Letters to the Editor
What You Say
Make ours a venti
The activities of the First Friday patrons were no better or worse than those of most people who are arrested for "open container" violations — not more innocent, as the article implies. The patrons should not have been arrested, because what they were doing was not wrong. But it seems to me that the reason people object to their particular situation is because the activity they chose to accompany their drinking was one (at least perceived to be) enjoyed by the educated middle class. It didn't hurt that they were sipping wine instead of forties, either.
City Paper readers, while deploring what happened to the folks at First Friday, might ask themselves if they think the same level of press scrutiny would have been applied to a homeless man drinking out of a paper bag.
James Kennedy-Hennessey
Via E-mail
Please, enough! First off, you all start to cry the moment any type of crime occurs in your precious part of town, and you want it to be dealt with swiftly. But as soon as the police begin to enforce laws against one of your upscale, uptight brethren, then they have gone too far! And to put the officer's name out there in the press has gone above and beyond stupidity. Get over it! Move on and have a latte.
Lalaw67
Via citypaper.net
"Test scores for Philly public schools rose for the sixth straight year ... " [News, Bell Curve, July 3, 2008]. What a joke. The report released by the School Reform Commission reminds me of Soviet reports on the record grain harvests. Both are not true, both are doctored, both are deceptive. Record test scores, my foot! With a 50 percent graduation rate, the SRC has nothing to boast about.
Jan Sklaroff
Via e-mail
Hundreds of people die in this city under similar circumstances [to Beau Zabel's] every year [News, "Forty-Five Days," by Mike Newall, June 26, 2008]. The only difference here is the reaction this has garnered. Maybe if we reacted with shock and indignation at every murder no matter how much value we assign to the victim, we might live in a city where human lives aren't taken at the drop of a hat.
Frank
Via citypaper.net
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Karl Natanson
Via E-mail
I am a Boy Scout from a camp in Goshen, Va. In scouting we do many things that are recognized with what we call merit badges. The merit badge I am working on is the communications merit badge. I am required to write to the editor of a paper so I have chosen to write to you. I would just like to say that I agree with your restaurant listings [citypaper.net/restaurants] and appreciate it as you have helped many travelers find decent places to eat.
Spencer Achiu, Troop 1344
Via e-mail
Food editor Drew Lazor responds:
Dear Spencer: We here at City Paper are absolutely thrilled and honored that you looked to us to help earn your communications merit badge. And considering that the other options of Requirement No. 7 are creating a Web page or using desktop publishing software to produce a newsletter or brochure, we think you have chosen very wisely and efficiently. We look forward to receiving an invitation to your Eagle Scout ceremony!
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