She wants to fix the Traffic Court mess
I’m wondering if they are looking for help at Philadelphia Traffic Court, since it seems many of their judges and employees will be busy defending themselves in the recent FBI indictment. I’m willing to volunteer if they need someone.
Being a stay-at-home mom to four children over the last eight years, I have become very good at arbitrating disputes and dishing out fair justice. Staying at home has allowed me to master the art of reviewing “evidence” to determine who is telling the truth and who isn’t.
I am loving and kind, yet I know how to give a time-out when someone isn’t playing by the rules. Everyone in my house is treated equal, no favorites! In fact, if they really want to clean up Traffic Court, I could gather up some other stay-at-home moms and we will have that place running like a fine-oiled machine in no time!
Also, I don’t owe anyone any favors. When my roof leaks, I pay someone to fix it. When I need a room painted, I paint it. When I want to go out to dinner, I pay for it.
Shannon Lindsay, Esq.
(Member of the Pennsylvania Bar since 2002 but more importantly, a stay-at-home mom since 2004.)
Pine Valley
Credit union chief: No methadone clinic on State Road
In an article that appeared in last week’s Northeast Times entitled Zoning hearing begins for methadone clinic, it states that the NorthEast Treatment Centers (NET), which is seeking to place a treatment center at 7520 State Road, presented a letter “vouching for its operation” from American Heritage Federal Credit Union.
I want to emphatically state, in no uncertain terms, that American Heritage Federal Credit Union does not support NET’s attempts to get a zoning variance in order to place a methadone clinic at the State Road location. In fact, American Heritage supports the positions of both the Holmesburg Civic Association and the Mayfair Civic Association against the NET zoning application.
NorthEast Treatment Centers did solicit and receive an unauthorized letter of support, written on American Heritage letterhead, from our branch located adjacent to NET’s existing center on Bridge Street in Philadelphia. The person writing the letter had neither the position nor the authority to speak on behalf of the credit union, or represent its views in written form.
American Heritage Federal Credit Union will always support the best interests of our members and the communities we share.
Bruce K. Foulke
President/CEO
Whole Foods should fill void at Northeast Auto Outlet site
For many Philadelphians, as they look out the car, train or bus windows, they see what is becoming a nightmare for many communities, a vacant or foreclosed commercial property. Its landscape is overgrown and is littered with trash, graffiti, and other debris. These properties have become lifeless memories of their former identities.
As the nation’s foreclosure epidemic continues to affect the U.S. real estate market, communities throughout the area are feeling the effects of having a foreclosed property in their neighborhood.
One site that comes to mind in Northeast Philadelphia is the former Northeast Auto Outlet at Grant Avenue and Academy Road (3301 Grant Ave). This property used to be the home of several car dealerships but has been sitting vacant for the past few years. I always hear the rumor that Holy Family University will be purchasing the land, but no one can seem to confirm this.
My brain has been going into overdrive trying to think of a possible proprietor to use this land in a way that will benefit our local community while also using sustainable business practices at the same time. I finally settled on Whole Foods Market.
I am urging all Northeast residents and community leaders to send a letter or make a phone call to:
Whole Foods Market
Scott Allshouse, President — Mid-Atlantic Region
5515 Security Lane
Suite 900
Rockville, MD 20852
301–984–4874; 301–984–2064 (fax)
We cannot just sit around and wait for someone to come and redevelop this site — we need to take this matter into our own hands and push for a new business to make the property at Grant and Academy their new home.
This property is located in the heart of Northeast Philadelphia and is surrounded by Holy Family University, Northeast Philadelphia Airport, AugustaWestland, Archbishop Ryan High School, Police and Fire Credit Union, 8th Police District headquarters, LA Fitness, The Aquatic Fitness Center, two golf courses and one of the greatest communities in this city.
Let us convince Whole Foods to consider this site for a new store. I have drafted a letter with supplemental information and neighborhood statistics.
If anyone is interested in sending a letter and would like to use some of the supplemental information or the letter as a sample, please send me an e-mail.
Jeff George
Parkwood
Our nation is coming apart
I find it amazing that our national discussion seems to circle endlessly around issues such as: guns, redefining marriage, abortion, or immigration reform. I guess this is what we do when we refuse to deal with the bigger problems.
Not long ago I read a book entitled Coming Apart: The State of White America 1960–2010, by Charles Murray. If there is one book I could wish every American to read, this would be it.
The author makes a compelling case for the working class in crisis, with chronic unemployment, nearly half of children born to single mothers, rampant divorce, and a new generation of men, many of whom are angry, alienated, and hostile to traditional values.
