To gamble or not is a freedom to be enjoyed
Gregory Sullivan tarts up his arguments against slot machines at racetracks with solemn-sounding words about law and morality ("Gambling is a bad moral choice," March 24).
( 04/11/2003 03:01 AM EDT)

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( 04/11/2003 03:01 AM EDT)

Montgomery County is a model for Democratic organization
Contrary to perception, the party has gained voters every year in the last five.
Bob Martin's April 1 column ("Democrats' miserable showing: Contests are few in the party's suburban primaries. Voters deserve better") is wrong and does a great disservice to our voters in Montgomery County. The column illustrates that the author molded the facts to prove his thesis, regardless of the accuracy of those facts. Had Mr. Martin checked, he would have recognized that for a wide variety of reasons, each of the counties is politically very different. Unlike Mr. Martin, I am both unwilling...
( By Marcel Groen, 04/10/2003 03:01 AM EDT)

SEPTA needs an infusion of public support
Regarding Jere Downs' April 2 story, "SEPTA proposes fare hikes, big cuts," I think it's high time that SEPTA receive subsidies that reflect the social, environmental and infrastructure benefits of public transportation. Public transportation should be as heavily subsidized as automotive transport, especially considering the eventual increases in cost of road construction and maintenance we'll need to consider should SEPTA's cuts force more people into cars.
( 04/10/2003 03:01 AM EDT)

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Write to: Pa. Commentary Page The Philadelphia Inquirer 800 River Road Conshohocken, Pa. 19428 Fax: 610-313-8227 E-mail: suburbanletters@phillynews.com
( 04/10/2003 03:01 AM EDT)

Halting service is unfair solution to SEPTA woes
The April 3 editorial on SEPTA budget cuts ("Faring badly") could have been subtitled "Never fairly." Regional Rail Division riders on certain routes are being unfairly discriminated against with politically motivated service cuts that demonstrate SEPTA's abysmal knowledge of how to run a railroad.
( 04/09/2003 03:01 AM EDT)

Rendell budget has worthy goals, but pain exceeds gain
Businesses win, residents lose in Upper Merion.
The budget proposed by Gov. Rendell admirably seeks to provide higher quality education to the children of Pennsylvania and to reduce property taxes. The intent, according to the governor's budget message, would be to "shift the burden from local communities to the state."
( By Ralph P. Volpe, 04/09/2003 03:01 AM EDT)

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( 04/09/2003 03:01 AM EDT)

Voter filings not so public now
The legislature has put restrictions on what should be available information.
I always thought that a public record was just that: information the public was entitled to see. A person's purpose is irrelevant. You can't be blocked from property-tax delinquency records, even if trolling for new clients for debt-consolidation loans. You can't be stiffed on home-sale prices or property assessments, even if you're seeking new markets for aluminum-siding jobs. And unless a judge seals the record, you can't be denied a criminal court file, even if you want to use it to embarrass...
( By Bob Martin, 04/08/2003 03:01 AM EDT)

Let police, not landlords, deal with problems
In regard to "West Chester fights over student rentals" (March 31), I am shocked at the behavior of the West Chester Borough Council president, H. Paul Fitzpatrick, and the group that supports him.
( 04/08/2003 03:01 AM EDT)

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( 04/08/2003 03:01 AM EDT)

Letters | Rendell's plans need time to succeed or fail
State Rep. Curt Schroder's assertion that Gov. Rendell's plan to reduce property taxes and increase the state income tax will likely not be beneficial for many residents in his 155th legislative district is a fair, reasonable and appropriate assessment, but is shortsighted and parochial.
( 04/07/2003 03:01 AM EDT)

Don't tax for space
Levies should not fund land-preservation efforts.
My fellow land trust board member was incredulous. "How can you be in favor of open space and yet against taxation?" She had heard through the grapevine that I (of all people!) was organizing opposition to a proposed township tax on earned income. All the proceeds were to go to our land trust for open-space initiatives. She questioned my commitment to open space. Was I against the land trust's goals? No, I answered. I was just against taxing people to attain them.
( By Patrick Barron, 04/07/2003 03:01 AM EDT)

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Write to: Pa. Commentary Page The Philadelphia Inquirer 800 River Road Conshohocken, Pa. 19428 Fax: 610-313-8227 E-mail: suburbanletters@phillynews.com
( 04/07/2003 03:01 AM EDT)