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Faxes Sent to Abram Frank Reynolds

Letters

From:	JS
To:	Judge Reynolds
Date:	Monday, 10/13/03
Subject:	Help

Byron Story Foundation Youth Restoration Career Center, Inc.
A Community-Based Day Treatment Violence Prevention
Reintegration Program
2139 Ridge Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19121
Phone: 215-769-8544
Fax: 215-7698667



October 15, 2003


Dear Abram Frank Reynolds:

The Byron Story Foundation Youth Restoration Career
Center is seeking your assistant in helping us to obtain
funding and grants information to keep our program in operation,
because it is so desperately needed in North Philadelphia. What
we are most lacking right now is a strong advocate in the
community to get immediate funding and support from our city
funding sources and city officials and also their
acknowledgement of the numerous killing of our youths and how we
can pull together to prevent these youths from killing each
other in these neighborhoods.

One of the solutions is providing youths with a new
territory our Community-Based Day Treatment Violence Prevention
Reintegration Program located at 2139 Ridge Avenue,
Philadelphia, PA 19121 which will offer means and reason for
their growth. Our targeted population are males and female
youths age 13-25 these youths will come from Department of
Human Services (DHS), Juvenile Justice System (JJS), Counties
facilities, and Drug and Alcohol Treatment Centers, and trouble
youths off the street. We are being supported and assisted by
the Honorable Mayor John F Street, Department of Human Services,
Councilman Darrell Clark, Hank Gaither Recreation Center,
Philadelphia Youth Advocate Program, Strawberry Mansion Family
Center ,and a host of religious leaders.

We are a Non-Profit corporation and our article of incorporation
was filed and stamped as of December 31, 2002. We successfully
had our first meeting the board, officers, committees and bylaws
was formed. Our board members and staff are comprised of a
combination of professionals, community advocates, and religious
leaders. We are of strong willed and have a determination for a
successful program.

You might say why do we want to help these youth , I am
the Founder and Executive Director of The Byron Story
Foundation Youth Restoration Career Center Inc. My oldest son
Byron Story of 19 yrs was shot in the head and were killed
instantly by another youth on Sept 9, 2002. He had just
graduated from Glen Mills School and received a scholarship for
college , which he was in the enrollment process at Pierce.
Byron had over came many obstacle in his life. He wasn’t all bad
and he wasn't all good , but what I instilled in him was a
determination force that no matter how many time you fall you
can always start over again, and that's what he always did, one
of his greatest achievement was receiving his high school
diploma. Finally he did it right, and he felt right about
himself to a point.

80% of our youth are in and out of the juvenile system
between the ages of 13-25. What was missing from Byron and
countless of other youth lives who were killed and those who
return back to a life of crime was a outside resources center
that was designed specifically for these youths once they was
release from these programs. This would have kept them
motivated and determine to succeed no matter what. Although
Byron tried , when he came home after being in Glen Mill School
for 14 months to fit in our society. He looked for many jobs
but, the employers still looked at him as the same as though he
never achieved anything. This is were our youth get caught back
up again , between right and wrong choices and most of the wrong
choices be the death of them.




Unfortunately it is to late for my son, but, it is not
to late, again I say it is not to late for other youths to get
the help from an outside support center like the Byron Story
Foundation Youth Restoration Career Center to continue to
succeed when they are release from these programs. I want to use
my son death as a vehicle to ignite life back into these youths
whose dreams has been diluted thought their past and may be this
might prevent a mother worst night mare of hearing that her love
has been killed. So yes we need to become unified in this
effort to save our youths from self destruction and death.

Please call James & Juanita Story Jones Founders & Executive
Directors at 215-769-8544 to schedule a meeting to discuss
further detail about our program. Looking forward to hearing
from you soon. Thank you very much.




Sincerely,



James & Juanita Story-Jones
Founder & Executive Director





PS: Judge Reynolds, I have been in you court room several time
with Byron, until finally I had enough strength to say that
Byron needed to go away. You sent him to Glenn Mills school,
which was one of the best things that ever happen for him in his
life. For that I am truly grateful that he had you as his Judge.
Please help me make a different in these youth life.

Shame! Shame! Shame!

I hope that when this kid is released from detention that he
doesn't go on to even more extreme crimes. 'Cause the message
you are sending is....it is okay to be cruel...to beat and to
maim. Right now it is dogs.....next time it will be a
kid....or a woman.

