Letters: Gallery less open to handicapped

I MOVED TO Center City in 1988. I lived four blocks south of the Gallery. It was very convenient living so close to a major mall. The Gallery was not a great mall, but it had three anchor stores (Strawbridge and Clothier, Sterns, and J.C. Penney) that made it a decent place to shop. Unfortunately, all three are gone. In November 1988 I had a fall and became a quadriplegic.

At that time the Gallery was very accessible because each of the anchor stores had elevators that went to every level. As each one closed, it became much more difficult to get to the upper levels. Strawbridge's closed so those elevators were no longer available. Sterns closed, and became Clover and then Kmart. Their elevator only operated on levels one and two. J.C. Penney closed, and the Burlington Coat Factory had elevators for three floors in Gallery Two. That left Gallery elevators at 9th Street and 11th Street. Since Century 21 opened, the 9th Street elevators were removed so an escalator could be put in its place leading from the lower level to the first floor of the store. That has left no elevator to any floor in Gallery One. That leaves one elevator to every level in Gallery Two.

The Gallery is not like a suburban mall where every level is flat. The upper levels have stairs which I cannot go on. I cannot fathom what PREIT was thinking. I only hope they address this issue when they figure out what they're doing. I would love to feel that convenience again that I had in 1988.

Lance Lewis

Philadelphia

A lesson missed for law students

I have just completed reading Friday's column by Christine Flowers in which she sets forth her thoughts regarding the demands of some law school students arguing for the postponement of their exams due to their vicarious grief over the recent controversial grand jury actions in the Michael Brown and Eric Garner cases.

As a practicing New Jersey attorney for over 40 years, I have heard far more "reaching" and "left field" arguments for postponements from my colleagues (as well as from myself) than those presented by the students. However, for a moment lets move the spotlight from the students to the deciding school administrators who would allow such postponements.

What a lost opportunity to teach these students a realistic lesson about time frames which will in large part govern their careers. It is one thing to have opposing counsel not object to a request for postponement, but quite another to have it granted by an overloaded judge with a large docket to move. Sometimes we need to learn to hear the word "no" and not take it personally. All in all I agree with Ms. Flowers, but I see the greater failing in the answer, not in the request.

Joseph Ridgway

Marlton, N.J.

A senior's plea

I am a senior citizen, age 70. I have never known a city other than Philadelphia that doesn't take care of their senior citizens like they should. They claim the lottery benefits senior citizens, but I would like to know how and in what manner. A lot of senior citizens have nothing and can't get anything because we are screened to the penny.

My cousin, who is also a senior citizen, tried to get a new heater to warm her house, but they told her she received $12 too much. So that meant she had to freeze or try to get a heater.

It's hard for us senior citizens. The young folks with all the illegitimate babies get on welfare, get food stamps, medical and everything else that most of them abuse. Well to me, it's so unfair. The utility companies doesn't care how old you are, they will still put you in the dark or cold.

I truly feel as though when you get a certain age things should be less expensive for us oldies. Where do we go, who can help us? Sad, sad situation. You can live to be 100 and nobody cares. Please print this letter in hopes the mayor, the president and whoever else can understand what I'm talking about.

Geraldine Kittrell

Philadelphia

Let's talk talk radio

I wish that WPHT (1210-AM) would go all sports or KYW Newsradio would move to 1210 AM. The talk format that's been on 1210 AM since 1996, has been bad for the last few years programmingwise and ratingswise in my opinion. There have been too many mistakes made with the station in recent years that I feel will doom the format sooner or later.

The talk format on WPHT has not live up to what WCAU-AM and WWDB-FM did for several generations and as a loyal listener to Philadelphia radio, I find that to be very tragic. We need talk stations that will serve all interests of the Delaware Valley and keep listeners informed.

I hope that 990-AM and 90.9-FM will fulfill that promise of keeping listeners informed and let us discuss the issues that affect this region.

Julius May

Philadelphia