Tax inequalities
As a longtime Philadelphia homeowner, it is infuriating to read that the property tax on the $3.7 million home in Fitler Square, purchased by former Penn president Amy Gutmann in 2020, is only $6,800. As new construction, this luxury residence falls under Philadelphia’s tax abatement program, and according to Zillow, there’s eight more years of tax abatement to go. Meantime, for my modest rowhome, built in 1970, the tax estimate for 2024 is identical to Gutmann’s — $6,800 (and going up every year) — although my property is assessed at less than $500,000. Yes, I qualify for a homestead exemption, but the value of that program to me — and the cost to the city — is minuscule compared with the value of the tax abatement program to owners of luxury residences and the cost to the city in revenues foregone, for years yet to come.
Bonnie T. Clause, Philadelphia
Hold police accountable
Violent criminals place no value on human life. That opinion is often expressed about the violent predators decimating society with gun violence. Unfortunately, that same opinion can apply to some who are paid to protect human life. The only violent aggressor in the death of Eddie Irizarry appears to be the cop, a trained professional whose most sacred sworn duty is to protect human life above all else (including his or her own, when reasonable and justifiable).
From the moment he exited his police vehicle, Officer Mark Dial was precluded from pointing his gun at a person who, up to that moment, had posed no threat. Yet Dial exponentially escalated the situation because his partner purportedly said “weapon.” The threat was so imagined and unjustified that Dial (or someone close) fabricated a since-debunked false version of events designed to justify the killing of a man who, regardless of whether he was holding a knife or not, was sitting in a locked car with the windows up. Fragile, on edge, and impulsive individuals should not be paid to pose as those who “protect” life. The criminal justice system must hold Dial, and possibly others, accountable for ending Irizarry’s life.
Michael Dobson, Albrightsville
Body cams are crucial
Police throughout the United States are supposed to protect and serve citizens accordingly. But when police act illegally, we must hold officers accountable. Very dangerous situations happen, especially in the current climate. But in some scenarios, police officers do not have to use their firearms to protect themselves or the surroundings they’re enforcing. Body cameras help with evidence on both ends. This way, after the altercation ends, there would be critical footage of what exactly happened. Body cameras should be worn by all police officers throughout Pennsylvania.
Alim Howell, Upper Darby
Battle damage
When a SEPTA trolley crashed into the historic Blue Bell Inn in Southwest Philadelphia last month, some Philadelphia news organizations labeled the 1766 structure at the corner of Cobbs Creek Parkway and Woodland Avenue in Darby borough as having been the site of a Revolutionary War “battle.” In fact, the British captured the American capital in 1777 without a shot being fired unless you count the engagement at Fort Mifflin, which was after British control of Philadelphia had been solidified.
Located on the former King’s Highway close to one of Pennsylvania’s oldest water grist mills and near the stagecoach route into Philadelphia, the inn was the post of an American raiding party in November of 1777 during the British occupation of Philadelphia. British Gen. Charles Cornwallis ordered 2,500 troops to march right past the Blue Bell Inn after the fall of Fort Mifflin. While the British column was marching past the inn, a shot rang out from a second-story window. Five Americans were killed, and the British arrested the rest. Hardly a “battle.” In 1781, it was American and French forces that marched past the Blue Bell Inn. Their destination was Yorktown and the surrender of Cornwallis.
Michael Thomas Leibrandt, Abington
The $3.7 million question
Wow, how does Penn justify giving a $3.7 million loan at 0.38% interest to its former president? Someone who no longer works for the university and is now serving as U.S. ambassador to Germany. Along with this gift, Penn also parted with $23 million in a deferred compensation exit package for Amy Gutmann’s 18 years of service. Surely the former president, along with her husband, a Columbia University professor, are the last Penn employees in need of a charity loan.
Paul Geibler, Media, bigg1013@gmail.com
Broken system
It is unfortunate that the City of Brotherly Love cannot find a more humane way to handle people who can’t pay their rent. How is it that the city can give developers a 10-year tax abatement, but we can’t forgive those who might become homeless if they don’t pay their rent? Instead, in a gun-obsessed society, we shoot folks who won’t willingly exit their homes and that seems to be OK, as the city is now resuming the for-profit evictions system.
Bud Bretschneider, Philadelphia
Much ado about something
Every U.S. president has affirmed the oath of office: “to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.” Section 3 of the 14th Amendment (disqualification from holding office) states that no president (nor any other elected statesperson) who, having previously taken that oath to support the Constitution, shall have engaged in insurrection against the same.
If former President Donald Trump is convicted of aiding, abetting, or conspiring to obstruct the lawful transfer of power from his administration to that of Joe Biden’s, how can six of eight Republican candidates for the presidency raise their hands in a political debate asserting their support of a candidate found guilty of failing to support the aforementioned constitutional clause? There was a time when one’s word was valued. Such is not the case when 75% of the Republican candidates are of the opinion that one man can suspend the Constitution and that oaths of office are merely pomp and circumstance.
James L. DeBoy, Lancaster
Protect development
Roughly every five years, the U.S. passes legislation commonly known as the “farm bill.” This legislation goes back to the 1930s. The bill is really a conglomerate of food bills, the largest being the SNAP program, a.k.a. food stamps. Other areas include things like crop insurance and conservation. A small chunk goes to feeding the world’s hungry (read: starving) people. U.S. commodities go to over 110 countries and are distributed to the most food insecure. Some funds go to “community development.” This includes helping farmers learn new skills, helping women and children at risk for malnutrition, and nutrition education.
We repair landscapes and irrigation systems, supply low-interest loans to farmers, and basically build resilience in communities facing poverty. The plan is to equip people with the tools to feed themselves. There is a bipartisan bill introduced recently (the American Farmers Feed the World Act of 2023) that will eliminate the “community development” section of the farm bill. This is outrageous and should not be included in the final version. Please let your representatives know that this will gut the farm bill and dramatically change the way the U.S. has been providing food assistance for years.
Michael J. Murphy, Havertown
Broken escalators
I have seen firsthand that the escalators from Philadelphia International Airport’s International Arrivals Hall to the street have been broken for more than two weeks now. While it’s true that there are four elevators from the hall to the street, only two of them are operational and can hold a maximum of 10 people each with their luggage. There is the option of four flights of stairs in an unmarked urine-smelling stair tower, but this is rather difficult for international passengers with more than carry-on luggage. As the average international flight has more than 250 passengers, my thinking is that the escalators should be fixed (and the stair tower cleaned) before our airport is the first impression visitors get of Philadelphia for the coming World Cup.
Hanley Bodek, Philadelphia
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