I don't know how you sleep at night.....

This coming down on the Judge is BS. The irony of calling him a race
trader and whatever else is fit for a movie. All u idiots that were down
there protesting, do me one big favor-sit down and have just one h20
minute conversation with the Judge to see where he's coming from.
Afterwards, those who questioned his racial honor or honor in general
will try to rip your own hearts from your bodies.

Dear Judge Reynolds,

Please take a moment to read the following.

History is full of high-profile examples:

Patrick Sherrill, who killed 14 coworkers at a post office and
then shot himself, had a history of stealing local pets and
allowing his own dog to attack and mutilate them.
Earl Kenneth Shriner, who raped, stabbed, and mutilated a 7-year-
old boy, had been widely known in his neighborhood as the man
who put firecrackers in dogs’ rectums and strung up cats.
Brenda Spencer, who opened fire at a San Diego school, killing
two children and injuring nine others, had repeatedly abused
cats and dogs, often by setting their tails on fire.
Albert DeSalvo, the "Boston Strangler" who killed 13 women,
trapped dogs and cats in orange crates and shot arrows through
the boxes in his youth.
Carroll Edward Cole, executed for five of the 35 murders of
which he was accused, said his first act of violence as a child
was to strangle a puppy.
In 1987, three Missouri high school students were charged with
the beating death of a classmate. They had histories of repeated
acts of animal mutilation starting several years earlier. One
confessed that he had killed so many cats he’d lost count. Two
brothers who murdered their parents had previously told
classmates that they had decapitated a cat.
Serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer had impaled dogs’ heads, frogs, and
cats on sticks.

More recently, high school killers such as 15-year-old Kip
Kinkel in Springfield, Ore., and Luke Woodham, 16, in Pearl,
Miss., tortured animals before embarking on shooting sprees.
Columbine High School students Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold,
who shot and killed 12 classmates before turning their guns on
themselves, bragged about mutilating animals to their friends.

As powerful a statement the above examples make, they don't even
begin to scratch the surface of the whole truth behind the abuse
connection. The fact is that the examples above are only the
ones that are sensational enough to make the news. These are the
high-profile cases that many animal welfare organizations use to
drive their point home, but the reality is that this pattern has
shown itself over and over again in much less "news-worthy"
cases. One might argue that they in fact, lessen the impact,
because it makes this connection appear to be something that
only exists in serial killers and "psychos", when in fact its
very likely that everyone reading these words knows someone who
has abused animals.

Surely you know at least one person who suffers from child-
abuse, or is beaten by their spouse...

In 88 percent of 57 New Jersey families being treated for child
abuse, animals in the home had been abused.
Of 23 British families with a history of animal neglect, 83
percent had been identified by experts as having children at
risk of abuse or neglect.
In one study of battered women, 57 percent of those with pets
said their partners had harmed or killed the animals. One in
four said that she stayed with the batterer because she feared
leaving the pet behind.
Because the household pet is often used as a control device to
keep the abused from seeking help, some shelters have developed
programs to assist in these situations. Programs like Rancho
Coastal Humane Society's Animal Safehouse Program allows women
to leave their animals in foster care while they seek medical
attention, counseling and help. If you're interested in finding
out more about starting an Animal Safehouse Program, e-mail
Patti Oppelt at RCHS for more information.

Its typical for young children to experiment with abusive
behavior towards animals. Most of them learn through teachers,
social situations, and good parenting that abuse is wrong, and
the child discontinues the abusive behavior. This is a fairly
critical time, in my opinion, and if any one of those corrective
elements is missing, that child is high risk for potentially
becoming more abusive later on. As said by Anthropologist
Margaret Mead, "One of the most dangerous things that can happen
to a child is to kill or torture an animal and get away with
it".

If you care about what may happen to a child or any human being
in Russell Watsons future, please visit this web site and click
on some of the links.
http://www.pet-abuse.com/resources/index.php?viewCat=7

Please take a little time to look through these sites,m and
research the connection between animal abuse/cruelty and human
abuse/cruelty. Someone in Russell Watson's future may have you
to thank for saving them or for giving Russell Watson the chance
to destroy their world! It's your choice!

