Letters - Feb. 6

ISSUE | LIVING WAGE

Part of their mission

As a nonprofit fund-raiser and former Philadelphian and Boys and Girls Clubs of Philadelphia employee, I'm disappointed that some of the city's nonprofits are requesting exemptions from the living-wage law ("Wage law hits nonprofits," Feb. 2). Many of these groups are dedicated to improving outcomes for low-income or disadvantaged people, yet they're fighting a law that would do exactly that.

It's important for nonprofits to lead the way toward income equality by paying their low-level employees a living wage. Many of those affected by this law are working on the front line, delivering life-changing programs to clients. For organizations doing such important work, they sure have landed on the wrong side of this issue.

|Kate Levin, San Jose, Calif.

ISSUE | SHARING

Wealthy can afford it

Even if President Obama's budget were fully implemented, the wealthy would remain wealthy and those living paycheck to paycheck would not stop living that way. But it might give us safer roads and bridges to more efficiently conduct business. It would also produce a more educated populace, the best driver of the economy.

|Bill Moyer, Wayne

ISSUE | PENSIONS

Make the payments

Given recent coverage of public employees' pensions and unfunded liabilities, it's worth noting that Philadelphia's pension fund was last fully funded in 1950, and funding remained solid through the 1990s ("Report: Pension woes harm growth," Jan. 21). Employee contributions were mandated, but the city's obligations were set aside by several administrations.

Our union and others stepped up to the plate each time we had to save our pension plan. It would have been easy for us to support the sale of the Philadelphia Gas Works to get funds for our pensions. But we viewed that as self-serving and detrimental to gas workers and the public at large.

Let's demand real integrity by having City Hall meet its obligations.

|Fred Wright, president, AFSCME District Council 47, Philadelphia

ISSUE | WORKSHOP PHILADELPHIA

Avenues humming with hands-on activity

The next time Robert W. Patterson writes on the economic and cultural state of Philadelphia, he should do more than read generalized histories and a few studies ("Arts and culture not enough to sustain Philadelphia," Feb. 4). He should visit the neighborhoods.

Patterson would see that new businesses on avenues like East Passyunk, Frankford, and Germantown are leading a revitalization. And that repurposed buildings like Globe Dye Works, Amber Mills, and the newly proposed Bok High School development - just to scratch the surface - are supporting not only artists, but coworking spaces, nonprofits, tech companies, and light manufacturing, ushering in a modern version of Philly as a workshop. As for the millennials Patterson seems to despise so, they often are the workers, owners, and developers of these enterprises.

|Nic Esposito, Philadelphia

Arts a key building block in new economy

Robert W. Patterson shows an unfortunate lack of understanding of the depth and diversity of the city's arts and culture offerings, and their impact ("Arts and culture not enough to sustain Philadelphia," Feb. 4). As a recent transplant from Detroit - a city that understands better than any the challenges of a "hollowing out" of a city's industrial base and the power of arts and culture in a post-manufacturing boom - I am acutely aware of the power of arts and cultural assets to make a difference with education and community development.

The cultural sector is a proven engine of social, educational, and economic benefit. That's why most civic leaders - as opposed to one political pundit - recognize its value, and the importance of focusing on multiple issues, needs, and solutions, with arts and culture being an important part of the puzzle.

 |Maud Lyon, president, Greater Philadelphia Cultural Alliance, Philadelphia, maudl@philaculture.org

ISSUE | MORE CITY CHARTERS?

Take-all rules create uneven playing field

House Speaker Mike Turzai fails to mention that "smart, polite, and enthusiastic" students with difficult backgrounds also attend and graduate from traditional public schools in the city ("SRC, expand number of Phila. charters now," Feb. 3). Nor does he address the fact that the School District is required to educate all students and doesn't have the ability to select among them, as do charters. And due to state funding regulations, district-managed schools are penalized when charters are funded, further limiting resources and services available to noncharter schools.

These issues must be addressed before adding charters.

|Elliott Seif, Philadelphia

No to fair funding, but yes to more charters?

It's funny how Mike Turzai professes an interest in the city's children and families (many of minority backgrounds), especially in light of his support for a voter-ID law that would have disenfranchised the same people for whom he is advocating.

His push for more charters isn't about helping kids and families. If it were, he would be advocating fair and full funding for the real public schools.

|Daniel Meier, Philadelphia