South Philly Review

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To the Editor:

I believe that I have silenced all of the critics over the last three weeks who have disputed with me about the letter, (“Lion in the streets,” April 15). I know a lot about the damage caused by trees as I’ve been watching them in different locations around the world for a long time. My joy of your printing my little story was soon marred by the fact that my friends were taking ill with sinusitis and asthma. They are unable to share in my joy from their beds, and so on their behalf I would like to title this story “South Philly soup.”  

A long time ago, when I was a child wandering the streets of South Philly in the spring and summertime between 3 and 6 p.m., there was always this delicious smell in the air — I was told that it was soup.

I was told that if you were hungry or didn’t feel well, just eat some soup and all would be fine. You have to understand we didn’t have air conditioners in those days and everybody’s front window was open for fresh air. We, as a people, were Irish, Italian, Polish, Jewish and African-American all living side-by-side. What wonderful smells greeted those men coming home from work. I left town for a few years, lived In Germany, ate potato soup (not bad) and then came home. I arrived at 19th and Dickinson streets by cab on a bright summer afternoon and was greeted by a stench that almost made me choke.

That smell is still here, but I’ve become used to it over the years and even traced it to the source. The smell of the soup in the air of Philly today is a toxic mixture of the greening that is going on. All these different kinds of trees with their own special essence. There’s strychnine, arsenic, tannin, aspirin, pine, birch, maple and ivy. I could go on, but I will conclude here by saying that there is fungus, mold and pollen all adding their spoor to this soup that we call fresh air and it’s making us ill. It won’t kill us, but it will just make us sick. The side effects of the medicine will probably kill us.  

Thomas J. Barnes
South Philadelphia

Where do they stand?

To the Editor:

A few months ago 1st District Councilman Frank DiCicco wanted to extend the 10-year tax abatement to a 15-year tax abatement. He wanted to give everyone a 12 percent real estate increase and then withdrew it. Now, Councilman-at-Large W. Wilson Goode Jr. wants a 9 percent tax increase on behalf of Council.

Then Councilman-at-Large Bill Green rehabbed his office at the expense of all of us because he wanted cosmetic changes after the sprinkler system was installed at a cost of $18,698, $15,627 more than it should have cost. For someone who is a stickler for a breakdown of all money spent by the City, you should live by example.

Then 10th District Councilman Brian J. O’Neill wants to consider withdrawing the soda tax legislation by saying there is no support, but halted it at the request of other Council members. Who are they? Why don’t they let us know how they feel about this?

The “Campaign for Healthy Kids” says 44 percent of people surveyed favored a soda tax to solve the city’s budget problem and obesity on children. Who did they survey? Why blame soda and any other sugar products? Why not tax cereal and cookies and any other snacks that have sugar? Come on, enough with the soda tax. Go after those that owe the city money for taxes and utilities.

Start the process of auctioning off properties and see how fast these landlords come up with the money.

I understand the city is in a financial mess, but you shouldn’t be going after the little people to solve it. A lot of workers didn’t get raises this year, but the prices are still going up. How about Managing Director Camille Barnett getting that Christmas present early, work a little over two years and be able to buy into your pension and wind up with a full pension.

Remember, Council next year you’re up for re-election.

Mario Marchetti
South Philadelphia

Look out man

To the Editor:

I’d like to once again thank Sean Holmes, who witnessed a hit and run accident at Fifth Street and Oregon Avenue on April 24. I was parked outside the TD Bank sitting in my car and waiting for my sister when a truck came flying down Fifth Street, taking a good part of my car with him. Sean happened to be driving behind this creep and had the presence of mind to quickly record the perpetrator’s license plate number. His quick thinking was of great assistance to me and the Philadelphia Police Department, who also did a wonderful job.