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Life vs. trees? Give life

a fighting chance

In reference to Natalie Minkovsky’s recent letter (There are plenty of places in which to fight cancer):
When it comes down to a choice of someone’s life, I’ll take a life being saved. Where were you when thousands of trees were being removed to build all the huge homes along Pine Road? Did you feel sorry for the wildlife being displaced again?
I would like you to go to the Fox Chase Cancer Center and walk the halls for just one hour. Who knows — you might run into a neighbor or a friend of yours who has cancer.
I just found out that I have esophageal cancer, so I’ll be part of Fox Chase for some time to come now. While you are there, see how many people are worrying about trees being removed. They are more worried about saving their lives. Which is more important? I know what my answer would be!
You can plant a tree anywhere there is room for it to grow. You can’t put a sick person just anywhere, they need a place like Fox Chase to help them get better.
No one wants to get sick and be in the hospital. Anyone with cancer is grateful that there is a place like Fox Chase that they can go to for treatment. Don’t worry about the few trees coming down, because you never know if cancer will strike you and you may need to go to a place like Fox Chase.
Ken Milgrom
Modena Park



Politicians corrupted

the DROP program

With regard to the letters of Mr. Moskovitz and Ms. Kline (The Joan Krajewski Fan Club speaks up, Jan. 31 edition), Joan Krajewski is not the second coming. The Northeast Times does not have a personal vendetta against her, they are simply printing the truth.
With regard to the city of Philadelphia’s DROP program, what Joan Krajewski did was not illegal, but it is immoral and reprehensible. She knew the rules when she decided to join the DROP, as do all city employees. That rule is, once you join, you must retire after four years. She knew this, yet ran for another term, knowing full well she was in the DROP and was expected to retire.
Allowing a politician or appointee to stay in their positions once their DROP participation has ended is not extended to other city employees. These people like Joan Krajewski flaunt and use their positions to skirt the rules.
The DROP was created to help city employees enhance their pensions, which are not exceptional like the public may think. City employees pay into the pension, it is not a freebie. The DROP was not designed to add money to the pockets of the higher-paid politicians and appointees who have the exceptional benefits and pensions. Look at what former Mayor Street walked out with.
The DROP program is a great program for civil service employees, but politicians have corrupted it. Thanks to Councilman Bill Green for having the courage to stand up, notice the DROP problem and for trying to exclude the elected and appointed officials. But with half of City Council now in the DROP, it will be “investigated.” The elected officials will drag their feet so they can all get their money in four years, resign for a day like Joan Krajewski did, and resume their duties without the citizens re-electing them.
Bob Deck
Bridesburg

• • •

The DROP program is an irrevocable commitment to retire. Joan made a conscious decision to “retire” before the end of her prior term and return to serve her new term. She didn’t mysteriously appear on the ballot on Election Day nor was she a write-in by 19,122 voters so enamored by her representation. She chose to run for re-election.
The editor of this paper was 100 percent correct in the stated facts of Joan’s actions. Legal, it very well may have been, but ethically, it was sorely lacking.
The words of Bill Green Sr. when he was mayor ring true to this day in his description of our City Council as the worth legislative body ever.
Marc C. Crawford
Mayfair



Look for shreds of

the numerical mystery

How convenient!! The Board of Revision of Taxes lost state Sen. Vincent Fumo’s real estate tax file. Perhaps they should look in their shredder.
The board should not be allowed to collect one penny until they assess all properties equitably or else apply the same tax rate to everyone that they afford Sen. Fumo. His $6 million property is assessed at $250,000. He pays property tax of $6,611 in lieu of the $185,000 tax bill that is warranted based on the true value of his home. A little calculation here shows he pays a tax percentage of .0357351.
Now let’s apply that percentage to my tax bill of $1,885. Well gracious me, it comes to $87.36. Now, I can live with that. So, how do I go about getting a refund?
Joyce Ciliberti
Modena Park



I now pronounce you

man and president

Hillary Clinton for president? Why not? She has what it takes to be president. Experience, talent, wit. You may remember the TV program that featured a female president (Commander in chief). I wish the TV network would show it again.
If Hillary Clinton becomes president, it will be another first — a husband and wife as presidents of the United States.
Gomer Pyle says it right: Golly!
John Horner
Oxford Circle



Why is CLIP

picking on me?

