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White firemen
are unfairly treated
Dear Mayor Nutter:
I thought you were going to be a different kind of mayor, according to your campaign promises, than the previous mayors of Philadelphia. You were going to get rid of the bad guys and clean up the city. Well, you were informed, both in a meeting and in a letter, about the racism that runs rampant in the Fire Department, among other places. There is a double standard in the department that no one seems to care about.
When a black fireman gets in trouble, he is simply moved to another station instead of punished. When a white fireman is falsely accused of something, without any proof, he is punished without a fair hearing to clear his name.
The white firemen are afraid to complain for fear of retaliation.
These firemen put their lives on the line every day and should be treated with more respect. When promotions come up, the more qualified people are always passed over to put minorities in those positions of higher rank. There are some black firemen who have been moved from station to station to station more than once just so their trouble can go away. There are many black firemen in positions of authority who are utterly unqualified for the job, and some get the position simply because they know, or are related to, someone who holds a high rank.
Well, Mr. Nutter, if you want to clean up the problem, I suggest you start at the top with the commissioner, since he looks the other way and helps perpetuate the problem. Well, so much for campaign promises!
Patricia Andracchio
Pine Valley
Library Friends can
always use some help
On behalf of the Friends of the Free Library, heartfelt thanks to reporter Jon Campisi for his incredible salute and spotlight on volunteerism in our neighborhood Free Library branches (A little help from their Friends, May 8 edition).
It is our organization’s goal to have an active group of Friends in all of our libraries throughout the city and the Northeast. We encourage our Northeast community and its library patrons to consider volunteering as a Friend for your library. The work is rewarding, fun and truly makes a positive impact.
In addition to wearing a volunteer hat as president of the Holmesburg Library Friends, my second hat as a community organizer for the Friends of the Free Library includes visiting our many branch libraries to develop new volunteer Friends groups and strengthen existing groups. Anyone interested in learning more about the Friends movement in Philadelphia and connecting to your local library, please contact me at 215-567-4562 or kdlash@libraryfriends.info.
Libraries, one of our city’s most treasured institutions, create lifelong learners. Get involved, volunteer and make a difference at your library.
Karen D. Lash
Friends of the Free Library of Philadelphia
Where, oh where,
has my little tot lot gone?
The parents and small children of Mayfair are wondering what has happened to the beloved tot lot at Lincoln High. This favorite spot was suddenly torn down with no warning. Aside from it needing some minor repairs, the playground was trashed with no plans (from what I hear) to rebuild.
How can they throw away a playground that so many worked long and hard to build in the first place? I feel awful when I think of the long hours it took that group of people years ago to get that all together. The school district may have owned the property but they have no right to suddenly throw away thousands of dollars of equipment that many from the immediate area donated. No one was given a choice.
Can someone figure out what happened here? It will cost tens of thousands of dollars to rebuild this, not to mention years. Where are our local politicians and civic groups here in the Northeast? Don’t the little ones matter?
Mary McCann
Mayfair
Safety mats needed
at playground
Now that Rhawnhurst has its new rec center along with its snack bar at Solly and Bustleton avenues, let’s make it safe for the children. It should be a priority before making money selling snacks.
The playground equipment has been up now for almost a year and has no safety mats underneath them. All that’s there are dusty dirt and lots of jagged rocks. I myself slipped while trying to put my grandson on a slide.
If they were not ready for the children to play on them just yet, then why put them up unsafely and risk them getting an injury? So please, I hope they intend to make it safe for the children and lay the rubber mats.
Clara Miles
Rhawnhurst
Bothered by loud
commercials, logos
Today’s high definition TV is a glorious achievement, although what we view on it is a crying shame.
What is the function of the Federal Communications Commission? Why don’t they help us, the viewing audience of cable and satellite TV?
I am bothered by:
• Commercials that boost audio decibels to unbearable levels.
• Station logos that are large, flicker, revolve — anything to attract your attention. Are we that stupid that we don’t know what channel we are watching?
• Channels that flash what show is coming on next and later.
• Local channels that have news and weather with John Doe’s product implanted on the screen.
Now here is the big punch — when a commercial is on there are no logos to distract you. Why is that? The sad part about this is we are paying high prices for this nonsense.
Marcello Latessa
Parkwood
We need more
police officers
Once again I sit here and write a letter to the newspaper about a fallen officer.
This young man left his family on a Saturday morning to patrol and protect our city. Saturday is a day most men get to stay home and spend time with their families. Every City Council member had the day off.
