Letters to the Editor

by the Readers

Philly Hold 'Em

While I agree with Alexandria Moyer's conclusion that slot machines will hurt Philadelphia ["Crapping Out," Slant, July 15, 2004], she arrives at her conclusion because of the wrong reasons. "Legalized gambling in Pennsylvania will not stay marginalized," she writes, her biggest fear being the slumming down of the "nice" neighborhoods when slot machines arrive, making pristine historical sites look junky and unsophisticated. But if slot machines did stay marginalized — and the Kimmel Center, the Liberty Bell, Society Hill all remain the cultural meccas that they are today — Philadelphia will be hurt even more. Sure, gambling will bring money into the city and help alleviate funding woes. But whose money are we talking about?

We're not talking about the people who spend their leisure time seeing concerts at the Kimmel Center, or eating at swanky Old City restaurants. We're talking about people who don't have the money to do these things, the people who will waste money that is scarce enough already playing the slot machines. The people who will lose the money that the city is hoping to make are the people with the least money to lose. The government is hoping to fix their financial woes by riding on the backs of the have-nots.

The city needs to make money but stealing from those people at the slots does not seem like the most honest way of doing it.

Annie Karni
Philadelphia

More WHYYning

I am glad WHYY cut classical music ["The Cost to Know WHYY," Amy L. Webb, July 8, 2004]. Classical music is beautiful, but when it comes to public radio, it's code for "our listening community doesn't give us enough support to offer anything else."

I recently spent several months on a cross-country road trip and sought out local NPR stations as I traveled. I consistently found that in the more conservative "Bible Belt" states, the well-rounded, informative programming I loved had been replaced with classical music. To me, this is just as despicable as a lazy parent using TV as a babysitter. Public Radio should engage the listener, providing news and thoughtful commentary on local and world events, thereby allowing people to fully develop their own opinions.

When I rolled back into Philly, I was thrilled to hear the old familiar voices of Marty Moss-Coane, Terry Gross and Dave Heller. I've been a member ever since, and I know "WHYY."

Erin McQuade
Fairmount

Your recent piece about WHYY was far off-base insofar as it criticized arts reporter Joel Rose for his coverage of the Barnes Foundation. I know whereof I speak. I am the author of Art Held Hostage: The Battle Over the Barnes Collection. Based on the story, readers might well be forgiven for thinking that the able Mr. Rose was merely a minion of the Pew Trusts. Far from it. He has consistently been one of the best-informed reporters covering that very complicated story. I've often been interviewed on-air by Mr. Rose; and I've always considered his work sensible, balanced and fair. I wish I could say the same for City Paper, which has virtually given a free pass to the Inquirer for its slavish editorial page support of the move.

John Anderson
Ossining, N.Y.