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A budget address
from Taubenberger
Once Mayor Street revises his administration’s unrealistic budget projections to meet the requirements of the PICA board, we have to take a look at the future finances of the city.
At the current rate of growth, personnel costs (including salary, pensions, overtime and health benefits) will double to consume $1 of every $4 the city spends by 2010.
It is incumbent on the next mayor to be strong in negotiations and manage escalating costs efficiently.
The best way to grow city revenue to meet these costs is to bring new jobs and residents to our city.
The resulting increased revenue from transfer and wage taxes can go a long way to meeting our financial obligations and avoiding similar budget shortfalls in the future.
My goal is to fight to bring jobs to Philadelphia.
Al Taubenberger
Republican candidate for mayor
There’s no place
like home
The two biggest rackets in Pennsylvania are selling properties and taxing properties. Then there is the sour-nasty proposition of foreclosing on a person’s home.
The state should not allow people’s homes to be used as collateral on any mortgage loan. Sometimes in a person’s life, his/her luck may run out. Without a home, how are people going to survive, especially families?
Lawmakers should disallow mortgage companies from being allowed to foreclose on a customer’s home.
John Horner
Oxford Circle
Warning to Council:
I will remember you!
At Mass on June 17, I was greeted with an upsetting announcement in my parish’s bulletin, front and center: a resolution by Philadelphia City Council members adopting the Status of Philadelphia as a "Pro-Choice" city, by a vote of 9-8. All Council members for and against were listed, along with Web sites for more information and to view the statement of Cardinal Rigali.
To the Council members who voted against this resolution, I say "thank you" for recognizing that not everyone agrees with this resolution, and be assured that I will remember your votes (in a good way) in the future.
To the Council members who voted for the resolution and did not join the Council majority that rescinded the resolution one week later, I have this to say: I am a devoted Catholic (a convert), I am pro-life (and have worked with the pro-life movement), I am a married mother of two young children (one in Catholic school), and I VOTE! Be assured that I will also remember your votes come the next election when I can vote against YOU. You don’t speak for me, and you don’t speak for many others in this city.
I’m not expecting all politicians to agree with my values and faith, but I had not expected that the City Council would adopt a resolution stating something as controversial and divisive as declaring our city "pro-choice"! I was also dismayed to learn that Planned Parenthood was behind this initiative. What is the purpose of this resolution, anyway? I am wondering if it can be undone .... or what slippery slope it may lead to.
Kim Wilson
Rhawnhurst
Abortionists
are criminals
I agree with Marianne Lacey regarding the innocent killing of unborn babies through abortion (Medical science sheds new light on the unborn, June 14 edition).
I fail to see why a person who kills a pregnant woman is guilty of two murders — the mother and her unborn baby — and yet no one will prosecute the abortionist who continually kills preborn babies. These abortionists knowingly torture the baby first by painfully tearing off the baby’s limbs, or stabbing its brain with scissors during the process of killing it in an abortion.
In today’s scientific age, everyone knows a preborn baby feels pain, has hiccups, sucks its thumb, recognizes and responds to its parents’ voices and is even operated on in-vitro by skilled doctors to correct any health issues, and the operation is paid for by insurance companies.
How can anyone pretend that abortion is not killing innocent children? It’s time to wake up and admit that these abortionists are criminals and should be treated as such in a court of law.
Marie Gallus
Holmesburg
Don’t be in a hurry
to grow up, Lisa
In response to Lisa Hanratty’s letter last week (Ransom notes fine except for one exception), why SHOULD an eight-grader even have an opinion on abortion? Why can’t kids be kids?
When you are in the eighth grade, homeschooled or traditional schooling, isn’t it hard enough to deal with the usual aspects of growing up? Peer-pressure, voice-cracking and self-esteem issues are enough for a teenager to handle, let alone the hot-button issue of abortion. Let them grow up before they need to tackle such important social issues.
While I commend you on your letter, please, Lisa, enjoy your childhood. When you get older, the problems you will encounter will be difficult, but hopefully you will learn how to handle them with poise and integrity.
If your parents have an opinion on abortion let THEM write a letter to the editor.
Living one’s life precariously though your kids seems to be the norm anymore, and quite frankly it’s very disturbing.
Lisa, you only have one childhood, please live your life to the fullest. Don’t grow up so fast!
Kevin M. Coughlin
Fox Chase
Celebrate the Fourth,
and live to tell about it
Whether your Fourth of July traditions include a celebration at a backyard barbecue with family and friends or heading out to one of our nation’s waterways, let’s also remember to salute another popular American tradition — designated drivers and designated skippers.
