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Letters to the Editor

Modest raises for firefighters Philadelphia's firefighters and paramedics take exception to The Inquirer's misinformed editorial "Unions want to call the shots" (July 28). Our arbitration award provides modest raises (9 percent over four years) and, to balance the raises, major medical and pension reforms. The city's decision not to honor the arbitration award and to continually appeal it has cost taxpayers millions in lost health-care savings over the past four years.

Philadelphia firefighters clean up after responding at 3:34 a.m. Monday, February 4, 2013, to a blaze in the 5400 block of Overbrook Avenue. There were no injuries. ALEJANDRO A. ALVAREZ / Staff Photographer
Philadelphia firefighters clean up after responding at 3:34 a.m. Monday, February 4, 2013, to a blaze in the 5400 block of Overbrook Avenue. There were no injuries. ALEJANDRO A. ALVAREZ / Staff PhotographerRead more

Modest raises for firefighters

Philadelphia's firefighters and paramedics take exception to The Inquirer's misinformed editorial "Unions want to call the shots" (July 28). Our arbitration award provides modest raises (9 percent over four years) and, to balance the raises, major medical and pension reforms. The city's decision not to honor the arbitration award and to continually appeal it has cost taxpayers millions in lost health-care savings over the past four years.

Binding arbitration exists to provide a mechanism for the city and its uniformed workers to settle contract disputes. We can't strike because of our lifesaving work.

Requiring City Council to approve the city's appeals of arbitration awards would provide balance and rein in any irresponsible administration. The elected officials and union leaders the editorial attacked recognize that the city's tactics are irresponsible and unsustainable.

Joseph Schulle, president, Philadelphia Firefighters and Paramedics Union Local 22

Schools beg for bare minimum

Philadelphia's schools face an enormous crisis years in the making ("It's down to the grown-ups," Sunday). If the current trajectory is not reversed, the city's future could be irreparably damaged.

It seems that every year, the School District is forced to beg, hat in hand, for the money it needs just to provide the poorest excuse for an education to most of its students. Recent events lowered that bar even further: Now we are focusing on finding just enough money for the schools to open. Making improvements to the schools has long since dropped from the dialogue.

Certainly we need to find the money to open the schools, and the political finger-pointing concerning where that money comes from must cease. That, however, is not nearly enough. We need to assure long-term, stable funding from the state (especially) and the city so that instead of focusing on the survival of the school system, we can turn our attention to improving the school system.

These children can either be educated to succeed or left to fail. If we choose the latter by continuing to treat the schools as we have, we will all pay the price. Young families with the option will continue to flee the city, businesses will continue to locate elsewhere when they cannot find educated workers, and the city will be left with a larger population of needy, uneducated adults to support.

Lisa Kallas and Emily Adeshigbin, copresidents; Rebecca Baehr, secretary, Central High School Home and School Association

City Council as day-care center

Signe Wilkinson's editorial cartoon Sunday was a stroke of genius. If the Philadelphia schools don't open on time because of political bickering, thousands of children should descend on City Council's chambers and the state Capitol as the cartoon suggested.

If we can't teach them civics in the classroom, let's teach them in the places where, on rare occasions, civics actually happen. What will the legislators do - lock them all up?

Steve Barrer, Huntingdon Valley

Tend to DHS before DNC

I am overwhelmed by descriptions of the abuse and torture inflicted on a little boy, Jaquinn Brewton, by his "godmother" while the city Department of Human Services apparently ignored the situation ("Woman is guilty in boy's death," Tuesday). Why do these horrific crimes against innocent babies have to happen before someone pays attention? I would prefer that Philadelphia focus on protecting the youngest of our city rather than spend time trying to decide if we should host a national political convention ("Brady heads effort to lure Democratic convention to Phila.," Aug. 8) attended by politicians whose goals are for the most part self-centered.

Frannie Rink, Lansdowne

Protect speech as well as students

Carol E. Tracy and Terry L. Fromson of the Women's Law Project celebrate the fact that sexual misconduct on college campuses has finally captured the attention of the federal government. ("Helping make campuses safer," Aug. 8). They rightly point out that sexual misconduct "can cause physical, emotional, and educational consequences." However, they mistakenly suggest that addressing it requires violating the First Amendment.

In a settlement following reports of sexual assault at the University of Montana, the Departments of Justice and Education required the institution to adopt a broad definition of sexual harassment encompassing "any unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature," including "verbal conduct." Contrary to the authors' assertion that this does "not broaden the definition of sexual harassment," it contradicts a precise legal standard set forth by the Supreme Court. That's why a broad coalition of civil-liberties organizations expressed concern about the consequences for free expression.

Colleges have a moral and legal obligation to seriously address sexual misconduct on campus, but not to abandon the First Amendment to do so.

Nico Perrino, Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE), Philadelphia, nico@thefire.org

Enough welfare for college kids

Matthew Nussbaum's invective against the government's student lending policies is more proof that no kindness goes unpunished ("Big college debt 101," Sunday). His analysis of loan proceeds totally ignores the costs of defaults and administration, mischaracterizing this "business" as profitable when in fact it is more taxpayer-funded welfare. At the current level of default, interest rates of 15 percent would barely cover the cost of government lending. The doubling of student debt, coupled with the jobless recovery that has occurred during the reign of President Obama, will ensure that many of the writer's peers will be unable to leave the nest postcollege.

Michael B. Hudson, Pottstown

Another great Philadelphia day

Last week, for the fourth year in a row, I spent a day in historic Philadelphia with my husband, daughter, and three granddaughters. The three young girls helped raise the flag at the Betsy Ross House, and they listened to stories told and acted out at Once Upon a Nation benches located in strategic spots around Old City.

The children's greatest and most educational experience was participating in a "muster" in which they were recruited to join the Continental Army. They were taught how to march and how to handle and fire a wooden musket. They then paraded from behind the Second Bank of the United States to the rear of Independence Hall, where we were treated to a very moving reading of the Declaration of Independence by five actors who played various roles during the day. The girls learned so much history while having so much fun.

I felt such pride in my city while watching many tourists take part in the same activities. The actors were smart, funny, and talented, and all the children and spectators had big smiles on their faces.

This is only a sample of what Philadelphia has to offer its residents and visitors.

Joyce B. Klugherz, Huntingdon Valley