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Ponder what might
have been, George
In your editorial last week about the retirement of state Rep. George Kenney (Bye George), you say "Soon Mr. Kenney will be able to wake up every morning . . . enjoy his wife and five kids seven days a week."
Let us all wish him a happy, happy retirement undisturbed by thoughts of grieving Philadelphia parents who have lost their kids by gunfire because Harrisburg politicians like Mr. Kenney wouldn’t budge an inch to help our city control gun purchases, since of course, his re-election was much more important than the lives of somebody else’s children.
Where are you and your family going first, George: Disney World? Have lots and lots of fun!
Edward Huber
Burholme
We don’t want the
restaurant menus
I find dozens of restaurant menus in my mailbox every day, amounting to close to 100 menus a week.
Those that don’t make their way to my recycle bin end up littering the pavements and streets all over the West Mayfair and Holmesburg areas.
Restaurant owners: Save your money. Keep your trash. Stop this ridiculousness.
Steve D’Angelo
West Mayfair
We loved you just
the way you were, Mini
Dear Mayor Nutter:
I am sorry to bother you so early in your term, but there is a situation in Northeast Philadelphia that really needs attention. I requested an answer from Mayor Street but he declined to answer me, as he was the cause of the problem that currently exists.
We had a nice little mini-City Hall in the Northeast section of the city that worked fine for many of our seniors and contractors and property owners. I understand the cost of that little operation was approximately $90,000 a year — not a big operations cost for the convenience of the people in this area.
Well, Mayor Street decided that he wanted to cut that cost and move the facility and eliminate a few of the services in that office. I think we saved $5,000 a year, if that. He started a new facility that included the cost of moving and renovating, which quickly used up any savings and cut the services. Not the payroll, just the services.
This is the bottom line: My husband and I own 10 rentals in the city of Philadelphia, and wanting to go according to the law, we update our rental licenses and apply for new licenses for our rentals. That was always handled at the mini-City Hall in the Northeast. We live up this way and it is more convenient. Well, last year I did not get a renewal for one of my rental licenses, and was told I had to go into Center City to get it. This is where it really gets good:
I called the Department of Licenses and Inspections and they told me they were open between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. and I had to go down to the Municipal Services Building, which I was not happy about, but I went. I got there in the line at approximately 12:05 (because it took me 15 minutes to find the right line to get into). I was told that they only give out numbers until noon and I would have to come back another day.
Do you see where I am headed? I drove down into the city and paid $15 to park because I was told that the department was open until 4 p.m. I got there a little after noon and was told I had to come back another day. Mayor Nutter, I see why people do not get these licenses.
Before Street came in and disrupted our functional mini-City Hall in the Northeast, I could go in and pay my fee and leave. So now I drive 25 miles, pay $15 to park, get nothing and have to go back another day, just to give the city a check for my rental license for a house I own.
Please, Mayor Nutter, for all of the citizens in the Northeast who Street neglected all these years, can you please put full service back into the Northeast mini-City Hall? I am trying to be an honest person and pay the city what I owe, but the city sure has not made it easy for us. If you need help at the mini-City Hall, I will be happy to volunteer to work there. Just get it back the way it was.
Rita Wenderwicz
Torresdale
Don’t drop DROP
from public debate
How can the whole issue of former Mayor Street taking retroactive pay fade so quietly from people’s minds? Doesn’t anybody care, or are we so happy he’s gone that we’re glad it’s over with?
Is the legal department or City Council working to close the loophole that allowed Street to do that?
Also, I was reading about the new appointees taking office and was struck by the fact that there were no desks, computers, pens or phones in the offices. What happened to them? Did the previous employees take them home? I thought they were owned by the city.
C. Rosenfeld
Academy Gardens
Editor’s note: Councilman Bill Green is pushing legislation that would end the Deferred Retirement Option Plan for elected officials.
In fighting cancer,
do everything possible
As a recently retired employee of the Fox Chase Cancer Center (FCCC) I feel qualified to make a few remarks regarding the letter sent in by Natalie Minkovsky (There are plenty of places in which to fight cancer, Jan. 10 edition).
First let me say that I have no problem with what she did say, but I have to make reference to some things she did not say.
First I think she left people with the perception that FCCC is interested in only treating cancer and not in prevention. Nothing could be further from the truth. I put in 17 years in population science and population studies. Most of the grants and studies worked on risk with the resultant steps that could be taken to prevent cancer. I was involved for many years in a work-study program centered on those with high risk and how to take preventive steps.
