Letters to the Editor | Jan. 16, 2025

I respectfully dissent from the position taken by The Inquirer Editorial Board in its editorial on U.S. Sen. John Fetterman. I believe Donald Trump is guilty of all of the offenses with which he was criminally charged in the last several years. But a majority of the voters in 2024 disregarded that and reelected him. No Democratic-led legislation will pass in the next two years unless it receives some Republican support. The Editorial Board challenges Fetterman for not speaking out against harm to Palestinian civilians. It also condemns his support for U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio and U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik. It is clear these positions flow from Fetterman’s support for Israel as the victim in the war taking place in the Middle East — not as the perpetrator. The board might want to review its position on these matters.

Robert M. Lipshutz, Wynnewood

Not only do I agree with The Inquirer editorial on U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, but I also fear that by cosponsoring the Laken Riley Act in the Senate, he is getting played by Republicans much like Mayor Cherelle L. Parker got played by the Sixers’ billionaire owners. The bill gives Donald Trump all the power he needs to deport millions of hardworking immigrants, regardless of opposition from governors and mayors. Anyone thought to be a noncitizen and suspected of theft or shoplifting must be detained without bail or hearing — even a desperate parent getting diapers for their kid. This legislation would require increasing detention space for 65,000 people, according to the Senate Judiciary Committee. And it would divert our local police to spend their time locking up shoplifters. It won’t make us safe. Senator, don’t let us get played again.

Tom Volkert, Philadelphia

Sixers owners Josh Harris and David Adelman don’t care about Philadelphia. They care about making money. Full stop. Their go-for-the-jugular, slash-and-burn approach may work in business, but when it comes to using the city and Philadelphians as pawns, they should be held accountable. The team should pay back both opponents and proponents of the Market East arena project for the time and effort spent in a process that was DOA from the beginning. Don’t hold your breath for these men to keep their commitment to East Market Street.

Richard Golomb, Philadelphia

There is an easy, effective answer to the problem of very low participation in Philadelphia’s low-income wage tax exemption. The problem of low participation in the program that refunds your wage tax money was clearly laid out by Nikia Owens and Jonathan Stein in their recent op-ed. The answer is: Have the city give it back. It collected it. It knows who is eligible to get it back as a refund. Change the law so the burden is on the city, not the taxpayer. Make the refund automatic. This means the city will decouple it from the state’s Special Tax Forgiveness program.

Tim Kearney, Port Deposit, Md., kearney172@gmail.com

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