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Dear Representative Cruz:

I encourage you to support Governor Rendell's position on
enacting a law that would require that only licensed
veterinarians have the ability to euthanize, if truly
necessary, those unfortunate sick dogs found in those
disgusting puppy mills.

Thank you.

Please send some one out to investigate and ticket this family.
Every week they place huge amounts of trash in the alley way
behind our homes. Their address is 518 Titan st, 19147 1st
council district. 2 ward 3rd division.

They are inconsiderate but our homes have a mouse and now rat
problems. The huge water bugs are attacking our homes and yards.
This should be against the law. They let their dog out to relieve
it self in the alley ways, the flies are everywhere.

we have seniors and home owners with disabilities and they
complain about not being able to sit in the yard or out front of
our homes. The Husband name is Felix and the wife Vanessa. I
believe the oldest son is doing this but have their blessings.

The alleyway behind their home has old tires and mattresses, a
fire hazard. Please get some one out , the alley gate is open for
inspection

Leonardo Realty
2136 S 16th St Suite #1, Philadelphia, PA 19145 215-389-7944


--
BRT Account No. 021331700
Location 518 TITAN ST
Phila., PA 191475223
Owner(s) LEONARDO FRANCIS
Owner Address 2136 S 16TH ST
PHILADELPHIA, PA 191453847

I support efforts to make gun sentences served only back to
back and not at the same time, and to make parole for gun
crimes tougher. We need to do something with our sentencing.
Our officer decoatsworth attempted murderer received only 36-72
years, what happened with life without parole. we need stronger
laws to keep these criminals in jail for good.

Get rid of these liberal gun laws - stop the killings. Animals
are killing cops and making you 'officials' look lame. Start
the process - take action - make a stand. This is why WE
elected you. DO something.


A 49 year old lifelong PA resident

[This is a copy of a request to City Council to allow the new
contract with Linebarger to collect the some $622 million in
overdue property taxes owed the City of Philadelphia that the
local pols don't want to assess properly or collect promptly.

Please pressure on the city to both assess properly by reviewing
the info given the State Tax Equalization Board by the Board of
Revision of Taxes of Philly, and make the private collection
agency collect all property taxes that are over $3,000 overdue
and 2 years old. It's not fair to beg Harrisburg to pay Philly's
bills when we haven't collected what is owed us at sheriff sale.

Also, demand that the city set up a way for citizens to request
an overdue nuisance property to go to sheriff sale for back tax
collection as part of the new Linebarger collection contract with
Philly. Thank you].

Linebarger is the contractor who collects overdue property taxes,
and the contract to renew the terms of service is under your
authority. Please let Linebarger collect the $622 million in
overdue property taxes owed the city --

www.hallwatch.org/proptax/about/redelinq/stats/summary

After the recent press by Dave Davies, Andrew Maykuth, and
Anthony Woods on the city's ineptitude in properly assessing and
collecting property taxes, city residents have never been so
angry and so well informed at how little the politicians are doing.

There is still a chance to show that you care for the voters who
pay their fair share faithfully. Let citizens have input on what
gets sold by Linebarger for back taxes, and set limits so that
everyone knows that if a property owes more than X for longer
than Y, it automatically goes to Sheriff Sale, and no politician
can fiddle with it.

Let citizens who are in good standing on taxes recommend nuisance
properties for foreclosure to Linebarger using an online
mechanism of reporting like the one used for www.ppdonline.org.
This reporting of properties should be fair by allowing neighbors to

1. forward copies of L&I complaints, and actions, fines, and photos

2. forward copies of of arrests, news accounts, and other police
data that is publicly available

Then, Linebarger can use that objective data to expedite
collection of overdue property taxes on nuisance properties. It
only makes sense that a nuisance property that has come to the
attention of the Public Nuisance Task Force, for example, and
resulted in actions of some kind be required to pay up in full at
once or change hands to someone who can be responsible.