The mission of FCCC is the study, research and cure and care of cancer victims with related action to provide the families of cancer victims with as much information as possible to help ease their pain and suffering.
The last expansion was the Prevention Pavilion located right next to the outpatient department.
Second, many believe that FCCC will take away Burholme Park in its entirety. Again, this is not true. The last thing the people of FCCC want to do is to take away the park. Those who think so should look further into the actual plans for expansion before reaching conclusions that are wrong.
While it is true that some of the park will be replaced by the expansion, what will remain will be left intact and will still retain the country-like atmosphere we all enjoy.
Finally, Natalie made reference to modern means of communication and that face-to-face activities are not necessary.
Again, I wonder if it is her perception that the world should forego all face-to-face communication. Granted, computers and modern communication have provided the world with new innovations, but you cannot convince those in charge of the various studies and advances being made that being in the same room with one’s peers and co-workers is not a good idea on occasion.
I really don’t believe anything replaces the "press the flesh" atmosphere. You can’t share lunch over the Internet, fax or telephone.
Clarence S. Boyd Jr.
Rhawnhurst
Let’s help people in the
battle to quit smoking
Guest Opinion
Linda D. Green, M.D.
Mark Twain once said, "Quitting smoking is easy. I’ve done it hundreds of times."
With every new year, thousands of Pennsylvanians try to quit smoking, but sadly most will light up again, joining the ranks of Mr. Twain and millions of others who keep trying but can’t overcome the incredibly powerful and deadly addiction of nicotine.
We’ve made incredible medical advancements since the days of Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn. But when it comes to smoking cessation, the progress has not been so impressive. In fact, it’s been pretty dismal. Fewer than 5 percent of smokers who quit on their own do it successfully, even though 70 percent want to stop. Simply stated, these statistics mean that if Mark Twain were alive today, he’d probably still be puffing away. As a physician, I find this a completely unacceptable societal failure.
It’s not for lack of awareness — that’s one area where we have gotten it right. Patient assistance organizations like the American Lung Association and the American Heart Association and educational foundations like the American Legacy Foundation and the Institute of Medicine are extremely valuable because they bring the health risks of smoking to the forefront of national debate and motivate many Americans to make serious attempts at quitting.
Thanks to these efforts, virtually every American knows smoking kills and is familiar with the grim statistics:
• An estimated 213,380 new cases of lung cancer were diagnosed in 2007 and more than 160,000 people were expected to die from the disease.
• Smoking contributes to more than a dozen types of cancers, many of which are often fatal.
• Smoking by parents is associated with a wide range of adverse effects in their children, including exacerbation of asthma, increased frequency of colds and ear infections, and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.
• Smoking has long been proved as a major cause of heart disease, chronic bronchitis and emphysema.
No, awareness is not the problem; nor can we blame a lack of treatment and support options. Effective medicines, counseling and additional resources like state "quit lines" are available.
The problem — and the biggest obstacle to improving quit rates — is that most Americans don’t have health insurance coverage for smoking cessation.
Unbelievably, insurers pay for treatments for cancer, heart disease, and other conditions linked to smoking, but they won’t pay to help people quit and, as a result, prevent many of these diseases from occurring.
Only 4 percent of insured Americans have coverage that includes benefits for smoking cessation. This is because insurance companies typically don’t include smoking cessation treatments in standard health benefit packages.
Instead, they make employers pay extra to cover their employees for smoking cessation, and many employers don’t pick up the added coverage.
As a result, physicians like me are unable to fully support many of the motivated patients who come to us expressing a sincere desire to quit. Our prescriptions do no good if patients can’t fill them. These patients need comprehensive insurance coverage that includes medications, counseling, and multiple quit attempts, because, as we now know, nicotine addiction isn’t just a habit or lifestyle choice. It is a chronic relapsing medical condition that needs intensive treatment just like any other addiction.
Nicotine is an addictive drug that alters a smoker’s brain — it brings good feelings when it’s present and bad feelings when it’s absent. Historically, it’s one of the toughest and deadliest addictions to break.
When comprehensive treatments are unavailable, smokers have few places to turn for help. A cessation class here, a nicotine patch there. To them, quitting becomes too difficult. So, they go back to what’s easiest — smoking, even though they know it’s slowly making them sick and leading to an early death. I witness this cycle of perceived failure among my own patients all the time.
