Also this issue: Skate Crimes -Howard Altman Cheap Terrorists -Bruce Schimmel Portrait Artistry One reporter tackles the meaning of grief. -Tina Kelley Home School Days The state legislature considers new rules for teaching kids at home. -Mary Hudzinski

October 10-16, 2002

mailbag

Letters to the Editor

by the Readers

Filling, and Tasted Great

(Re: Cover story, “From Pest to Pesto,” Bruce Schimmel, Oct. 3, 2002)

Kudos for your splendid report. Your report is first-rate journalism. With ample space to do a wide-ranging report, you informed your readers with necessary detail, explained complex issues in a logical manner and brought along the ordinary, non-specialist reader.

Might I add that your work contrasts with The Inquirer in at least two respects? 1) Your story ran; they missed the story in so far as I’m aware. 2) Though you undertook a longer format, your work holds together and flows, an increasingly rare Inquirer achievement.

Again, please accept deserved compliments for fine work.

Evan Wilner
via e-mail

Auto Manic

(Re: Cityspace, “The Asphalt Jungle,” Steve Conn, Oct. 3, 2002)

Steve Conn was right on target. Parking structures are an insidious blight on our urban landscape. The more land we give over to the automobile, the uglier and more hostile our cities become.

What Conn failed to mention, though, is that more parking invites more cars into Philadelphia. Is there anyone who really believes that we need more cars in Philadelphia? By creating more parking, and jamming yet more noisy, speeding vehicles into the city, the vibrant street life of the city is being slowly choked out. Pedestrians and cyclists are threatened daily by the automotive menace, and eventually the cars win.

Is this what we really want for Philadelphia?

Craig Snyder
Norristown, Pa.

Editor’s note: The new Cityspace section appears weekly at the start of the real estate classifieds (p. 113 this week).

Jewish Thug Still Just a Thug

(Re: Underworld, “’Lude Behavior,” Brendan McGarvey, Oct. 3, 2002)

While I found your tragic story of the alleged ring of Main Line Quaalude smugglers and dealers to be quite interesting, I must take issue with your references to the alleged dealers and suppliers as the “Matzoh Ball Mafia.”

While many the accused parties have Jewish surnames, and may in fact consider themselves to be Jewish, be assured that the alleged conduct -- smuggling and selling harmful drugs to be abused and destroy lives -- is anything but “Jewish.”

Jewish law is quite clear as to how we must act toward the Almighty, toward each other, and to the laws of our nation. Jewish law is very clear on the preservation of life and the abuse of our bodies.

Whether the criminals are named Boesky, Lansky or David Berkowitz (Son of Sam), be assured that Jews see our obligation to this nation as much higher than to act in a criminal fashion.

If these supposedly Jewish criminals are ultimately found to be guilty, be assured that the Jewish community will condemn these individuals for not acting “Jewishly,” and deeply regret the lives that the parties have affected and destroyed.

Howard Hyman
Warrington, Pa.

Correction

In the photo accompanying last week’s story about MOVE, “Who? Us?”, we incorrectly identified the MOVE member in the photo as Alberta Africa. The woman in the photo is Tiffany Africa. City Paper regrets the error.