean it won’t happen again. Just because there’s safety in numbers, doesn’t mean one girl, drunken or not, can’t be led astray. Just because your children say they are going to be one place, doesn’t mean they will be.
So I challenge you not to believe your child. Ignore Dr. Phil and take a trip to Rowland Avenue between Hartel Avenue and Decatur Street, the ballfield on Holme Avenue, or the Lincoln football bowl and eye the female youths who don their miniskirts, their hair styled to perfection, and their makeup highlighting the looks of a 20-year-old on their 14-year-old faces. Watch them take the teen-made footpath between the bushes of the park to their favorite watering hole and see if you recognize your own kin.
If afterward you’re still lying to yourself, that’s fine…just don’t say you had no idea when your daughter becomes the next victim.
Lyn Macdonald
Holmesburg
There’s no place
like home-schooling
Tim Hanson’s letter (How do you spell, ‘Huh?’, Oct. 11 edition ) was shocking but not surprising. Mr. Hanson, I want to thank you. Your letter served to confirm my belief that I made the right decision when I chose to home-school my children 12 years ago. To this day, neither of my daughters (ages 14 and 9) has ever attended a "traditional" school.
Just as you and I both recall from our own childhoods, my girls get a spelling test every Friday. And I cannot recall either girl ever scoring below 95 percent on any test, from K to their current grades (eighth and fourth).
My son (age 15) was home-schooled up to and including fourth grade, and his spelling as well was always impeccable. In fact he took great pride in his ability to spell well. He loved to read books, even the great classics, such as Treasure Island and Moby Dick. Unfortunately, he was found to have ADHD, so we had to put him in public school.
Not only did his spelling begin to suffer greatly, but so did his behavior. He also began saying, "I hate to read." We learned it was because being smart in "regular" school is regarded as "uncool" by other kids (his new peer group), so he dumbed himself down to fit in. It was a tragic loss for us and for our son, but what could we do? The damage had already been done by the school system. I determined my daughters would never suffer a similar fate.
My daughters are in the top percentile for their ages and grades, always score excellently in standardized testing, and their home-school evaluator says they are progressing remarkably well.
They are also involved in outside activities, such as gymnastics, helping special needs children, Hebrew school and other activities. I remember taking part in many spelling bees in school (as I’m sure you do too, Mr. Hanson). How terribly sad that the School District of Philadelphia has seen fit to ignore the teaching of proper spelling (as you proved from your Web site link). Thank you, once again, for reminding me that I made the right decision to home school!
Anita Wasserman
Rhawnhurst
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