More than 148 million American adults have either been a designated driver or been driven home by one. In addition, 85 percent of boaters believe promoting the use of designated skippers is an excellent or good way to encourage boating safety.
And thanks to efforts like these, along with effective law enforcement and community-based alcohol awareness and education programs, the U.S. Coast Guard reports that alcohol-related boating fatalities have decreased 22 percent since 2002. Likewise, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation, drunken-driving fatalities during the Fourth of July holiday are down 31 percent since 1982.
This holiday weekend, do your duty as an American and use a designated driver or skipper or volunteer to be one. There’s no better way to demonstrate true American spirit than by looking out for family and friends and helping to make sure everyone has a safe, fun holiday.
Remember, responsibility matters!
Matt Carey
Consumer Awareness and Education Coordinator Penn Distributors
At long last, let’s have
a smoke-free state
Pennsylvania is poised to join the surrounding states to protect the health and well-being of individuals statewide by passing legislation that would prohibit smoking in any public place or workplace including bars, restaurants and casinos. Pennsylvania has gone further this year than ever before by moving this kind of legislation out of committee to be voted on at the floor.
While the Senate Appropriations Committee has clearly prioritized the well-being of all Pennsylvanians, it is my hope that the full Senate will also recognize the importance of ensuring the future health of our state. If legislation is passed, Pennsylvania will join nearly 25 states, including New York, New Jersey and Delaware, to implement statewide smoking bans.
Most Pennsylvanians support smoke-free legislation. In fact, many worksite owners (including restaurants and bars) feel that comprehensive statewide legislation is good for business. Contrary to popular opinion, a recent U.S. Surgeon General’s Report found that a statewide ban on indoor smoking is not likely to have a negative economic impact on the hospitality industry. In fact, some studies have shown that employment, sales and revenue have actually benefited from a smoking ban. Additionally, four out of five Pennsylvanians state they are more likely to frequent a smoke-free establishment than those that still allow smoking.
Each year, nearly 20,000 adults in Pennsylvania die from their own smoking. More than 3,000 Pennsylvanians die annually from exposure to secondhand smoke. The World Health Organization has concluded that there is no safe level of human exposure to secondhand smoke, and on May 31 urged all countries to take immediate action to ban indoor smoking completely.
It is time for Pennsylvania to take action and join the growing number of states that have enacted a statewide smoking ban. It is time for Pennsylvania to breathe clean air.
Diane Rosati
Acting Director
Bucks County Tobacco Control Project
Show lane courtesy
in all 12 months
Driving on the highway has become a pain. Drivers don’t yield the left lane to faster moving traffic, people tailgate, and the highways are congested. I think it’s time we got back to using lane courtesy on the roadways.
Lane courtesy isn’t a radical idea and it is easily implemented. Drivers should keep the left lane clear for faster moving traffic. After you pass a slower moving vehicle, move back into the right lane. This way there’s less tailgating, less congestion and a more consistent traffic flow. It’s safer because you don’t have to continually speed up and slow down, which also helps to conserve gas.
I realize that a lot of drivers claim the left-hand lane as their own because they’re going the speed limit, but they are just adding to the frustration on our roads by blocking the flow of traffic. Potentially, they may cause an accident by being a roadway obstacle. Many accidents and a lot of frustration can be avoided by more drivers simply following the principle of lane courtesy.
The National Motorists Association Foundation has even made June "Lane Courtesy Month." You can find more information on this issue at www.lanecourtesy.org.
Take a few minutes to check it out. It’s a good way to learn more about how lane courtesy can benefit us all. Thank you.
Tom McCarey
National Motorists Association
This abused dog
never had a chance
I am writing in response to the abuse of animals.
I recently came home to find an abandoned and abused dog on my property. My neighbors were all on my property trying to help the dog. As an animal lover, I was horrified to see the condition of the dog. It brought my neighbors and myself to tears.
We were told by police to bring the dog to PACCA (Philadelphia Animal Care & Control Association), in Hunting Park since it had no I.D.
We took the dog and were rudely told that they couldn’t do anything for the dog and if she wasn’t claimed in 48 hours she would be euthanized. I was told to go to the SPCA on Erie Avenue because they have a vet on staff. We hurried over and were told they don’t help or take dogs anymore. The door was then closed and locked in our faces. We couldn’t believe we were trying to help this bleeding, abused dog and no one would help us.