But of course, this problem goes way beyond my practice and Pennsylvania.
The need for greater access to comprehensive smoking cessation benefits is quickly becoming a nationally recognized problem. The Centers for Disease Control recently issued guidelines for "gold standard" smoking cessation benefits, and credible organizations and coalitions like the President’s Cancer Panel have joined the call-to-action for coverage to help smokers quit for good.
With smoking-related diseases costing our state’s healthcare industry nearly $5.2 billion annually, isn’t it time for insurers to take a look at preventative medicine when it comes to smoking? Stopping chronic diseases and some cancers before they happen? Saving billions of dollars? It sure makes sense to me.
Pennsylvania has been dubbed by many anti-smoking groups as the "ashtray of the Northeast." Let’s turn the ashtray over, Pennsylvania, to help our smokers instead of shunning them. We know that most can’t quit on their own — Twain said it himself, and he tried hundreds of times. So, let’s focus on working with insurers to get the comprehensive coverage people need to quit smoking successfully. ••
Dr. Green specializes in pediatric and adult allergy, asthma and immunology. She has an office in Havertown.
A tribute
to Peggy
I was disheartened to read in the Northeast Times of the passing of former East Frankford Civic Association president Peggy Hoch.
As a former Times reporter, I regularly covered East Frankford Civic Association’s monthly meetings. Peggy was a fearless crusader who demonstrated unwavering strength and determination to improve her community.
Leading a civic association is a major responsibility and, although it’s an unpaid position, it’s a full-time job. Civic association leaders constantly address quality-of-life issues. They are the eyes and ears of the neighborhood. They are the ones who neighbors turn to when they have a problem on their block. They are probably the biggest advocates for their communities and the most dedicated neighborhood activists. Peggy exemplified all of these traits and more. She truly cared about Frankford.
I’m sure her tireless efforts to improving Frankford will be sorely missed. Everyone should be grateful for the many men and women who dedicate themselves to improving their communities.
Elizabeth (Stieber) Rementer
Harrisburg (formerly of Rhawnhurst)
Seniors
are ignored
When the gambling funds are doled out, Philadelphia will receive zero relief against the real estate taxes that Philadelphians are paying. They will receive nothing!
The plan, as I understand it, is to have a reduction in the wage tax. Wage taxes are assessed against earned income. I am a senior citizen that has no earned income — my income is a pension — which means people in my category will realize no relief of any kind. I feel that there are many thousands of seniors in the same category. I keep hearing that these funds will help senior citizens, but that’s only if you don’t live in Philadelphia.
Those of you who will get wage tax relief, I hope you do not expect enough to make any difference. I am ashamed of our representatives in Harrisburg that ignored our senior citizens and duped the working group that a reduction will help them. Particular grievance of mine is that these real estate taxes (partially) go to a school system that is not working.
Tom Finnegan
Somerton
Thank you,
Mr. Murt
State Rep. Thomas Murt’s efforts to increase resources for special needs families should not go unnoticed. As an adult with special needs, I am pleased to see there is someone in my corner. I am an individual with special needs who is fortunate enough to have a high school diploma and a supportive family. I take everything life has to offer and make the best of it. Unfortunately there are many people with special needs who do not have a support system and nowhere to go once their education is complete.
There are many obstacles that a person with special needs faces almost on a daily basis including, but not limited to behavioral issues, life skills, social skills and prejudice.
Additional resources could help individuals who face these challenges overcome certain obstacles and enjoy what life has to offer. Rep. Murt took the time to personally call me and discuss these issues. I am extremely impressed with his efforts and hope that he is successful. As a person with special needs, I say it is about time we deserve it. I hope this encourages other people to join in his efforts. Thank you, Mr. Murt.
Michael Merriman
MARC marks
the spot
Regarding Kathy Scannell’s neighborhood pride letter in last week’s edition of the Northeast Times:
Kathy, the Major Artery Revitalization Committee (MARC) wants to assure you and the rest of the neighborhood that the missing MARC mile markers, around Lincoln High School and Pennypack Park, have been found.
Currently, we seek a more secure method of hanging the signs, but they will be re-installed shortly. MARC hopes that you and the community continue to enjoy the markers for many years to come. Thank you for your concern.
For more information on MARC’s projects, visit www.marc-cleansweep.com
Edward J. Vassallo
Director of media and public relations, MARC
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