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LETTERS - Nov. 4

ISSUE | MUMIA LAW Free speech jailed I find it difficult to understand how the unrelated activities of someone imprisoned for many years - after being convicted of a murder - can perpetuate the crime and cause its victims to "relive that terror over and over again" ("Legislati

In this July 12, 1995 file photo, convicted police killer and death-row activist Mumia Abu-Jamal leaves Philadelphia's City Hall after a hearing. A day after Abu-Jamal addressed graduates of a Vermont college, a House committee advanced a bill to give the family of the police officer he was convicted of killing a way to shut him up. (AP Photo/Chris Gardner, File)
In this July 12, 1995 file photo, convicted police killer and death-row activist Mumia Abu-Jamal leaves Philadelphia's City Hall after a hearing. A day after Abu-Jamal addressed graduates of a Vermont college, a House committee advanced a bill to give the family of the police officer he was convicted of killing a way to shut him up. (AP Photo/Chris Gardner, File)Read more

ISSUE | MUMIA LAW

Free speech jailed

I find it difficult to understand how the unrelated activities of someone imprisoned for many years - after being convicted of a murder - can perpetuate the crime and cause its victims to "relive that terror over and over again" ("Legislation will help relieve trauma of crime victims," Oct. 24). Nor can I understand how Harrisburg lawmakers, without hearings, passed a law related to the Mumia Abu-Jamal commencement speech that allows any crime victim, without indicating any statute of limitation, "to file a civil action in court if the criminal engages in activity that perpetuates the crime."

Who has the power to determine that an activity by a prisoner perpetuates a crime? Does that mean prisoners cannot take classes, complete a college degree, or engage in artistic activities? Does that mean that prisoners cannot have their portraits painted or have their writing appear in a book, as featured in your paper recently? Who decides?

It should not be crime victims' prerogative to decide what prisoners can and can't do.

|Jean Haskell, Philadelphia

ISSUE | HATE-CRIME BILL

Next, statewide

Thanks to City Council for doing what the state could not do: passing legislation to include lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people in hate-crime protections ("Council passes hate-crime measure," Oct. 31). Hate crimes are different. They don't only affect the victims, but also an entire community.

It's a shame that such a terrible incident of violence, the Sept. 11 assault on a gay couple in Center City, had to happen to bring us together again to ask to be recognized and protected under the law equally. We need hate-crime laws to include sexual orientation and gender identity and expression everywhere in Pennsylvania. I am glad to see that Philadelphia is leading on this issue and standing up against hate.

|Ted Martin, executive director, Equality PA, Harrisburg

ISSUE | ENERGY

Shale-gas shelf life

It is important for the conversation to be shifted toward clean and renewable energy sources, which is why I was disappointed to read Daniel Gabaldon's commentary ("Make most of natural-gas revolution," Oct. 24). Philadelphians need to focus more on developing clean renewables, rather than view the energy market as a race to extract and be a national leader in shale-gas production and exporting liquefied natural gas. We need truly clean technologies such as solar and wind power.

Moving toward dependence on shale gas is not the answer. Shale is not a long-term solution, and we need to be thinking long term.

|Zoe Crum, Woodbury

ISSUE | EBOLA IN THE U.S.

Conquer fear next door, meet health needs

As a Malian American and resident of Southwest Philadelphia, I appreciated The Inquirer's coverage of a recent anti-Ebola demonstration ("Marching to educate on Ebola," Oct. 26). The response to the pandemic demonstrates the government's standard attitude: Africans are not part of the world, and they only become part of it when the world needs our oil, our natural gas, our gold.

When Ebola appeared, the world community just sat and watched. Now, because it's arrived here and in Europe, people are concerned. Our community's message is clear: Fear of Ebola is spreading much faster than the virus itself. If you're reading this, you have a greater chance of being struck by lightning than of contracting the virus.

What we can learn from this situation is that our profit-driven health-care system is making us all unsafe. Pharmaceutical companies haven't developed a cure for the virus because they didn't see money in it. Those of us struggling financially or without documents can't get the care we need.

Ultimately, our health-care-for-some system poses a greater threat than Ebola ever could. An estimated 9,200 children in this region don't have health insurance because they are undocumented. This is one of many reasons I am working for universal, publicly financed health care.

|Mahaman Cisse, Philadelphia

ISSUE | UTILITY SALE

Maintaining status quo, politics as usual

The recent myopic decision by City Council to reject the sale of the Philadelphia Gas Works reveals the following: Whatever Mayor Nutter proposes, Council President Darrell L. Clarke will oppose as he tries to make a name for himself and prepares to run for mayor; Council is beholden to the city unions that opposed the sale; and Council, in its own inimitably regressive manner, refuses to consider any legislation that might alter the status quo.

Regardless of the merits of a change in how the city conducts business, Council seems to find a way to block it. The gas mains beneath city streets are in dangerous condition and need to be replaced. PGW does not have the wherewithal to make those necessary repairs, and so city residents have been left in a perilous position by Council's refusal to sell the utility to a private company in a much better financial position to address this crisis.

|William Cooney, Philadelphia

ISSUE | SUSTAINABILITY QUESTION

Yes vote for city of the future

The Inquirer's recommendation to vote against Question 1 in Philadelphia raises the question of whether the Mayor's Office of Sustainability should be left to the whims of changing administrations, or made a permanent office to provide continuity in a service that has saved the city huge amounts of money ("Questions answered," Oct. 31).

The office has reduced the city's energy costs and can continue to do so, and it should be viewed as an essential city service in the 21st century. With a small staff, it casts a broad shadow both on city departments and on the city's built environment. At the Greater Philadelphia Condo Managers Association, our membership has seen the benefits of this office and recommends that it become permanent.

|Jim Giblin, president, GPCMA, Philadelphia

ISSUE | INVESTING

Take politics out of public pensions

As I read Joseph N. DiStefano's article on curbing fund managers' political gifts, it occurred to me that hiring Republican Governors Association donors to manage New Jersey pension funds, aside from being politically questionable, is unnecessary ("N.J., Phila. act to curb fund managers' political contributions," Oct. 26). Why not have all public pension funds invest in low-commission mutual index funds like Vanguard? I assume American, Fidelity, and other companies have low-commission, low-fee funds, or other funds that are competitive with Vanguard.

Pennsylvania and New Jersey could save money, and the funds would grow exponentially without politicians involved. The question is whether it's possible to take politics out of pensions for the good of their people.

|Carol Nickels, Bryn Mawr

ISSUE | POLITICAL DISCOURSE

Governor in control of all but his temper?

Gov. Christie needs to learn we're not living in the days of Gangs of New York and that rude, crude, bullying behavior is not macho. It's disgusting and should not be tolerated, condoned, or glorified ("Christie gets a bit choppy at the Shore," Oct. 30). Can anyone truly believe that Christie, who seems to have control issues and to micromanage everything, knew nothing about the Bridegate scandal?

|Henry A. Seigel, Philadelphia