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Six ways to keep
Mayfair looking great
I’m all for people moving out of the ghetto and trying to make a better life for their families, but Mayfair is really starting to look like North Philly. Maybe if I just share some common practices we follow in Mayfair:
1. We don’t wear our shower caps and/or bedroom slippers and pajamas while going to the store. It only takes a minute to throw some clothes on and brush our hair.
2. We usually close our screen doors after we have exited/entered them. Yes, there is a way to hold them open but that is usually used only when carrying items through the door.
3. We don’t hang out our windows and throw trash onto the patio/driveway. We usually hand carry it down the steps and outside.
4. We try to cut the grass at least once every two weeks.
5. We usually own one vehicle per driver. We do not keep cars in the hopes that one day they will magically begin working when they haven’t moved in years. (We also try not to let our co-workers use our streets as parking lots during the day as we all pile into one white van and head off to work together.)
6. We don’t drive up one-way streets in reverse to avoid going around the block. We also actually STOP at a stop sign.
There are many other things I could go on about, but this should be a good start. Maybe Mayfair can remain the great neighborhood it’s been for so long.
Theresa Porter
Mayfair
More reader wrath over
handicapped-parking letters
This is in response to Wayne Puro’s letter regarding handicapped people (Readers up in arms over handicapped spots, July 10 edition).
How can you say that you are only handicapped if you are in a wheelchair?
What about the war veteran who lost a leg and has a prosthetic? Or the child with cerebral palsy who must use crutches to walk? They aren’t handicapped?
Or how about my own mother, who suffers from spinal stenosis? She can’t walk without the use of a cane because she easily loses her balance. Does that mean when she is in the car with either my dad or us kids, we shouldn’t hang her handicap tag and use it? It isn’t easy for her to walk, but fortunately she doesn’t need a wheelchair.
It is true that some people take advantage of having handicap tags, but to say that you aren’t handicapped unless you are in a wheelchair is farfetched and certainly not a fair thing to say.
My mother, the war veteran, the child with cerebral palsy and any other disabled person did not deserve your comment.
Melissa Shellenberger
Mayfair
• • •
Handicapped tags are not so easy to get, as Ronald Kall stated in his July 10 letter. Wayne Puro’s opinion is that you’re not handicapped unless you’re in a wheelchair. That’s ridiculous!
I am handicapped, but I look OK. I have six herniated discs, 65 percent of my heart does not work, and I have bad knees. I am no longer able to work, but I look like I’m in good shape, Mr. Puro.
Steven DiPinto
Winchester Park
• • •
With reference to Wayne Puro’s letter, the dictionary does not state anything about a wheelchair under the word handicapped. I have been restricted since February 2003. I cannot walk without help and I do not have full use of one arm and hand. I also lost my job, friends, family and the ability to drive my car.
So, think again, Wayne.
Marion Robinson
Rhawnhurst
• • •
I think people should review the Pennsylvania law concerning handicap parking tags and placards before making statements that people don’t deserve them or are abusing the system.
The state law requires that a doctor also fill out a section of the form requesting the permit. The facts are it is legal to have these permits even if you’re not in a wheelchair.
A couple of the allowed reasons that may not seem apparent are lung disease, cardiac, arthritic, neurological and orthopedic conditions. Although most of these disabilities are not apparent to people, it doesn’t mean that people are abusing the system.
There are too many people who don’t have tags or permits using these handicapped spaces that are just too lazy to walk a few extra yards.
To assume that it is all right to use a handicap spot because you believe there are people abusing the system is just a poor excuse for violating the law and common courtesy.
Dan Swadis
Morrell Park
End the gravy train
for prison inmates
Let’s first began with charging Philadelphia prison inmates for their trash pick ups.
Also, to save the city and the city taxpayers even more money, stop paying for inmates’ free local phone calls, free medical, free doctors visits, free hospital stays, free gyms memberships, free GED training, free college, free air conditioning, free heating, free job training (that most don’t use once they are out), etc.
Oh, and do you have a security system that watches your house and makes sure no one robs or rapes you like they do? Just take a look at the city of Philadelphia’s prisons budget. A lot of pork (your tax dollars) can be cut there.
If the inmates can’t pay for these services, bill their families, like the mayor wants to bill the taxpayers of the city. Oh hum, just an idea!
Anthony J. Porta
Sebring, Fla.
Mr. Porta is a retired Philadelphia correctional officer.
Her hospital experience
was far from excellent
There is a sign in the emergency room at Nazareth Hospital that reads "We are striving for excellence." My experience there on Thursday night, June 19, tells me differently.
