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We’re paying the price
of the Fumo fiasco
In February my wife and I went to the real estate board of assessments to appeal the rate increase for 2008. We were notified that our appeal was denied. At the time, I thought we had our day in court, but now, after the Sen. Fumo fiasco, I am boiling mad.
We and most of the other people in the Northeast are diligent in paying our taxes, but the same doesn’t apply to those who are connected. Now the human cry is going up about re-evaluating property values in Fairmount and other affluent sections of the city. How about all those years when Fumo and others were underevaluated?
The shame is all those real estate taxes that were not collected. Are the rest of us expected to pick up the cost of running the city and the schools because of these deadbeats? Our ex-mayor and his brother were notorious tax defaulters. Indeed the brother was just convicted of some of these charges. An ex-councilman who lives in Northern Liberties is, according to him, appalled because his property is being re-evaluated.
I wonder how the city real estate office handles this appeal and many others like it? Probably just like in the past, giving those who can afford it the most a pass.
Jack Miller
Rhawnhurst
Let’s hear it for
the trashmen
This is a comment I must make with regard to a recent letter to the editor about a dispute with trashmen.
The letter doesn’t address what was said between the trash men and the woman’s son.
There are always two sides to every story. I don’t condone pulling knives on people, and yes, letting the police handle the problem was the right thing to do. It seems from the letter that both men got up on the wrong side of the bed that day.
We have the nicest trashmen in our neighborhood. I go out to greet them when they empty the trash can and they kindly hand me the empty can, ask how I am today and if I am feeling all right.
In the winter when I would go out without a jacket on they were concerned and told me not to get a cold.
There have been times when I have not been home to get the trash can handed to me, and they would put it up on the lawn for me regardless.
All along the street, they do not throw the trash cans around like on some blocks.
Instead, they put them on the sidewalks.
We have had the same crew on for a long time, but when there is a substitute team, they are just as nice and polite. Sometime the trashmen get a bad rap.
This is a hard job to do — cleaning up after all the citizens of Philadelphia. I grant that there are some bad apples no matter where you work or what job you are involved in, but it is not right to call them animals. Perhaps being kinder to people helps in the long run.
I give our trashmen an A+ for the job they do. We must have some of the best out there. Remember, in the summer it’s not fun to do this in the heat, especially to smell the garbage that gets mixed in with the trash.
Josephine Siefert
Mayfair
What about a reward
for recycling?
Ever since the recycling program began in our neighborhood we’ve been putting out bottles, cans, plastic, newspapers, etc., over the years, but we get nothing in return. What did they do with the money they collect for the recycling?
Northampton Township has been doing the recycling for their residents and did give something back to the community (like $50 a year in their property tax saving) and for us, we got nothing.
I have heard talks from the city of Philadelphia about giving something back to us, like coupons, rebates, etc., but nothing came of it. What’s going on?
P.S. Our property taxes have been going up every year since then.
Robert F. Schaffer
Millbrook
Thanks for the
beautiful work
Recently, the Major Artery Revitalization Committee (MARC) placed 40 neighborhood banners along Frankford Avenue in Holmesburg and Upper Holmesburg.
The 20 Holmesburg banners run between Sheffield and Solly avenues, while the 20 Upper Holmesburg banners hang between Solly and Linden avenues.
MARC wants to thank Councilwoman Joan Krajewski, state Rep. Michael McGeehan, U.S. Rep. Allyson Y. Schwartz, the Community Life Improvement Program (CLIP), the Holmesburg and Upper Holmesburg Civic Associations, and SEPTA for their support of this community beautification effort.
Edward J. Vassallo
Director of media and public relations
Major Artery Revitalization Committee (MARC)
Thanks for emptying
the cans
I want to thank the mayor’s office for responding by postcard about the trash receivers on Ashton Road. That is the 9400 block and the bus stops for the Route 19 and 50. They were emptied a week after I got the postcard.
I hope they will continue to empty them, as that has been the problem. They fill up and overflow and we have the same mess again. Some people don’t know what they are and still throw trash on our lawns, street and pavement a few feet from the trash receivers.
I have a solution: Start giving these people the $200 fine, already the law. This would also pay for the upkeep.
P.S. I think we have voted in a good mayor, as he is dealing with many issues that have been ignored.
Jackolyn Cahill
Pennypack
It’s time for the community
to stand together
I am a middle-class working father of four who is extremely frustrated at the actions of about 20 Austin Meehan Middle School animals who terrorize school children who cross their paths.
