LOSING BY FORFEIT

Our cover story about how the District Attorney’s Office seizes millions in alleged crime money from ordinary people, regardless of whether they’ve actually committed a crime [“The Cash Machine,” Isaiah Thompson, Nov. 29, 2012] was called an “important article” by citypaper.net commenter samac, who added: “If only the city were as efficient at collecting the $500 million in property taxes deadbeats actually owe the city, maybe they wouldn’t need to randomly shake people down on the street for small change.”

MEAT AND GREET

Our positive review of Fette Sau, a barbecue spot imported from Brooklyn [“Borough Bred,” Adam Erace, Nov. 21, 2012], brought out the naysayers. Commenter jbartlett wrote: “Adam, you need to get some real barbecue. First problem at Fette Sau, they don’t cut the brisket properly. Second, a lump of fat does not equal tender.” Commenter epices6 added: “It’s a good thing that well-known culinary out-of-towners are coming to Philadelphia (I hope for Pok Pok). [But] I wish I could share your enthusiasm about Fette Sau. The servers are indeed excellent, but the entire setup is cumbersome and too shtick-y (who really enjoys beer out of Mason jars?).”

POINT TAKEN

The comments came fast and furiously about a post on the Naked City blog about the city condemning and taking 17 privately owned properties in Point Breeze in order to build affordable housing [“Point Breeze Eminent Domain Bill Passes, Spurs Debate on Affordable Housing,” Samantha Melamed, Nov. 29, 2012]. Wrote pbnewcomer267: “As much as I think this is wrong, Point Breeze is going to change and the haters who don’t want gentrification or white people in their ’hood can’t stop it. This bill won’t stop that as affordable housing is defined by City Council and City Hall as starting at $150,000. Point Breeze is going to be a nice place to live after 40+ years of blight, crime, filth and ignorance.” But Mezike23 responded: “pbnewcomer267: Your comments are the most ignorant that I have ever read. Point Breeze has had its share of problems, but who are you to proclaim that there were 40 years of blight, ignorance and filth? I am almost 50 and I had some of the best times of my life here in Point Breeze. Where did you grow up and why do you want to move in[to] the neighborhood? … Just because developers are rehabilitating properties doesn’t mean that all will be swell. We have low-income residents that need help and there is nothing wrong with that. I hope Councilman [Kenyatta] Johnson continues to fight for affordable housing.”

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