It is a myth that foreclosure creates vacancy in a robust city
like Philly, and a ploy used by well-meaning people who've
succeeded in rendering proper collection that every other
township must do ineffective in Philadelphia. What other township
or county could have such a high rate of nonpayment of property
tax? There are some zip codes where half of all owners owe
substantive property taxes to the city.

Vacancy is created by properties that owe taxes, the owners can't
or won't pay, and the city won't collect. Take a look at all the
vacant properties in Philly that owe back taxes. Present these to
the market so fresh can come in and renovate.

It's only fair to those of us who live in the city to be able to
have the power to coordinate information that gets to the proper
collecting authorities for prompt action.

This online reporting system of nuisance properties who owe taxes
for collection could be run by the DA's Public Nuisance Task
Force, since they seize properties anyway to be sold, or handled
by Linebarger.

It can be low cost -- as simple as an email read
by a clerk who then has Linebarger make a determination to
collect on objective data when the property is presented to the
courts to be ordered for sale for back taxes.

Any property that owes more than $3,000 or more than 2 years in
unpaid taxes should given carte blanche by Linebarger, and the
community deserves to have the power to recommend the worst
offenders and neighborhood killers for immediate collection.

When the press covers
stories like the recent woman who didn't pay taxes on a house for
27 years that she owned free and clear, politicians looks bad,
not beneficent.

Not collecting taxes penalizes good schools, and
makes Philly an open air prison, where you can't wear an ipod
without risking your life.

We need this money for schools,
police, crime prevention items, and clean streets.

So here's your chance to come out strong for
common sense and tax fairness. I would appreciate a specific,
detailed response on the status of the terms of collection with
Linebarger as soon as they become available.

I've also asked a few of my friends to read this email as well
and to demand our right to have the city up date assessments, and
promptly collect from those who are not paying, and to have a
responsive mechanism to request collection from nuisance
properties that cost the city money, and taxpayers. Thank you.

Today I am tasting dirt. I've been tasting dirt for more than 2 years. The pressure in
my chest is bad today. My feet are numb. They've been numb ever since the City of
Philadelphia allowed (probably NTI ) demolition without permits and excavation on
this contaminated land surrounding my home without any regard for my safety at
all.

Today I tried to sit in backyard to eat my lunch, trying t find some serenity in the
garden that never got planted because this project and the City treated me like I
didn't matter and violated every aspect of my home and my life with sheer contempt
for my safety or well being. I sat out there with electric wires falling into my yard
and yellow caution ribbon that I had to duck under- in my own yard.

Last week, one of the construction men asked if I wanted them to pave behind the
wall they just built next to my house. I'm so traumatized by everything this project
and this city has done to be that I just told him I didn't know yet. When I first moved
here, I had plans for my yard, but I'm so weak and traumatized by the things done
to me by this project that I don't know what to say.

However , this is the very first time that anybody connected with the project ever
suggested they would actually fix anything.

I'm the daughter of a fire chief and sister to firemen and union construction foremen
who is currently building schools for the school district in Los Angeles. The
standards out there are so much higher. The treatment that I have received from
the City of Philadelphia and this project is nothing less than flat out abuse and
criminal, from assault with contamination, violation of my home, civil rights , years
of abuse. And the whole city just lets it happen.

I moved to Philadelphia 8 years ago and loved it until I landed in the worst of
Philadelphia corruption and dysfunction and contempt for the average citizen.

Green Disaster/ Public Health Hazard, Environmental Crime, Failed City Response


To the City of Philadelphia,

I am very ill and my pet is very ill from all the dust and environmental hazards from
the construction site next to my house at 259 east Sydney Street. I've had two
doctors say I cannot live here during construction. The site has known history of
illegal dumping, contaminated soil that was dusted all over my home and
neighborhood. I am very ill. This week chemical smelling smoke from a machine
was flying into my home and making me dizzy and disoriented.

Why doesn't anybody help me? I've done everything to get help and I'm losing my
life.

