Prostitution is not victimless
In response to the reader who called prostitution a “victimless crime,” you are one uninformed man.
On average, prostitutes are beaten and raped roughly 12 times per year, according to the U.S. Department of Health. They are forced to have unprotected sex with men and beaten when they don’t. Ninety-five percent of all prostitutes were abused as young girls, according to the U.S. Health Department.
Do a little research before you claim that prostitution is a “victimless crime.” And surely you are aware that without your “poor shmoes who are just trying to satisfy their needs,” prostitution wouldn’t exist.
They are the ones bringing the shame and humiliation on their families. They are the ones bringing home sexually transmitted infections to their wives and girlfriends.
In your effort to “in no way promote prostitution,” you are promoting the “poor shmoes” whose activity in soliciting prostitution is also a crime. If your “poor shmoes” thought about something other than satisfying their needs, things would be different. Printing their names on billboards all over the city would be a better deterrent.
Trish Dunne
Pine Valley
Thank you to Sen. Mike Stack
On behalf of our Parkwood neighborhood and Far Northeast Philly, I would like to give a sincere thank you to Sen. Mike Stack for his unending hard work and determination to develop Benjamin Rush State Park.
Over a decade ago, when we realized the job to clean up that neglected, vandalized piece of land was well beyond the scope of a neighborhood clean-up, we went to him for help.
He and his staff overcame many state and local obstacles and never gave up.
Although it’s not officially open, we would like to thank you for the beautiful “Ben Rush State Park” with its open land and natural trails. Our families will enjoy this park for years to come.
Thank you, Sen. Mike Stack, for giving us this neighborhood jewel.
Mike Hatala
Parkwood Civic Association
School district is a mess
Thousands of school district employees were laid off or have retired in the last few years. The school district has threatened to reduce the payments to retiring employees for their unused sick and personal days. These loyal employees saved the district money. No substitutes were brought in. They didn’t have to pay both (substitutes and teachers) daily rates.
The district wants to reduce employees’ salaries, with the higher percentages for people earning the most. Usually salaries increase with longevity.
Now they want to end seniority, which takes away the rights of workers who have worked the longest.
The sale of PGW may have a devastating effect three years from now. This is after Mayor Nutter is out of office and City Council can be re-elected for another term. How many jobs will leave the city when the new owners try to save money?
After not having a contract for five years, Mayor Nutter just signed a new one with DC47.
Is it no wonder that when Philadelphia students graduate, they leave the city?
Mayer Krain
Modena Park
Support wounded warriors
While watching a recent promo for the “Wounded Warrior Project,” a feeling of great shame came over me. Why do these mentally and physically injured young men and women need to beg for help?
We are fighting politically motivated wars that can’t possibly be won and likely will never end. Our elected officials should be thoroughly ashamed for their lack of care for our soldiers. Why aren’t we taking care of them? Why isn’t there enough money to help them heal, for new prosthetics and for mental and physical therapy? Why should they have to beg?
We’re asked to support our returning service men and women but the government is ignoring them. It’s time to get after our elected representatives to take care of them and not leave them out there to deal with their problems alone. I feel shame. Why don’t they?
Joe Orenstein
Bustleton
