Letters to the Editor | Feb. 12, 2024

As Philadelphia city residents, we have a reasonable expectation of receiving services in return for our tax dollars. A recent infrastructure nightmare on our block in South Philadelphia proved otherwise. We experienced a series of utility breakdowns: overheated steam pipes beneath the sidewalk that necessitated the replacement of plastic gas pipes, during which several water leaks were discovered. None of these adversely affected residents’ homes, and the homeowners had no idea the leaks existed. Regardless, the Philadelphia Water Department turned off the water immediately.

Although we had city-recommended insurance for the water leak, it took the contractor eight days to schedule the repair. During this time, we contacted the water department (to no avail) and our City Council representative’s office (which provided sympathy but no action), and discovered that 311 does not operate on the weekends. We are 77 and 82 years old and had to resort to hauling buckets and jugs of water from the houses of generous neighbors. We should never have been left without water or assistance for eight days. Our experience revealed a total failure of city services and made us understand why so many people have lost faith in government.

Anne Tobey and Peter Schoenbach, Philadelphia

Regarding Will Bunch’s column, “Democracy dies when Pa. pols tell their own voters to drop dead on fracking,” most Pennsylvania voters oppose fracking because they have seen for themselves the undeniable damage fracking has done to their health and the health of family members and friends, the environment, and the climate. By ignoring the growing body of public health research and siding with the oil and gas industry, U.S. Sens. Bob Casey and John Fetterman not only continue to endanger the health of their own constituents, but they deprive them of the good-paying jobs and better health that solar, wind, and other renewable energy sources can provide.

Ned Ketyer, president, Physicians for Social Responsibility Pennsylvania, info@psrpa.org

There exists a prevailing yet inaccurate notion that labor is opposed to clean energy initiatives. Allow me to clarify unequivocally: We are not opposed. Our stance is against policies that hinder job creation, while we recognize the significant potential for employment growth within the clean energy sector. Our objective is to be prepared for the employment opportunities accompanying the energy landscape of the future. Decisions regarding this future are being deliberated in legislative and judicial arenas. I wish to underscore the potential for simultaneous clean energy adoption and job creation through renewable energy programs.

One such program garnering wholehearted support from the labor community is the implementation of a community solar option for consumers. This initiative enables customers to participate in solar energy without the need for individual panel installations, thereby fostering tens of thousands of jobs in the development, installation, and maintenance of solar facilities while driving down costs. This trajectory does not necessitate political contention. Bipartisan legislation has been proposed, and workers are in favor. Clean energy signifies not the demise, but rather the evolution of labor; it is poised to become our next chapter.

Mark Lynch Jr., business manager, IBEW Local Union 98, Philadelphia

An Inquirer story touted a Sixers’ survey that claimed to have gathered more than 30,000 signatures in support of the Market Street arena project. It is regrettable that the Sixers’ billionaire owners/developers are provided with yet another assist from The Inquirer in their quest to gain approval for this unwise venture. Project developer David Adelman was quoted as saying, “We are glad to see that tens of thousands of Philadelphians see our vision as a slam dunk.” If the Chinatown and Washington Square West communities and others opposing the project wished to devote their limited resources to survey the city and suburbs, it is a slam dunk that multiples of 30,000 signatures could be gathered. That the Sixers are willing to accept state and federal funding is appalling, as is the fact that they are funding the ongoing evaluations of the project that the mayor and City Council will use to help decide whether to grant approval. As a letter writer wrote recently, sadly, this whole thing seems to be a fait accompli.

Landis W. Doner, Wyndmoor, islanderdon@gmail.com

On Jan. 27, I attended an event addressed by Mayor Cherelle L. Parker and others that aimed at rallying support for the plan to create a gigantic athletic complex in FDR Park. In the project’s next phase, the city wants to cut down scores of mature trees and destroy a beloved picnic ground. One speaker was Councilmember Nina Ahmad, a chemist and the chair of City Council’s public health committee. Ahmad declared that the polyethylene synthetic turf planned for the 16 new sports fields is “not going to harm our children.” But many studies put her opinion in doubt. Statistics show that the extremely hot and hard surfaces associated with artificial turfs are responsible for an increased number of injuries and burns among children and athletes.

Polyethylene is no healthier than other plastics. It emits methane and other greenhouse gases when it breaks down and sheds microplastics into the waterways. And all artificial turfs, including those using so-called natural products, contain cancer-causing PFAS chemicals. We need to convince city leaders that the safer and more equitable alternative for our kids is to fix up playing fields in our neighborhoods — using natural grass — rather than inserting a huge and unnecessary sports complex into the only large natural public space in South Philadelphia.

Michael Schreiber, Philadelphia

I’d encourage British tea lovers to give gongfu cha a try, especially if they’re interested in tea as a ritual. This approach to brewing tea (meaning “making tea with skill”) has been enjoyed all over China for centuries and in many other parts of the world today. It’s not only a beautiful way to prepare tea but also an economical way of getting a lot of good tea out of only a few grams of leaves. No salt or microwaves needed.

I received my first Yixing clay teapot from my parents more than 20 years ago. Especially since the pandemic era, I’ve been making more time for tea rituals to feel connected to my culture — but sometimes I also just pour several steeps into a mug and drink it. Gongfu cha can be a meditation, and it can also be your morning cup. If you like floral, sweet tisanes, try honey orchid oolong or aged white teas. Like coffee? Pu’er, a complex, fermented tea. Leaf quality matters.

Christine Yue Leonard, Philadelphia

Congressional Republicans should feel ashamed for using immigration as a campaign wedge issue for the 2024 election. However, this is a disturbing new trend by both parties. Whereas legislators of yore favored compromise, such as President Lyndon B. Johnson, who said, “A half-a-loaf of bread is better than none,” today’s lawmakers are self-obsessed. In 2019 and 2021, Democrats could not pass the national $15-an-hour minimum wage law and turned to campaigning, instead of compromising with Republicans, who offered $13. The federal minimum wage still stands at $7.25.

In 2020, Democrats failed to agree with Republicans over police brutality and used it to campaign, rather than compromise. This situation likewise remains unresolved, minus the executive orders signed by President Donald Trump. Should this trend of legislating for elections accelerate, it could impact foreign affairs, as with GOP Sen. Tommy Tuberville dangerously delaying military appointments over abortion issues. Every bill in Congress deserves a vote (and to not be “dead on arrival”), even if no one party can pass it — even with immigration. Then, perhaps, a cadre of bipartisan, reasonably minded members would unite accordingly.

Todd J. Barry, Branford, Conn.

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