Over the past weeks, we've shared with you our thoughts on the reorganization plan we've developed to keep The Inquirer, Daily News and philly.com local. And now you've shared yours. Did you ever. We have received over 7,000 (and counting) letters, emails and messages in support of our plan. This is by far the largest response we have ever seen to an issue in our paper - with words coming from the city, the suburbs, New Jersey, Delaware, the Shore, Allentown, Harrisburg ... even as far away as England and Scotland.

Please continue to send us your thoughts about the need for investigative journalism, strong local coverage, 13,600 local jobs and a commitment to support for local nonprofit organizations. In the meantime, thank you. Your message is clear. Your support is overwhelming. And your voices are being heard.

The volunteers and staff of our civic and cultural associations contribute talent, time and personal resources to keep their organizations thriving. But there is one thing they can’t do – create widespread awareness and draw attention to their causes on their own. That’s where we come in, supplying awareness-building lifeblood to the work of these groups.

Museums … fundraising walks, runs and bike rides … neighborhood events … orchestras and ballets … zoos and aquariums … colleges and universities … live theater and film, jazz and book festivals – all are vital to our well-being and our lifestyles.

Last year alone we contributed $2 million in advertising space to over 200 local non-profit organizations. And we regularly suggest ideas to further improve events and fundraising.

The local owners of our independent media instinctively know the necessity of this support. They live and work here. If out-of-towners were to seize control, the picture would change. Living in headquarters such as New York, Beverly Hills, Providence, Montreal and even Lausanne, Switzerland, these out of towners would feel little commitment to, or understanding of, our local non-profit needs.

With 13,600 full and part-time employees and independent contractors, our papers and website employ more people paying more local taxes than any other medium in the region ... by far. Journalists, photographers, drivers, press operators, mailers, machinists, technicians, advertising salespersons, website developers, service representatives and more are your neighbors paying taxes, buying goods and hiring services in every county of the region.
 

• THE COMPANY ITSELF PAYS $49 MILLION IN LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL TAXES We also purchase goods and services from small and medium-sized companies throughout the region – from coffee to copiers, from cleaning supplies and newsprint to cheesesteaks and pretzels. We help the community by pumping millions of dollars into our region’s economy.
   
• WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF OUT-OF-TOWN OWNERS TAKE OVER? We can expect significant reductions across the board in employment, investment and in subcontracting with small businesses. The banks and hedge funds – located in New York, Beverly Hills and elsewhere – are experienced at making cost-cutting decisions far away from where the impact of such decisions are ultimately felt.whether it be the location of casinos, the design of a new bridge, the revampment of a school administration, the restructuring of a business or the moves of our professional, college and high school teams

The mission of our newspapers and website is to investigate, report and analyze the people, places and events that affect your life right here where you live. Locally-developed news series, locally-oriented features and a locally-focused news sense can only be generated by local independent ownership. As America’s largest locally owned and independently operated media company, we are able to do that in a manner – and with a commitment – corporate owners won’t.
 

• WE CAN CONTINUE INVESTIGATIVE REPORTS that lead to improvements in our civic life. Reports like recent ones about child health care, property tax assessment, local post office operation, misconduct of a key political figure and more
   
• WE CAN CONTINUE TO SERVE AS A SPRINGBOARD FOR CIVIC DISCUSSION whether it be the location of casinos, the design of a new bridge, the revampment of a school administration, the restructuring of a business or the moves of our professional, college and high school teams
   
• WE CAN CONTINUE TO SERVE AS THE FRONT-LINE OF NEWS DISCOVERY ferreting out the news at its primary source with scores of reporters integrated into the very fabric of our community and its officials and organizations
   
• WE CAN CONTINUE TO ENTERTAIN AND INFORM ON A LOCAL LEVEL with local columnists, local movie reviewers, local sports columnists, local food and restaurant coverage, local business analysis, and tens of thousands of dollars in money savings from local advertisers

Because it benefits you - our readers, advertisers, employees and communities. As America's largest locally owned and independently operated media company, there are things we're able to do that hedge fund owners won't:
 

• INVESTIGATIVE REPORTS that recently led to improvements in child health care, property tax assessment, local post office operation and more
   
• SUPPORT FOR OVER 200 LOCAL NON-PROFIT organizations with $2 million in ad value for their fundraising
   
• PROVIDE $49 MILLION in local, state and federal taxes
   
• EMPLOYMENT OF 13,600 full-time and part-time employees and independent contractors
   
• EXPANDED COVERAGE, news columnists, online breaking news, savings offers and much more that just isn't available anywhere else