Others writing to you have been too kind. Get this straight:
your abhorrent record is noted. Let loose animal murderers to
kill again? Never again. Your lamentable career, scarred by bad
decisions throughout, is over.

We will defeat you in the next election. Your career is over.
Suggestion: retire early.

Good riddance, abe. You are a disgrace. Don't let the door hit
your backside on the way out...

The Abuse Connection: Implications for an Effective Response
Katie Nurmi, Vice-President, The Animal Love & Loss Network

Animal abuse must be taken seriously. A strong correlation
between animal abuse and violence against humans has been
documented both by psychologists and criminal profiling experts
associated with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, who have
identified cruelty to animals as one of the three traits often
found in the "homicidal triad" which describes the
characteristics of a violent personality. A disproportionately
high number of violent killers in the prison system admit to
having abused animals, and virtually every serial killer has a
history of abusing animals. In addition, virtually all of the
increasing numbers of cases of school violence have involved
students with a history of animal abuse. Individuals who
deliberately abuse animals are more likely to abuse their spouse
and their children or otherwise be involved in violent crimes.
The link between animal cruelty and subsequent acts of violence
against humans is undeniable.
Laws against cruelty to animals have been enacted in all 50
states and provide penalties for the purposeful torture and
killing of animals. We have an urgent need in this country to
work to prevent violence, especially among juvenile offenders
and in domestic situations, yet we fail to take the opportunity
for intervention these laws provide. Animal cruelty is violence
and should be recognized as such. It is a clear indicator of an
individual's propensity to commit future acts of violent crime.
Law enforcement officials now have an opportunity to bring
potentially violent offenders into the criminal justice system
before they commit more serious crimes against humans, but only
if these cases are prosecuted to the fullest extent that the law
allows.
Animal welfare and people welfare often go hand in hand.
To give just one example, in New Jersey, Joseph T. Austin, 26
years old and unemployed, wasn't satisfied with torturing and
killing animals. Austin found his victim when he lured a 20-year-
old Belmar woman to her death in a Jackson wildlife area in
1999. Killers like Austin graduate from “mild” abuse of
animals -- kicking the dog on a bad day -- to enjoying killing
and mutilating animals. Experts believe that abusing animals may
increase or fuel the desire to commit violence against humans in
many disturbed individuals.

There are countless glaring examples in the adolescent
population—15 year-old Kip Kinkel, in Springfield Oregan, Luke
Woodham, age 16, in Pearl, Mississippi, Eric Harris and Dylan
Klebold, at Columbine. Yet we wring our hands at every new
incidence of school violence, claiming that “no one saw it
coming,” installing metal detectors, and placing security
personnel in our nation’s schools in an attempt to stop this
type of violence. It seems that a more proactive response would
be to pay attention to acts of violence and cruelty committed by
teens toward animals. Then, we could identify the population in
need of immediate intervention, and potentially ward off more
school violence. Unfortunately, few people seem to want to get
that close to the situation, and continue to shake their heads
when animal abuse is discovered in our nation’s troubled, and
violent teens, just as we do with regard to the issue
of “bullying.” It is sad that no one wants to get that close.

Studies also indicate an alarming link between animal abuse and
child abuse and/or domestic violence:
"In a study of animal abuse cases around the country in 2000,
the Humane Society of the United States reported that 21% of the
cases involved some form of family violence. One study reported
that 70%of animal abusers had committed at least one other
criminal offense, and that almost 40% had committed violent
crimes against people. In three surveys of women's shelters, 74%
of pet-owning women reported that a pet had been threatened,
injured or killed by their abuser."

Every year, more than one million children, nationally, are
confirmed as victims of abuse and/or neglect in the U.S. At the
same time, thousands of companion animals also fall victim to
malicious cruelty and other forms of violence, often within the
same cycle of family violence. The family pet is frequently an
instrument of control in an abusive family. Abuse of the family
pet sends a strong message to the less powerful members of the
family, typically women and children. “If I can do this to the
family pet, imagine what I can do to you.” In 88 percent of 57
New Jersey families being treated for child abuse, animals in
the home had been abused. One in four battered women in another
study said that they stayed with the batterer because they
feared leaving the pet behind. People have been asking for at
least a couple of decades “why women stay,” (rather than the
apparently more pressing question: “Why won’t abusive
individuals let their partners leave?”) Statistics regarding
animal cruelty and abuse in families, particularly those with
children, seem to give us one answer to this question. And
unfortunately, rescuing the family pet from the abuser had
increased the homicide statistics for women who have tried to
leave. An abused animal is often a sign that a spouse, a child,
or an elder in the household is or may become the victim of
aggression and abuse. A pet may be a surrogate target of
violence. Abuse of a household pet often fuels violent
tendencies that are a precursor to acts of violence against
family members and others.

