Letters to the Editor

What You Say

Vocal Minority

Finally, an excellent article on the Obama media and the loss of journalistic professionalism [Slant, "Wither the Media?" Eric Trager, Nov. 27, 2008]. Only one error in the article: Obama did not win by a landslide. He won by 52 percent, meaning 48 percent of the country was not enthralled!

Irene Romanell
Via e-mail

What a great review [Food, "Wokano Wild Side," David Snyder, Nov. 20, 2008]! You brought back memories of my backpacking days through Southeast Asia with their hawker stalls and food carts filled with any and all parts of animal, fish or insect done multiple ways. I can't wait to try all the delicacies on the Chinese menu — usually never printed in English.

DAS
Via citypaper.net

I have met [Ray and Marci Timmons], they are wonderful [Naked City, "Still in the Mix," Isaiah Thompson, Nov. 20, 2008]. I thought they were married. I have never seen dancing at karaoke, but we dance with them. [Marci] gives stars out to everyone. They both are really friendly and they make you feel special; Marci remembers people's names, which surprised me considering all the people that come. She remembered my name. [Ray] talks to you, too. I kind of thought he played in a band, he sings just like Zeppelin. Go to Queen of Sheba on Thursday night, I guarantee you will love it.

Becca
Via citypaper.net

I was a resident of Norris Square for 18 years [News, "You Gonna Use That?" Andrew Thompson, Nov. 13, 2008]. I am Latino. I was on the board of the [Norris Square Civic Association] and I was also the president of the nonprofit holding company that acquired the bank on Norris and Front. I read your article and I found it startling that Pat DeCarlo took credit for cleaning up the Norris Square Park of drug dealing. As the organizer of the groups that really cleaned up the park in the late '80s and early '90s, it is surprising to see revisionist history while you are still alive. Before I proceed, I need to ask you if she told you that she cleaned up the drug dealing. Or was that statement something you assumed if you failed to dig up stories about that entire struggle. The Daily News, Inquirer, Community Focus and other media outlets covered that story quite extensively during that time. I understand the journalistic pressures with deadline, but it is unfortunate that such critical statements go unchallenged. If she lies about something like that, then her entire case is a lie, which might be the case, generally.

HALF OFF DEPOT

Why live life at full price?

The NSCA mission is to empower the community and improve living conditions. In the years that Pat has been at the helm of the nonprofit, have you ever seen anyone else speak about those issues? Of course not. Pat pays lip service to organizing and empowerment but her practice is just as abhorrent as those she criticizes.

Pedro Rodriguez
Philadelphia

Andrew Thompson responds: DeCarlo did not say that she and she alone cleaned up that park. She did, however, say that a large factor in its transformation was the renovation of the houses that line the square. Her phrase was something to the tune of, " When you have eyes and ears watching the park, it's safer."

I did not in the article state that NSCA was solely responsible for the transformation of the park. I stated that that was the reason NSCA started, but I wrote that it was only with other community members that the park was cleaned up. To go into greater detail about who did what and to what extent I feel would have detracted from the focus of the story, which was how NSCA has managed its property holdings.

In a review of the film The Dukes [Movies, Molly Eichel, Nov. 20, 2008], director and star Robert Davi was misidentified as Richard Davi. City Paper regrets the error.