Support friends in blue
On Wednesday July 22, I woke up to a text from a friend stating, “A police officer has been shot in Northeast Philly.” Coming from a community where so many of our neighbors are members of the Philadelphia Police force, my immediate thought was that this could easily be a friend or neighbor.
Thankfully, as further news surfaced, we would learn that the officer had been protected by his ballistic vest, and that he is currently recovering at an area hospital.
While I was relieved that another one of our brave cops would be returning home to their family again, we must also remember that sadly, this is not always the case.
It was only a few months ago that our city mourned the death of Sgt. Robert Wilson III, an officer killed in the line of duty. It is a heartbreaking, and haunting truth knowing that there are far too many times when these brave men and women make the ultimate sacrifice. There is no doubt that every day, cops from our Police Department and departments like it throughout the United States are putting themselves in harm’s way to protect the community and its members.
It is for this very reason that it is important that we never take our friends in blue for granted, continue to support them, and thank them for all they do for us.
Francis Nelms
Somerton
Pride in the neighborhood
This letter is in response to “Some neighborhoods are becoming a disgrace.” I agree 100 percent with D.M. Taweel of Mayfair.
I also grew up in the 19124 ZIP code. And, yes, people definitely took pride in where they lived. I presently live in the 19152 ZIP code.
I see my neighborhood going down around me. It doesn’t have to. I believe if we all come together and take pride in where we live, that it is possible.
If you own a broom, shovel and a trashcan and you have a few extra minutes to spare, please go outside to tidy up. I love my neighborhood, and you should, too.
Dana Curran
Mayfair
Where does Martina White stand on drilling tax?
State Rep. Martina White’s letter last week regarding her vote against Gov. Tom Wolf’s budget explained that she is against raising sales or income taxes. I agree with her stance on that issue, as did all her colleagues, both Democratic and Republican.
But White’s letter said nothing about her position on another, more controversial budget issue: Will Pennsylvania finally join all other oil and gas drilling states in charging that industry a reasonable severance fee?
Beginning with its support for Act 13 of 2012, White’s Republican Party has done all it can to ensure that the environmentally destructive drilling industry pays among the lowest taxes in the country. The little taxes drillers do pay go not to the state treasury, but largely to special funds owned by upstate counties; Philadelphia gets next to nothing.
With drillers paying lower taxes in Pennsylvania than in neighboring states — less even than in Texas — Wolf and others have said they want to change that so drillers begin to pay their fair share.
Philadelphia’s stake in taxing the upstate drilling industry to generate money for the city’s needs is clear. But White hasn’t disclosed her position on the drilling tax issue.
Will she put her district first, or follow Republican leaders and let the drilling industry keep the special tax treatment it lobbied for? Voters in the 170th District, who don’t get special deals on their taxes, would doubtless like to know.
I’d also like to hear more about White’s June 26 vote for a task force to study the possibility of denying collective bargaining rights to state employees. To me, it doesn’t require a study to know that eliminating an important aspect of working people’s right to union representation is wrong. Perhaps Rep. White could explain her stance on that issue.
Chris Bordelon
Somerton
