LETTERS - Oct. 20

ISSUE | SCHOOLS

Trust violated

The proposed payments that School Reform Commission Chairman Bill Green quoted recently - $26 to $67 a month, or $200 for a family - were for a health plan inferior to the one currently provided by our union ("Why the SRC acted quickly, decisively," Oct. 12). There is a "buy up" option, but it costs three-to-five times as much. For a teacher to properly insure a family, the cost will actually be as high as $678 a month.

Of course, Philadelphia educators know that many Americans already pay for part of their health-care coverage. So why are we upset? Because even after the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers offered $24 million in benefit concessions, the SRC violated our trust by canceling our entire contract, and it's now using misinformation in a cheap attempt to beat teachers in the court of public opinion.

|Larissa Pahomov, Philadelphia

Teachers have stake

If the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers were able to exercise some influence in an election for a new school board in the city, as commentator Phil Goldsmith fears, so what ("Tom Wolf's dumb idea about SRC," Oct. 14)? There's nothing wrong with letting teachers have a voice in how schools are run.

|Joseph Goldberg, Abington

ISSUE | AROUND TOWN

Hop on board

People rave about Philadelphia as a great walking city, but have you ever used a Segway to make your way? It is a unique way to move if you don't have far to go: green and clean, with no parking problems, and the sun on your face on a nice day. See historic sites up close, or tour Chinatown and feast on dumplings following the ride. Or you can take a trip around South Philly and sample cheesesteaks along the way. I see groups of eight to 10 in a single line circling the streets around Rittenhouse Square. It looks like fun, even if they always remind me of a family of ducklings.

|Susan O. Jaffe, Philadelphia

ISSUE | CAMPAIGN

A governor who won't toot horn, but should

After viewing vague and questionable ads for Democratic candidate Tom Wolf, I wonder how Pennsylvanians manage to survive in such a depressed economic state. In fact, our present govenor has been doing an effective job - even if spending minimal effort on communicating his achievements. Under Gov. Corbett's leadership, the state is headed in the right direction - with the elimination of a large deficit, reduced unemployment, and 180,000 new jobs.

|Richard D. Julason Sr., Glen Mills

Not concerned Wolf will make wallet grab

Gov. Corbett's ad that features middle-class Pennsylvanians welcoming new taxes is brilliant. Too bad I don't buy it. I don't believe Tom Wolf's intentions are accurately portrayed, and it hasn't swayed my support for Wolf.

|Stephen Hall, Philadelphia, smh2005@gmail.com

Cheap shot from a guy who only wore civvies

Recently, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Tom Wolf's campaign shamefully denigrated Gov. Corbett's decision to join the Pennsylvania National Guard during the Vietnam War.

|Joe Eastman, Philadelphia, comservinit@yahoo.com

ISSUE | GUN-SAFETY LAWS

Wrong to let gun lobby make Pa. less safe

Earlier this fall, the Pennsylvania House considered my proposal to establish a state system of universal background checks for firearm purchases, as well as another sponsor's measure that would allow the National Rifle Association to sue cities like Philadelphia, which have passed gun-safety measures as a consequence of Harrisburg's failure to act on the issue.

My proposal was defeated and the NRA proposal was adopted. In both cases, the votes were lopsided but not entirely partisan. While the majority of my House Democratic colleagues voted for universal background checks and against allowing the NRA measure, some Republicans joined us as well.

Now the issue is coming back before the House on Monday as a consequence of actions taken in the state Senate earlier last week. The question is, will the gun-safety cause fare any better this time?

While I support the right of law-abiding citizens to own firearms, it is also reasonable to allow towns to pass gun-safety laws without the threat that they will be sued by the NRA. In Lower Makefield, where I live, you cannot smoke on public playgrounds. However, you can carry a gun in those areas if you have a permit. Shouldn't Lower Makefield have the right to pass a law keeping guns away from playgrounds without having to fear a lawsuit? Likewise, shouldn't Philadelphia have a right to require that gun owners notify police if their weapon is lost or stolen, thereby helping law enforcement curtail the illegal sale of firearms?

|Steve Santarsiero, state representative, Lower Makefield