To the Editor:
I am a new resident. We chose to live in South Philadelphia for its emerging vitality, community spirit and affordable homes. None of these assets will be enhanced by the proposed Foxwoods Casino at Reed Street and Columbus Boulevard — no matter who’s running it, or how financially successful it might be for its investors (“Wynn or lose?,” March 4).
Steve Wynn, wunderkind of Las Vegas, should not presume to speak for what would be good for our community or what is best for the long-term goals of Philadelphia.
What is needed is for our community — residents, civic associations and churches — to unite against the building of Foxwoods. If built, it will bring social problems, economic dislocation and more traffic congestion and will not benefit the development of a more livable and productive Philadelphia.
To the Editor:
The thinking that proposes and advocates gun-free zones as a solution to crimes of multiple shootings is the kind of thinking that suggests licenses for bank robbers to rob banks. Gun-free zones, or the gun-free zone attitude, are, in part, responsible for the murders at Columbine and Fort Hood and for many other such incidents.
Such ideas don’t save lives; they cause many deaths. The killer, expressing to the world, “I am somebody; recognize me and my obsession” amid mental and emotional anguish is seeking relief, honor and what he believes to be justice by destroying what is most precious to the victims and/or society.
Destroy him and his remains like a disgusting, ingrate rodent in a manner that brings great shame to let others who might feel such temptations know the only honor they will receive is horrendous shame. The shameful deaths inflicted on our brave soldiers in Somalia by dragging their naked corpses through the streets or the diabolical display of the limbs and torsos of American contractors hanging from a crane in Iraq are barbaric, but such methods will deter multiple shootings and save the lives of the innocent that gun-free zones will not. Evil will succumb to strong righteousness.
To the Editor:
I just got back from the newer playground at Second and Jackson streets. It was truly amazing. There was a sense of community you don’t really get at Marconi Plaza or Barry Playground at 18th and Johnston streets. There were kids playing roller hockey and basketball, parents with strollers and people of all ages taking in the great scenery. The areas south of Snyder Avenue desperately need a place that could compete with this. Of course in a time when new taxes are being created to help a city in trouble, it’s hard to get this high on the list of priorities.
It really isn’t fair to community members when their children are forced to play on playground equipment full of graffiti and when they have to watch their every step because there could be dog poop on the ground. Both Marconi and Barry playgrounds need to be remodeled big time. Once the remodeling process is a complete, a fence and surveillance equipment need to be installed so, during the overnight hours, the playgrounds aren’t destroyed.
The Second Street area is seen more as a working-class, pro-union area, and I am sure that allowed this playground to be built quickly and at a cheaper cost, but I am just begging some of that generosity the city gave them be shared a bit more towards Broad Street.
Rumor circulating about someone coming in to revive the financially struggling Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation's Foxwoods casino project alone the waterfront were confirmed last week when a Vegas gaming mogul with several high-profile casinos to his name announced his involvement.
Not far outside local borders, there lies a parallel galaxy. It has Masters, Jedis and Padawans and, on the dark side, Siths.
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1. chaloots said... on Mar 11, 2010 at 11:42AM
“The right wing nut has spoken again. The self righteous Christian, Mr. Essex has some crazy issues. This guy is as radical as the terrorist. Seems to me he is fulled with hate and looking to use his God approved guns to kill and destroy others. How he gets a forum in this peaceful paper is beyond me.”
2. Anonymous said... on Mar 11, 2010 at 12:39PM
“Affordable housing? $350,000 for a rundown row home with no parking?”
3. Uncle Sam said... on Mar 11, 2010 at 04:50PM
“A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.
”
4. joey bagadonuts said... on Mar 11, 2010 at 07:26PM
“one time.”
5. parker said... on Mar 11, 2010 at 08:07PM
“Dear Mr. Zuino:
Community members above Broad Street ...the playgrounds and parks below Broad Street were not given to us! We worked for them together with parents, community members, the Recreation Department, grantors,businesses and the DCNR. We formed friends groups, wrote grants, cleaned and monitored our playgrounds and parks. We are VOLUNTEERS! We do not have city workers cleaning the park throughout the year. We have a part time seasonal worker in the summer months that is shared. The Recreaction department saw that we were active in our neighborhoods and in our children's lives. It was then and only then that our playgrounds and parks were considered for improvement. There is graffitti and dog poop in our parks but we, the volunteers, are there cleaning it up.”
6. College Grad said... on Mar 11, 2010 at 10:05PM
“The Casino is 2 fold.
I. It will bring in great revenue for the city because the taxes are around 50% going directly to the city. The grounds will be modern/ well lit/ and will spark the much over do process of building up Delaware Ave, which has the potential to be a wonderful entertainment district. Business have failed through out the years because the only thing around there was a movie theater until the shopping mall of the big three was built ( Best Buy, Ikea, Lowes)
Hopefully this will spark the incentive to build Philly Live (in the sports complex.
