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Parents, don’t allow
your kids to be terrorists!
I want to know where the parents of the children of Mayfair are while their children are terrorizing the neighborhood. There are kids from ages 10 to 19 terrorizing children as young as 8 years old in our neighborhood. They try to steal their bikes and toys. They vandalize our cars and our neighborhood and they are destroying Mayfair Playground. They constantly try to start fights.
It is sad that I have to tell my 4-year-old that I can’t take him to the playground because of the vandalism or tell my kids they can’t play in our back yard because the "bad kids" are hanging around our street and I am worried about my children getting beat up.
These kids have no fear of adults and they don’t care when you tell them you are going to call the police. They actually stick around and wait for the police when we call.
Parents, if you think it isn’t your kids you are wrong. If you are letting your kids roam the neighborhood for hours on end, chances are they are starting trouble. You had these kids, they are your responsibility, and you should know where they are and what they are doing.
Some of the parents of these troublemakers have been confronted by other parents, yet they still let their kids roam the neighborhood.
If you know your kids are terrorizing the neighborhood, keep them in! Please, take responsibility so the people of our neighborhood, especially our children, can stop living in fear.
Michele Tuttle
Mayfair
It’s time to change
Council’s composition
I was appalled to read the story about Councilman Goode’s proposal to shrink City Council by two seats. He claims that these seats are reserved for Republicans and Republicans don’t speak for Philadelphians. He also claims the move would save a million dollars.
First of all, I would like to state that both parties are equally worthless. I am registered Democrat only, so I can choose my city’s officials each May. However, eliminating one party so that we are stuck with one viewpoint is absurd, anti-American and treasonous. In 2007, nearly 77,000 people voted for Republican Councilman Frank Rizzo. How can that group of people be discounted in the eyes of Goode? Roman historian Cicero said, "Freedom is participation in power." Does the elimination of those seats increase or decrease freedom?
Secondly, the money-saving issue is a joke. The way to save money with Philadelphia’s City Council is to trim their grossly disproportionate and bloated salaries. The 2005 median income of a Philadelphian in 2005 was $32,573. The income of a councilman was $102,292, the second highest in the nation, an incredible 315 percent of what the people he or she represents. How does this compare to other large cities?
The numbers are astonishing. In New York, the Council makes just over 100 percent more than the people they represent. In Phoenix, the city closest in population to Philadelphia, the Council makes just 19 percent more that the average citizen. In San Diego, the second closest in population, the average citizen makes over $55,000, councilmen make $75,000 or about 35 percent more than the represented. What do we get for all this money? Surely we must be one of the cleanest, safest cities in the USA. Nope, nowhere near it. The city is dangerous and a laughingstock nationally. Maybe other cities have higher taxes than us? Nope, Google "City Wage Tax" and the only city that comes up is Philadelphia.
My solution: let’s give Council what they deserve. They obviously need help lowering crime, cleaning the city, lowering the wage tax and improving the wages of the city residents. Let’s give the Council members a very generous 25 percent more than we make, or $40,716. They will never need to worry about voting themselves a raise ever again, if we make more money, so will they.
Let’s continue by increasing the amount of at-large seats to 11. We will keep the maximum five candidates from each party. This will finally give at least one independent or third party a voice in this city. This would take the current 17-member Council payroll of approximately $1,738,964 and give us a 21-member Council with a payroll of $855,041.
Further substantial savings would come from giving up the free parking spaces in high-rent Center City. Currently each Council member has about three spots each (some, like Brian O’Neill, have an extra spot or two for family members that work in Center City). There are 500 of these "Authorized Parking" spaces. Council giving theirs up would give 51 spots back to city residents who want to pay their water bill or a city resident who works downtown and would like access to convenient, safe parking spots. Some of these spots could fetch $20 a day in fees, which would give the city $135,200 a year. Getting rid of all 51 spots would just about pay for seven Council members’ salaries in my plan.
Further savings could come from eliminating their cars (they only work one day a week, just take public transportation) and trimming their staff that are often used to run personal errands. There are plenty of other ways. It is time for all of us to write to our Council members and ask that this salary adjustment be made now!
Robert G. Stewart
Bustleton
• • •
I disagree with Ken Hutchins’ letter last week that calls for doing away with all at-large seats. Ponder this: If we do away with all district seats and make all 17 seats at-large we all would have the power to elect every Council member.
The way it is now we have no control over who is elected to Council as a district member unless it is in our district. District members now have control over the whole city. Why not make it where the whole city can elect them? We also need to have term limits. I think 16 years is more than enough time. We need to push for a four-term limit. We also need to rework how Council members are elected and we need to open the process up. All candidates need to be in the same column regardless of party. The top 25 vote getters in the primary would move onto the general election, with the top 17 wining seats in Council. The top vote getter in the primary would become the president of Council.
Matthew Slonaker Sr.
