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Local police focus by Obama

ISSUE | OBAMA'S VISIT Local police focus Since campaigning for president, Barack Obama has visited Camden several times. But his visit to my hometown on Monday to discuss policing advances was extremely symbolic ("Toward better policing," May 19).

ISSUE | OBAMA'S VISIT

Local police focus

Since campaigning for president, Barack Obama has visited Camden several times. But his visit to my hometown on Monday to discuss policing advances was extremely symbolic ("Toward better policing," May 19).

As it pertains to the breach in policing, as an African American man, I, too, am concerned about my welfare, safety, and security. And I don't even live in Charleston, Baltimore, or New York City. So I'm thankful the president brought the national program on policing to the city.

|Wayne E. Williams, Camden, wwilliams@uarts.edu

ISSUE | AMTRAK 188

Shared costs

The Inquirer continues to print ridiculous letters from its beloved left, like the one saying Republicans in starve-the-beast mode are responsible for all of Amtrak's problems ("Derail cost-cutters," May 20). That echoed the fact that every time liberals see a chance to browbeat the public into a spending frenzy and play the blame game, they are, excuse the pun, on board.

Sure, improvements must be made, and it's terrible that people die before safety measures are implemented. But liberals should think about what they are saying. It's not just the 1 percent who will be paying.

|Patricia A. Perrone, Swarthmore, patpr123@aol.com

ISSUE | MUSIC LEGEND

Traffic, then a jam

The death of B.B. King, the great blues singer and guitarist, triggered a fond memory for me ("Monarch of electric guitar and the blues," May 16). It was around 1980, and King was performing at the Academy of Music. My date and I were driving to the concert about 30 minutes late. Stopped at a red light on Locust Street a block or two from the Academy, I looked to my left, and there in the next lane, alone in a big, white Cadillac, windows shut, smoking and looking as contented as Santa Claus, was B.B. King.

Our eyes met. He broke out in that great smile, and I acknowledged him and smiled back. The light changed and off we drove, but not before I commented to my date, "We're not going to be late."

|Robert Cherry, Wynnewood, robertcherry2@aol.com

ISSUE | SOLAR

Tesla brings bit of shine to region's economy

Tesla's work on a new battery that stores solar energy is indeed a welcome step toward reducing our dependence on fossil fuels ("Solar takes a giant step," May 18). With a local presence in Devon, Tesla is one of many Philadelphia-area businesses developing renewable energy solutions. In fact, Pennsylvania is one of the top states in the nation for installed solar capacity.

Elected officials from both sides of the aisle in Harrisburg and Washington, especially those with reputations for bridging the partisan divide - congressmen like Pat Meehan and Charlie Dent - should support policies that continue to expand the renewable energy sector and promote job growth.

|Steve Harvey, Philadelphia

Ray of skepticism on solar battery hopes

I will believe that electric-car maker Tesla is capable of mass producing a battery to efficiently store solar energy when I actually see one ("Solar takes a giant step," May 18). If such a battery becomes a reality, however, I'm sure the power companies will respond by tinkering with rates and making solar energy more expensive. They might ignore a few residential solar arrays scattered here and there, but a battery that stores solar energy would be a game-changer and a threat.

|Larry Skvir, Delran

ISSUE | NEXT MAYOR

Kenney's appeal transcended race

It wasn't difficult for African Americans to vote for Jim Kenney ("Mayoral front-runner rallies African American backing," May 15). I voted for him because he was the most viable candidate who could win.

We don't vote based on race all the time. (OK, definitely Obama; but still, he was the best candidate.) From my perspective, we vote for the candidate who says he'll help everyday Americans.

I really wanted Doug Oliver or even Nelson Diaz to win, but I knew they wouldn't get enough votes and that might let Anthony Williams win, which for me was intolerable.

And just so Williams knows his support for charter schools was his downfall - before he shot himself in the foot with his comments on firing Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey - his support for dual school systems, public against charters, is shameful.

We want better traditional schools because you have to sign your kid up for charter schools, and just as with voting, most don't. So we have to fix the public schools. Let's see what a Mayor Kenney does.

|Jacqueline Grant, Philadelphia, jacqui0218@hotmail.com

ISSUE | WHITE HOUSE RACE

Put a fork in Christie's bid already

According to every reputable poll, Gov. Christie barely registers on the radar screen. Why then does The Inquirer give him free publicity in its continuing series of half-page articles on Christie as though he is a viable candidate? His approval ratings in New Jersey (or, more correctly, disapproval ratings) indicate that nearly everyone has no interest in reading anything about him.

|Kenneth Kastle, Southampton