There were three separate incidents that occurred in the past couple days. On May 16, a mother was waiting for her son, a student at Amy at James Martin Middle School.
My daughter goes to this school too and gets off at the same stop. The boy was getting off the bus at Cottage and Bleigh around 4:10 p.m. when this group of animals attacked his "white" mother, her son and another student because why!!! Where are the school police? Where are the parents? They travel in a pack down Bleigh Street and Loring Street from Frankford Avenue to the "New North Philly" below Torresdale Avenue.
On May 19 as I was getting home from work at 3:45 p.m., the same group of animals beat and stomped a white girl in the alley of 4300 Loring St. I ran out my back door to scare them off and called the police. Before the police came, seconds later the group traveled down the 4300 block of Loring St. and beat a white boy.
This is not a white crime? If the tables were turned, this would be racism and Al Sharpton and the NAACP would be marching all over the neighborhood. Where is the white Al Sharpton or a group representing the white interests? Oh, that would be racist!
We need some police presence in the neighborhood after school so the violence stops. These animals are 12 to 14 years of age. What are they thinking? These kids are the future. Some future they are going to make the world.
Well, I found someone to walk hand and hand with to protect my children and yours. His name is Rev. Louie "Ville" Slugger and he will protect my children. Nothing will be done until my child or yours is seriously injured.
Don’t be scared of these punks! Let’s stand together to protect our neighborhood, children and way of life.
Bill Gillin
Mayfair
Policeman’s killers
are still people
Although I am deeply saddened, as any citizen of Philadelphia, by the death of one of our finest, I must respectfully disagree with Peggie Hibner of Tacony, who wrote in last week’s letter to the editor that when all three killers of Sgt. Liczbinski have died, no one will care.
There will be at least one person who will care, and that person is me.
I will care because these three men — in spite of the horrible crime they have committed, in spite of the fact that they have caused unspeakable grief and suffering for his wife, children, co-officers and friends, in spite of the fact that there is a long line of citizens screaming for a painful and prolonged death for the killers — they are, I believe, still children of God.
I know this is a strange concept for some, even for those who call themselves dedicated members of the Judeo-Christian faith, but it remains a hard reality that we are committed to forgiving those who have done great harm and damage to us as individuals and to our society.
I find it difficult sometimes to hear people of faith quoting the Old Testament revenge call of "...an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth," but who neglect to mention what the Nazarene said about this: "But I say to you, forgive your enemies."
When I think of all the sins involved in the terrible death of this good man, "our" sins as well as "theirs," I remember what the Danish mystic Isak Dinesen wrote: "Do you think He died for the sake of our toothaches?"
Edward Huber
Burholme
Editorial, letter left
a bad impression
I am not a Philadelphia native. I moved here after I completed graduate school in December 2006. Even though most of the people I work with live in Center City or in the suburbs, I chose to move to my neighborhood in the Northeast because I thought it was a great blue-collar area that had the type of diversity that my daughter had gotten used to in our previous home of Ann Arbor, Mich.
I love the fact that almost every major language and religion are well represented in her school. I love that my neighborhood is not only black, white and Christian but it is Jamaican, Chinese, Dominican, Brazilian, Orthodox Jewish, Muslim. I could go on and on.
This is why I was taken aback when I opened the May 15 edition of the Northeast Times.
There are myriad reasons for my frustration, but I will start with the two lead opinion pieces you choose to print on May 15th (The editorial, Al, you’re hurting us!, and a letter, White fireman unfairly treated). I could go on and on about how politically and socially inaccurate, morally unjust — and just plain ignorant — both of those opinions are, but the bottom line is that by not printing an editorial that counters the opinions expressed here, the Northeast Times is perpetuating a wholly unrealistic picture of the Northeast as eternally white, eternally homogeneous, eternally close-minded, and unfortunately, eternally racist.
Therefore, I am writing this letter with two goals:
1.To urge all readers of the Northeast Times to please stand up and be counted!
2.To request that the editors of the Northeast Times try to be more inclusive and understanding of the economic, political, religious, racial and ethnic diversity of the community that you are serving.
Kenya Hunter
Castor Gardens
Leave Rev. Al out
of the local picture
The Rev. Al Sharpton, as do all Americans, has the right to free speech. It is only when the news media pay so much attention to what an individual says that that person acquires fame and notoriety, particularly when the comments are pejorative in nature.
As to his part in the Tawana Brawley incident, he was not a witness testifying for her. One should assume that facing a man of the cloth, one would hear the truth. We may never know the real truth of that incident. An apology for his participation in that affair is not necessary.
