Closed libraries
I recently read in your paper about the more than $4.5 million spent on the rehab of the Lawncrest Library. It reopened with a lot of media and political attention.
Recently, I went to the Northeast Regional Library — the major library hub for NE Philly – and once again, it was suddenly closed for air conditioner repairs. This has become a regular occurrence.
Six days later — it was still closed. Events canceled. I could not get to my hold items sitting on a shelf. I could not return my interlibrary loan item. All this despite outdoor temperatures in the 60s and 70s.
The FLP website advised us to use the Katharine Drexel Branch — except that was closed, too, due to the all-too-common “staff shortage.”
Couldn’t someone open the NER front doors and let us exchange books at the front desk? Does anyone even care about the large community this library serves?
We have a massive overhaul of the small Lawncrest building and the city can’t even budget for a rehab of the chronically broken NE Regional HVAC system? Can we please set sensible priorities?
This is how our city has been run for years. Fancy PR events for the media. Meanwhile, the rest of us have to keep reading “building closed for repair” signs.
Richard Iaconelli
Rhawnhurst
The Destroyer
When Trump was campaigning for president, he made a lot of statements about what he was going to do to our country. He said he was going to be a dictator and with the help of the 2025 article to become the king. He said he was going to destroy the FBI, the CIA, the Department of Justice and especially our Constitution. Of course, his MAGA cult and even a friend of mine said he is only joking. He wasn’t going to do these things. Well, guess what, the joke is on you. He is doing all of those things. He is firing many of those department people and installing his own flunkies to lead the rest. That makes him the only law in the land. He is getting rid of all immigrants, even good ones who are here for years married to American citizens, raising American children while working and paying taxes. Some have even served in our armed forces to protect our country. Now he is destroying our workforce to destroy the IRS and our Dow and the rest while giving trillions of tax cuts to his billionaire friends. Now people are finally waking up because he has the lowest approval rating ever. It’s about time.
Rus Slawter Sr.
Bustleton
Bernie the socialist
Bernie comes to Philadelphia and riles up the union masses. Just wondering if the workers at his 3 houses are union? Wonder what their pay scale is?
What’s good for the goose is good for the gander. Wondering if the protesters realize that May Day was started over socialist values? Wondering how they would fair under current socialist systems?
Richard Donofry
East Torresdale
For-profit racket
Pennsylvania is an unusual state in the way legislation is passed. The politicians can introduce a bill, it can be heard in a day or two, and it can pass out of committee immediately to be put up for a vote. It’s not a very transparent process.
It’s a real inside club where the lobbyists, especially the lobbyists for the ticket camera companies, get in there, they can put the fix in, and there’s no chance for the people to have any say in this. The process makes it impossible for the public to engage on proposed bills. Pennsylvania is one of the worst states with regard to how the legislature is run, how transparent the process is and what chance there is for the public to engage on camera traffic enforcement issues.
That’s why we have red light cameras, speed cameras, work zone cameras and school bus stop-arm cameras; collectively an enforcement-for-profit racket. The legislature needs to reform its process for passing legislation. A good start would be to ban all camera traffic enforcement in Pennsylvania.
Tom McCarey
Berwyn
Students need academics and vocational classes
Every one of us knows that life is full of risks and rewards and we also know that anything is possible in America if we work together. This is especially the case when we provide America’s young people with the opportunity to access all levels of career opportunities while attending junior and senior high school.
Because more businesses are expanding in the United States, our supporters agree it’s time to refocus the funds to educate America’s young people equally on both academics and vocational career classes. It is more important than ever that we not only speak up in support of how our tax dollars are used to educate America’s young people, but to also hold national, state and local elected officials and school boards accountable for what is being taught in America’s schools.
For many years, offering a wide range of subjects under one roof was very valuable because it allowed students to discover what careers they felt they were best suited for before graduation. It gave students the opportunity to see if they were suited for trades such as carpentry, plumbing, electrical and welding, or if they should focus on careers like teaching, medicine or engineering.
To help ensure the positive changes we need continue to move forward in America’s schools, I once again urge you to contact your elected officials and school board representatives and encourage them to offer both academic and vocational career classes under one roof in a school setting where students learn not only from teachers but from the example of their fellow students.
Thanks for speaking up in support of America’s students and American workers. Our nation’s future depends on your participation.
Your comments and suggestions are always welcome. Email them to me at [email protected].
Michael Blichasz
Torresdale