I bought my house in Mayfair about eight months ago. Yesterday, while I was home sick I noticed a CLIP truck outside talking to my neighbor. I asked the woman in the truck what was going on and she explained that I needed to clean up the back of my house because the neighbor didn’t approve. The only thing back there was MY trash cans, leaves, a water bottle (that could have came from anywhere) and some cigarette butts.
I gave up and went in my house to call CLIP. About an hour later I got a call back from the same inspector that came to my house and she said I have 10 days to clean it up and if not I will be charged $75.
I would LOVE to know how some neighbor who has way too much time on her hands can cost me money. I work full time, go to school full time and have a 3-year-old child to worry about. Some trash that fell out of MY trash can on MY property isn’t my biggest concern.
I understand that this program is useful to some and people should take care of their properties, but there is nothing wrong with mine. I would welcome anyone to come out and show me how “my property” is a quality-of-life issue.
I overpaid on my house and put more than $5,000 in work to the house since I moved in, so maybe CLIP and this “lovely” neighbor who has way too much time on her hands should target a property that needs their help.
I would also like to know who runs CLIP, because maybe they could expand to other areas like Frankford. There are a lot of houses down there that need their help — or do they only target areas that can afford to pay their outrageous costs?
Christina Morio
Mayfair



Take some lessons

from Gen. Patton

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all my fellow GI’s from World War II.
I’m a little late, you say? I know that I have been waiting to hear how many of us are still around. How is your memory? Go back 63 years. The worst winter in Europe many years. Frozen toes and fingers. Battle of the Bulge.
Remember our leaders? FDR, MacArthur, Clark, Patton. Who are the leaders in Iraq? You will never know because every time you turn around they retire before the war is over. What is the reason — no guts or are they afraid to get hurt?
They have been fighting for the city of Baghdad since ’05. We took Europe in a year, 1944 to ’45. This president was never in a war and was never shot at by the enemy.
We have the Navy sitting over there with planes and bombs for what reason?
Drop a few of those bombs and the war would be over very fast, and then the young men can come home where they belong.
Get Gen. Patton’s memoirs. He can show you how to take a town or city the right way.
James Toland
Somerton



Tackle your own house

before the NFL

Hey, Sen. Specter, it sure would be nice if you spent more time worrying about the lying and cheating that goes on in the Senate and House rather than a football team.
Everyone knows that most, if not all, NFL teams use those tactics. I’m pretty sure we did not elect you to clean up ethics in football when it’s a full-time job to try to get your fellow politicians to have some ethics.
It seems to me that your time would be better spent cleaning up your place of work instead of grandstanding with the football issue. Do we really need so many senators if you have time for this nonsense?
Vince Mosiniak
Torresdale



Perzel defends tax

relief plan for seniors

Guest Opinion
By John Perzel

In response to criticism from some sectors for my having introduced legislation to eliminate school property taxes for senior citizens, I believe we must keep a long overdue promise to our most vulnerable.
Government has always been about making tough choices and using our limited resources to help those who need it most. Senior citizens have worked hard their whole lives only to be confronted with difficult and often life-altering financial decisions during what should be their golden years.
I have come under heavy criticism for introducing legislation that will eliminate the school district portion of property taxes for an estimated 600,000 low- to moderate- income senior citizens throughout Pennsylvania — paid for by the estimated $1.2 billion that will be generated from gaming revenue.
The Pennsylvania General Assembly has debated the best way to achieve property tax relief for decades — with virtually no success.
Going back to 1978 when I was first elected to the legislature, property tax relief for senior citizens was always our top priority. Somewhere along the way, though, we lost sight of our original goal.
Somehow the needs of senior citizens on fixed incomes got mixed in with everyone else. Instead of focusing on reducing the tax burden for senior citizens who can least afford to pay their property taxes, any number of politicians made promises to the general population that they knew they couldn’t keep.
My plan to eliminate school district taxes for senior citizens is a realistic and practical solution to providing serious tax elimination for senior citizens on fixed incomes, so that they no longer have to choose between paying their taxes, putting food on the table or buying life-saving prescription drugs.
The choice is between putting an average of $200 over the course of the year — or $3.85 a week — in the pockets of every property owner regardless of income, or eliminating an average school district property tax bill of just under $2,000 for seniors on fixed incomes throughout Pennsylvania.
My legislation is entitled the Older Pennsylvania Property Tax Elimination Act and it goes beyond delivering tax relief — it delivers property tax elimination for those who need it most.
Under my plan, homeowners age 65 and older with incomes of $40,000 or less would pay no school property tax. This would affect more than 600,000 senior homeowners throughout Pennsylvania.
Within 30 days of receiving their school property tax bill, eligible seniors would send their tax bill to the state Department of Revenue, which would then return a check to the claimant, made out to their school district, for the amount of school tax owed.
Across the board property-tax relief for all Pennsylvania homeowners is a noble — but unfortunately unrealistic — goal. For 30 years we have pursued this goal, but to no avail.
With our present financial state, we cannot provide every homeowner with substantial and significant property tax reduction. It’s that simple.
We can realistically take care of our senior homeowners. They are the ones who need it the most, and my legislation provides them with the tax relief they so desperately need. ••
Mr. Perzel, a Republican, represents the 172nd Legislative District.



