Letters to the Editor | April 26, 2024

In the five-way Democratic primary race for Pennsylvania attorney general, there were four candidates from the Greater Philadelphia area, including Bucks and Delaware Counties. Combined, the Philly-area candidates received 65% of the vote. Eugene DePasquale was the only candidate from Allegheny County and handily won the western part of the state. Eastern Pennsylvania overwhelmingly voted for one of their own — but their voices were split four ways. You’ve seen this kind of vote splitting before in presidential races: third-party candidates pulling votes away from the more popular candidate. It doesn’t have to be this way. Candidates should run without fear of siphoning votes from their nearest ally. Voters should be able to vote honestly, not strategically picking one of the top two. Our voting system needs an upgrade. Ranked choice voting lets voters rank candidates in order of preference. If most voters prefer a Philly-area candidate, then a Philly-area candidate should be the winner. We don’t know who would have won this race under a ranked choice system, but we do know that it would have allowed the voices of all Pennsylvanians to be heard more clearly.

Shane Denecke and Armin Samii, Philadelphia

As much as the idea of a water park along the Schuylkill in University City might sound appealing on the surface, the proposed project is a reckless and shortsighted endeavor that demonstrates a shocking disregard for both environmental concerns and community needs. Let’s start with the glaring issue: location. Placing a water park in the Schuylkill floodway is not only irresponsible but downright dangerous. Just a few short years ago, Hurricane Ida wreaked havoc in the area, causing widespread flooding and devastation.

Furthermore, the proposal overlooks existing underutilized green spaces in the vicinity, such as Cira Green and Drexel Square. These areas have the potential to be transformed into vibrant community spaces that cater to a wide range of recreational activities without exacerbating flood risk. The historical context is also worth considering. The closure of the Kelly Pools at Fairmount Water Works in the 1970s serves as a stark reminder of the perils of constructing swimming facilities in flood-prone areas.

Yet, here we are, decades later, entertaining the notion of repeating the same mistake. Instead of squandering resources on ill-conceived projects like a water park, we should be focusing on sustainable development that respects the natural environment and enhances community resilience. Investing in flood mitigation measures, preserving green spaces, and promoting equitable access to recreational facilities should be our priorities, not frivolous ventures that put lives and property at risk.

Josh Lippert, former Philadelphia floodplain manager

A measure of how unrecognizable today’s Republican Party has become is found in state Treasurer Stacy Garrity being unopposed in her primary bid for reelection. Garrity lied about the result of the 2020 presidential election, and she continues to advocate for Donald Trump, a corrupt narcissist and proven bigot who promises to get revenge on and persecute his enemies if, God forbid, he should be granted a second term. Trump has turned American ideals on their head as he seeks to antagonize and break long-standing ties with our allies while cozying up to strongmen like Russia’s Vladimir Putin and Hungary’s Viktor Orbán. Should the commonwealth continue to entrust someone like Garrity with the management of state funds?

Oren Spiegler, Peters Township

Despite The Inquirer’s uninformed editorial opposing the ballot question, Philadelphia’s voters approved a measure that will indemnify registered community organizations (RCOs) if they are sued by applicants seeking to build something within their boundaries that is not permitted by the city’s zoning laws. RCOs are required by law to review applications for variances or special exceptions to zoning requirements and recommend to the Zoning Board of Adjustment — which is the legal entity that decides the issue — whether to approve or reject the request. RCO members are residents who volunteer their time and services to carry out this mandated function. They invest considerable time and effort in their duties.

Yet, until now, they had no protection against lawsuits by developers or applicants seeking to pressure them into approving an application for relief from zoning requirements that interfere with their plans. Luckily, voters understood the importance of the ballot question. The Editorial Board clearly did not. The short endorsement telling voters to reject the proposal claimed the ballot question would permit RCOs to block construction proposals without legal foundation and simply encourage NIMBY conduct. The proposal did no such thing.

Ben Zuckerman, Philadelphia

Voters tend to vote yes for ballot questions, regardless of the benefits. City Council knows this and yet continues to offer ballot questions of limited merit that cost us millions of our taxes. But there is a solution to protect us from Council’s behavior. The next ballot question should be: Do you approve of a sunset rule that ends every ballot question after one year? If the issue has any merit, it can be asked again; otherwise, send it to the trash heap of bad legislative ideas. Secondly, every ballot question should be required to publish the tax cost, number of employees needed to be hired, their salaries, benefits, and pension costs if the question passes. The one just approved could cost taxpayers millions to support frivolous obstructionists. Who wants to raise taxes to pay for yet another unhelpful ballot question? The best solution is for City Council to offer wiser ballot questions or none at all.

Gardner A. Cadwalader, Philadelphia

The success of Pennsylvania’s Whole Home Repairs Program in South Philadelphia, as illustrated in a recent Inquirer story, is being replicated across the commonwealth, alleviating energy burdens and improving housing stock in our neediest neighborhoods in rural and urban counties alike. But we’ve only just scratched the surface. Since its launch in 2022, Whole Home Repairs — the first program of its kind nationwide — has helped meet the need for dedicated assistance and resources for low- and moderate-income residents to update their homes’ energy and water efficiency, repair for habitability and function, and improve resilience to climate change and extreme weather.

Whole Home Repairs has met with overwhelming popularity and demand for its services. Philadelphia has received just over $21 million thus far — the biggest allocation among counties in the state — but tens of thousands of homes still need basic structural repairs. It’s clear since funding began in 2023 that this program has increased energy efficiency and affordability, improved neighborhood stability, and signaled a need for clean energy sector jobs. This is why Gov. Josh Shapiro is calling for a $50 million commitment in state funding this budget cycle. It’s a win for the health and safety of our homes, for climate action, and for the regional economy that we desperately need. There is no time to lose.

Robert Routh, Pennsylvania policy director, Natural Resources Defense Council

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