January 18, 2007 Issue
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Classified Chestnut Hill Local Online Editor Don't Miss an Issue, Tell us what you see or ©2006 Chestnut Hill Local Winner of One |
From our readersSale to Bowman, Virgil’s hollow wooden horse The plan to sell the building at 8431 Germantown Ave. owned by the Chestnut Hill Community Fund to Bowman Properties is reminiscent of the story of the Trojan horse in Virgil’s Aeneid. The unsuspecting Trojans were convinced by a Greek spy to bring the wooden gift horse inside the city gates despite dire warnings from certain seers. Naive failure to recognize this ruse by the Greeks led to the destruction of Troy. How could a mere $145,000 blind the trustees of the Chestnut Hill Community Fund to the malicious attitude which Bowman Properties has displayed towards our community? The money will soon be forgotten, but the ordinary citizens of Chestnut Hill will be left to struggle with the spiteful and maniacal behavior of those who have been invited in to further plot its destruction. Wake up, trustees, before it’s too late! Joan Forde An atrocity I attended the community meeting last night (Jan. 10) and was appalled to learn that: three appointed! wise guys (trustees?) agreed that it was in the best interest of Chestnut Hill that they allow Richard Snowden to purchase one of the nicest buildings on the Avenue! That was after an offer from a young new group who has a successful record. Isn’t this the guy that just deliberately tried to bring down the entire neighborhood of Chestnut Hill? In the most despicable way! Aren’t his many properties a mess or empty? I don’t get this! I don’t think anyone does. Hey, trustees, you’re not fooling anyone. This deal stinks and everyone knows it! Beware, creepy actions will always come back to haunt you. C. Bordo When his lips are moving On Jan. 10, in an exhibition of Terpsichore that would shame Nijinsky, the trustees of the CHCA stabbed the neighborhood in the back while simultaneously putting their collective feet in their mouths. And if you think that metaphor is unusually tortured, wait ‘til you see what I do to them next. These three, Chip Butler, Barney Johnston (not his real first name) and Jim Sicks, with full knowledge of the neighborhood’s overwhelming desire to NOT sell our building to Richard Snowden, did it anyway. Jim Foster, Ron Recko, a member of the Goldenberg group, another bidder on the property, and I were all given assurances after a Jan. 2 meeting — where near unanimous opposition to the sale was voiced to these three — that the sale would not happen until the entire community could voice its opinion on the 10th. But something happened to that promise. And on the afternoon of Jan. 10, before the scheduled community meeting, the deal was consummated. Others will tell you what we are trying to do to stop that deal. I will tell why I think the deal was made and what I am going to do about it. At the meeting on the 10th, Chip denied telling me, Ron, Jim or the Goldenberg Group (all separately, and to me in public at the Jan. 2 meeting), that any such pledge had been made. I sat near him to watch and grade his performance. It was an amateurish one, especially for a lawyer. His face was beet red. He fumbled, he looked sullen. He didn’t have his story straight. Yet he soldiered on, denying what he had said. And denying that he had disregarded the will of the people who had entrusted him to carry out their wishes. I can only hope, for the sake of his clients, that this performance was not typical of his courtroom act. But in this case, that is the question. Who are Chip, Barney and Jim’s REAL clients? If they are trustees of the CHCA, and we trust them to do as we wish, and anyone with eyes and ears knows what our wishes are, and how forcefully they were communicated to these three, why did they not follow them? In my mind there is no question. They followed someone else’s orders. But whose? Richard Snowden? A small cadre of Snowden allies who rarely tip their hand or make their opinions known in public yet work feverishly behind the scenes to get what they want? At the meeting on the 10th, I watched carefully as one exasperated woman said the Bowman deal was a done thing and we should “suck it up and live with it.” Three people then applauded. They were Dottie Sheffield, whose pet organizations have benefited from Richard’s largesse, and Mr. and Mrs. Tom Fleming. Tom and Dottie are both famously on the committee charged with an unbiased investigation of the dispute between Richard and this newspaper. If any action indicates what a sham this committee is, it is their applause, as empty in a room full of opposition as their claim to fairness in this matter. So, who called Chip to put in the “fix”? Was it Dottie, who I have heard has been working the phones lobbying on behalf of Bowman and against the Goldenberg group? I have evidence on that from at least one board member. And does the fact that the name Goldenberg brings back memories of the anti-Breuggers campaign and letters that used terms like “Bagel Boys” in the Local. The Goldenberg offer of the property is now fiscally equal to Snowden’s and a damn sight more friendly. But they are ethnically alien to many of you. I HAVE HEARD THE TALK. If you people want to play it this way, I will. I am making complaints to the following entities: The Bar Association, concerning Chip Butler, as well as his law firm, The Pennsylvania Real Estate Commission concerning the