You are the guilty party here. You sit in chambers arguing over some silly proposal, casino site, or some crazy thing for your districts.
The people of this city demand that you, City Council, find a way to get more police and firemen to protect this city.
When I was a young boy, there were two officers in every car and enough firemen to man the engines and trucks.
This city has gone backward long enough. Fix things or resign! Give the police and fire departments the men and equipment they need. Their title alone demands the respect of everyone, including you the people that run this city.
I guess this is not important enough of an issue, as it is not election time.
Tom Corcoran
Millbrook
Civilized citizens
have nothing to fear
You’re damned if you, you’re damned if you don’t....That should be the Philadelphia Police Department motto! It’s coming to a point where looking the other way is the safest thing for a cop to do!
Everyone thinks the police are here to hand out hugs! No, they’re here to enforce laws! You rob a bank, you go to jail! You kill a cop, you get the death penalty! You shoot three people on a corner when undercover cops are looking, you get an ass kicking, then you go to jail!
Respect is the key, and a whole lot of people don’t respect the police. The ones that cry foul always seem to be the ones who are up to no good. I’ve never had my ass handed to me by a cop, and do you know why? Because I’m a law-abiding citizen.
If I get pulled over, I cooperate as best as I can to make the situation go as smoothly and quickly as possible. I don’t carry an illegal gun. I don’t sell drugs. I don’t steal. Black, white, yellow, purple — color is not the problem, lifestyles are. Being civilized is the key.
Steve Pham
Parkwood
Protect the police,
not the criminals
When I was a child growing up in Philadelphia the police were feared. Now at 30 years old I watch as children, teenagers and adults have no regard for the law or our city’s police officers. Once known as the City of Brotherly Love, Philadelphia’s new nickname is "Kill-adelphia." It’s something we all should bow our heads down to in shame.
"Protect and Serve" should be the motto of our criminals. They are protected and served. We see it every day. Three police officers have been killed in less than two years and others injured.
Countless innocent citizens of this city have lost their lives, people robbed, teenagers fear for their lives and parents fear for their children’s lives as they watch our crime rate grow year after year. But yet we have the gall to say our police are abusive because days after a sergeant was slain with an assault rifle, police are caught on tape beating three criminals.
How dare we feed into that? Did we forget that these officers put their lives on the line for us every day? Do we not understand that they have to fear their lives more than the citizens of this city now more so than ever? Do we not realize that these men and women have families to go home to?
They didn’t just beat innocent people here…they protected and they served every innocent citizen in this city by showing criminals who were involved in a shooting moments before what should happen when you break the law and put other lives at risk.
Philly’s Finest brought on justice the way it should be done and now they have to face repercussion because we say it is wrong? Do we not want this city to get better and go back to being the City of Brotherly Love? Do we not want our children to play safely in the streets with their friends? Or, do we want our kids to accept a dollar as payment to shoot another child with a bb gun?
We as citizens contradict ourselves too often. We want the city to get tough on crime but yet as soon as we get tough that is too much. Think about this — if you live by the law and you don’t break it why do you care so much about what happens to those who do?
Eric Floyd was captured. The news said he did not resist arrest. Floyd probably didn’t resist arrest because he knew what happened to the three criminals two evenings before. He feared a good old-fashioned beating. No guns, no knives, just punches and kicks. He knew that is what would have happened if he resisted arrest. Most likely in his case he would not have survived. If that would have occurred, our Philly’s Finest would have deserved a standing ovation.
Our police officers do not have assault weapons to walk around with. They have their little Glocks and one magazine clip on their belt. That is it. They can’t carry anything more. How can they possibly feel safe? Not only do they have to worry about running out of ammo, they have to fear their lives, fear what will happen to their families and fear losing their job every time they pull their weapon. It saddens me to see how we treat our officers and so quickly put them down.
This city was in line years ago because our officers could do their job. In today’s world they can’t. They are damned if they do and damned if they don’t. This city’s demise is our fault, not our officers.
Raquel Szatkowski
Millbrook
Boycott Fox for
its beating video
On May 6, I tuned into the Fox29 10 p.m. news to hopefully see what was the capture of accused cop killer Eric Floyd. Instead, I saw a brief synopsis of the Stephen Liczbinski slaying followed by what they felt would be more newsworthy: a voyeuristic video of Philadelphia’s police force assaulting three individuals, with eerie similarity to the Rodney King days.
Two wrongs don’t make a right, but the bottom line is that desperate times call for desperate measures.