Juniata Park
Republican leader, 33rd Ward
Another officer down,
another tragedy
Lauretha Vaird. Gary Skerski. Chuck Cassidy. Stephen Liczbinski. Isabel Nazario. Patrick McDonald. Six Philadelphia police officers killed in the line of duty since 1996. Five of the six have been killed since 2006. Also, let us not forget Richard Decoatsworth, and those two undercover police officers in Frankford, all of whom were shot in the line of duty in late 2007 but fortunately survived.
What do all of their attackers have in common? Almost all of them had extensive criminal histories. None of them belonged on the street. The men and women listed above were viciously attacked by people who should have been quarantined from society and locked away where they could do no harm.
How many more people — police officers and civilians alike — will have to be slain before we get serious about dealing with repeat, violent offenders? Why is our criminal justice system compelled to let violent offenders out of prison after an arbitrarily set number of months or years, regardless of the offenders’ propensity to commit violent acts once they are let out?
One can argue that a person can be reformed or that he can learn his lesson. But when a person commits multiple violent crimes (let’s say, three or more), we need to recognize that person is fundamentally flawed and inherently dangerous, and only a fool would interact with that person and risk grievous bodily harm.
And yet, we have a "revolving door" system of justice that has us operating under the assumption that we can’t lock someone away forever unless they kill someone. We expose ourselves daily to murderers and rapists because we don’t have the fortitude or the common sense to keep repeat, violent offenders locked away for life.
For some reason, most of us are practical when it comes to dealing with animals that have shown a predisposition for attacking humans. We are smart enough to know, based on their past behavior, that given the opportunity to do so, they will hurt someone else. And so, we make sure that they are never given the opportunity to attack another person. Yet, when it comes to dealing with criminals, fortitude and common sense often seem to go out the window.
Despite numerous convictions for beatings, robberies, and pillaging and plundering, we continue to let violent offenders back out onto the streets after they serve an arbitrarily set sentence. We only consider writing the person off and locking them up for life after it is too late — after he has reached his degenerative peak and has finally killed someone.
The Northeast Times has been reporting on some new laws that are currently in the pipeline to get tougher on violent criminals in Pennsylvania. These laws are a good start and I applaud the people who developed them. However, the laws do not go far enough. I implore the lawmakers of this state to pursue a "three strikes" law. If we currently do not have the resources for such a law, let’s get to work and figure it out. It is time to get serious about fighting crime and re-think the way in which we go about it.
Matthew McGrath
Brookhaven
• • •
Like most people in Philadelphia, I watch the news and I can’t help but cry when I hear about another police officer being assassinated in our city. When I heard that another officer was shot and another had died, I went to WPVI.com to find out what had happened. While reading the article, I scrolled down to read the comment section. I became sick to my stomach and enraged over comments that were posted.
While most wrote heartfelt words of sadness, the rest were filled with hate and ignorance. I came to realize very quickly that it is not just guns and a bad court system that breed violence and hate, it is people who live in our city who help create and maintain this level of hate not only toward police but toward each other.
One brilliant comment was, "Police choose this job so when they die why are they different then anyone else." Another great brilliant comment was, "Why when a cop gets killed the news needs interrupt television shows."
Are you kidding me? Would this person call the actors on All My Children if she needed help? No, she’d call a police officer! If people’s opinions of cops are so low and negative in these neighborhoods, then we should pull our police out. They don’t care if they are killing one another. They don’t have enough courage to stand up and say we have had enough! They especially don’t care when a police officer is assassinated on their streets, so why should we care about them? They say it is because they are afraid. Are they afraid when is cop is accused of beating some thug, but amazingly they can stand together to protest the police then?
Isn’t it amazing that when shots are fired and an innocent person or cop is killed, no one sees or hears anything, but God forbid a cop does something, everyone sees and hears everything!
Yes, our justice system has to change. Yes, we have to get guns out of the hands of criminals, but the grim reality is that even if we changed the system and got rid of the guns, we will never change the ignorance of people. From all the people in this city who care and have common sense, we thank all police officers and their families for what they do day in and day out.
Nina Beck
Somerton
• • •
Ring the bell and
pray for the following:
Officer Gary Skerski, 46, killed in May 2006.
Officer Chuck Cassidy, 54, killed in October 2007.
Sgt. Stephen Liczbinski, 39, killed in May 2008.
Officer Isabel Nazario, 40, killed in September 2008.
And of course, Highway Patrol Officer Patrick McDonald, 30, killed on Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2008.
All dead. All killed in the line of duty. All bravely serving our streets and communities. All leaving behind fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, wives, children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, neighbors, friends and loved ones. All brutally murdered by punks and thugs.
Officer McDonald was a graduate of Archbishop Ryan High and leaves behind a father who is a retired Philadelphia firefighter. All of these murders were tragic, but Officer McDonald’s especially hit home for me. My wife and I met at Archbishop Ryan, both my wife and I have retired fathers who were Philadelphia firefighters, and my sister is currently a 19-year veteran of the Philadelphia police force. My wife and I know what it is like to have a loved one injured on the job. We prayed each day that our dads would come home safely to us. Thank God they always did.
