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Letters to the Editor | March 5, 2025

Inquirer readers on bike lanes, Medicaid funding, and the war in Ukraine.

A biker rides along the sectioned bike lane along Spruce Street near Ninth Street in 2019.
A biker rides along the sectioned bike lane along Spruce Street near Ninth Street in 2019.Read moreTyger Williams / Staff Photographer

A fair process

We represent the Neighbors of South Third Street, including homeowners, business owners, and a historic museum that played a role in the American Revolution. In mid-November, we were shocked to learn City Council passed a law authorizing a new bike lane on our street. The law was the result of a rushed process that relied on no study or evidence, shunned community consultation, and went against an official city plan. Six months after the law was passed, officials are finally holding an open house at 6 p.m. Thursday at Old Pine Community Center. We hope they get this right.

This process was faulty from the start. We met with Councilmember Mark Squilla and learned he had listened to the president of the Society Hill Civic Association, but the SHCA never consulted us or our neighbors. We now have a petition signed by more than 110 residents of Third Street who oppose the bike lane and demand the law be repealed. Thankfully, the SHCA board of directors has corrected its stance and is also calling for the law to be repealed. The city has a detailed pedestrian and bicycle plan that calls for a northbound bike lane on Fifth Street, not Third Street. Fifth Street has relatively few homes, and a bike lane there would connect to the existing lane that goes under the Ben Franklin Bridge. We have yet to receive any answer as to why the city is not following its own plan. There seem to be identical problems on Spruce and Pine: an opaque process involving only a few insider voices, which officials hail as representative.

We support safety and are not against bike lanes, per se. All we want is for the city to plan appropriately and engage with its residents. People can handle losing a public debate, but none of us will tolerate a predetermined decision. Ideas should be able to withstand the light of day, but so far, our elected officials don’t seem to understand the value of a fair process. We hope Squilla will show the way. Historic Third Street would be a great place to start.

Geoff Dennis and Andrew Lash, Philadelphia

Fund Medicaid

I am alive because of Medicaid. When I required radical heart surgery about a decade ago, I had no health insurance and was still struggling to dig myself out of extreme debt acquired during the Great Recession of 2008. Taxpayers, to whom I am immensely grateful, through Medicaid made it possible for me to survive to see my daughter graduate from college four years later. In addition to saving lives, Medicaid more than pays for itself through a healthier and more productive workforce paying more taxes, not to mention the fuller lives enjoyed by the program’s beneficiaries. And now, when I am in much better health medically and financially, I have absolutely no objection to contributing to Medicaid through my taxes — nor should Elon Musk or Donald Trump with their great wealth.

Frederic C. Kaplan, Upper Darby

Lack of ambition

Thanks to The Inquirer for the insightful editorial about the lack of resolve to celebrate democracy on our 250th birthday. I believe local politicians, though, aren’t the problem but symptoms of something greater: Perhaps democracy has become an entitlement we assume, not something to honor. When we adopted our daughters from Colombian orphanages, at 16 and 13, we certainly faced challenges. But we also witnessed deep appreciation — thanking us after every meal because decent food wasn’t an entitlement but a gift. They condemned greed, because excess isn’t something to flaunt, having already experienced the struggles of meeting basic needs.

Perhaps we don’t build monuments to democracy because we have forgotten all that it took to create it. Like most things that come easily, it has lost its value. How else can we explain that lives sacrificed, especially on our soil, for freedom and equality no longer carry any weight when compared to elevating the privileged few rich white males who feel entitled to more wealth and power? I never imagined “America First” would mean even above our democratic principles. Perhaps our celebration is lacking because the experiment is beginning to fail.

Elazar Aslan, Philadelphia

Blatant bullies

The double teaming of Donald Trump and JD Vance against an unsuspecting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office, on live television, was the most despicable act committed by any president in that office ever (it makes me long for the days of Bill Clinton’s escapades). Any mother of a 3-year-old knows what a playground bully looks like. Trump and Vance are playground bullies without the swing set. One question: When will America give these two children a time-out?

Rosemary C. McDonough, Narberth

. . .

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was ambushed in the Oval Office by Donald Trump and JD Vance in a made-for-TV takedown match. It was apparent from the start they wanted to extort a mineral deal that favored the U.S. and also have Zelensky pay homage to the self-proclaimed king. It was an embarrassing display by Trump and Vance as they bullied Zelensky to win praise from Russian dictator Vladimir Putin. To claim Ukraine is responsible for this tragic war is absurd. The world witnessed in real time Russia’s invasion and destruction of its democratic neighbor. Putin has the blood of Ukraine’s innocent children on his hands. Now that Trump and Vance have embraced Putin, the blood is also on their hands. Meanwhile, there is silence from their Republican comrades. Shame on them.

Bob Zigmont, Morton

Krasner’s courage

Though I don’t live in Philadelphia, and can’t vote for District Attorney Larry Krasner, I admire his courage. Unlike too many politicians, Krasner has the guts to stand up to Donald Trump and Elon Musk, who are destroying our democracy. He has called out the “lawless president,” called out the administration for using fascist tactics, and pointed out that Musk, who is ransacking our institutions, has no legal authority to do so. Krasner is saying what other elected representatives should be saying but won’t. Our two senators are aiding and abetting the crimes being perpetrated.

Recall that Krasner tried to sue Musk for bribing voters with giveaways, only to be rejected by a conservative court. Although the Democrats are reluctant to accuse the Trump team of voter fraud, it’s not inconceivable that voter intimidation played a large part in the results. To this day, it is difficult to believe so many people voted for the wannabe dictator. Before the November elections, Krasner warned the people of the danger of electing Trump. Well, he was right, and those who voted for Trump were sadly wrong.

Thomas Skudlarek, Lansdale

Join the conversation: Send letters to letters@inquirer.com. Limit length to 200 words and include home address and day and evening phone number. Letters run in The Inquirer six days a week on the editorial pages and online.