This is not sustainable building. Hilary Regan smelled a chemical smell. Bruce
Schimmel smelled something funny, the developer's attorney admitted to an
environmental problem. Dan Murnoff of East MT Airy Neighbors has witnessed huge
amounts of flying dust as have many others. The Water Department gave violations
for contanminated soil and no dust control and Violations against the Clean Streams
Act. This was built upon the headwater springs of the Wingohocking. The stream
and springs were ignored by City Planning and Zoning. The polluted history was
ignored and the public health was ignored and the adjacent neighbors were
ignored. I am very sick and I get sicker because NOBODY, after 100's letters and
bringing this to attention--will pay any attention.

I am usually too ill to go to any of the City Meetings and Sustainablity and Green
programs that are all over the city. It seems like everybody is really hyped on this
Green thing, yet when there is a REAL issue that is making a real person and real
neighborhood suffer, nobody has time to do anything.

If all the people and agencies that I've contacted can't do anything about this and
help me and this situation because they are too busy having meetings about making
Philadelphia a Greener more livable place- then I really don't see the point of any of
your meetings. It feels like everybody wants to have meetings but they don't want
to do anything real.

This entire anti-green disaster over here has always been the perfect opportunity to
live up to Green and Sustainable principals, but instead it is ignored and basically
I've been the sacrifice.


I can't believe that an entire city can't solve this problem and is basically willing to
allow me to suffer, deny me my civil rights, and most likely cause an early death.

MOVE ME!!!!

Thank you,

Margaret Motheral
259 East Sydney Street
Philadelphia PA 19119

Yesterday, chemical fumes started surrounding my house and I started to get dizzy.
Today I am very ill-again. Construction site -managing director of Devon Street
LLC -is Stan Smith-a developer and campaign contributer to Council Woman Donna
Reed Miller who approved this project.

Today the fumes started again. This time I think they are coming from a cement
mixer right out side my house. I've been ill from the environmental hazards, noise
and stressors and violations and trespasses from this project for a long time. I go
to everybody in the city for help and nobody will help. My cat is sick too.

Two doctors have said I need to be removed from the house ASAP. But nobody
listens. It's very obvious to neighbors,etc that my home is under threat and
surrounded on three sides by this project.

The City has gravely harmed me by ignoring the hazards in this site and to my home
and health for so long and allowing this to happen to me.

The health and welfare of my entire street has been ignored and mistreated.

Another LIFE DESTROYED BY PHILADELPHIA their politicians and their developer
friends. This morning I wake up to the sound of jack hammers . That been my
morning call for months. I am choking on dust. Air Management refuses to talk to
ALL the neighbors. This site is polluted. THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA has abused me
and wrecked my home, my livelihood, interrupted my education, seriously harmed
my health, denied my civil rights, denied police protection, and harmed every other
part of my life because they want to protect the Devon Street Enclave whose
managing director is developer Stan Smith --and who gives money to COUNCIL
WOMAN DOnna Reed Miller. Vernon Price- Ward leader -who lives around the
corner has deliberately allowed me to get sicker and sicker -- allowed my home to
become a trash pit, allowed live electric wires to be draped over my house for over
a year, allowed drunk and disorderly crew to live and party on the site three feet
from my home. The City of Philadelphia has committed Environmental crimes
against this neighborhood and against the Clean Streams Act and is causing serious
flood issues for the future.

You all had a chance to remove me to safety right tat the start of this. You all had a
chance to to do the right thing--- but you al covered up and covered up and
allowed me to get sicker and sicker and abused this entire neighborhood.

FREE LUNCH PROGRAM WILL START ON JUNE 23,2008.LUNCH WILL BE AT 11:30AM and snack will be at 1:30pm. WE ARE ALSO HAVING A PLAY STREET FOR THE CHILDREN,THE STREET WILL BE BLOCKED OFF MONDAY THRU FRIDAY 8:30AM TO 4PM.
Althea~4055 GLENDALE ST.


