Letters: Burning Question: $8 million from the Eagles

Last week's Burning Question asked what the city should do with the $8 million the Eagles owe:

OPEN THE city's 28 closed pools.

Reopen the 1,700 summer-camp positions for children through our recreation center camps that were available last year.

Reopen the 3,700 summer program slots for children that are funded by the Department of Human Services this year, and were funded by Safe & Sound last year.

Reopen the 772 seasonal recreational jobs for youth available last year through the Recreation Department. Reopen the 130 summer jobs for youth that were available last year through Philadelphia Youth Network.

Reopen the 400 summer internship positions in city agencies that were available last year through the Youthworks program.

Fund the LEAP Afterschool homework help and computer literacy program in libraries for children and youth from first through 12th grades, through June 2010 (at a cost of $400,000). (As of now, LEAP's funding of $600,000 will last only through January or February 2010.) Rehire the 111 staffers cut from the Free Library this fiscal year, and reopen libraries six days a week.

Reopen all curfew centers, which were eliminated this fiscal year.

Reopen the Adolescent Violence Reduction Program, eliminated this fiscal year.

And, if costs of the above exceed the $8 million or whatever the final court judgment is, bring into the mayor's office or City Council chambers the CEOs of all major sports teams long subsidized by city revenues and have them contribute equally for the remainder.

Jonathan M. Stein

General Counsel

Community Legal Services

In a city where libraries are dispensable and kids are in danger by not having pools and rec centers during the summer, give the money so that they can read and be safe.

We never address the systemic origins of juvenile delinquency and troubled youth. Certainly many reasons contribute, but illiteracy and a lack of constructive programs have a huge impact.

Gayle R. Ryder, Philadelphia

Open the pools and fund other summer rec programs for our city's children that came under the budget knife.

Rosalind Spigel

Philadelphia