LETTERS - Jan. 29

ISSUE | FIGHTING ABUSE

Help close to home

Thousands of sexually abused children in Pennsylvania stand to benefit from the $60 million Pennsylvania State University fine that is now allocated specifically to our state ("Justice finally prevails on the Penn State sanctions," Jan. 21).

As a model child advocacy center, the Philadelphia Children's Alliance is on the front lines of addressing child sexual abuse. We respond to an average of 250 reports of abuse each month with partners from Philadelphia's Department of Human Services sex abuse units, the Police Department's Special Victim's Unit, and the District Attorney's Office.

Children deserve a high-quality response that stops abuse, keeps them safe, and provides services needed to heal. These funds will get us closer to achieving that goal for all Pennsylvanian children who need it. I appreciate the work of our political leaders to ensure the $60 million helps victims in the state and look forward to seeing these benefits realized.

|Chris Kirchner, Philadelphia Children's Alliance, Philadelphia

ISSUE | STORM CALLS

One panic too many

If this had been the first time that sensational, panic-inducing weather reporting proved inaccurate, it could be forgiven ("From blizzard to bust," Jan. 28). But it's not, and it's time that this ratings-driven nonsense ceased.

|Bruce Klauber, Philadelphia, drumalive@aol.com

ISSUE | SAFETY

Special handling

Frank Keel's letter in praise of state Attorney General Kathleen G. Kane proves only that people with friends and connections throughout the local union, government, and political world can accomplish things that ordinary citizens cannot ("Kane's capable team making Pa. safer, " Jan. 25). He reached out to Kane about his daughter's online stalker, and Kane responded instantly with the kind of personalized treatment that few Pennsylvanians could expect. I'm not sure the anecdote in his letter sends the message that he intended to send.

|Matthew Pettigrew, Narberth

All must stand up

Thank you for bringing to light the courageous action of Philadelphia in standing up to the biggest bully on the Harrisburg playground - the NRA ("Cities under fire," Jan. 23) The threat to sue municipalities that pass commonsense gun regulations that would save the lives of their citizens is outrageous.

Our faith-based, grassroots organization, Heeding God's Call, continues to put up T-shirt memorials around the city that reflect the real cost of the easy availability of guns on our streets. Yes, the numbers of gun deaths are declining, but having more than 200 killed by guns last year is not good news. There has been almost one homicide every day in 2015. As our director, Bryan Miller, noted, the National Rifle Association is only interested in serving the gun industry, not in saving lives. We all need to stand up to this.

|Rev. Katie Day, chairperson, Heeding God's Call, Philadelphia

ISSUE | LOYAL OPPOSITION

City Republicans can play a bigger role

I would offer another reason why new blood is needed on City Council - at least, the Philadelphia Republican Party - and it has nothing to do with length of service ("Council needs more new blood," Jan. 25). As a Republican of 45 years and elected committeman, I am continually frustrated and embarassed by the feckless folly that passes for representation by my party on Council.

Councilman David Oh introduced resign-to-run, which was overwhelmingly rejected by voters. He stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Council President Darrell Clarke in denying taxpayers the opportunity to decide for themselves whether the Philadelphia Gas Works sale was good or not. With respect to Councilman Denny O'Brien, he too sided with Clarke on PGW. Watching the former House Speaker preen in front of the gas workers' union prior to a Council hearing last year, I couldn't help but feel sorry for both him and the city, realizing how far both have declined.

So long as Republican leaders back candidates seemingly more interested in their political careers than taxpayers, we Republicans will continue to be part of the problem and therefore need to stop our complaining about what's wrong with the city. Even a high school civics class understands that a city works best when there is a tension between the political parties and the minority party functions as the loyal opposition. This city doesn't have that now.

|Joe Eastman, Philadelphia, comservinit@yahoo.com

ISSUE | WOLF ENERGY POLICY

A new tax on fracking is not the answer

At Gov. Wolf's election-night victory rally, a half-dozen plucky protesters disrupted his speech over his insistence on taxing fracking, in contrast to the New York governor's ban. For Wolf's inauguration, that number had grown. Wolf even acknowledged them, with a hollow platitude about working together for clean, safe fracking.

But fracking is inherently unclean and unsafe, so why is Wolf ignoring the science? We should be looking for renewable energy and renewable funding, not boom-and-bust economics.

|David Diano, Newtown

ISSUE | IRAN NUCLEAR TALKS

Congress should go easy with sanctions

The Kirk-Menendez bill on Iran sanctions is seriously flawed, and, as Prime Minister David Cameron noted during his visit, such congressional action would undermine the unity of the United States with the allied powers at the Iran nuclear talks. Because it's coming from the British prime minister, a close ally, Congress should pay close attention.

This bill is flawed for both legal and strategic reasons. First, it would violate the painstakingly negotiated Joint Plan of Action by Iran and the allies. Rather than isolating Iran, its passage would isolate and weaken the U.S. position at the upcoming talks. These negotiations are critical to keeping Iran's nuclear program a peaceful one, not a strategic threat to the United States, Israel, and the region.

|Edward A. Aguilar, Pennsylvania director, Coalition for Peace Action, Philadelphia, Peacecoalition.org