Letters to the Editor | Nov. 24, 2023

After reading a recent article about President Joe Biden’s age, I have to say that I am disgusted that journalists and TV personalities have made this issue their focus instead of all the good he has done since taking office. Especially since the media does not do the same with the other major candidate — who is only a few years younger but is under 91 indictments and makes major gaffes. President Biden has conducted himself with dignity and grace while in office and is not an attention hound. The downside of that is that the press does not feel the need to highlight the good he has done. At almost 91, my father is just now slowing down physically but still has great mental acuity. Criticism of Biden is nothing more than ageism at its finest.

Sherry Weersing, Thornton

Gov. Josh Shapiro recently delivered the largest targeted tax cut for Pennsylvania’s seniors in nearly two decades when he signed a historic expansion of the Property Tax/Rent Rebate (PTRR) Program into law. In the process, the governor kept a promise he made to older Pennsylvanians to deliver relief and help put money back in their pockets. This historic expansion will be felt in Philadelphia and its collar counties — an additional 36,400 Pennsylvanians across Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia Counties will now be eligible for rebates when the next PTRR filing period opens in January. This is in addition to more than 86,138 residents from these counties who already benefit from the program.

As the leaders of two state departments that play critical roles in administering this program, we want Pennsylvanians to know about the changes that will be in effect next year: First, the maximum standard rebate is increasing from $650 to $1,000. Second, the income cap for both renters and homeowners will be made equal and increase to $45,000 a year. Third, the income caps will be tied to the cost of living moving forward, meaning those who receive a rebate won’t lose their eligibility in the future due to increases in Social Security payments.

Keep in mind that the PTRR program benefits eligible Pennsylvanians age 65 and older, widows and widowers age 50 and older, and people with disabilities age 18 and older. Visit revenue.pa.gov/ptrr for more information on eligibility and how to apply. We look forward to doing our part to help eligible Pennsylvanians receive rebates that will make an impact on their lives.

Pat Browne, secretary, Pa. Department of Revenue, and Jason Kavulich, secretary, Pa. Department of Aging

Math is a subject taught in schools across the country. But in the Philadelphia School District, someone is having trouble thinking that 2,000 bathrooms divided by eight plumbers result in an acceptable ratio. According to a recent Inquirer article, the average wait time for school bathrooms to be fixed is 50 days — up from last year’s already problematic 38 days. Superintendent Tony B. Watlington Sr. expressed alarm, but his initial solution was to “examine best practices around work orders in other large school systems” and use technical education programs to supplement plumbers. That response is insufficient. Especially since the problems are not universal across all schools. Apparently, “some students and teachers reported bathrooms that are routinely clean and well-maintained.” As with many other resources, it appears that inequity is a problem for bathrooms, too. The district must act quickly to address this health and safety issue. Our students deserve safe, clean bathrooms.

Deanna Burney, Philadelphia

I thought I would never see the day when Republicans argued for welfare and set-asides. But that is exactly what they were saying regarding our at-large City Council races earlier this month. The Philadelphia City Charter mandates that we have 17 Council members — 10 of them representing geographical districts and seven at-large representing the entire city. Fostering a policy of protecting minority parties, the charter restricts all voters to casting their ballot for five at-large seats, leaving two of them for the minority party.

For 70 years, those two seats went to Republicans. And so, the GOP got comfortable and saw it as an entitlement. Then came Kendra Brooks and Nicolas O’Rourke of the Working Families Party to cause a political earthquake, beating the two Republican candidates. Sorry, fellows. But this is not a lottery game or a game of pulling straws. This is a democracy where the privilege to represent voters goes to the ones who receive the most votes. To help Republicans overcome their extreme disappointment, I suggest they stop going around acting like somebody owes them something. May I also recommend a good welfare-to-work program?

Leon A. Williams, Philadelphia, tutorlawyer@comcast.net

The writer is the father of Councilmember Jamie Gauthier and Court of Common Pleas Judge Samantha Williams.

As part of Amtrak’s redevelopment of William H. Gray III 30th Street Station, we initially planned to install natural gas boilers as a heat source for the renovations in the historic main hall. However, Amtrak has since established a corporate commitment to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions, and the original plan did not align with that goal.

Several external groups — including the Clean Air Council and Citizens Climate Lobby — shared their concerns about these planned gas boilers as they relate to Amtrak’s sustainability goals, local air quality, and emissions. We met with and listened to stakeholders, and they brought valuable external perspectives. At this point, we have decided to eliminate the gas boilers from this project. We are working with Vicinity Energy to identify improvements to its steam system that will be necessary to continue to utilize steam as an energy source in the future and to ultimately meet Amtrak’s sustainability goals.

The overall redevelopment scope includes upgrades to all building systems to make significant energy efficiency gains. These efforts to make our station more energy efficient are consistent with Amtrak’s goals as a leading provider of sustainable travel. We share our stakeholders’ commitments to sustainability, which include Amtrak purchasing 100% carbon-free electricity by 2030 and reducing emissions to net zero across our business by 2045. We look forward to advancing our efforts to improve and modernize this historic landmark that serves as the grand front door to Philadelphia.

Dennis Newman, executive vice president, strategy and planning, Amtrak

Thank you for the excellent “Raising Kindness” in Sunday’s Inquirer, as part of the Restoring Hope series. I was horrified to learn that the U.S. ranks last in the UNICEF ratings for family support, including parental leave. In another Sunday article, I read that NASA awarded the private company SpaceX $3 billion to help land astronauts on the moon. If the government can work with private companies on such ventures, can we not also work with, and provide similar financial support, to provide humane family support and help raise healthy children here on Earth?

Jenny Godwin, Philadelphia, jennywrengodwin@gmail.com

In the debate over right and wrong in the war between Israel and Hamas, one key fact appears to be neglected, ignored, or forgotten: that the goal of Hamas is to eradicate the Jews. I have never heard anyone propose the total elimination of Arabs, Muslims, or Palestinians — ever. A Jewish homeland was created after Adolf Hitler’s attempt at genocide. It was established as one place in the world where Jews could feel safe. Other than the United States, what other help does Israel get in maintaining its survival? What Arab state steps up and says, “Enough”? Egypt even closed its border to Gazans.

I will not pretend to have any answers. It’s above my pay grade. But Hamas started this due to its fanaticism. And Hamas appears to be willing to sacrifice its civilian population to accomplish its goal of eradicating the Jews. Thousands of people display their outrage in streets around the world over Israel’s actions, but where are the people — especially in Arab countries — who will say, “Enough”? In this war, it’s a radical ideology vs. survival. Given that, I believe we must be on the side of survival. What is the rest of the world telling us in their silence?

Steven Schwartz, Springfield

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