Northeast Times Letter Of The Week

I don’t know, guys. I think I’m calling BS on this one:

What’s happening to Somerton?

There are about four shopping centers in Somerton that have really turned around, but you could only appreciate that if you were Russian.

It seems to me that all the American stores have been shut down and taken over by Russian business owners who don’t seem to realize that they are in America and that American people need to understand what they are selling in their stores.

I even heard if you aren’t Russian, you aren’t able to work there. Plus, I don’t think any American people could stand to go in these stores. Something has got to give.

Yes, it’s possible people in Northeast Philly are going to start hating on Russian immigrants now, too. But I don’t know. This just seems a little over-the-top. Thoughts?

Letters to the editor Feb. 5, 2009 [Northeast Times]

Local Russians Too Scared Of Putin To Comment

In an award that’s apparently still given out, yesterday Time named Russian overlord Vladimir Putin its Person of the Year. Wait, did that dude get poisoned with polonium this year? I guess so.

KYW 1060 went to Northeast Philly to ask the city’s sizable Russian contingent what they felt about Putin’s honor. And, uh, clearly the city’s Russian community understands him pretty well.

What did people in Philadelphia’s Russian community think about that? “No politics — no!” Many people like this woman were refusing to answer questions about Putin being named person of the year by Time.

Another woman said only that she is this country now and would like to talk about American politics. She thinks Hillary Clinton will be the next president.

Still another Russian immigrant to Philadelphia, Oxana, has been in this country for about two years. She didn’t care very much about the distinction that Putin has received from Time but says he is a good leader: “I don’t know what to say about it and I don’t care about it very much. All I just want to say, he is a good president for the country right now and hopefully the country will continue to develop.”

“No, really, I don’t know much about it. No, I didn’t think anything bad about Dear Leader. No, don’t put me into the re-education camp!” It’s good to see Hillary Clinton is not as frightening as Putin, though; that’s a good sign for her next November.

Area’s Russian Community Reacts (or Doesn’t) to Putin Being Named ”Person of the Year” [KYW 1060]