This is nice considering some of us hard working people are still asleep at the 8:30am.The last time the block party took place you could not get up the street walking on either side.So we have no deliveries,and "WE" are inconvienanced at the parents expense who do not want to watch their children all summer and more than half of them are on the welfare and they still insist on eating free stuff.Everything is free except for the hard working person who is forced to listen to the thumping and pounding of their stereo at 8:30am block party or not.
I was never asked to sign any of petition for a block party and lived here 30 years many others are not to thrilled about this taking place.
What happened to the nice peaceful clean quiet neighborhood of Juniata it was all taken away with their ignorance.
The people on this block won't come out with a broom and they are home all day long with their fighting,yelling,screaming and cursing.They have little self respect for themselves or anyone else for that matter..
They used to have block party's and free food lunches on other streets and it was just wasted in the street with pieces of meat.cheese and what is next...RATS!!!
These kind of people love living in their own trash.
The city truck comes Thursday and Friday by Saturday morning it looks as if the truck never came.
I am totally sad and disgusted about the 4000 block of Glendale.They sleep all day up all night with drug parties acting like immature teens when they are actually supposed to be young adults.
Their is dog crap all around this vacinity,graffetti,they don't keep their lawns nice any more and if you do try to keep it nice they throw trash on it.
THIS IS A JOKE ON THE HARD WORKING CLASS OF 4000 GLENDALE STREET! THE FEW THAT EXIST!

I have repeatedly contacted everyone in the City of Philadelphia about environmental
and civil crimes concerning the development project called the Enclave at Devon.

Water Crimes In Philly

Now the builders next to my house are throwing their fences and trash in my
backyard again. They Violated the Clean Streams Act and are destroying one of the
few source springs of the Wingohocken that the city has not yet covered over.
When I went to the Streets Department and told them the headwaters were here and
showed them the map, they had no idea AND they ignored it.

The location of the Headwater was never presented at Planning or the Water
Department when they allowed this development to be approved. But they knew
because I told them. One day I showed them the water escaping from the ground--
but--they simply--- committed environmental crimes and didn't tell the public--
now we are at risk for flood and water damage--plus this important site of natural
water has been violated.

Someday soon we will need this water.


"Only 2.5% of the world's water is not salty, and two-thirds of that is trapped in the
icecaps and glaciers. Of what is left, about 20% is in remote areas and most of the
rest comes at the wrong time and in the wrong place, as with monsoons and floods.
The amount of fresh water available for human use is less than 0.08% of all the
water on the planet. About 70% of the fresh water is already used for agriculture,
and the report says the demands of industry and energy will grow rapidly. The
World Water Council report estimates that in the next two decades the use of water
by humans will increase by about 40%, and that 17% more water than is available
will be needed to grow the world's food… The commission concludes that "only
rapid and imaginative institutional and technological innovation can avoid the
crisis".

-BBC News, "Water arithmetic 'doesn't add up'," 13 Mar 2000

Other Environmental Crimes have been uncontrolled contaminated and fuel stain
soil that has consistently covers my house for almost three years. I was displaced
from my house for ten months because of Respiratory illness and toxic exposure
from this seriously polluted site that should never have been zoned for residential.
In the hospital three times and still the City tries to cover it up.

Everybody knows and eventually we'll will get everybody to know what the City of
Philadelphia did to our street.

Violating the Headwater Source Springs of the Wingohocken is very serious and a
danger to both original residents here and the new residents if there ever are any.

A few of the old time neighbors are starting to talk about the history of illegal
dumping of chemicals behind my house and into the stream.

Pretty soon the POLITICIANS are going to have to stop being the problem and start
being the solution.

I suggest you get Teresa Heinz involved and find an environmentally safe solution
as soon as possible. If the Headwaters are dealt with properly--eventually they will
take over and they residents will really be angry when they found out that the right
thing wasn't done in the beginning when the city was informed about the water and
the city refused to inform the neighbors that they were being exposed to
contaminated dust. Now everyone is worried about their kids.