While animal abuse is an important sign of child abuse, the
parent isn't always the one harming the animal. Children who
abuse animals may be repeating a lesson learned at home; like
their parents, they are reacting to anger or frustration with
violence. Their violence is directed at the only individual in
the family more vulnerable than themselves: an animal. According
to PETA, among other experts, "Children in violent homes are
characterized by ... frequently participating in pecking order
battering," in which they may maim or kill an animal. Indeed,
domestic violence is the most common background for childhood
cruelty to animals." Criminal justice researchers have known it
for years: Children who hurt and torment animals often grow into
adults who assault other people. As Anthropologist Margaret Mead
said: "One of the most dangerous things that can happen to a
child is to kill or torture an animal and get away with it".

Obviously, we need to be far more concerned with cases
of animal abuse in this country. Local law enforcement officials
need to treat cases of animal cruelty seriously both because
such cruelty is a crime in its own right in all 50 states, and
because it is a reliable indicator of the potential for domestic
and other forms of violence against humans. With animal
cruelty laws in place, it is now incumbent upon the judicial
system to treat the issue with the grave concern it warrants.
If an offender is charged with an animal cruelty violation, the
laws do little good if he is not prosecuted, and subsequently
monitored as an individual at risk for other serious crimes
against humans. Just as with the judicial system’s response to
sexual violence, including sexual violence toward children, and
domestic violence over the past couple of decades, if there is
not some penalty to be paid by the perpetrator; if he is not
held accountable for his actions to the fullest extent possible
under existing statutes, the system is falling short of its
mandate to protect citizens. A so-called “slap on the wrist” is
hardly a deterrent to any offender. Other institutions should
also be involved in an orchestrated response to these crimes.
Social workers, teachers, mental health professionals, and
others to be aware of the connection between animal cruelty and
human violence and to evaluate carefully and to monitor closely
individuals who have a history of abusing animals because this
may indicate a propensity to commit violence against other
humans. Parents and child caregivers need to watch for signs of
animal abuse, such as kicking or hurting family pets or
dismembering birds or small wildlife. If such abuse is seen,
that child needs to get immediate help.

The American Humane Association is a national leader in
identifying and preventing the causes of child and animal abuse
and neglect. The organization provides advocacy, training,
research, technical assistance, and other services in the areas
of child and animal protection. The AHA recommends the following:
o More research into the linkages between child abuse,
domestic violence, and animal cruelty, including a large-scale
study of incidences of early childhood cruelty to animals and
later juvenile delinquency rates.
o Advocacy for the inclusion of social workers as mandated
reporters of animal cruelty and animal welfare professionals as
mandated reporters of child abuse in every state.
o Tougher animal cruelty statutes and penalties for
perpetrators of malicious cruelty that include mandatory mental
health treatment; the inclusion of animal cruelty conviction
information in determining parole and/or probationary status of
perpetrators convicted of a violent crime.
o Development of better reporting laws and definitions of
animal cruelty in every state.

The Animal Love & Loss Network is joining in this effort to
bring attention to the seriousness of crimes committed against
animals. Not only do we find the total disregard for life
appalling and sickening; we are alarmed at the implications of
cases, which either go unprosecuted, or where perpetrators
receive “slap on the wrist” sentences. For more information on
ALLN services and resources, please visit:
www.alln.org.

Katie Nurmi is one of the founders of The Animal
Love & Loss Network, and currently serves as the organization’s
Vice-President, as well as hosting one of the three on-line,
moderated support chats for people who have lost, or are facing
the loss, of an animal companion. She is a graduate student in
Adult Education at the Pennsylvania State University, a long-
time Center County foster parent, and human services trainer,
with a focus on diversity issues and non-violent conflict
resolution. She worked for many years both managing a battered
women’s shelter and counseling children from violent homes.

