Local Demo Party a 'corruption cesspool'

I cannot thank you enough for your new columnist, Jay McCalla. All of his articles have been good, but the one in this week's paper (“2015: A banner year for political corruption,” Jan. 7) tops them all.

I do not know how any city in the country could be a led by a more corrupt party than the Democratic Party in Philly. Thank you, Mr. McCalla, for reminding us that Councilperson Blondell Reynolds-Brown keeps violating fundraising laws, yet was rewarded by Council President Darrell Clark with a leadership post and that former Councilperson Marian Tasco ripped off the city of $500,000 with her DROP retirement and quick un-retirement.

Not to mention Congressman Chaka Fattah and his son, both indicted on corruption charges, and the State Reps and Traffic Court judges caught on tape taking bribes. And even though former Mayor Nutter ran the cleanest administration in decades, he never uttered one word of criticism about all these corrupt pols, nor has Kenney.

And McCalla could have easily added the city's Election Commissioner Anthony Clark, who is also getting a $495,000 DROP payout, although he doesn't even bother to vote in elections and, according to numerous recent articles in the Inquirer, rarely even shows up for work.

Or McCalla could have added former State Rep. Cherelle Parker, who has just taken Tasco's place in City Council. You may remember that Parker was arrested in April of 2011 after police said she drove drunk the wrong way down a one-way street. She just happened to come up before Judge Charles Hayden, who threw the case out and just happened to be her Facebook friend.

In 2012 the charges were reinstated by a higher court, and a year later Parker was found guilty in Montgomery County (not Philly). Just Google Parker's name and read all about it. Or McCalla could have added former Councilman Curtis Jones, who was just given a $126,000 make-work job by the Democratic Party, proving that if you are a loyal party hack, even when you lose an election, you still win. Schools may have laid off hundreds of teachers, nurses, librarians, security personnel, etc., but there is always enough taxpayer money for the party faithful and their family members.

Then there was LeAnna Washington, convicted of corruption in 2014. There is nothing new about this, of course. Democratic city pols have been going to prison for decades for corruption — Josh Eilburg, George X. Schwartz, Ozzie Myers, Jim Tayoun, Buddy Cianfrani, Vince Fumo and on and on and on. And absolutely nothing has changed. Why should it? The overwhelming majority of voters simply keep pulling the same party lever, so the Philadelphia Democratic Party continues to be a cesspool of corruption.

If only the Soviet Union had learned this trick, the Communist Party could have allowed free elections all those years and still remained in power.

Nicholas Brooks

Chestnut Hill

Tree-Cycle Event a Big Success

On Sunday, Jan.  10, community members came to Norwood-Fontbonne Academy to recycle their Christmas trees. We collected 105 trees that were chipped for mulch rather than ending up in a landfill.

We would like to thank the following people who helped make this event, organized by Green in Chestnut Hill (GRinCH), such a big success: Norwood-Fontbonne Academy for donating the use of its parking lot, Bartlett Tree Service, our volunteers, and especially all of the community members who came to recycle their trees. Just about everyone made a donation toward our Green Warrior Student Grant Program too. Thank you!

Amy Edelman

GRinCH President

A Friedman fan

First of all, Happy New Year! I wish you all the best in 2016.

I've been intending to write you for awhile to comment on how much I enjoy Stacia Friedman's articles and satire. I especially loved her article about a month ago concerning the Patriot Test.

Gloria Rohlfs

East Mt. Airy

Review as good as the ‘Festival’

The recent review of the “Festival of Lessons and Carols” at St. Paul’s church by Michael Caruso was as excellent as the “Festival” itself.

Fortunately, I attended the service, as I do every year, and it was in every way spectacular as Michael indicated in his review. I read his reviews of various musical events around the Hill and in the city, and always his review captures the spirit and the inspiration of whatever the event is.

From the first note by the treble in “Once in David’s Royal City” to the last chord of “Hark the Herald Angels Sing,” Zach Fritsch-Hemenway conducted a service that was truly captivating and inspirational. In fact, this service was for me the best “Festival” at St. Paul’s I ever attended, and it resonated with me for several days leading into Christmas.

Reading Michael’s review renewed for me my enjoyment of this “Festival.” I thank Michael Caruso for his wonderful review and the Local for having him as your music critic.

Frank Herron

Cinnaminson, NJ