Cause and Effects:
1. Casino and more business = Lower taxes?
2. Building/ More Businesses = more jobs
3. Problem of Traffic = New Highways/ roads/ traffic coordination? = more jobs
II. Problems:
- This could lead to more CRIME around the casino by attracting people to come down here where all the "money will be", but Im sure they will have the place heavily patrolled. (HOPEFULLY)
- Atlantic City # 2? lets hope not”
7. college grad said... on Mar 11, 2010 at 10:07PM
“over due*
businesses* have failed”
8. Mike Zuino said... on Mar 11, 2010 at 10:30PM
“Mr. Parker
I dont understand your first setence or two but I do understand there are people out there working hard to better our community. And I thank those groups who spend their free time cleaning our parks and recreational areas. Driving by Marconi today, I saw that it was fairly crowded...but why do the two baseball fields there have to be in horrible shape? Why isnt there some basketball courts or tennis courts there? Or even just an area for a variety of sports other than on the grass? Budgets are tough right now and hopefullly when things rebound everything will be improved.”
9. Mr. Fox said... on Mar 11, 2010 at 10:42PM
“Mr. Parker...
Maybe if your community wasn't so close minded, people would realize that people like Mr. Zuino are commenting on South Philadelphia as a whole. Expressing one's opinion does not mean you are being over looked. In fact instead of being aggressive in a response, you should be proud and charismatic for your efforts to establish such a nice community park that led to someone wishing they had that in their neighborhood.
We are all South Philadelphians here... We need to stand together and help others even if it means across Broad Street. Because luckily we still have a nice community where people are "safe" where our mom & pop shops do not have bars on them.
Cmon Parker... Team work”
10. chaloots said... on Mar 12, 2010 at 12:41PM
“Please explain to me what a well regulated militia is? Regulated by whom,...The Tea Klux Klan Party?”
11. Uncle Sam said... on Mar 12, 2010 at 01:22PM
“So according to you, our members of the military, the Pennsylvania National Guard, who are putting their lives on the line to protect our country from those who would harm her are members of vile hate group, the KKK? Wow....”
12. chaloots said... on Mar 12, 2010 at 01:33PM
“The military, and National Guard serve honorably, I am worried about the Alfred Essex's and the like minded extremest of the world who use God to push the agenda of hatred and guns. And please don't put words in my mouth.”
13. parker said... on Mar 12, 2010 at 04:32PM
“Mr. Zuino what I am trying to say is the neighbors need to "roll up thier sleeves" if you just sit back and wish it's not going to happen!
Mr. Fox what I am trying to get across is that the renovations in all of our parks were not randomly given to us by the city. We showed them that we would be partners for the long run and that we would take care of what was done. Why would the city invest in repairs if no one was willing to help be the caretakers especially during this major budget crunch. And I am not being aggressive, I am just tired of everyone wanting something for nothing.”
14. Anonymous said... on Mar 17, 2010 at 11:57AM
“It is a proven fact that in areas where more people own guns (legally) there is less crime. Areas where more people own guns illegally have a higher crime rate...If I was a criminal looking to rob people and I knew there was a good chance that they had a gun, then I wouldn't go after them. Now, if I'm a criminal and looking to rob someone and I knew there was a good chance they DIDN'T have a gun, well you know the rest. Most people that have a permit abide by the law. Yes there are your radicals that go crazy, but most people who get a gun permit and own a gun are responsible. It is the people who purchase guns illegally that are the problem. Straw purchases are a huge problem and the city has taken some action against that. They need to go after the gun distributors that are selling guns illegally.”
15. chaloots said... on Mar 17, 2010 at 12:15PM
“GUNS SUCK!
And those that use God to justify having and using a gun against others, SUCK TOO!”
16. Anonymous said... on Mar 17, 2010 at 04:00PM
“^ What?”
17. Anonymous said... on Mar 17, 2010 at 04:32PM
“Very articulate, chaloots, but I would say Obama SUCKS! The chosen one's latest approval numbers, approve 46%, disapprove 47%.... As Tom Petty would say: And I'm free, free fallin'
Yeah I'm free, free fallin'…..
”
18. chaloots said... on Mar 17, 2010 at 06:49PM
“So you said Obama sucks. The Tea Klux Klan Party has the same view. But the reason why they all think Obama sucks is, they're bigots. Is there any other reason why you would say that?”
19. Anonymous said... on Mar 18, 2010 at 09:08AM
“So according to you, if any African-American is criticized (especially by a European-American) they are by default a racist? So all Philadelphians that call Mumia Abu-Jamal a cop killer (which is a fact based on his conviction by a jury of his peers) racists? By the way Obama is not the first African-American President, He is the 44th President of the United States. To me, all people are people and they should be judged by the content of their character….”
20. chaloots said... on Mar 18, 2010 at 10:00AM
“There you go putting words in my mouth. My words speak for themselves, don't need you to define what is clearly written. But also, you never gave another reason why Obama Sucks.So I must have been right about bigotry.”
21. texastom said... on Mar 25, 2010 at 05:42PM
“well hello every one i keephearing about this new tax one way or the other they are going to do it. i take buses every where i go as i stand on the conners i see may be 15 people talking on the phones. i think if the beat cops or any of the cops stand on a conner and pull them people over the city will make enuff moneys to pay any thing they need to”
22. chaloots said... on Mar 26, 2010 at 11:40PM
“Texastom, I agree, but they should use the PPA, those thieves can write a ticket in a blink of the eye. Should pay for the deficit in no time”
23. chaloots said... on Mar 29, 2010 at 02:10PM
“The F.B.I. had to stop the "Christian Militia" from mayhem. This group wanted to kill police officers for no other reason than, they see the beginning of the rapture happening. These Self righteous Christians nuts need to be treated as terrorist and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”