Judge Reynolds,

I was so disappointed when I found out what you had said about
Mr. Watson. How you couldn't tie together the beating of a dog
to a beating of a human. This "man" beat this helpless dog as
it ran away from him for his life. He was obviously trying to
get away, as you could see in the video. For him to follow this
defenseless dog into the laundromat and continue beating as the
dog yelped continuously shows me that he has no remorse for
beating anyone/anything. To let him go with a slap on the wrist
is not going to solve anything. These people need to be shown
that we will not tolerate this kind of violence; wether it is
toward a human or animal. I love my 2 dogs like they are my
children. If someone we to beat them, you bet that I would want
this person tired for a felony as an adult. He also had 30 vials
of crack cocaine??!! SO not only is he an animal abuser, he's
also a drug user/dealer. What good qualities does he have that
we should try to "help" him? He is 17 years old, he is not a
child anymore and he knew what he did was wrong! I am so upset
to hear that he is going to get away with everything with just a
slap on the wrist! I have an associate’s degree in Correctional
Administration. I took this major because I believed that the
justice system was just that. Well in cases like this, it
really hurts to watch this happen. I believe that the justice
system works, as I hope it does in this case. Thank you for
your time and I hope you will reconsider your decision.
Sincerely, Keely Parker

Dear Judge Reynolds,

Please go to this site, and read the comments on this petition;
http://www.petitiononline.com/Rahkim/petition.html

Like many of the residents of the City of Philadelphia, the
State of Pennsylvania, the entire United States and even some
foreign countries, I am shocked and saddened by your decision to
try Russell Watson as a juvenile offender. In other States,
perpetrators of this type of crime are not treated as well as
Mr. Watson. Even without the benefit of catching the perpetrator
red handed as in Russell Watson's case, most judges and
prosecutors all across the country, and indeed even foreign
countries, are mindful of what has been proven by the FBI and
many psychiatrists, that animal abuse/cruelty is strongly
related to human abuse/cruelty! If those who are in charge of
sentencing fail to give a stiff punishment, it is only a matter
of time before this defendant acts against humans: first
children---most likely to be unable to defend themselves (like
animals), then women, and ultimately men. Recognize animal
cruelty for what it is: the precursor to physical violence
against another human being, add to that, the fact that Mr.
Watson is a drug user and possibly a dealer, makes this judgment
call, a sad day for those who will be exposed to this criminal
on the streets of Philadelphia!
If the will of the people count for anything in the Philadelphia
Justice/legal system, you will take the time to visit, the site
referenced above and read the comments posted. You may say that
internet petitions don’t carry much weight, and the fact that
people from any State/Country have signed, also doesn’t move
you, but we were reduced to this because we didn’t have enough
time to do it the way it is usually done, hand written
signatures and addresses of Pennsylvania residents. This
petition was started for residents of Pa., but people from all
over the country and foreign countries were completely outraged
by the senseless, pure viciousness of the attack on Rahkim, they
wanted to be heard! This is certainly a black eye for the City
Philadelphia! Since your ruling against trying Russell Watson as
an adult, another petition was started the same as above but
adding that the undersigned favor boycotting Philadelphia’s
tourism trade. Stating that because of it’s meager handling of
the Russell Watson case, the legal system in Philadelphia
endorses animal cruelty, making it an undesirable and dangerous
place to visit. This petition is doing very well also. There
are residents of Philadelphia, who vow to start a campaign of
voters, to replace the elected officials who turn a deaf ear to
their desire to get people like Mr. Watson off the streets, and
fail to provide a decent level of protection for their families,
which include their beloved pets.
It will not matter what type of sentence Mr. Watson receives as
a juvenile offender. Whatever it is, will not be enough for the
disgusting, brutal attack on that poor dog. Watching the sheer
evilness of this attack, on the video in the Laundromat, has
changed my life forever and the lives of many. Anyone, with
feelings, would be heartsick at what that poor defenseless
animal suffered at the hands of Russell Watson! It is a scene
that will never be forgotten. Mr. Watson has not only
perpetrated an act of incredible cruelty against an innocent,
defenseless dog, his cruelty was far-reaching and permanent for
many humans. Somehow, ugly and cold do not describe what many
others and I witnessed on that video! I fervently pray that
another innocent does not end up paying for the lack of justice
in the Philadelphia court system!

