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Let’s target a Kohl’s
for the Northeast
I couldn’t be more disappointed with the decision to have a Target store be one of the businesses to come to the renovated area at Bustleton and Bleigh avenues.
We don’t need two Target stores in the Northeast! What we need is a Kohl’s — there is no Kohl’s for miles around in any direction!
I hear there’s one out at Neshaminy, but that doesn’t serve Mayfair, practically speaking.
Why this couldn’t have been taken into consideration stumps me. Just another stupid administrative decision!
Mary Windisch
Mayfair
Beware of the
copper crooks
It appears that we have yet another thing to worry about. There are those in the area inclined to steal copper piping.
A neighbor very close to us has told me her copper drain pipe, which is attached to her wall, was literally sliced off and stolen. With the new market prices for copper going up, there is now a demand for it more than ever. It probably makes good sense for those who have exposed copper on the outside of their homes to paint them to ward off any possible theft.
We need to keep an eye out for this and keep the police notified of those responsible.
David Carlin
Burholme
Hanford Street
thanks Krajewski
The neighbors of the 7200 block of Hanford St. would like to thank Councilwoman Joan Krajewski and her staff member Linda for their tremendous help in solving a very serious problem on the block. This property is owned by an absentee landlord living in New York.
Councilwoman Krajewski’s quick response, with her subsequent call to the L&I commissioner, had this problem handled and ended in two days. What a relief!
Thank you also to the L&I commissioner, who sent us Mr. John Wallace, who was also a tremendous help in resolving this situation.
A thank-you also goes to the Philadelphia fire and police departments for their valuable assistance.
Without Councilwoman Krajewski’s intervention, this situation would not have been resolved. We all owe her our gratitude and thanks. Keep up the good work. It is appreciated!
Judi Rothman and the neighbors on Hanford Street
Cheers for O’Neill’s
immigration bill . . .
I was glad to read that Councilman O’Neill is trying to pass a resolution so that the police can check the immigration status of all felony arrests. I offer him (and Council members Krajewski, Rizzo and Kelly) my full support.
Typically, our City Council majority rejected this modest step toward immigration sanity. We have a Council that has little concern about criminal behavior unless the crook is running down the street with a smoking gun, or worse, a pound cake with trans fats.
So for now, illegals with rape, pedophile, or murder charges in their home country can continue to feel very comfortable in our sanctuary city.
I ask you, the reader, to think: Is this the kind of city we want to give our children and our grandchildren? It’s really up to you. I encourage everyone to read Invasion PA, a report assembled by state Rep. Daryl Metcalfe, to see the facts on crime and illegals. (Repmetcalfe.com).
Read, think and please take this into account when you vote.
Richard Iaconelli
Rhawnhurst
. . . And jeers for
his record in office
I just recently turned 18 years old and I am looking forward to voting in my first election. This has been a steppingstone that I have been anticipating as long as I can remember.
When I was in elementary school, there was a crosswalk dispute in front of St. Anselm School. I took my concern to Councilman Brian O’Neill and it was completely ignored by him because I was not a voter. Because I was not a voter, Councilman O’Neill knew I did not affect him and he did not do anything about my concern.
I entirely disagree with last week’s endorsement of Brian O’Neill being the best fit for the 10th Councilmanic District for the reason that he does not care about the concerns of all of the people of the district.
Sean McAleer does. I met Sean McAleer last year and I could see that he cared about all of the people in this district. He did not look at me as a teenager who was not old enough to vote, but as an equal person voicing my concern.
Sean McAleer has drive and enthusiasm and these characteristics will bring a lot of positive attributes to the Council seat. I am a student at Neumann College, but this upcoming Tuesday I will make sure I make the one-hour drive to Northeast Philadelphia in order to make a difference in this year’s election. All first-time voters and people of the 10th district should join me in supporting Sean McAleer in the general election.
Mark J. Fabbi
Parkwood
• • •
Election Day is coming and I want the Northeast area to be aware of how our Councilman Brian O’Neill works against us. In Fox Chase, Holy Redeemer Corp. is currently building five office buildings at seven stories tall on Susquehanna Road at Verree Road. These offices were to be built on Verree Road and not on Susquehanna Road in front of homes (this change was done without any zoning notices). I have called Holy Redeemer Corp. and spoke to a woman in charge of this project.
She stated that she wishes people would stop calling her and call Councilman O’Neill, for he is working for them and is in full support of putting the OK on all zoning requirements. I have called O’Neill’s office many times and only get answers from his staff. One response was not to call L&I, they will handle those complaints.
O’Neill will not return any of my calls till this day! Brian O’Neill, you are paid by my tax dollars to represent me. I have the right to be able to speak to you! You are not at your "Meet Brian" meetings and you seem to hide until Election Day. Your project has destroyed the group of trees that were never to be disturbed, and now our homes look directly at all of the construction and the offices to be built.
Why are you destroying Fox Chase? There are so many empty office spaces in the Northeast, do we need more? Why did you let a small green area be destroyed? Are you working for corporations and not your constituents? What do you do? We never hear what you do as Council member. You miss most of the meetings and aren’t available to speak to.
As a past committee member for your party, I always heard your name, but never knew what you actually did; I was only told to support you.
Well, Mr. O’Neill, we need changes in all government levels. I am in full support of Sean McAleer to replace you. Maybe it’s time the Northeast gets a new voice in Council to better support the direction of the Northeast. What next, Burholme Park to be bulldozed for another corporation? Vote for a change, vote Sean McAleer for councilman.
