is dull, forbidding
In his commentary on the plaza surrounding City Hall, Alvin Holm must be talking about a different City Hall from the one I know ("Proposed redesign would trivialize Dilworth Plaza," Thursday). By what standard can he say that it is "just fine as it is"? Dilworth Plaza is dull, dank, forbidding, and, except for the rush hours when people must traverse it, mostly unpopulated.
Because it is surrounded by at least four lanes of fast-moving traffic, it will never attain the tranquil quality of, say, Washington Square. The challenge is to transform it into a place where people may actually linger.
The sunken area on the westerly side of the building was the poorest of many bad decisions; it creates a vast gap that appears lifeless to anyone passing on foot or by auto. And, at any but the busiest times of a work day, it just feels dangerous. If it is to entice visitors, that sunken area must be brought to grade.
The other squares, Rittenhouse, Washington, and Franklin, are destinations. When was the last time you heard anyone speak of Dilworth Plaza as a place where he or she just wanted to hang out?
Ken Butera
Philadelphia
The mystery that
was Michael Jackson
On his legendary Thriller album, Michael Jackson was in his prime. Quincy Jones was there, too, doing his best work, and a young and novel MTV was endlessly playing the extended video directed by John Landis.
Everything worked, right down to Rick Baker, who brought his celebrated vampire and zombie makeup to the party. Yet always at the center of this galaxy was Jackson, who thrilled with his youth, talent, grace, and creativity.
Everyone I knew bought that album. But at the time I wondered, "What can top that?" He couldn't. It simply wasn't possible.
Karl Kofoed
Drexel Hill
The good news
on Chestnut Hill
It was great to see Chestnut Hill on the front page of your June 15 edition ("Chestnut Hill business strives to survive downturn"). But while the story noted that the Hill is alive and well and still one of the great places in the region, the article could have reported the following:
Chestnut Hill is preparing to host two new major food stores. One will be the first Philadelphia location for a specialty grocer, and the other is a renowned local food cooperative. This $20 million-plus economic development in one community is extraordinary.
Bowman Properties, which owns a number of buildings along the Hill's Germantown Avenue corridor, is currently investing millions in renovating many of its historic structures. Chestnut Hill businesses are generally doing quite well up and down the avenue.
Greg Welsh
Chestnut Hill Business Association
Philadelphia
Obama's 'reform'
won't solve problem
What is plainly lacking from President Obama's health-care reform plan is the reform. When you boil it all down, his plan is nothing more than an expansion of Medicare-like coverage (the public plan) to those currently uninsured, and a huge tax increase for others.
While the uninsured will benefit greatly, the rest of us will see no added health care for our additional taxes, and most likely a lot less.
Instead of expanding a government entitlement program, let's lower the cost of insurance, so those without it will be more able to purchase it for themselves. That will also benefit the rest of us.
Mike Seidenberg
Philadelphia
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