Letters to the Editor

by the Readers

MOVE Shaker

Just to clear up a few misconceptions ["Monica, MOVE and Me," Daryl Gale, Sept. 25, 2003]: At no time did MOVE say or even think John Gilbride was kidnapped by the government to pump him for information about MOVE. What MOVE is saying is that the facts don't hook up, something I thought a paper like the Inquirer, with it's reputation of being an investigative paper, or a reporter like Monica Kinney, would have picked up on. These are the conflicting facts: 1) The body of John Gilbride has never been seen by anybody other than a group of officials who are MOVE's enemies. 2) Alberta and her son were never notified to view John's body; they were simply told he was cremated, something John nor his family ever believed in prior to Sept. 27, 2002. 3) A Burlington County deputy told MOVE he went to the funeral and that John's body was buried in a cemetery in Cherry Hill, but how could that be if he was cremated? 4) The very indicting information that a newspaper photographer -- sent out to photograph the alleged crime scene Sept. 27, 2002 -- tells MOVE they never saw a body or any blood anywhere. The second misconception: Gale says Kinney "vows to stay on the case." MOVE has no opposition to this; our opposition is to her lying witch-hunt of an innocent mother and her young child who have already been victimized enough by John Gilbride, his parents, the courts and now Inquirer reporter Monica Kinney.

Sue Africa
Philadelphia

Art Really Matters

I just thought that you (all) would like to know the power of the press ["Save the Fleisher Art Memorial," Pedro Ramos, Slant and "Art Attack," Amy L. Webb, Fine Print, Sept. 18, 2003]. Over the past few days we have had seven responses to the City Paper appeal for support. These gifts total, to date, $390. A few donors have sent in cards with their gifts; one woman wrote that she had taken classes here in the 1950s. Another donor sent in an old crocus drawing that he had done here years ago along with his gift, and a couple wrote a note about how much they had enjoyed an exhibition they had seen here. And a few other folks have sent messages that, while they have no money, they have time and are willing to help.

Thank you very much,

Thora Jacobson
Director, Samuel S. Fleisher Art Memorial

School Praise

Good article ["You Can't Go Back To School Again," Daryl Gale, Sept. 18, 2003]. It's encouraging that Bartram's principal knows about the school's problems and has solutions. Like the anonymous aide you spoke to, too many people complain about what's wrong with the students, but have no solutions about how to change or help them.

Shawna Holts
Bartam High School, Class of 1990

Correction

Due to an editing error, the Packard Building was misidentified as a former car factory ["Grande Scheme," A.D. Amorosi, Sept. 25, 2003]. City Paper regrets the error.

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