Isn’t the SPCA there to help animals, including dogs? That’s why I had been donating to them for the past 17 years. What is my money helping if not people like me who try to help abandoned, abused animals?
We were forced to return to PACCA. We were again rudely told to just leave the dog. We regretfully had to leave her, the mange was too severe and contagious to my dog if I took her home.
The next morning I called everywhere I could to get help or place the dog somewhere, but was repeatedly told sorry, there’s nothing we can do. I called PACCA several times the next day to check up on the dog and was given a runaround, then was told the dog had been euthanized. It hadn’t even been 48 hours.
It’s bad enough that there are evil people in the world who could do this to an animal. It is even sadder that there’s no help from anywhere, especially from places that are there for the care and help of animals. I still cannot believe the rude treatment we encountered from both PACCA and the SPCA.
I will no longer donate to or support the SPCA and I urge other animal lovers to do the same. And to the pathetic people who abuse and don’t care for animals, there’s a simple solution — don’t have them.
Kelly Mulligan
Torresdale
City of Brotherly Love
hates the Boy Scouts
Guest Opinion
By Robert Knight
Philadelphia has big city problems. The murder rate is on the rise, and gangs make some areas unsafe even in the daytime. It’s no secret that fatherless, undisciplined boys are the main reason the streets are deadly.
So what is the city doing about it? Let’s imagine for a moment that we’re in a Philadelphia City Council discussion.
"How about a crackdown on gangs? Or a crackdown on drug dealers?"
"Nah. Those people shoot back. I’ve got it! Let’s persecute the Boy Scouts! They won’t give the police any trouble."
"Yeah, this will be a great way to pay back those gay groups for donating to our campaigns. The media will love us, too. Watch how they’ll frame this: ‘Enlightened Officials Reign in Hateful, Bigoted Boy Scouts!’ Good for us! Now, let’s take a Starbucks break!"
So it was that on May 31, the real-life City Council, without debate, and under pressure from an organization that promotes the rights of "sexual minorities," stabbed the Scouts in the back. They voted 16 to 1 to break a 79-year-old agreement allowing the Cradle of Liberty Council of the Boy Scouts to occupy a building in a city park. The Scouts built the building in 1928, and turned it over to the city in exchange for a rent-free lease "in perpetuity." Apparently, "perpetuity" in Philadelphia now means, "until gay groups boot you out." The Scouts can stay only if they will open their ranks to open homosexuals.
Sexual immorality is now the moral high ground in Philadelphia, and the Boy Scouts are the bad guys. Does anyone with clout in Philadelphia see why this is monstrously wrong? Let’s be generous and assume that lots of people still don’t know about this. The story was ignored by all the networks except Fox News Channel, and the local press didn’t even put it on the front page.
It’s bad enough that the City Council wants to force the Scouts to allow homosexuals to be role models for young boys.
There’s also the issue of child molestation. Just ask the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia. They’ve faced lawsuits from 218 men and 33 women who claim to have been molested by priests. The church has paid out more than $1.4 million in settlements.
Councilman Darrell L. Clarke, the Democrat who introduced the motion, is urging the Scouts to "compromise. Honestly, no one wants to see them out of there."
OK, let’s be honest, Mr. Clarke. Everyone knows the Scouts cannot compromise. The lawsuits would bankrupt the organization. You’re telling them to slit their own throats or get out of town.
The Boy Scouts of America themselves have had to deal with hundreds of incidents of molestation. They cannot afford to surrender.
Given the clearly illustrated danger of mixing homosexual men with boys, it is criminal to use government power to force a youth group to put boys at risk just to please a special interest group. Actually, it’s criminal for any reason. The Cradle of Liberty Council has a year to submit to this ruthless bullying and pony up rent (the amount is still undetermined) or abandon their longtime headquarters. As City Solicitor Romulo Diaz warns, "the year’s-notice clock is ticking."
Philadelphia is getting a reputation for heavy-handedness. It was Philadelphia where 11 Christians sharing the gospel at a homosexual street festival in 2004 were arrested on "hate crime" charges and jailed, with five facing eight counts that would have netted 45 years in jail upon conviction. A judge who viewed a tape of the event months later finally dismissed the charges, but the city had made its point.
Philadelphia is the City of Brotherly Love. Now they’re beating up on the Boy Scouts’ Cradle of Liberty Council.
The irony here is thicker than a Philadelphia cheesesteak, and it’s a good deal more odoriferous.
Somebody ring that Liberty Bell, will you? ••
Robert Knight is director of the Culture and Media Institute, www.cultureandmediainstitute.org, a division of the Media Research Center.
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