I implore you SUPPORT Rep.Casorio bill to put a stop to the madness of puppy mills.
They live in deplorable conditions exposed to the elements of the weather.The voice boxes are injured to control their barking and when the female dog can no longer produce sick puppies they are shot in the back of the head.Show some compassion!
If the AMISH refuse to comply BOYCOTT THEIR PRODUCTS

There are dogs and cat's housed in this property they have not
been registered or given yearly shots. Our residents are afraid
to come outside in the mornings when Ms. Christine has them out
on a lease. She can hardly handle them. She has so many she
brings them out in shifts. When she is not home the animals stand
at the door and windows growling at residents, seniors and
children passing by going to the corner store, Marie's located on
6th Titan street. It is terrible at night. Ms. Christine brings
stay dogs home every week. 536 Titan Street 19147
Also:
There is a huge growth of trees over grown from the yard to the
pavement and now the street , walking and driving lanes.

There has been a attempted robbery at this location of a
pedestrian walking home from work. This is a dangerous the
intruder hide in this over growth and sprang forth as the
resident attempted to walk past property and growth.
This growth has made senior citizens walk into the traffic lane
of the 500 block of titan st @ 536 Titan st.

The property houses 7 vicious breed of dogs and 4 cats. None of
them has dog tags and have not had shots, please help us! I will
send a copy of this request to our Governors offices, State
representative offices, and Mayor, and council at large and local
district offices. Thank you the services. The city is liable in
this matter and our blcok committee has made a urgent plea.

I am writing today to inform you, in no uncertain terms, that I
expect House Bill 2420 to pass, and to go into effect in time for
the 2010 census and the subsequent statewide redistricting.

Gerrymandering is an extremely serious problem in the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania that robs voters of fair
representation. The fact that Philadelphia has some of the most
gerrymandered districts in the entire country makes this issue
that much more important to me, and to many people I know.

I imagine you are already familiar with all the facts, and why
the bill should be supported, but I'll provide some documentation
anyway:

http://www.avencia.com/Portals/0/Press/2006_11_02%20Inquirer_Gerrymandering_original.pdf
http://www.philly.com/philly/columnists/20080510_Chris_Satullo__You_can_help_to_kill_the_evil_gerrymander.html
http://www.philly.com/inquirer/columnists/20080503_Chris_Satullo__Stop_the_gerrymander.html

The Arbor EARN center located 2701 n. Broad center has a training
for the consumers (TANF)named Work Certification. This training
is excellent in reinforcing customer service skills in the work
place. There will be Graduation ceremony for the next class on
May 20, 2008 @ 10 am.

It would be exciting to have our state representatives attend and
say a few words of encouragement. Our graduates are single
parents that has passed multiple screening procedures to qualify
for the course.

My name is Bob Shipman, staff member of the Institute for the
Study of Civic Values. We partner with the ARBOR EARN center. We
service the Lehigh and Alden DPW districts.

Please RSVP, Rachel McNeal, Director of Operations,
rmcneal@arborearn.com 2701 N. Broad Street, 4th Floor,
215-430-4930 X 205.

We would be honored with your presence at this event. If you
could put this event in your schedule.

For additional information and to RSVP Please use contact
information above. As we would like to create Press Releases with
your name on it.

The PWDC conference held recently acknowledged the ARBOR E&T /
EARN center as the most successful operation in the city that has
10 such centers servicing families. Arbor and its' host of
partner vendors such as ISCV, Friends Nieghborhood Guild,
pathways, CCSI, Alden district, Lehigh District, 1199c,ABO and
others.

We hope to see you at our event Tuesday , May 20, 2008 at 10 am .
Rachel McNeal rmcneal@arborearn.com, 215-430-4930 or Bob Shipman
rmship@gmail.com, 215-430-4930

RE: Mayor Nutter's actions on gun control.