Sincerely,
Rita Fazio

Dear Judge Reynolds,

I am incredibly disappointed with your decision not to try
Russel Watson as an adult. You have done a great
disservice to the community and public at large. There is no
difference between an extreme act of violence to an animal
or a human being. The level of cruelty which was
demonstrated was the same no matter who the victim was
and you are an arrogant man if you believe otherwise. If it
was your family member who was beaten to death, I'm sure
you would feel differently. I believe it is the responsibility of
the justice system to set a precedent that no violence
should be tolerated. Anyone who is capable of that kind of
violence is a threat to everyone he or she comes in contact
with. Yes, this person obviously has a mental illness and
needs help, but, by lessening the charge on his crime, you
are virtually writing him a pass to do it again and the next
time, it may be your child or family member. A horrifically
violent act is the same no matter who the victim is. I am very
disappointed with your judgement. I fear that your decision
will enable Mr. Watson to repeat this act or worse. I hope
you can live with that. Personally, I am sickened and
saddened by it.

Sincerely,
Kelly Cabot-Armour

Dear Judge Reynolds;


I am currently a student at the Community College of
Philadelphia studying Photography. I am also in the process of
building a portfolio to use upon completion of my studies to use
as a tool for employment at one of the cities local newspapers.

In addition to other projects I have worked on for school
assignments, I have been to such outings as the Super Scooper
event, held last week at the Festival pier at Penn’s Landing,
and I plan to attend tomorrow’s event honoring Secretary Colin
Powell with the Philadelphia Liberty Medal at Independence
Hall.

I would love to add you photograph to my portfolio, and it would
be a pleasure to arrange a photo opportunity with you. Please
contact me at 215-927-4075 or via email at
misspatriciajones@yahoo.com to let me know if you are available
for what I think will be a fun and exciting opportunity for the
both of us.




Thank you in advance,


Patricia Jones
Amateur Photographer

Dear Guardian of Philadelphia Parks:

I will make this short in the hope that you will take a moment to
read it.

As a native Philadelphian I have always regarded the park
system as defining a very special city. As a child, my family
would take Sunday strolls in Fairmount Park; as a Boy Scout, we
would take hikes along the Wissahickon; and where I would, later
as a parent, take my daughters for riding lessons; and where my
aging father would sit on a bench by the stream and adore his
beautiful grandchildren I live on a city block that ends at Morris
Park, where my daughters played when they were very young. And
now my grandchildren have the benefits of the parks.

I strongly urge you to provide the leadership required to
have and grow a healthy park system by supporting our slate of
Fairmount Park Commissioner candidates: ED BRONSTEIN, MICHAEL
DiBERARDINIS, DEBRA WOLF GOLDSTEIN, JOSEPH M MANKO, DAVID D. POPE,
DORIS A. SMITH, AND WILLIAM A. WILSON.

Thank you for your attention.

Dear Guardian of Philadelphia Parks:


Philadelphia needs its parks. Its parks need effective
leadership. Tomorrow, you have the opportunity to vote for
effective leadership in the Fairmount Park Commission. As a
citizen and voter of Philadelphia, and an avid user of parks, I
urge you to take that opportunity and vote for the best
candidates for park commission. The Friends of Philadelphia
Parks, backed by a coalition of 30 park friends groups, has
endorsed a slate of candidates, including Ed Bronstein, Michael
DiBerardinis, Debra Wolf Goldstein, Joseph Manko, David Pope,
Doris Smith, and William Wilson. All seven candidates,
particularly DiBerardinis, would serve the park and the city
well. I strongly urge you to support them. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Paul Bonfanti

Dear Guardian of Philadelphia Parks:

As a regular park user and a professional engaged in improving
Philadelphia's greeen places, the need for a vigorous and
healthy Fairmount Park is a deeply held belief. Please support
the Friends of Philadelphia Park's carefully chosen slate of
quality people who can lead the Commission into a new era of
valuing our parks and open spaces. The resulting improvement in
quality of life will resonate in ecomonic development.