I arrived at the ER with uncontrollable vomiting just before 11 p.m. I was seen in triage and registered within 10 minutes of my arrival. I waited another 15 minutes to be called into the back. By that time, I was actively vomiting in the waiting room. The staff member who was to bring me back just stood at the door until I was able to follow her. When she realized that we were taking too long, she just pointed to the room (24) and told me to sit in the bed on the left. She then sat down at the nurses’ station before I ever got to the room. The room was not cleaned prior to our arrival (there were half-empty soda bottles and a candy bar wrapper on the bedside table and trash on the floor). I was in the room by 11:30 p.m.
The call bells were not working. No one came near my room to check on me until the doctor entered at 12:45 a.m. (one hour and 15 minutes after my arrival to the room). He apologized for the wait, assessed me, and asked me a few questions about what brought me to the hospital. He informed me that he would have the nurse start an IV and give me some medications and fluids. A half hour later, at 1:15 a.m., I had to call the doctor back in because I still had not been seen by anyone else.
At 1:30 a.m. the nurse finally came into my room (two hours after my arrival to my room). She was not wearing a badge but introduced herself. She said that she had some meds for me and then connected the syringe to my IV tubing without swabbing the port with alcohol and without wearing gloves. She then left the room.
At 2:30 a.m. she came back into the room, told me that the doctor had discharged me and without wearing gloves again, removed my IV. She tossed my discharge paperwork onto the stretcher and walked out of the room. I was still very weak, I was unsure how to get back out to the waiting room and I had just been told to leave.
The nursing staff sat at the nurses’ station and gossiped. They ignored patients calls for help (since the call bells were not working, patients were forced to actually call out for help). When they finally did answer someone’s call, they acted as if it were an inconvenience to their gossip session. Also, staff going on break passing my room chose not to make any eye contact. I felt that I had inconvenienced them by being there.
I will not be using your facility ever again. I can only hope that at some point in the future, Nazareth is able to hire staff that does not find their job duties to be a burden to them and will actually focus on patient care.
Michele Brooks
Bustleton
Like all politicians, Obama
is a liar, candidate says
So the other day Barack Obama lied to the American people. Yes, Mr. Obama told a big lie. The question is, are we really surprised? When Barack Obama told Tim Russert on Feb. 26 that he would sit down with John McCain after he secured the Democratic nomination for president, should we have believed him? Should we have believed Barack Obama when he said he would abide by the publicly financed limits if John McCain also agreed to those same limits? When Obama did not sit down with McCain and told the American people that he would not accept our $84 million for his fall campaign, should we have been surprised, shocked or disappointed?
When Mr. Obama assured voters (back in the winter) that he would take the federal campaign limits for his general election campaign (like every other major party candidate has done since 1976), was he really lying to us? Barack Obama will now raise and spend between $400 million and $500 million during the last eight weeks of this year’s campaign while John McCain stays within the federal limits of $84 million.
So I ask again, are you surprised? Do you care? Do you think that this will make the fall campaign competitive and fair? Are you mad or upset? Is Mr. Obama counting on our apathy? Does Barack Obama think you will not notice when his commercials are running on a continuous loop in Pennsylvania this fall?
What about the question of campaign finance reform? Is it now dead at the federal level? Will the spending limits that have been agreed upon since Watergate now be gone? Is the McCain-Feingold campaign reform bill dead? Is this the end of any chance to end the big money that pollutes our politics at the federal, state and local levels?
When Barack Obama said that he was "change to believe in," did you really believe him? The simple fact is Barack Obama has lied to you and me.
He has proved himself to be just an ordinary, professional politician who lies when it is politically convenient for him. Barack Obama is a liar just like every other professional politician (who only tell a lie when they move their lips.)
Former Pennsylvania Attorney General Jerry Pappert said in 2004, "when you corrupt the political process from the beginning, then the political process stays corrupted throughout."
Campaign finance reforms started as a response to the spending, corruption and abuses of power of Richard Nixon.
When you go to the polls in November ask yourself if Barack Obama, Larry Farnese and Mike Stack are really any different from Richard Nixon, Vince Fumo or Rick Mariano? Do they represent "change you can really believe in"?
If campaign finance reform dies in 2008, the "change you can really believe in" in 2009 might be the nickels and pennies left in your pockets.
John Farley
Somerton
Mr. Farley is the Republican candidate in the 5th Senatorial District. He hopes to unseat Democrat Mike Stack in the Nov. 4 election.
A message to my
fellow Dumbericans
Whether the idea of the "Dumbing of America" originated with Ralph Waldo Emerson in the 1830s, or with 20th century critics of the American system of public education, based on some people’s manner of "thinking," I’d say it’s been accomplished.
