Should we stay or go?

Last fall, we faced a self-imposed deadline in which to decide whether to stay in our Germantown home or move to the suburbs.

With our two children the driving force behind our decision, we weighed less wage tax, better public schools and less crime against the cultural diversity, tolerance, convenience and excitement of the city. We chose to stay in our 110-year-old Victorian in West Germantown and keep our children in a small (relatively inexpensive) neighborhood private school.

For all the pros on the suburban list that involved safety or saving money, there was a pro on the city list that involved cultural quality of life. We couldn't leave our home just because it seemed a better option financially at the expense of our chosen way of life. In five years, we will reweigh our options. We hope that then we are not forced to leave our neighborhood.

Crime and education problems weigh heavily against the city. We want to minimize the days we feel unsafe to a level where we can attribute them to paranoia. We want the option to educate our children in public high schools. When our children are teenagers, we want to feel confident they are as safe as in the suburbs, while allowing them the cultural privilege of growing up in the city.

To save the neighborhoods throughout the city, the new mayor and his or her administration should take care to recognize the pro/con balance that many families weigh in choosing their home. Solve crime and education problems, throw in a bit of tax relief, and we will all find that the odds in favor of the city are more balanced.

Theresa Roselli
Germantown

I used to live in Northeast Philadelphia until I realized that my wife and I could save nearly $8,000 a year by moving a couple of miles north into Bucks County (no wage tax/much less for car insurance). On top of which, I have better schools, less crime and a local government that does not question my Second Amendment rights. Until the City of Philadelphia changes its socialist ways, I am staying put.

If I see the following items passed into law in Philadelphia, I may reconsider: little or no wage tax; lower car insurance; improved schools or school vouchers; lower crime; respect for the Second Amendment.

This is what I will bring in return: a strong family unit; involvement in community and church projects; high standards for house and street appearance; two wage earners; hard working volunteer.

I did enjoy living in Philadelphia. It is unfortunate that I was almost "driven" out (as were many other of my middle-class neighbors).

Mark Westphal
Yardley

Things aren't what they used to be. Children and parents don't participate in neighborhood activities. The children don't play together. They always want to fight one another. The parents get involved, and then they are fighting one another; then later on, they ask themselves, "Why were we fighting?"

When we used to come outside, there was something to come outside for. Now there is not; there is too much fighting and gunfire. The housing has gone down; the people and families are moving away. There are so many empty lots, and the city is not doing anything with them. The city or some kind of community organization should come up with some recreation centers, playgrounds, sitting areas for the elderly people, as well as improving the housing.

There are some nice neighborhoods in North Philadelphia and other parts of the city; it's just that the community and neighbors don't want to get involved. We must all try to stick together for one another and for the future of our children, because our children are our future.

Eleanor I. Blunt
North Philadelphia