Letters: More Williams support, criticism
"WOMEN HAVE a right to their own careers." The Daily News overlooked this concept, judging from the recent coverage of Shari Williams, a longtime communications professional who works for the Marcellus Shale Coalition to advance the expansion of the natural-gas industry in Pennsylvania. Under the
"WOMEN HAVE a right to their own careers."
The Daily News overlooked this concept, judging from the recent coverage of Shari Williams, a longtime communications professional who works for the Marcellus Shale Coalition to advance the expansion of the natural-gas industry in Pennsylvania. Under the insulting headline "Hubby Lobby," the story implies that Mrs. Williams got her job in 2012 only after her husband, state Sen. Anthony Hardy Williams, voted for legislation that supports the expansion of the gas industry.
This implication is offensive to Mrs. Williams and professional women everywhere, but even worse, the story is wrong on the facts, manipulating them to support a sexist conclusion.
Consider the true facts:
* Shari Williams is highly respected as a communications professional, having worked on energy issues for many years. In fact, Gov. Wolf recruited her last fall to serve on his Environmental Protection Transition Team for this reason.
* There is no evidence - none - to support the story's suggestion that Mrs. Williams' job was a quid pro quo for the senator's support of the gas industry. Sen. Williams voted for the bill on its merits, long before Mrs. Williams ever got her job.
* Sen. Williams' record on environmental protection is stellar, despite a suggestion to the contrary in the story.
Aren't we long past the days when people believed that women had to depend on their husbands for anything and everything?
Maria Quinones-Sanchez
Philadelphia City Council
7th District
Opinion of a
different feather
Sen. Anthony Williams complains that he and his wife are depicted as opportunists at best and crooked at worst.
Let me remind the senator that perception in life is everything. If it walks like a duck and talks like a duck, guess what - it's probably a duck.
Joe Orenstein
Philadelphia
Seniority equality
The Republicans who control the state Legislature want teachers union concession surrounding seniority rules.
Seniority is a common-courtesy right provided to individuals based on their years of service.
We have heard many reasons from biased individuals as to why stripping teacher seniority would be a good thing.
If stripping seniority rules is such a good thing, then let's review the Legislature's seniority rules and maybe they could be improved upon also.
Mayer Krain
Philadelphia
Holey terrors
Those cursed potholes, 'tis the season.
Last year I hit one on a state road and filed a claim, only to be denied. Apparently, the state was not made aware of that one (claiming no prior knowledge), so I had to pay the piper.
There's a statewide solution, but it would take statewide participation.
Everyone should report every threatening pothole to the appropriate entity: state, county, city, etc., even before hitting them. This needs to be followed up with a statewide website to log those complaints with date, time and person you reported it to.
Then, if it's not fixed in an appropriate time and someone hits it, file a claim. If the claim is denied, take them to court with the documented evidence.
This should put an end to their plausible denial ability.
Rich Saporito
West Mifflin, Pa.
The right place
Michael Nutter's two-term mayorship is coming to an end.
And a very fine mayor is he.
From the very start, his choice of Commissioner Charles Ramsey as the city's police chief was an excellent one.
Before Ramsey became commissioner in the City of Brotherly Love, his experience in our nation's capital well-qualified him for the job, here.
For years, grieving Philadelphians have become accustomed to gathering at the Cathedral Basilica of Ss. Peter and Paul as the official place of worship for slain police officers who were killed in the line of duty.
Despite the sadness of this formidable gathering, the Palestra was a great choice for Officer Robert Wilson III's funeral.
Wayne E. Williams
Camden