Dear Guardian of Philadelphia Parks:

In your selection of new members to the Fairmount Park
Commission, I urge you to strongly consider the Coalition Slate
of Candidates. Any one of the coalition, Ed Bronstein, Michael
DeBerardinis, Debra Wolf Goldstein, Joseph M. Manko, David P.
Pope, Doris A. Smith, or William A. Wilson, would be an excellent
choice for the existing vacancies.
As a member of the Wissahickon Restoration Volunteers, I have
seen first hand how the Wissahickon Park area has been allowed to
suffer from neglect and misuse. I have also seen the need for a
strong and visionary leadership to bring guidance and support for
the many grass roots organizations, such as the WRV, which are
trying to restore the Park to its former splendor.
Furthermore, it is equally vital to select a commission which
will find creative ways to manage the "confusing overlap of
mission between the Park Commission and the city's Recreation
Department" (Phil. Inquirer 5/14/02)

Dear Guardian of Philadelphia Parks:

Please select the Coalition Slate for Philadelphia Parks. They
are Ed Bronstein, Michael DiBerardinis, Debra Wolf Goldstein,
Joseph M. Manko, David P. Pope, Doris A. Smith, William A.
Wilson. As I am sure you are aware,The Coalition Slate has been
endorsed by Friends of Philadelphia Parks and twenty-one
organizations and park groups. Each candidate is well-qualified
to work constructively to preserve and improve of our beautiful
Fairmount Park. Because of their diverse backgrounds and skills,
they represent the broad constituency of park users and lovers.
Fairmount Park is a unique treasure that makes Philadelphia a
beautiful place to live and to visit. Its oversight needs the
most dedicated, qualified leadership available. Please appoint
The Coalition Slate!

Dear Guardian of Philadelphia Parks:

As a supporter of the coalition slate candidates (Ed Bronstein,
Michael DiBerardinis, Debra Wolf Goldstein, Joseph M. Manko,
David P. Pope, Doris A. Smith, William A. Wilson)which have
also been endorced by Friends of Philadelphia Parks as well as
twenty-one organizations and park groups, I strongly advocate
for Park Leadership that supports green spaces for the
Philadelphia community.

It is my opinion that the above named candidates represent a
broad constituency of people with varying backgrounds and
skills, any one of whom could serve the whole very well.

Please consider this need for park maintenance and development
as an integral "quality of life" issue for those of us
committed to living and working in the city.
Thank you.

Dear Guardian of Philadelphia Parks:
Please support the following candidates for Fairmount Park
Commision: Ed Bronstein, Micheal D. Berardines, Debra Wolf
Goldstein, Joseph M. Manko, David P. Pope, Doris A. Smith, and
William A. Wilson.
This coalition slate has been endorsed by Friends of
Philadelphia Parks and 21 other organizations and park groups.
Each of these individuals represents a brosd constituency and
any one could serve the whole well.
The parks in Philadelphia are very important to the quality of
city life. I live in Roxborouogh and have utilized the park
throughout my childhood and adult life. This asset is one of
the reasons I have remained a city resident-tax payer.
A strong vision is necessare to maintain the quality park
system that has been such a great part of my life. These
candidates can fufill that vision.
Thank You,
Elizabeth Scache

Dear Guardian of Philadelphia Parks:
Please support the following candidates for Fairmount Park
Commision: Ed Bronstein, Micheal D. Berardines, Debra Wolf
Goldstein, Joseph M. Manko, David P. Pope, Doris A. Smith, and
William A. Wilson.'

Dear Guardian of Philadelphia Parks:

I strongly urge Philadelphia's judges to consider the Coalition
Slate for Philadelphia Parks when voting on May 16 for Fairmount
Park Commissioners. Our parks need stronger leadership and these
persons have the background to make good commissioners.

Dear Guardian of Philadelphia Parks:
I endorse the slate coalition of Ed Bronstein, Michael Di
Berardinis, Debra Wolf Goldstein, Joseph Manko, David Pope,
Doris Smith and William Wilson. They represent a broad
constituency of people with varing backgrounds and skills, any
one of whom could serve the whole well. Friends of philadelphia
parks also feel this is the best slection of people for the job,
too.
The parks are very important to me. I grew up in the city my
whole life, and as a child spent many summers playing in the
parks. I can't imagine living in a big city like Philadelphia
and not having the parks. As a late middle-age adult, I still
spend many evenings and Sunday afternoons strolling through the
parks. Forbidden Drive is such a treasure!! We need strong good
leadership tho maintain and preserve the lovely parks for future
generations. They are as important of an infrastructure to the
city as the big sky scrapers in center city. They need the same
attention!
Sincerly, a concren citizen,
Dorothy Bellows

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