To the Editor:
I’m sitting here reading the Review’s “Police Report” (Jan. 21) and the incidents described would be entirely incomprehensible 35 years ago. Although many may have been lulled in to an apathetic haze of an “oh well, what can you do?” posture, apparently I still have have enough Alpha, Beta and Theta brain waves left to remember and thus provoke me into writing this letter.
I can recall the basic nature and number of the stories that appeared on the page some 35 years ago. What happened to Philly? More importantly, what has happened to South Philly?
I think it would be really interesting to do a side-by-side comparison of the “Police Report” today versus how it appeared, say 35 or 40 years ago.
Of course, the exact dates would not correspond, but you could get close enough. I’m sure that you must have access to the older archives and I’m sure that there are some readers who still have the originals somewhere.
I’m not looking back wistfully nostalgic nor yearning for the good ol’ days. I have no delusions that the past was perfect. This was always a rough and tumble section, lots of scrappin’ and fightin’, but the nature and viciousness of the crimes we see now was not equaled in years past. It was always tough here, but there was always a sense of safety too, especially for the women and children. What happened?
To the Editor:
I am in shock! I know the police are under a lot of pressure due to the recent killings of other police, but they have a very nasty attitude lately.
I was on a walk and I saw a older gentleman in his car that broke down. He was trying everything to get his car to move.
Three cars back was a cop with another in the wagon. Instead of going to see if the man was OK, she started screaming nasty stuff at him, so unprofessional, and I have witnessed with my own eyes and ears how nasty they are speaking to people. I live in South Philly and I know they have to watch their backs, but get real. They speak to victims as if they are criminals.
During New Year’s Day, I was on Broad Street watching the parade in Center City and I saw a 5-year-old say “Happy New Year” to a young cop. He gave her a nasty look and never replied.
I was raised to respect the men in blue, but let’s face it, they don’t respect no one nowadays and that’s just wrong. What ever happen to give respect get respect. I understand they are in a dangerous job, but when it comes to their people skills lately, I think they failed that course.
I think the mayor needs to do a check on attitudes and if they don’t want to change then leave the force. There are more qualified people out there for the job that won’t disrespect the public.
We all know there are a lot of criminals out there, but believe me when I say there are a lot more good, upstanding people left in South Philly.
Article:
Chronic hopelessness
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Punk patrol
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Questioning the toque system
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Community strife
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Wee people
Article:
Thoughts on the commission report
Article:
Vouching for the state
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Be ready for disasters
1. chaloots said... on Jan 28, 2010 at 02:21PM
“As much as I hate to do this but I agree with Mr. Essex on this point
.
"An immoral and dishonest Court will not apply the Constitution in its intent as written to an appeal, which is the function of the Supreme Court."
The Supreme Courts recent decision to allow Corporations unlimited funding in our elections, smells of a rat if I ever smelled one. Now corporations can contribute any amount, for or against any candidate or lawmaker. Our founding fathers limited the amount Corporations could contribute so that the rich were not the only ones who had a say in the welfare of all of the American people. The SC's decision is wrong again, just like when they ruled G.Bush was president. And nothing good can come of this.”
2. Joe Cellini South Philly Ilk? said... on Jan 28, 2010 at 08:08PM
“Inside out. To our detractor from Bayside, N.Y. Dear Ms. Pellicane, as a "Lifelong" resident of south philly I am disgusted by people who forget where they came from by bad mouthing the hard working people who still live here. It is true that there have been several instances of unrest at southern high in the past sixty years since you've been around, including the late 60's when I attended. The same is true of every other school I attended, including St. Monica and Bishop Neumann. Only difference was cash. Catholic school kids were just good sneeks. As far as "ILK" & "FILTHY, DIRTY AREA", bite your tongue. Only a biased person would condemn and entire community. Don't the folks way up there believe "kids will be Kids" or are you all out of touch? Joe Cellini..South "ILK" Philly!”
3. Gloria Endres said... on Jan 28, 2010 at 11:16PM
“Chaloots, you beat me to it. I was going to say the same basic thing. Essex is so right that the Constitution is under attack by an activist court. The idea that corporations can pour money into political campaigns is insane. These companies have foreign investors who could easily influence how the money is spent. While the law recognizes corporations as "legal persons" they are not entitled to every right that a human person has. They cannot "marry" for example. While they have some legal right to petition the government, they should not have unlimited access to the government that is not permitted to the average human citizen.”
4. Anonymous said... on Jan 29, 2010 at 07:29AM
“Joe, have you heard of black students savagely beating Asian students just because they are Asian at St. Monica's or Neumann-Goretti? Where is the worldwide outrage? Where is Jesse and Al? How come the world has not come to a standstill like when Dom Imus made his stupid remarks, or when that black professor was arrested for appearing to break in a home? Oh that's right, the attackers in this case where not white heterosexual Christian males.”
5. Anonymous said... on Feb 2, 2010 at 07:35AM
“It would be nice if we all had the same skin color, this way racism would disappear. Our country is the only country in the entire world where people are discriminated against based upon their skin color. As for people of a specific ethnic background being slaves many years ago, most of us non-English people who came into this "free" country to live were slaves also! I think we should all have to study each other's ethnicity this way we will not be ignorant or prejudice to others!”