Campbell's Group
Mary Patel's perception of what real power consists of is neither fair nor factual. It's absurd. In [News, Political Notebook, Sept. 8, 2005], Patel questioned whether Carol Ann Campbell is "losing her grip on power." Anyone who is truly knowledgeable about Philadelphia's political landscape would know that Campbell has no real power. As a matter of fact, I don't know any African-American politician in Philadelphia that has any power. Some influence in certain areas? Yes. Power and control over the economic, social and political affairs of the city? Absolutely not.

First of all, Campbell is not leader of the African-American Ward Leaders as Patel stated in her article. Campbell heads the African-American Democratic Ward Leaders, a group which includes most, but not all of the African-American Democratic ward leaders. The other group is led by state Rep. Frank Oliver. Secondly, as secretary of the Democratic City Committee, Campbell is only one member of the party's committee that recruits, interviews and endorses candidates. Third, she supported Nazario Jimenez and never advanced Tom Nocella for judge.

Regarding the outcome of the 2005 primary election, the Democratic City Committee was the loser that did not deliver. All of the party's endorsed slate was carried in the African-American community. However, in white and other communities, only a few of the endorsed slate was carried. It was white ward leaders who dumped the endorsed slate.

African-Americans are more than 50 percent of the Democratic Party in Philadelphia, but did we get 50 percent of the endorsed slate? No. We had to fight for the few African-Americans who were endorsed. The real losers were the qualified African-American candidates who carried the white candidates in African-American wards and the Democratic City Committee that refused to support most of them.

Patel should look at the leadership of the party, along with the policies and practices they put in place and how they close their eyes to the continual systematic cutting of African-American candidates.
W. Curtis Thomas
State Rep., 181st Legislative District

Feeding the Hungry
Doron Taussig's description of "The Food Maze" for the poor is apt and chilling [Cover, "Nothing for Dinner," Sept. 22, 2005]. It also highlights the need for nutrition education of persons receiving food stamps.

The Pennsylvania Nutrition Education Program (PA NEP) is a statewide, federally funded program that partners with state and local groups to provide sound, useful and timely nutrition education to all Pennsylvanians living in poverty. PA NEP is a significant source of funding for nutrition education in Philadelphia schools. Some of the organizations mentioned in the article receive or have received funding from PA NEP to successfully include nutrition education with food distribution.
Barbara Lohse, PhD, RD
Principal Investigator, PA NEP
Director, Pennsylvania Nutrition Education Network

Correction
In [Naked City, "Write Offs," Brian Hickey, Sept. 22, 2005], it was incorrectly stated that Daily News columnist Dan Gross isn't eligible for the looming Knight Ridder buyouts. He is eligible. City Paper regrets the error.