With the Dow down 23 percent since last October’s high, gasoline at $4 plus per gallon, health insurance premiums through the roof with insurers making de facto medical decisions for many middle-class Americans, the Red Cross confirming that the United States is guilty of torture, the loss of the Fourth Amendment (our right to privacy and our day in court) by way of a law passed by Republicans and Democrats, dishonest mortgages designed to dupe borrowers and seven years of the most incompetent White House in history, many Americans are dumb enough to conclude that they won’t vote for any presidential candidate who is either black, white, male or female.
If race and gender can be the criteria for such a meaningful decision, it doesn’t get any dumber than that!
The "Dumbing of America"? To coin a phrase, "Mission Accomplished!"
Arthur Gurmankin
Fox Chase
The debate continues,
in black and white
In response to Melissa S. Tulin’s letter in the July 3 edition (She’s tired of the stereotypes), I suggest that she comprehend what my original letter stated before she claims others are racist simply because they disagree with her.
This way of thinking is exactly what I was talking about. Once again, African-Americans claim that they want to be "judged by the content of their character and not the color of their skin," when reality proves otherwise.
You state that some studies suggest that white women are the main beneficiaries of affirmative action, but you somehow omit the fact that on the whole, they outscore the African-American applicants.
Secondly, you correctly state the fact that unemployment is higher among black people, but you never mention why. Statistically, blacks score lower than others and a higher percentage are incarcerated. If you were an employer, who would you hire? Lastly, as a whole, crime and the quality of life is negatively affected when African-Americans move in. If you need proof, ride throughout the city and tell me different.
Bill Gibbons
Mayfair
Stop the injustice
against the MOVE 9!
This spring the MOVE 9 were denied parole. The parole board stated that they failed to admit guilt to the crime they were convicted of; the same crime they have maintained they did not commit.
Despite startling evidence of their innocence, and international movement built in their defense, the parole board wants to act as judge and jury. During sentencing the judge took into account the nature of the offense, the defendant’s claim of innocence, and all other factors when sentencing them to 30 years. After 30 years they should be released. Instead, the parole board, appointed by Gov. Rendell (the district attorney at the time of their prosecution), is acting as judge and jury and resentencing them by denying them their due parole. Even prison officials who mark their good behavior are baffled by the parole board’s submission to the prosecution’s vengeance.
Meanwhile, worldwide there is outrage that these innocent people are still in prison. The media try to ignore anything related to MOVE, but that does not stop this injustice. Demand the parole board do their jobs and release the MOVE 9! For those who maintain that the justice system works, prove it. Hold these people accountable to their own laws.
It is illegal to force people to confess to crimes they did not commit as a parole stipulation. It keeps the prison records clean but at the expense of false incarceration. If you believe the system works, make it work. Stop this corruption. Stop this injustice.
Sasha Murray
Pennsauken, N.J.
Let’s put some heat
on the oil companies
You’re angry and you’re frustrated at the gas pump. Meanwhile, it’s all smiles at Exxon (and the other petroleum kingdoms) as it looks around at record profits —$40 billion and a return of 32 percent!!! And the profits for the five largest oil companies have been $585 billion since 2001, as the price at the pump has soared.
Oh yes, Congress calls them in to testify about their "excessive profits" and wags its finger at them. But in the end, nothing happens. And therein lies the crux of the problem that we, the American people, have with our government in more ways than one. Greedy corporations and a free market government whose interests lie more with corporations than with the American people.
Surprised? I wonder how many shares of oil company stock U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter and friends have in their stock portfolios. What to do? For a start, oil company profits should be regulated by law, similar to gas, electric, water and phone companies, because their products are essential to our lives.
Take the $585 billion in profits since ’01. If the companies were limited to a 10 percent profit vs. the 30 percent plus they suck out of our pockets now, we could have seen lower prices at the pumps. And the oil companies would have taken a hit on their multimillion-dollar salaries, bonuses and stock options.
Of course, for every action there is a reaction. The oil "plantation" executives would bemoan "big government" and even worse, "creeping socialism." They would inundate the airwaves with messages like "the free market works," "hands off oil," and "keep America free." And they would probably cut back on their token contributions to concerts and nature shows on public television.
Truckers all over the world are taking to the streets. Isn’t it time something started happening here?
Lawrence H. Geller
Roxborough
Obama has a
long-term ego
Ten years ago President Clinton vetoed drilling for oil in the ANWR region in Alaska. Today, the U.S. would be getting 2 million barrels of oil a day.
Now we have Obama stating it’s too late to drill for oil, no use for nuclear power, no use for coal. In shale oil the U.S. has 1 to 2 trillion barrels of oil. What are we waiting for? Obama is a short-term thinker with a long-term ego. The U.S. does not need him.
There have always been slogans in presidential elections, namely "A chicken in every pot" and "What this country needs is a good 5-cent cigar." Obama would be very comfortable with "A bicycle in every garage."
Edward Caminiti
Parkwood
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