Letters to the Editor

What You Say

At Least We're Not Juniatans!

I think you need to write an apology piece to the residents of Kensington.Your ignorant comment about Kenso upbringing was rude and totally irresponsible [Philly Blunt, "A Non-Brother's Grudge," Brian Hickey, Dec. 20, 2007]! I am from Kensington.My mother raised seven children on the streets of Kensington.I never heard a racial slur from anyone in my family. In fact, I didn't hear my first racial slur until I got to high school and the comment came from a black student. It is people like you who give Kensington a bad name because people read something and assume it is true. I suggest you go back to your journalism school and retake a class that teaches one how to back up one's story with facts. The use of stereotypes has no place in an article. Great job, I hope you are proud. By the way, I am also a bit Irish and I'll be holding a grudge against you. Maybe my voice will be heard when I contact your editor.

Thomas G. Barnes, Esq.
Kensington

Although your "quasi-privileged" upbringing did allow you to look past skin color, I see it didn't eliminate your ability to stereotype! Wouldn't you regard your perception of "Kensos" as racist as just that ... a stereotype. Sure it's not racism, but it fits snuggly into that -ism category, no? To be that hypocritical is mind-blowing. Here you are praising your upbringing and how you are above seeing color and you throw ina slanderous comment like that. I grew up in Kensington, still live there and take offense to your perception of us "Kensos" as a lesser class. What makes you better than us?

Funny thing is, many of the people who grew up in Kensington were privileged, as well. We were given the privilege of being taught the value of hard work and family through our blue-collar upbringing.

Gabriel Gliwa
Kensington

Love the paper. However, after seeing the headline [News, "Beating the PPA," John Davidson, Nov. 7, 2007], I thought this would have some handy "procedural" advice for those of us who have previously been locked in mortal combat with the blood-sucking Philadelphia Parking Authority. After reading this article, which was lightheartedly funny, I came to the conclusion that one of your guys should write an article showing people successfully winning against that revenue-hungry beast known as the Parking Authority. Regular Joes, with or without lawyers, sticking it to The Man — now that's what I would call a story.

Kevin Custer
Manayunk

As someone who fondly remembers the old Stenton Avenue jazz scene, I am really happy to see it is experiencing a resurgence [Cover, "Stenton Avenue Reprise," Michael T. Regan and Rick Valenzuela, Dec. 13, 2007]. Of all the gigs I saw on the strip the best by far was Red Rodney (the trumpeter who replaced Miles in Bird's band) playing a gig in the basement of the Stenton Diner that used to be at the corner of Washington Lane and Stenton Avenue. Red, who was from the Northeast, was back in Philly for the first time in many years and he blew his ass off. When he used to play with Bird below the Mason-Dixon line, they billed Mr. Rodney as "Albino Red" to throw the crackers off the scent that Bird was fronting an integrated unit! Red's real name was Robert Chudnick and let me tell you right now: That freaking cat was a trumpet playing FOOL!

Mount Airy had a truly outstanding scene, maybe not quite as hip as G-Town, but then again, nothing was ever as hip as Germantown back in the day and never will be again. Sun Ra's second set on a Tuesday night at the Red Carpet Lounge — don't get me started.

Aaron Levinson
Via E-mail