Do you really think that the Rev. Sharpton would be welcome in the home of the slain officer? He did not know the decedent or the offenders. Would he be welcome at the gravesite? Those in attendance were family, friends, officials and associates. That is the way it should be.
Police officers have an important and dangerous job protecting us. When this kind of tragedy occurs, we have a right to expect justice. Our system demands justice be meted out fairly and appropriately so that the punishment fits the crime. Thinking people will watch and wait for results.
Would you expect Al Sharpton to insert himself into white issues? You have made the Rev. Al Sharpton a focus of our attention. One could hardly deem that he represents anyone in Northeast Philadelphia, certainly not his race. Do not elevate him as anyone’s spokesman. Al is not hurting us, your editorial does not help.
Frank C. Moore
Bustleton
Something’s wrong
\with this picture
Three men shot and kill a cop. Two suspects in a different case out on bail until proved guilty. Three other men shoot another victim. Police capture, beat and kick suspects. Police are fired, suspended without pay before any trial.
One suspect given hugs, kisses by employees at the store where he worked. Are they nuts?
Maybe all police should strike or walk, then let’s see how many more innocent people are shot by sweet low-life bums. Who’s doing the kicking now?
Kathleen Meehan
Parkwood
Plenty of blame to go
around for high gas prices
As gas prices soar over $4 a gallon this summer, a few individuals or groups of people need to be blamed. The price of anything depends on supply and demand. When there is more of something, it costs less. So, if supply is high, prices fall. In the same respect, if demand is high, so, too, is price. So any combination of high supply and low demand will bring prices down.
The first group responsible is an obvious one, the Bush administration. Their foreign policy has alienated us from a loose ally in Saudi Arabia. This country alone could supply more oil, lowering the price of gas.
The second is a group of people, who many probably do not even think about: Race car drivers like NASCAR. They use the same gas we do. They have to put gas in the trucks that transport the race cars. If NASCAR did not exist, there would automatically be less demand for gas, and therefore more of a supply. And let’s not forget the fans that expend gas traveling to these events.
The third group consists of store owners. If we lived in a perfect world, we could go to one place and purchase everything that we needed, from groceries to clothes to auto parts, etc. But we do not live in a perfect world and businesses are shuffled all across neighborhoods, towns and cities. In reality, we cannot fault store owners, though. They have to purchase properties where they can.
The fourth group consists of the oil companies. They are greedy, but we live in a capitalist society where individuals can make as much as they can get their hands on.
The final group consists of everyday Americans. We could do more. We could carpool more, drive slower, or "hire" representatives that support our interests. We need to pressure the politicians to support our interests.
One way to reduce gas costs and also food costs is to eliminate ethanol from gasoline. There have been reports that ethanol is no better for our environment than gasoline without ethanol. Yet our politicians just voted on a bill to extend the ethanol requirement to 2022. The price of gas in Philadelphia could drop 10 to 20 cents without ethanol and the price of corn and other products used to make ethanol would drop because of a drop in demand for corn.
Keep your politicians honest. Send them a letter or an e-mail, or give them a phone call. Stay educated, and learn about the issues. Elect those that fight for the issues you believe in. Remember this for the fall. Remember this for the 2010 midterm elections (Pennsylvania elections that year will include governor and U.S. senator).
Robert C. Lendzinski
Lawndale
• • •
In response to Arthur Gurmankin’s recent letter to the editor regarding the cost of oil, I would like to point out a few things.
1. Profits for oil companies, although high, are part of a free market, capitalistic society. I am not sure why oil companies should be punished for making a profit. Taxing oil companies for making a profit would cause damage to more than just the oil companies and their executives. The average worker who has a 401K may have a portion of their investment portfolio in oil companies; it would be a shame to punish them as well.
2. Reducing the gas tax for the summer would only take a minuscule burden off of the American consumer.
3. Your third statement regarding a premium on gas for those who drive a gas guzzler lacks any intelligent thought. So now you want to penalize the American citizen as well as the oil companies?
Oil prices are high for a number of reasons, one being the simple law of supply and demand. Consumption of oil by China and India has grown at a staggering rate over the last few years. The value of the U.S. dollar continues to decline around the world, and the fact that OPEC pegs the price of oil against the U.S. dollar is an indication of why the cost is rising.
The United States also has not made a strong effort to become energy independent. Combine all of these issues and you have the main reasons why oil prices are out of control.
Terence Gibbs
South Philadelphia
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