sale, the Anti-Defamation league of the B’nai Brith, and of course, all the newspapers. They LOVED my duck story, imagine what they do with a story about fraud, deception and anti-Semitism in our little incestuous enclave. Ed Feldman Is this the “responsible” party? The intent could not have been clearer when the Community Fund Trustee defined in the offering for sale of 8431 Germantown Ave. the primary qualification for consideration. From the document: “Bids will be considered from responsible interested parties.” Despite that requirement, we learn that Bowman Properties, possibly the highest bidder, received agreement and signature on a sale document hours before a special board meeting called to discuss that very issue. How does one characterize “responsible” when evaluating a corporate citizen in a community that primarily values its “quality of life” by documenting those exact words as the exclusive written mission statement of the Fund itself. Would that corporate citizen be considered responsible under the following conditions: Failed to pay real estate taxes to the City of Philadelphia for such an extended period that only political intervention prevented sheriff’s sale. As many as 14 properties in prime commercial areas are kept vacant while other landlords have no problem obtaining tenants. Failed to pay Business Improvement District taxes for a period of two years, claiming “escrow,” a category no one else seems to have rights to. Formally and unilaterally demands resignation of a community leader with guaranteed repercussions in the closing of a community parking lot; and does exactly that. Erects large signs with intentionally offensive and divisive language on multiple properties in the commercial district that clearly convey a message of a community in decay. Demands, through second-handed communication, a written apology for alleged misdeeds of the community and its associations be printed in an independent newspaper, but will not put those alleged misdeeds in writing. Are the above actions those of a “Responsible Corporate Citizen”? You decide. Jim Foster Everyone wins How wonderful to learn about the successful outcome of the three-year-long struggle to preserve the Cresheim East woodlands. This is an excellent result of the combined efforts of a determined and united community and leaders who are passionate, persistent and competent. Howard Coale and Antje Mattheus informed the neighbors, developed a strategy and secured the support of the Chestnut Hill Historical Society, the Friends of the Wissahickon and, ultimately, of the principals of DeSouza Brown. The developers had wanted input from the neighbors, which they clearly received. Finally, they agreed to make this donation to Philadelphia’s open spaces for a “tax break.” Everyone won! As one of the near neighbors, I thank everyone involved, including the Local for good coverage over the years. Gisha L. Berkowitz Bright Commerce an act of revenge? I now dread evening strolls from my home on East Evergreen to the corner of Germantown. Despite the valiant efforts of many to persuade the new neighbor on the Avenue, Commerce Bank, to respect the feel of the community, what has arisen is a gaudy circus. It is not as apparent during the day. But as night falls, the glaring, relentless neon and florescent lights are visually assaulting. Could this be a deliberate, even revengeful, decision by Commerce? Sure, they reluctantly incorporated some stone on the façade and added a second story. We thought that we had escaped their trademark concrete bunker with the enormous red corporate “C.” But in a spiteful spirit of “gotcha,” the building screams with glare and glitz and multiple vibrant mini C’s on walls and doorknobs. It is heartbreakingly sad. That corner is my gateway to the Avenue, and nighttime on the top of the hill will never be the same. Eileen Regan Reynolds Complaining an embarrassment THAT’S IT! I have had enough. Too many times I have read an article in the Local that makes me boil, I double click “Word” on my desktop, bring up a blank memo like this one, fill in the top information and, after gathering my thoughts, I DO NOTHING except click “No” when asked, “Do you wish to save?” Well, not today. From the article in the Jan. 11 Local issue, titled, “LUPZ hears complaints about Commerce Bank,” it appears now that somebody has a beef about the red neon signage that Commerce uses in the window and inside the bank at 8600 Germantown Ave. Furthermore, it states that LUPZ is going to research the restrictions on lighting is this town. HOW INVITING it is to a business who might be contemplating a move to Chestnut Hill to read week after week after week about all the BS given to Commerce Bank on their new branch by this town’s community association and its committees. If I were Mr. Commerce Bank, I would have told the group after the second set of revisions made to their drawings to stick it where the sun don’t shine. What a hassle! What a waste of time! What an embarrassment! It’s not about right or wrong that I write. It’s not about likes or dislikes either. It’s about how people/business is treated by the high and mighty group on the hill. From where I sit it’s about power and control. It’s a very unattractive trait and needs to turn around before this town dies. I’m so glad that I don’t own a lot of retail real estate in this town. Finding a tenant would be an up hill battle all the way. Thank you Commerce Bank. Your branch building looks first class! Bob Gerngross