Letters: Don't begrudge aid to poor Philadelphians

IT CONSTANTLY amazes me that people today, like Peter Garvin

(letter, March 20)

, are jealous of the poor! Think about that: People are constantly complaining about what the poor have been given. Have we lost all sense of perspective?

Yet I don't see these same [complainers] opting to move into the crime-ridden neighborhoods where the poor live, or send their children to the same schools as those attended by the children of the poor.

If indeed the life of the poor is so attractive, it would not be difficult in this day and age to change your status so that you could qualify. I'm sure that Garvin would save quite a bit of money if he moved into a poor neighborhood.

Mr. Garvin, there is a reason the poor receive assistance: They are poor! They do not have what you have. These urban myths about people who do better than you by scamming the system are just that, myths. Are there some who cheat? Sure, but that happens with anything that is for and handled by humans. The incidence of cheating is actually quite low.

When my grandmother first emigrated from Ireland, she cleaned other people's houses. Our family was poor. We worked our way up to a decent standard of living, but we never forgot where we came from and because we are people of faith, we have tried to follow the Golden Rule to "do unto others as we would they do unto us." Thus, we are all for any assistance that helps people with a hand up.

Mr. Garvin, stop whining and be thankful for what you have and the fact that you aren't poor.

William D. McMullen

Plymouth Meeting

Who regulates and monitors school buses and drivers? These outside agencies like Yellow Bird, Durham, Atlantic Express, etc., buses are out of control. They are supposed to be professional CDL drivers, and they drive like they are on a track in Daytona Speedway with children onboard. They do not follow the rules of the road, and they will turn out right in front of you while talking on their cellphones.

In recent accidents of school buses, I think something needs to be done before we have another tragedy. Thank God I have no children who need to ride on one of these hell on wheels!

Tommy Henry

Philadelphia

So they are looking for a replacement for million-dollar former Schools Superintendent Arlene Ackerman. I see that there are certain rules set that the new superintendent should possess. Shouldn't that have been in place when Ackerman was hired? Now she is gone with all that money.

I have a question for her: One of my grandchildren who is 10 years old is in the public-school system. He is severely autistic. He is my heart and is being shortchanged as far as programs to help him because the school district said there is not enough funding to help him - programs like TSS workers and one-on-one speech therapists. I called the school board myself and that is what they told me.

So you see, Ms. Ackerman, I wish you could look in my grandson's eyes and tell him the reason he can't get help is because the city gave all the money to you. $905,000 could have bought a lot of help for him and other children with special needs.

Carol A. Piazzo

Philadelphia

Mayor Nutter has camouflaged a huge tax hike in the form of reassessment of properties. Homeowners should prepare to revolt and start asking their representatives in City Council some rough questions.

One comes to mind: If Comcast and others can get tax abatements for 25 years, why should ordinary homeowners have to make up that loss of revenue? That practice is how politicians get rich.

Property owners have to pay for the police and fire protection that churches, schools and hospitals receive. There are, without doubt, thousands of businesses that do not pay their fair share of these taxes because someone in the city administration has put in the fix.

The Phillies and Eagles are rolling in money - what is their tax bill? And the SugarHouse Casino, what is it going to be required to pay out of the zillions it is handling?

It is time for those who pay nothing for police, fire, water and snow-removal services to assume the responsibility every homeowner is required to do: Pay up! Every citizen who pays taxes should demand that those entities that do not should be required to pay for basic services. The tax system is a sewer.

Ephraim Levin

Philadelphia