Special-needs folks

need dental insurance

Guest Opinion
By Thomas Murt

Being the caretaker of an adult person who has special-needs can present many challenges. One of these challenges is ensuring that the person for whom you care is getting the proper dental care they need.
While there have been great advances in dentistry and dental technology over the years, and while people have become much more proactive with their own dental health, dental disease remains one of the most common forms of illness. Furthermore, tooth decay remains the most chronic disease amongst our children.
The responsibility of ensuring another person’s dental care is a challenge for anyone who cares for another person, but especially so for those who compassionately care for a special-needs person.
Most everyone has at least some fear or apprehension of going to the dentist, or of receiving a dental treatment or procedure — no matter how routine. We can all appreciate the fact that this anxiety and fear might be even more profound for a person who has special needs and is frightened of the dentist’s office. Few of us can fully relax in a dentist’s chair, or fully cooperate with the dentist or dental hygienist as they care for our teeth and our dental health.
In many instances, anesthesia is required in the treatment and care of patients so that a patient can get into a zone of relaxation and stillness where the dentist or dental hygienist can properly perform a needed procedure, complete a cleaning, and ensure a patient’s dental health.
Anesthesia is especially important in the treatment of our family members who have special needs. Anesthesia is sometimes the only way a dentist can get a special-needs person to fully relax in the dental chair and to allow the dental staff to properly care for their teeth.
Unfortunately, many insurance companies in Pennsylvania simply refuse to pay for anesthesia for special-needs patients under these conditions. Many insurance companies will only pay for the use of anesthesia in the rarest and most critical of dental procedures.
The reality is that the use of anesthesia is required to properly treat many dental patients who have special needs. The refusal of this limited claim eliminates the use of anesthesia for dental purposes in many families whose dental insurance simply will not pay for it. The result of this refusal to cover anesthesia is dental treatment with compromised outcomes, or the denial of required dental care altogether for special-needs patients.
This compromised care on dental cleanings and routine procedures can and will result in more serious dental problems in the future. These more serious conditions can include required tooth extractions, treatment for oral or dental infections such as gingivitis, or the treatment and therapy for an abscessed tooth or teeth.
These conditions are, of course, more expensive to address, and could possibly have been avoided altogether if routine care with the patient under a level of anesthesia was afforded to a special-needs patient in the first place.
I believe that insurance companies should be more cooperative in this regard, and I have co-sponsored legislation (HB2100) that will require insurance companies in Pennsylvania to cover anesthesia when it is needed to properly render dental treatment to special-needs patients.
The judicious and wise use of anesthesia during a dental procedure will allow a dentist or dental hygienist to complete a needed treatment and prevent more serious health care issues in the future.
Preventive health care measures can and do prevent more serious problems from evolving. A big concern in recent years with our General Assembly has been the promotion of preventive health care measures. This legislation that I have sponsored is such a preventive health care initiative.
It is time for Pennsylvania to join the 20 other states in the U.S. that require such coverage. Many additional states are considering such required coverage. We owe this to our special-needs Pennsylvanians and to the families who compassionately and lovingly care for them. ••
Mr. Murt, a Republican, represents the152nd Legislative District.

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