Philadelphia needs a change
One year from now, Philadelphia will be immersed in a heated Mayoral election. Recently, many people have been advocating a female mayor. Terry Gillen has been mentioned as a possible candidate. Another female with government experience is Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown, who has served in City Council for several terms. She has recently looked at why females have not moved up the corporate ladder in relation to their male colleagues. Some females are still paid less than their male counterparts in identical jobs and this is immoral and illegal.
But, quite frankly, I think most Philadelphians would vote for and support a Martian if he/she would be honest and run our city properly. Philadelphians don’t ask for too much. We need someone who is honest; will reduce murder and all crime by 70 percent, bring quality, high-paying jobs to the city and retain those that are here. We need someone who will stop real estate tax increases, attack corruption and stop abusing the citizens of our city with political rhetoric.
I was born in Philadelphia in 1961, have lived here all my life and will probably die here. It’s time we all get a break from our next mayor and City Council so we can live in peace the brief time we spend on earth, which is the greatest gift of all.
A majority of Philadelphians couldn’t care less what the gender, sexual preference, religion, ethnic background or race is of our next mayor. But we all must demand someone who can reverse the 30-year decline in our neighborhoods and business community.
After returning to Brooklyn after many years, the late Penn State Coach, Joe Paterno said, “We cannot permit people to continue to live like this,” referring to the poor conditions. So, if you’re out there, please come forward and please help Philadelphia!
Myles Gordon
Bustleton
Building fire is a disgrace
There are days lately that I am frankly ashamed to say I’m a Philadelphian. First, the building collapse fiasco where the only people being punished are the guys at the bottom of the food chain, and now the building fire where two firemen perished. No one is being held accountable for his or her actions (or inactions).
It’s easy to place the blame for both these tragedies on L&I and its (non-existent) leadership, but the responsibility doesn’t end there. The fact is, the major offenders in both cases are the building owners, and if they can’t be held responsible criminally they should be made to pay in civil suits. Money is the only thing that matters to these people and if the families of the two fallen firefighters have not yet started legal action, then they should at once.
On top of that, all these new departments the mayor has established should start doing their jobs and enforce building codes and collect back taxes. Make it as difficult as possible for these absentee owners to exist in Philadelphia.
Take heed Philadelphians, we must keep the pressure on our elected representatives to do their jobs and protect us all.
Joe Orenstein
Bustleton
Break the silence in Philly
Thank you for printing the story about President Obama’s nomination of Debo Adegbile to head the Justice Department’s Civil Right’s Division. It was Adegbile and the NAACP Legal Defense Fund that joined convicted cop killer Abu-Jamal’s case, and helped get his death sentence overturned in 2012.
Congratulations to Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams for breaking with his Democratic colleagues and daring to speak out against this ultimate adding of insult to injury. Sen. Casey, will you join your fellow senator from Pennsylvania, Pat Toomey, on this issue? Commissioner Ramsey, since you always call a press conference whenever there is a mass shooting, will you call one now in memory of the murdered police officer? Mayor Nutter, since you joined the anti-gun Mayors Against Guns, will you now create an anti-criminal Mayors Against Crime?
Gentlemen, your silence is deafening!
Leo Iwaskiw
Somerton