What the Mayor did, with the signing of these "new laws",
was morally correct but politically incorrect. The one purchase
a month on guns is a great thing. I think it will a stop the
straw purchases of 2, 3, 4, or more handguns just to give them
to the lost souls that commit these malicious acts against
humanity, i.e. Murder.

Now the way that the Mayor went about it, with just
signing into law what ever it is he wants is a complete
disregard of rules, laws, and the central government itself. If
I or any other citizen, or otherwise, of this United States of
America wants to do something there is a way to legally go
about it and there is an illegal way to do it also. If we
common citizens go about it illegally then there are
repercussions and disciplinary measures that can and will, for
the most part, be dealt out by the governing authority, i.e.
police, District Attorney, Judges, employers, etc., etc., etc.,
you get the point.

Rules are in place for just that reason, they are the
rules. You don't like it then we have a wonderful thing called
The United States Constitution and all its wonderful Amendments
which addresses the ways in which to change the "rules". Then
we have state and federal rules that govern the way those
entrusted with leaderships, i.e., Mayor, can lead and the
limits of their authority. The moves of the Mayor takes us back
hunderds of years when those who governed a certain area could
add, change, or erase any law or ordinances as he wished, as is
the case here with the mayor's defiance of state and federal
laws. If you break a law is there punishment? Are any people
exempt from these laws?

Again I'm all for the new laws except for the one that
says the governing power can disarm a legal citizen who owns a
firearm “legally” if they deem them a hazard. By who’s
standards??? But this is not the way to do it. He broke laws
here and he should have to answer to that as would we common
folk. And mayor yes we have freedom of speech like you were
quoted on saying, "The wonderful thing about this country is
that people can say whatever they want wherever they want,"
Nutter said. “That doesn't mean they're right or that it makes
sense”, so remember that! What makes you so absolute that your
moves are the best and most correct. Mr. Mayor, I entrusted
you, I the people entrusted you with this leadership and this
is not how I imagined you would take my trust and do what you
please. Your actions are not those of a working democracy. You
spoke of not being afraid of al-Qaeda but being afraid of al-
gangsta, well Mr. Mayor, need I be afraid of you?



Please note this will be sent to other offices, emails, and
local news stations.

Today I write this letter to appeal to you, as a member of
the Pennsylvania House Appropriations Committee, to support HB-
163 in conjunction with Amendment-702 which would require the
bill to be referred to as Lacey¢s Law after the young woman,
Lacey Gallagher who lost her life in an automobile accident on
the Pennsylvania Turnpike in the early morning hours of April
28, 2007 after attending her Little Flower High School prom.

Although, this bill, if passed and named after
Lacey, will not bring her back, it will strengthen the current
graduated drivers license laws, which will hopefully curb teen
driving tragedies like the one that took Lacey¢s life.

The Gallagher family can tell you, they want nothing
more than to change the current teen driving laws in
Pennsylvania to insure the roads are a bit safer for all
motorists, not just teens.

The potential passage of HB-163 and Amendment-702,
requiring the bill be named Lacey¢s Law will give the Gallagher
family solace, letting them know their daughter, sister; Lacey
did not die in vain.

In closing I will just say, Lacey was a beautiful,
intelligent, athletic, friendly person who had a bright future
ahead of her. Lacey was the recipient of several scholarships
but chose to attend Chestnut Hill College in the fall of 2007,
if a law such as HB-163 was in place, she would be enjoying her
college experience as we speak. Please consider signing on to
HB-163 and Amendment-702 in memory of Lacey Gallagher.
We need to protect our teenager drivers and we need to make
the laws that save lives! Life is short already and you have
the power to save as many lives as possible. Please start today.

Thank you for your time and consideration, it is deeply
appreciated. Best regards Sandy Hummel mother of 4 teenage
drivers!

I am writing to ask for your assistance regarding the proposed
design of the South Street Bridge. I believe that current design
is a terrible mistake and must be reworked to address its glaring
flaws.

