Re: [UC] Forward, City workers : Black, white and grey.

[Glenn moyer]

I'm glad that you, Karen and Jim offered your insights and information to this story.  Craig's apology must have been delayed by a slow list. I think the four of us see that this could be another close example of the healthcare crisis facing at least half the American population. (Over 50% of personal bankruptcy cases, many deaths/suffering, and many forclosures are caused by healthcare bills and not laziness or evil.  Thos figures don't capture the full impact of human/family stress and suffering. )   Karen also makes a good point about the impact of property taxes and perhaps the need for property tax forgiveness, available to all the needy, regardless of political connections. But let's not attack the Inquirer for properly breaking the story, or dismiss the anger from ordinary Philadelphians, who are not politically connected.  Marty is our neighbor, but he is also a senior member of city council staff closely tied to the beaurocracy and its workings. Our beaurocracy is not compassionate to Philadelphians; and it is not fair to all Philadelphians and routinely cheats the disempowered.  Many city council offices are not interested in compassion or even fairness for all needy Philadelphians and often refuse to grant them the right to air their real problems and grievances, which was once considered a right for Americans. I would love to see the staff at all councilmanic districts take a compassionate and fair approach to all citizens. (Green and his staff have recently distinguished themselves).  I would love to see our councilmanic staffand representative systematically give hearings to the grievances of constituents and take professional action to solve breakdowns in city government which cheat them. But that is not even close to what really happens!  City hall is an old boys and girls network interested in power relationships and not fair systematic service with compassion to all constituents.  We can discuss this uneven treatment in our city and councilmanic district openly or we can close down that Christian/Judeo charity of which Craigslove wrote. I hope we can add prayers for all Philadelphians who have  waited patiently for their city councilmen and women to hear their serious troubles, return their calls, and answer their e-mails.  Their suffering; their issues are real too! The shameless one -----Original Message----- From: "campio...@juno.com" Sent: Jul 22, 2009 3:10 PM To: univcity@list.purple.com Subject: Re: [UC] Forward, City workers : Black, white and grey.   Glenn and neighbors: This topic came up yesterday on the "Neighbors", (aka Barking Cheese) List. Here is the response I wrote yesterday. ... the employee in question has an Adult-Child, born 35 (+?) years ago with significant medical problems. She was not expected to live until Adulthood. I imagine her care, and all the extras needed to maintain wheelchairs, ramps, tubes, supplies, etc. over the years have taken a toll on his wallet. Based on the care-needs of his child, I believe him to be an amazing parent, whose good care has helped his child exceed every "best case medical scenario" proposed by his daughter's doctors. I know the guy works hard, and does a LOT of extra evening and weekend hours for his job. I know Councilwoman Blackwell is aware there are problems. She values the excellence of the employee and her relationship with the fragile Adult-Child. She knows this employee, has his own health problems, (so severe that he had a Lung Transplant). She knows the Employee is able and willing to work. Taxpayers probably save money because, through work, the employee has health insurance and is paying most of his own bills. Further, because he works full-time+, he may consume fewer tax-paid services.  If he was home, bored, he could spend a lot more time in expensive therapies. If he could not afford a car, he and his child would be regular users of Para-Transit. I wish there were some way to separate true "deadbeats" from struggling, working, individuals. I am sad, that our neighbor, who has has already struggled, bravely, past enormous hardships, was subjected to the humiliation of having his name in the news in an unflattering light. I am glad he is able and willing to earn wages (and pay wage taxes) and hope some misguided attempt to "solve" his Real Estate Tax problems does not leave him homeless or on the public dole. Thanks for your post. Today, it will help me be purposefully grateful for my good fortune and to meditate upon giving and receiving compassion. Liz ---------- Original Message ---------- From: Glenn moyer <glen...@earthlink.net> To: univcity@list.purple.com Subject: [UC] Forward, City workers Date: Wed, 22 Jul 2009 07:29:10 -0400 (GMT-04:00) Neighbors, I was sent this to forward to the public list.  As a citizen journalist, I often receive tips about neighborhood and city issues, as well as war and   health industry tips. I scanned these initially but didn't catch the neighborhood connection (copied below).  I didn't think city workers or their corporate friends were ever expected to pay taxes or bogus trash tickets.  Sorry for the mistake.  (Philadelphia has been selected to be the subject of a comedy skit-hahaha) An Inquirer analysis finds about 2,000 city workers are behind on their taxes at a time when every penny counts. http://www.philly.com/philly/business/homepage/20090719_Paid_by_the_city__but_not_paying.html City workers owing taxes may face garnishment http://www.philly.com/inquirer/home_top_stories/20090721_City_workers_owing_taxes_may_face_garnishment.html "Some elected officials, most prominently City Councilwoman Jannie L. Blackwell, maintain that the city should take into account the personal situations of delinquent taxpayers. "We know who can pay and who can't. You have to get it where you can and just accept there are some who can't pay," Blackwell said. Among those who apparently cannot pay is Martin Cabry, one of Blackwell's senior aides. Cabry, who handles zoning and community relations for Blackwell, will make $55,615 this year. His former wife, Rita Cabry, whom he divorced in 2006, is a patronage worker at the Board of Revision of Taxes, where she is paid $36,334. Despite those salaries, the Cabrys failed to pay taxes on their University City rowhouse for 25 of the last 26 years, racking up a debt of $96,868.58, including penalties and interest. Even allowing for Philadelphia's traditionally lax enforcement of local tax law, the Cabrys' house would have been seized and sold at a sheriff's auction long ago under normal circumstances, given the size of the debt. But as Blackwell's employee, Martin Cabry has not been treated as a typical taxpayer." ---- You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named "UnivCity." 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