The national media has shamefully run away from the challenges of this book, as have most of our political class. (Rick Santorum and Chris Christie are notable exceptions, though both have been short on solutions.)
If you care about the future, read the book. It has just been issued in paperback, and can also be found in the library. You’ll see that we will make little progress on gun violence, the stabilization of marriage and family, or finding the right balance to immigration, until we deal with the growing crisis of the working class.
Richard Iaconelli
Rhawnhurst
Remembering Wendell the Warrior
There’s an old saying: Your reputation precedes you. Wendell Young III’s deportment as the former president of the Retail Clerks Union (UFCW Local 1776) was immense. For nearly 40 years he led his union with dignity, fairness and intelligence.
Initially, he had to combat corruption in his own ranks, establish a union and negotiate with the opposing forces.
Not acquainted with him personally, but aware of his professional accomplishments in bargaining in good faith for decent wages, benefits and equal treatment to all, and in his gracious dealings with everyone, I salute a “fallen warrior.” He’ll be dearly missed but not forgotten, especially by his own.
Bob Dawson
Fox Chase
Vandalism hits the streets of NE
I was very glad to see John Murphy’s letter (The unkindest cuts of all, Jan. 23 edition)
For the past seven years, I too have seen this “litter” in the 19116 ZIP code area. This has been going on at least once a week for the past seven years. The litter always comes from local publications, and the paper is obviously cut with scissors, not with a shredder. This is a deliberate act of vandalism, not an accident. I have observed this as far south as Gorman Street by Washington High School, and as far north as Larkspur Street, north of Loesche School, and as far east as Jeanes Street off Parlin Street.
This “person” strikes in the early morning. I have not see her, but I have heard it’s a crazy lady. I grew up here in the 1960s and ’70s, and I don’t like to see this crap.
Solomon J. Aronson
Somerton
Governor’s lottery plan just doesn’t add up
Senior citizens and taxpayers should be outraged that Gov. Tom Corbett stealthily agreed to privatize the Pennsylvania Lottery late on a Friday afternoon.
He did this despite the fact that for weeks, legislators were seeking more information about the plan. In fact, the Senate had scheduled an informational hearing on the idea for Monday morning and a House meeting was to follow later this week.
As the state representative of the 174th Legislative District, which has the largest senior population of any district in Pennsylvania, I am concerned that our community has a lot to lose.
The privatization plan accepted by Corbett came about through months of closed negotiations between the governor’s privatization consultant and the only bidder on the project, Camelot Group. There were no public hearings or meetings. Legislators were not included in the process. This company is based in Britain and owned by the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan. They have recently set up U.S. operations in the state of Delaware, which I’m sure is no coincidence.
The lottery is one of Pennsylvania’s most well-run state programs. In 2012, the program saw record sales of nearly $3.5 billion, carried a mere 2.1 percent in operating costs and contributed nearly $1.3 billion to vital senior programs. Sales are currently on pace for another record-breaking year, up 8.89 percent. Philadelphia received nearly $215 million last year for area agencies on aging and senior centers; PACE/PACENET for prescription assistance; shared and free ride programs; the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program, Alzheimer’s outreach, and long-term living assistance, among other things. These programs are vital to improve the lives of countless seniors.
The few details available about the plan are of great concern. The components of the proposal include a 20- to 30-year contract. In the last 10 years of the contract, Camelot will only guarantee lottery growth of 1 percent per year.
This is the same time period where nearly 25 percent of Pennsylvanians will be 60 or older. The commonwealth would be required to pay Camelot’s operating expenses, including executive salaries, management fees and incentive fees. And, Camelot only plans to retain 70 of the current 230 lottery employees. This means that approximately 160 Pennsylvanians will have to find work elsewhere while their jobs leave the country.
Camelot plans to raise revenue by adding new lottery games such as Keno. Why pay a private corporation to run new games when the current state employees could just as easily run them? Was Keno studied? Will Keno cannibalize sales from casino slot machines that currently fund property tax relief? Why didn’t the governor wait for a public vetting of these issues and details? Why such a rush to privatize now? These and other questions will have to wait until the governor and his team provide the answers.
Right now, it seems that there was no need to privatize the lottery, especially in such a hurry. With the public demanding openness and transparency, the governor should not have awarded the contract without full disclosure of the details.
The proposed contract has the potential to jeopardize vital senior program funding and Pennsylvania jobs.
As currently proposed, I find Camelot’s involvement in improving state lottery performance unnecessary. I am committed to working with my colleagues to create a more promising and less costly expansion effort.
Sabatina, a Democrat, was elected in 2006 to represent the 174th Legislative District.