Please take the time to make sure the flaws of the proposed South
Street Bridge are addressed. Please make sure that PennDOT and
the Streets Department follow their own best practices and build
a new bridge that is sensitive to its true context - the
neighborhoods it will connect - and NOT the interstate it will span.

We should be reconfiguring our cities away from dependence on
cars and trucks. Our next Mayor has enthusiastically endorsed the
Next Great City project. Yet, we are investing in infrastructure
that directly undermines the principles of environmental
sustainability embodied by this proposal.

The proposed bridge design is configured to serve the needs of
the interstate - NOT the needs of the neighborhoods it connects.
Instead of building a bridge that considers the needs of
pedestrians and cyclists, the designers configured the proposed
bridge to facilitate commercial truck traffic. The new bridge
will accommodate five lanes of traffic and be equipped with wider
turning lanes the intersection of the on ramps to facilitate
access to I-76. By enlarging the intersection, the new bridge
will allow tractor trailers to use the South Street Bridge to
enter and exit I-76.

Contrary to their own practice, the designers of the proposed
South Street Bridge are putting the needs of the interstate ahead
of the needs of the neighborhoods the bridge connects. If the
proposed bridge does what it is designed to do, tractor trailers
will rumble down South Street. In addition to posing a safety
hazard to pedestrians and cyclists, tractor trailers will smother
a quiet residential neighborhood with diesel dust and hamper the
rebirth of the South Street West commercial corridor.

The South Street Bridge never served as an access point for
tractor trailers and commercial traffic. Currently, the tractor
trailers cannot use the South Street Bridge to access I-76. The
turning lanes at the top of the on ramps are too narrow to
accommodate the turning radius of large trucks.

PennDOT's website recognizes its commitment to context sensitive
design. Its website states: "PENNDOT has embraced FHWA’s Context
Sensitive Design initiative committed to changing the way highway
projects are developed, constructed and maintained. Context
sensitivity emphasizes the broad nature of solutions to
transportation needs by focusing on enhancing the quality of life
across the Commonwealth for transportation users, communities and
the surrounding environment."

On another page of its website, PennDOT states: "The CSS
initiative focuses on applying the flexibility in design
standards to meet local community needs, promote joint use of
transportation corridors by pedestrians, cyclists and public
transit vehicles, develop a comprehensive transportation program
and allow sufficient flexibility to encourage innovative or
unique designs for particular situations."

With a proposed lifespan of 75 years, the bridge will
inextricably alter the neighborhoods and the lives of their
residents it connects. We cannot let this happen. Action must be
taken to mitigate its potential disastrous effects.

The proposed bridge has a projected lifespan of 75 years. 75
years is a long time to be stuck with a bad bridge. Particularly
if the proposed bridge turns out to be not just bad, but a
terrible bridge. For this reason, we must take the time to make
sure we get the design right. To quote Ben Franklin, "a stitch
in time saves nine."

Thank you for your assistance.

Today I write this letter to appeal to you, as a member of the
Pennsylvania House Appropriations Committee, to support HB-163
in conjunction with Amendment-702 which would require the bill
to be referred to as Lacey¢s Law after the young woman, Lacey
Gallagher who lost her life in an automobile accident on the
Pennsylvania Turnpike in the early morning hours of April 28,
2007 after attending her Little Flower High School prom.


Although, this bill, if passed and named after
Lacey, will not bring her back, it will strengthen the current
graduated drivers license laws, which will hopefully curb teen
driving tragedies like the one that took Lacey¢s life.


The Gallagher family can tell you, they want nothing
more than to change the current teen driving laws in
Pennsylvania to insure the roads are a bit safer for all
motorists, not just teens.


The potential passage of HB-163 and Amendment-702,
requiring the bill be named Lacey¢s Law will give the Gallagher
family solace, letting them know their daughter, sister; Lacey
did not die in vain.