Four of these officers were living in Northeast Philadelphia when they were lost in the line of duty. Many of the brave men and women who are active on the police force and the Fire Department live among us in Somerton, Parkwood, Bridesburg, Port Richmond, Mayfair, Tacony, Fox Chase, Holmesburg, Castor Gardens, Rhawnhurst, Bustleton and so forth. As a community, the Northeast is angry and hurt. We mourn the loss of our own.
I have had the pleasure of meeting many police and firefighters over my lifetime. The best way we can honor the daily bravery that they show us all each day is to pressure our elected officials to pass legislation that will look out for them.
Please tell your state representative and your state senator that we need more police on our streets and to vote on HB-1189! We need the extra 1,300 police officers in Philadelphia that this bill will provide. Pass the Commonwealth Police Act! NOW!!!
Also, please tell your elected officials that HB-1768 needs to be voted on and passed. This would classify cancer as a work-related illness for firefighters. Pass HB-1768 so that we can take care of our brave firefighters when they are stricken with cancer.
As for the family of Officer McDonald, I cannot even imagine the pain that you are experiencing right now. Please know that your son did not die in vain. Always know that many of your Northeast neighbors love the men and women who protect and serve our city each day. When we get HB-1189 and HB-1768 passed, we will do so in honor and memory of your brave and heroic son.
To all police, fire, emergency personnel, military, and all uniformed forces, thank you for all that you do! May God bless you and may God bless America!
John Farley
Somerton
Editor’s note: Mr. Farley is the Republican candidate in the 5th Senatorial District.
Blue ribbons
can honor our heroes
It’s time we the citizens show our support to all the Philadelphia police officers for putting their lives on the line every day to keep us safe in our streets, homes and jobs.
Let’s salute them by tying blue ribbons around trees, street lights, and anything you can tie a ribbon to.
Jamie Ziegler
Rambler Park
Don’t knock
the Perzel center
This letter is a response to Theresa Joniec and her letter titled The Perzel center can be a whole lot more, in the Sept. 18 edition.
All I have to say is Theresa you need to stop embarrassing yourself each time you write a letter. You are debating with a man who is the definition of Mayfair. He is the head of an organization that has rehabbed more than 20 distressed homes in Mayfair. Under his charge, the Mayfair CDC built the John M. Perzel Community Center, revitalized the historic Manor Bar building and is currently working on reopening the Devon Theater.
I don’t know you but I would love to compare your two resumes to see who has done more for the community. This is a man who serves on multiple boards and charitable organizations. The Mayfair CDC has donated thousands of dollars to local youth programs and schools.
I am guessing that when you looked at his rebuttal, you missed the part about the Perzel Center not being involved with the "fields," since you are still talking about them as if they are related. The community center serves seniors, special needs children, several basketball leagues for both youth and adults, and offers numerous workshops and expos. I should know this because my children attended both the golf clinic and theater camp this past summer.
Both my parents go to the center each day for all the wonderful senior activities that are offered. If it was not for the senior programs they would be sitting in their house.
I can imagine that it is discouraging for Mr. Hartey to be questioned about his concern for the neighborhood, while his organization and staff are constantly out around Mayfair cleaning up streets and removing graffiti.
I conclude my letter by saying thank you to Mr. Hartey for all you and your staff do for the Mayfair community, and keep up the good work! As far you, Ms. Joniec, you should try to get your facts straight and say thank you and be a little more appreciative for what people like Mr. Hartey do in your neighborhood.
Linda DiPeitro
Mayfair
Don’t knock the
student-athlete’s decision
In his opinion column last week, Joe Mason made some good observations and comments about high school recruiting.
Everyone knows down through the years, players could and were steered toward better programs, whether they were football, baseball, softball or basketball. Certain coaches are better at attracting a better caliber of athlete and mixing them in well with that school’s student body. No one athlete ever singlehandedly won a championship by himself or herself on a team sport. Joe, is it possible this student-athlete was thinking about the student part first? After all, she left a school (St. Hubert’s) that regularly beats the school (Nazareth) she is now attending in sports, but on the flip side, the school she is now attending has a better track record of students that go on to college.
Nothing against St. Hubert’s, but for the student-athlete it is all about giving yourself the best possible chance at the high school level to attend the best possible school on the college level.
Joe, you wrote an article on a student that you did not do too much research on. You probably heard secondhand from an upset teacher, coach or parent from her previous school, whose only real complaint might be that this particular student-athlete affects his or her own personal status, as far as winning and recruiting.
Why would an educator be upset with a student who is going to a stronger academic program unless it was for selfish reasons? Selfish on the part of the institution, not the student.
Tom McDonald
Mayfair
The Palin pick reflects
poorly on McCain
After listening to Sarah Palin’s many befuddled answers to questions from several reporters on important issues, I question John McCain’s judgment in selecting her to be a heartbeat away from becoming president of the United States.
In her responses she sounded more like the perplexed South Carolina candidate for Miss Teen USA.
McCain’s ill-advised and poorly thought out selection of her creates doubt about his judgment in other areas as well.
Melvin Flitter
Fox Chase
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