December 18-24, 2003

mailbag

Letters to the Editor

by the Readers

Barnes Ignoble

I liked the balance in your article about the irascible Albert Barnes ["Thy Will Be Done?," Deborah Bolling, Dec. 4, 2003].

I was interested to read about the alternative of the Barnes being "subsumed" by the Philadelphia Museum of Art (PMA). I had not read that before. It is quite logical, of course.

Do you know that PMA has had the very separate Johnson Collection for decades within the museum? Johnson has had its own director, staff, guards, etc. for a long time. I think they also had been directed by Johnson's will to hang his collection according to his own willed wishes. Much of that has changed, but it is an appropriate precedent should the subsuming occur.

Also, in regard to educational institutions not taking or not being able to take advantage of the Barnes, as you mentioned Lincoln had not for 50 years: Episcopal Academy was slighted by Barnes. My children attended Episcopal, just next door to Barnes, and there never was an effort to show the children the collection. Bad blood had come between that relationship as well, as it seems to have come between almost everyone with whom Barnes came in contact.

Great article. I look forward to your next one.

Gardner A. Cadwalader
Via E-mail

Hack Attack

Read your article ["Hack Job," Deborah Bolling, Dec. 11, 2003] and as a manager of valet and doormen services at six local hotels, I am aware of the practice of which you speak. I am glad that none of my staff was cited in the article, as we address this issue in the training with each of our staff members throughout orientation period.

While I'm sure that your article is accurate, I think it misses a true perspective. Frankly, in my seven years in the business and all the guests I have put in cabs to the airport, I would say that at least 60 to 70 percent of the time, the cabdriver just hands you $2-$3 for an airport run. No questions asked and certainly no "bribery."

Frankly, the cab system needs a major overhaul, but the problem should be addressed with the PUC and the local businesses that run them. In fact, today a taxi from PHL Taxi was illegally parked on the side of one of our hotels and then hit one of our valet cars as the valet was turning into the garage. Of course, the cabdriver left the scene of the accident. Unfortunately, situations like this are the norm, not the exception. I would be more than happy to assist you in any research you may want to do on this issue. Come spend a day in our world.

Jim Boyer
Philadelphia

Jethro on Bodine

Thank you for giving the story of the city's taking of people's homes and businesses the attention it deserves ["Neighborhood Transformation Investigated," Amy L. Webb, Dec. 11, 2003]. The abuse of eminent domain powers by city governments across the country is a growing problem that must be stopped. Decades-old urban renewal policies must be scrapped due to the past and current abuses that they have inflicted on families and communities. The city of Philadelphia and the mayor must repair the damage they've done by restoring Bodine Street to the beautiful residential community that it once was. Governments at every level need to take responsibility for what they have done and that means making things right by those we have harmed, not just admitting "mistakes."

Jethro Heiko
Philadelphia