Jen Nagel makes me laugh out loud I agree with Barbara Bloom, who defended Jen Nagel in last week’s issue of the Local. One previous letter-writer criticized Jen, a teacher, for drinking beer at a bar in the daytime, which was silly since Jen’s workday was over, and to the best of my knowledge, we still have freedom in our private lives in the U.S.A. We don’t need Big Brother. The other critic said she did not care to read about Jen’s private life, so the answer to her is obvious: Stop reading. Do crossword puzzles or play with your dog. I do find Jen’s private life interesting because of the insights and humor in her columns. She is a self-deprecating, flawed, honest, funny person, kind of like a young Erma Bombeck, and she has real insight into the little things that make us all human. At times she has me laughing out loud. Annie Kuntzelman Animal rights, ‘beacon of light’ The Jan. 11 article by Jim Harris on the hypocrisy of Charlotte’s Web is a beacon of light in a meat-eating society. It points out in blood-red clarity the species-istic manner in which animals are viewed. Animals need to earn their innate right to live by pleasing their masters whereas humans can be nothing more than walking ciphers and still live without fear of slaughter. Apropos to this, I was hit in the moral solar plexus by a local supermarket ad for roast suckling pig, complete with picture, for the Christmas feast. The following is an abridged version of the letter I sent to the Wakefern Food Company: Although there is already a lengthy litany of animals condemned for food, advertising a baby animal torn from its mother’s breast runs counter to the spirit of celebrating the birth of Baby Jesus and is more appropriate for an orgy given by King Herod. There is a pagan flavor to having a dead suckling baby on the dinner table in observance of the child born in a manger surrounded by animals. Jim, thanks for your article. It is a comfort to know that there are others out there who see the disparity between animal life and human life so that we can all travel the road to compassion together. Gloria S. Feldscher If slaughterhouses had glass walls The ever-increasing level of violence in the world is no surprise to anyone. Amidst pleas for an end to the violence exerted upon humans by other humans, I am reminded of what Ghandi believed; the table fork is the most common weapon of violence. Gail A. Eisnitz in her eye-opening and shocking book Slaughterhouse, recounts the staggering numbers of animals who meet with a violent end. Each year in the United States, 93 million pigs, 37 million cattle, 2 million calves, 6 million horses, goats and sheep and 8 billion chickens and turkeys are slaughtered. Vegetarianism offers the greatest hope for “food animals” while addressing the myriad human health and environmental concerns directly related to animal agriculture. Being boiled, skinned and dismembered alive is not an acceptable way to die. It has been said that if slaughterhouses had glass walls, we would all be vegetarians. Bridget Irons Give me asphalt One of the reasons I like living in Chestnut Hill is the charm of the well-preserved historic buildings. I think historic preservation is an important feature of Chestnut Hill. Another feature is the ability to walk or bicycle to the shops, markets and restaurants. Whenever possible, I walk or use my bike as transportation. I also drive my car on Germantown Avenue. I am completely baffled by all the discussion about replacing the stone pavers on the Avenue because, while I appreciate the concept of historic preservation, I think we need to think 21st Century, when it comes to safety and practicality on our roads. First of all, maintenance of the existing pavers has been abysmal. I recently tripped in a hole between two pavers at the Top of the Hill and fell flat on my face. These uneven stones, with gaps between them, are dangerous to pedestrians, tough on automobile suspensions, and impossible for cyclists to maneuver, not to mention expensive to maintain. When I ride my bike from the shops of Chestnut Hill to those in Mt. Airy, I have to ride on the sidewalk, endangering pedestrians, due to the bumpy stone pavers on the street. At Cresheim Valley Drive, there is no bike path for a bicycle to make a safe transition from Chestnut Hill, under the railroad overpass, into Mt. Airy. Once on the Mt. Airy side, it is now easy to ride in the street, since the pavers have been removed and the road smoothed over — but not for long, unfortunately. I simply can’t understand why the city would spend all the money it will cost to replace pavers when it is not practical or safe for current usage. We no longer use horse-pulled carriages. In order to encourage folks to walk or ride their bikes, we should make the roads as bicycle- and pedestrian-friendly as possible. Our tax money would be better spent to provide nice smooth bike lanes up and down Germantown Avenue than to replace the archaic pavers. And, in response to those who ask, “Why don’t you use the McCallum Street Bridge to bike between Chestnut HIll and Mt. Airy?” I do, frequently, use the bridge when I am going to the western section of Mt. Airy or to Lincoln Drive. But if I have shopping to do along the Avenue, the only practical way to do it is to ride up and down Germantown Avenue. I believe I could collect several hundred signatures from fellow cyclists who share my opinion, and would encourage others to let their opinions on the subject be known.
Linda Baldwin |
