Community Voice: Reacting to Gov. Corbett’s cuts

For 62-year-old Albert Kendrick, Gov. Tom Corbett’s proposed budget seems a little off. “None of the stuff on that budget sounds right to me,” Kendrick said. “It seems so terrible.” Kendrick said he understands the law requires Pennsylvania to have a balanced budget, but the consequences from the proposed 2011-12 budget, such as the elimination [...]

Josh Fernandez: Humanizing DREAM talk

The terminology used in reference to those affected by immigration and the DREAM Act needs to be revised. The so-called focus on budget cuts is mysteriously reflecting the current House of Representatives Republican majority’s not-so-subtle social and cultural agendas. House Republicans’ call for cuts in hundreds of programs, such as the Migration and Refuge Assistance [...]

Community Voice: Unfairly holding back the DREAM

Laurent Leonard said he was not surprised the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act failed in the Senate in December 2010. Leonard, 42, said the 55-41 vote reflects the bigger picture. “To me, this [is] about Republicans not allowing anyone a chance to get further,” he said. “I don’t understand why we’re holding [...]

Community Voice: Recognizing the bigger portions trend

Waaesia Burch’s eyes bulged when she heard Starbucks was coming out with Trenta, its new 31-ounce cup for iced coffee and tea drinks. Experts estimate the new cup size could contain up to 300 milligrams of caffeine. “That’s a lot of coffee,” said the 25-year-old Community College of Philadelphia student. “It’s just ridiculous because of [...]

Josh Fernandez: Preventing red-light disasters

Red-light cameras offer a reasonable, temporary solution for drivers who disobey traffic laws. One of the perks of warm weather in February is that I finally had no excuses for resuming my jogging routine. I sprinted down Front Street and made an immediate right onto Ellsworth Street, and a few blocks later, I came to [...]

Community Voice: The dangers of going to body extremes

Terry Simmons said she thought it was depressing Claudia Audsei, a 20-year-old college student from England and aspiring R&B artist, died in Philadelphia after a botched butt implant surgery on Tuesday, Feb. 8. “I think the media and culture puts so much pressure on these girls to look a certain way,” Simmons, 73, said. “For [...]

Community Voice: Building neighborhoods and community

Mellisa Wilson said she believes a sense of community depends on the character of neighbors in a particular community. “In my neighborhood, everyone watches out for each other,” Wilson, 35, said. “We make sure to call each other if we see someone who doesn’t belong or is causing trouble,” she added. Wilson said the community [...]

Josh Fernandez: Addressing adjuncts’ needs

The focus of the recent job loss of 45 adjuncts demonstrates their need for unionization. At the end of the Fall 2010 semester, 45 of the 59 adjuncts in the First-Year Writing Program were informed they would not be teaching courses this semester. What’s sad is not only were the 45 adjuncts informed of this [...]

Community Voice: Delayed traveling in snowy Philadelphia

Sharon Davis paid a neighbor to dig her car out of the 15.1 inches of snow lingering in Philadelphia since the “Thundersnow” storm struck Philadelphia, Wednesday into early Thursday morning. Davis, 44, laughed when asked how she and her family were dealing with the snow. “It’s not too hard to get through,” Davis said. “It’s [...]

Josh Fernandez: De-gendering passivity and toughness

Society must do it’s best to undo gender associations with toughness and passiveness to help prevent future youth violence. On the morning of Jan. 14, a fight near the 46th Street Market-Frankford station resulted in the stabbing of five students from the Boys’ Latin of Philadelphia Charter School and one student from West Catholic High. [...]

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