Letters to the Editor

Pro forma policing

As an attorney, I can save Inquirer reporters a lot of time on follow-up stories to the latest shooting of a civilian by Philadelphia police ("Questions in city police shooting of pizza driver," April 24). First, the officers will be cleared by the Police Department's Internal Affairs Bureau. Next, a federal civil rights lawsuit will be filed. Then the case will be thrown out based on the concept of qualified immunity - providing the officers are prepped to testify in their depositions that they "were in reasonable fear of sustaining bodily injury" as the reason for firing 14 shots at Philippe Holland. Save this for the next police shooting, and reprint it then.

James Famiglio, Broomall, jamief639@comcast.net

Money traps

It's fitting that the proposed speed cameras were featured on the business pages, since the techonolgy exists solely to make money for politicians, camera companies, and auto insurers ("Cameras urged for Roosevelt Boulevard," April 22). It's not for safety, because photo traffic enforcement makes highways more dangerous, causing crashes, injury, and death. The goal of safer roads will be met only when our public servants use 60 years worth of proven, effective engineering solutions on dangerous highways like Roosevelt Boulevard. The stealth tax of photo radar will make things worse. Drivers need to let elected officials know in no uncertain terms that photo traffic enforcement must be banned.

Tom McCarey, Berwyn, tom_mccarey@yahoo.com

Look, can't touch

While marketers "wallowed in luxury" at a Philadelphia University fashion business seminar last week, the security officers who keep students safe wallowed in grim poverty ("Looking at luxury," April 16). Those underpaid security officers will never own Gucci. In fact, they may not be able to put food on the table. As more people transition from middle class to working poor, it is becoming harder to afford any goods, luxury or not. The business world understands this and has shifted marketing from soccer moms to yacht enthusiasts. Sadly, on display at Philadelphia University - in addition to expensive Italian leather - was growing inequality.

Daisy Cruz, SEIU Local 32BJ, Philadelphia

Higher standards

As for team owner Joshua Harris' claim of a successful 76ers season, fleecing fans to watch a 19-win team might be a success in New York. Here, not so much ("Sixers owner ties a nice bow on a 19-win season," April 19).

Roy Lehman, Woolwich Township

Lonegan's example

Republican congressional candidate Steve Lonegan just made his tax returns available, and his opponent, Tom MacArthur, should join Lonegan in setting a tone of openness, transparency, and honesty in this campaign.

Elaine Billmeyer, Shamong

Bookworms needed

Clark DeLeon should give his students assignments that would require them to visit a library ("Cultural divide between teacher/pupils," April 20). They would meet library professionals trained to teach them how to use electronic as well as print resources, and to distinguish good information from bad. Libraries have always served as education centers, and they appear to be needed now more than ever.

Bill Fanshel, Bryn Mawr, wfanshel@hotmail.com