Michael DeVincent
Fox Chase
• • •
This is in response to reporter Tom Waring’s recent article concerning the 10th district race. I was very annoyed at the comments Councilman O’Neill made about the Fox Chase Cancer Center (FCCC) expansion plan. He states that there is no need for a community-wide meeting because the Fox Chase Homeowners Association "largely back the plan." I am a Fox Chase homeowner and have been at every meeting for at least the past two years and not once has there ever been a vote concerning the expansion plan.
I do not know how he has come up with his opinion that the community largely backs the plan. Any time that Tom Garvey, of FCCC, makes a presentation about the 20 Year Expansion Plan, there are numerous concerns from the audience. (This plan should not be confused with the building of the parking garage and patient care facility on land FCCC already owns. Both of these issues have been supported by the homeowners association. I know this because we took a vote on it.)
Tom also states that the labor unions are eager to get to work. Of course they are. There is money to be made by them if the expansion plan goes through.
Unfortunately, neither Councilman O’Neill nor Sean McAleer seems to be concerned about neighbors and the impact that it will have on them. We will be losing parkland that can never be replaced. We will be stuck in traffic jams on Oxford and Cottman avenues and Township Line Road due to the 10,000 extra vehicles from new patients and employees. Our children are the ones that will be playing on the ballfields with all of this traffic around them. We are the ones that will be seeing and hearing construction vehicles for the next 20 years.
I would also like to comment on the gentleman from Olney who Brian refers to as the "main spokesman" against the expansion. I have spoken to several members of Brian’s staff over the past two years about the neighbors’ concerns. I have met with Brian at the library about our concerns. I have been very vocal in the community and at meetings. I have had several letters to the editor appear in newspapers about the expansion plan. I have e-mailed Brian. I have asked Brian to call me. Not once have I ever received a phone call or e-mail from Brian concerning this issue.
I live right across the street from FCCC. I am very concerned. If the guy in Olney is a problem for you being a spokesperson, please feel free to contact me and I will take on the job!
Denise Kirk
Fox Chase
• • •
My grandpop always had a political saying that seems very appropriate this election year when considering Brian O’Neill as councilman: "When in doubt, vote ’em out!" The Northeast sure has deteriorated under Mr. O’Neill’s 28-year watch.
Kate Zebrowski
Bustleton
He’s for Nutter
but likes Al
I am a lifelong Democrat and will be supporting and voting for Michael Nutter for mayor on Nov. 6. He has the experience and the open mind to do great things. However, I believe there is a huge disservice being done to the Republican candidate, Al Taubenberger.
Al is a partisan politician and has worked hard for the Republican Party for many years. The campaign he has run since receiving the nomination is just the kind that voters, newspapers and good government groups have been wanting for years. He is running with intelligence, class and unbelievable energy. And he has been critiqued for that same class and intelligence and NOT resorting to the name-calling ways of past elections.
If all those people who want him to bash his opponent cared to, they could have run for mayor. And worse, the ridiculous suggestion that the type of campaign in which he has engaged is due to his expecting a job from Michael Nutter is a disgrace to Al, Mike Nutter and the entire electoral process. I think Mike Nutter will be a terrific mayor for the city and for Northeast Philly, and although he won’t get enough votes to be mayor, Al Taubenberger is a winner for sure!
And a note to Republicans and Democrats of Northeast Philly to vote on Tuesday and send our own neighbor, Seamus McCaffery, to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.
This is a unique opportunity for our area, so please get all your friends and family to vote in this important election.
Judge McCaffery will be the highest-ranking state official ever from the Northeast and he deserves our support.
Terry Devlin
Fox Chase
Oh offers a refreshing
point of view . . .
After reading Kevin Coughlin’s letter in the Oct. 11 edition questioning Council-at-large candidate David Oh, I assume Mr. Coughlin would like the Northeast Times to dedicate a special edition on Mr. Oh’s platform addressing the complicated ills facing Philadelphia. Mr. Oh has a Web site that you can easily find where you’ll be able to obtain more detailed info, or he can easily be tracked down at one of the multiple forums throughout the city that he is attending on a daily basis and get answers to those questions.
As a candidate, Mr. Oh actually has a refreshing, forward-thinking outlook for the future of the city as opposed to the politics as usual that most Philadelphians, in particular Northeast residents, have come to accept and be complacent about, but at the same time continue to complain about on a daily basis, whether it be jobs, riverfront development, dredging the Delaware, the arts, our failing school system, reforming our government from the corruption we’ve become so used to, or just making our everyday lives a little safer from rampant crime rates.
Mr. Oh will not run away from these issues or ignore them, and has consistently addressed them head-on in person.
Maybe it’s just me, but I’d rather have people with a vision for the future involved in running our city than those that just want to rely on name recognition or think they deserve our vote because they’re "one of us."
Tom McDevitt
Holmesburg
. . . But Kelly is always
there for us
Despite the lack of interest in the upcoming mayoral and City Council races, I plan to cast my vote on Tuesday for a candidate who has always been there and protected my neighborhood — that is, Councilman at-large Jack Kelly.
He is not only a great councilman, he is the first councilman at-large in 30 years from Northeast Philadelphia. When we were in danger of losing our libraries and mini-City Hall, or faced with increased tax bills, Jack Kelly stood strong and came through for us.
Councilman Kelly definitely deserves four more years! Let’s re-elect our neighbor to continue to fight for us!
Frida Kuhn
Somerton
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