I am appalled by the fact Fox chose to toot their own horn, insinuating they had a "scoop" on the city’s police force — the only story Philadelphia is concerned with right now is the senseless death of Stephen Liczbinski, along with the capture of Eric Floyd.
Fox not only insinuated our police force has nothing better to do than viciously beat its residents, but then went on to highlight stories of how the police force is "trashing" local neighborhoods, rushing into innocent people’s homes, as well as violating several people’s rights.
How dare they devote news stories like this when Philadelphia has not yet recovered from yet another fallen hero?
The lunatics have taken over the asylum in this city of "brotherly love" and it’s time to say enough is enough.
Our police force not only fights for our own personal safety, but now have been degraded to going to work every day where it is a fight for their lives!
It is a travesty that Fox chose to spin this story to elevate further discord amongst Philadelphia’s citizens and did not focus on the fact those beaten had just been considered suspects in a triple shooting.
What we once considered chores or pleasures — going to a bank, convenience store, supermarket or simply sitting in front of your home — have now turned into the question of ‘will I be robbed or killed in doing this simple task?’
I’d like to thank slain Officers Skerski, Cassidy and Liczbinski for being untainted true heroes.
There are two unjust wars currently in existence. I hope the one in Philadelphia does not last another 100 years! I applaud Mayor Nutter’s recent support of our officers and found it very encouraging.
If you are currently viewing Fox news, show the Philadelphia police and its officers’ families that you support them by tuning out and tune in to an alternate channel that knows the meaning of respect.
Lori Miller
Tacony
Pray for all
of the officers
Over the last few years, three of our friends in the community have risked their lives and given their lives to be a part of the Philadelphia Police Department and make our communities safer. In this time of sadness and pain, we honor Philadelphia’s finest and pray for their safe keeping every day and night that they serve us.
Even though I did not know Officer Skerski, he patrolled my former neighborhood area of Juniata. Even though I did not know Officer Cassidy, my brother is now an officer in that very district. And even though I did not know Officer Liczbinski, his family lives around the corner from my sister and protected the Shop Rite that my aunt works in and the neighborhood that my aunt lives in. I feel a little connection to each of the fallen and my thoughts and prayers go out to these officers’ families even years or weeks after their honorable departure from this life.
I myself am a teacher, not an officer, but I have a brother and friends on the force. Please keep all officers in your thoughts and prayers every day, and do not be afraid to leave an anonymous tip if you know any information in any case whether it be a fallen officer or a fallen fellow citizen.
Robert C. Lendzinski
Teacher at Abraham Lincoln High School
Suspects should
have been in cages
Since when did the Northeast Times become such a liberal rag? In its editorial last week (It’s a jungle out there), the Times states some nonsense about state legislators getting out of the pockets of the National Rifle Association. What a load of crap.
How about finding the judges, lawyers and parole boards who release these animals, who belong in cages, and send THEM to the gas chamber! Let’s start with Judge Griffin, who saw fit to reduce charges of one of these gems after he tried to kill another police officer. All you morons are barking up the wrong tree! All three of these animals involved in Sgt. Stephen Liczbinski’s murder should have still been in cells. Forget about the NRA and go after the real culprits — the judicial system.
As far as DA Lynne Abraham is concerned, did you ever think maybe she agreed to offer life in prison for Officer Skerski’s murderer because the Skerski family didn’t want to suffer through a trial? Besides, the death penalty is a joke, anyway. Just look at Wesley Cook!
Francis M. Palmer
Somerton
Editor’s note:Wesley Cook is better known as convicted cop-killer Mumia Abu-Jamal.
15th district needs help
from pals for PALS
The 15th Police District is seeking to raise money for the 2008 PAL Fund Drive. The Police Athletic League celebrates its 61st anniversary of service to the youth of our city.
PAL is "Cops Helping Kids," a charitable non-profit organization whose mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of young people and in doing so, contribute to the overall quality of life in Philadelphia.
By providing free educational, athletic and cultural after-school and summer programs in a safe environment, PAL teaches life skills and provides experiences essential for youth to become successful and productive citizens.
All PAL activities are supervised by full-time Philadelphia police officers, providing a unique opportunity for strong and positive relationships among the youth, their communities and the police department.
The financial support received from citizens and businesspersons help make this all happen. Your important contribution is vital to continue this work. Decals are given to donors who contribute $50 or more.
Checks may be made payable to "Police Athletic League" and mailed to or dropped off at:
15th Police District
Attn: Community Relations Officer
2831 Levick Street
Philadelphia, PA 19149
Thank you.
Capt. Francis J. Bachmayer
Commanding officer, 15th Police District
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