In closing I will just say, Lacey was a beautiful,
intelligent, athletic, friendly person who had a bright future
ahead of her. Lacey was the recipient of several scholarships
but chose to attend Chestnut Hill College in the fall of 2007,
if a law such as HB-163 was in place, she would be enjoying her
college experience as we speak. Please consider signing on to
HB-163 and Amendment-702 in memory of Lacey Gallagher. Thank
you for your time and consideration, it is deeply appreciated.

Thank you,

Melissa Healy

I'm disgusted, as the wife of a medal awarded vet, that Anna
Verna picks an uneducated, unqualified member of her vote getting
organization to fill the city Veterans' Affairs Office.

It's not like she didn't have choices -- the other man applying
for the job has a college degree, and experience running and
starting programs for vets, often an intractable source of
homelessness, addiction, and untreated mental illness.

Here's a link to the initial coverage of this scandal:

//www.philly.com/inquirer/opinion/16173387.html

www.philly.com/dailynews/opinion/20080304_VET_AFFAIRS.html

It's scandalous, and horrifying that the local problems of
homelessness, mental illness, addiction, and PTSD among other
problems in those who served this nation from Philly are HARMED
because local party hack Democrats don't care enough to choose
the most qualified person for the job, and don't even care enough
to try to find someone who doesn't have to learn from an entry
level position (read: receptionist) how to serve Veterans.

If Ms. Verna wishes to give Mr. Howard a job for his service, she
can certainly bring him onto her own overpaid staff. No? He's not
able to handle your needs because of his skill level and experience?

Precisely.

I request that my state reps and elected officials forward this
matter to the new ethics position for investigation. It's a
violation of the quid pro quo prohibition under the new ethics
rules. You can't hire someone as a reward for political service,
especially if they are so obviously unqualified, which simply
makes it obvious that this is a pay-to-play issue. Howard paid
with his Ward work, he plays with an overpaid job that he is
going to be an obstacle in.

I yearn for the day when local Democrats have enough self-esteem
to run on their record of service and accomplishment and don't
need to pay off a machine.

Immediate sanctions, just as is the case in other political
corruption matters, is fair and correct. One politician can't be
the fall boy for a whole party's way of doing things.

Rule enforcement is critical, just, and essential for a party
that makes a city we can point to the rest of the nation as a
vanguard, not a punchline.

This hiring is a violation of Chapter 20-600 Standards of Conduct
and Ethics of the Philadelphia Code, where:

§ 20-603. "Post-Employment Representation.

(1) No person who has served for compensation as a
member of Council, City officer or employee shall assist, at any
time subsequent to his City service or employment, another
person, with or without compensation, in any transaction
involving the City in which he at any time participated during
his City service or employment.

§ 20-604. Gifts, Loans and Favors to City Personnel.

(1) No member of Council or other City officer or
employee, shall solicit, accept or receive any gift, loan,
gratuity, favor or service of substantial economic value that
might reasonably be expected to influence one in his position in
the discharge of his official duties, from any person, firm,
corporation or other business or professional organization.

(2) No person, firm, corporation or other business or
professional organization shall offer, make or render any gift,
loan, gratuity, favor or service of substantial economic value to
any member of Council or other City officer or employee which
might reasonably be expected to influence such officer or
employee in the discharge of his official duties."


It is a violation for an elected official to hire a long time
serving ward leader for a city position that is a gratuity, a
favor, and provides a "substantial economic value" which is then
beholden entirely to the Council person for their intervention to
prevent the hiring of a more qualified candidate. It is a
violation for a City Council member or staffer to assist in any
person getting a city job. No member of Council shall assist
another person in any transaction involving the city in which the
member has participated. The wording is clear.

Is Nutter going to enforce this without regard to his history of
working with Verna? Is he able to have the new Ethics Board work
blindly to favoritism? Like lady justice herself, she holds the
scales and is blindfolded.

The test of the new administration's commitment to ethics is how
it responds to flagrant violations by old friends.

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