Letters to the Editor | April 26, 2023

Temple University’s recently issued safety report is long on boilerplate and short on substance. Although there are some decent ideas, much of it reiterates what seems to be included in every report on police. The report recommends more training, although it fails to indicate how more training will help a Temple officer arrest someone who has robbed a student — something every officer already knows how to do. The report also stresses community involvement, meaning the community beyond Temple’s borders, to help solve the crime issue. The Philadelphia police have had community councils, innumerable community meetings, and alleged community involvement for decades. Not one evaluation has been done to see if any community involvement has had an effect on the crime rate. City Council has allocated millions of dollars to community groups with virtually no evidence that the money has made a difference or has been spent for the purpose intended. Studies have shown that community mobilization of residents’ efforts against crime in high-crime, inner-city areas of concentrated poverty failed to reduce crime in those areas. Many residents are fearful of retaliation if they are shown to have close ties to the police. The most glaring fault of the report is it gives short shrift to how technology can assist Temple police. Although their communications center already has some access to information from Philadelphia, there are many other opportunities for collaboration — none of which were mentioned in the report.

Charles Brennan, retired, deputy police commissioner, Philadelphia Police Department, Philadelphia

Having finished reading the op-ed by Yohuru Williams and Thomas Michael G. Long, who maintain that Jackie Robinson Day does a disservice to the baseball great, I have no idea what they are talking about. They do not explain how wearing No. 42 on April 15 in Robinson’s memory/honor is disingenuous. They do Robinson a disservice by putting forth the idea that Jackie, a mature intelligent individual, did not know the minefield he was walking into by breaking baseball’s color barrier. He was selected because of his character, perhaps not realizing how viscously he would be treated. It took his own teammates, the Dodgers, a while to accept him, led by Pee Wee Reese. Dixie Walker, the only Dodger holdout, was traded, and the Phillies manager mentioned in the piece, Ben Chapman, was fired at season’s end and never managed in the major leagues again. History is rife with Black heroes who made life easier for those who followed; Larry Doby came next, and the floodgates opened. Baseball’s initial treatment of Robinson was horrendous, but so was slavery, and I doubt Black History Month dishonors Black people. Baseball honors Robinson, who is in the Hall of Fame, every year by having every player wear No. 42, and no other player is so memorialized. The authors, who belittle Jackie Robinson Day, are perhaps showing a little reverse prejudice.

Ralph D. Bloch, Jenkintown, ralphdbloch@yahoo.com

Jalen Hurts is a rich man. It was only a matter of time. Last week, the Eagles signed Hurts to a five-year $255 million deal, with $179.3 million guaranteed. The contract extension, which makes Hurts the highest-paid annual player in NFL history, also includes the first no-trade clause in Eagles team history. The deal, however, has a much more significant achievement for the team. According to reports from ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Eagles have been able to complete the deal with incredibly low cap hits over the next four years. Hurts will be owed $6.15 million in 2023, $13.56 million in 2024, $21.77 million in 2025, and $31.77 million in 2026. The highest cap hits for the Eagles would be 2027 and 2028. This is another victory for general manager Howie Roseman, who returned to prominence after a fallout during the Chip Kelly era to build the current Eagles roster that was a field goal away from being world champions in February, and who was the grand architect of the Philadelphia Eagles 2017–2018 championship team.

Michael Thomas Leibrandt, Abington

Last July, Amtrak made a commitment in a letter to the editor to review its planned investment in new gas-fired heating equipment for the William H. Gray III 30th Street Station. The letter promised to “quantify the social and economic impacts” of this plan, to make a decision that “aligns with our sustainability goals and those of our neighbors in the Philadelphia area.” Amtrak also promised to share the results of its review with concerned stakeholders. As members of the Citizens’ Climate Lobby, we are among those with deep concerns about this investment. At a time when the world is approaching a tipping point on global warming, investing in fossil fuel is moving in the wrong direction — both for Philadelphia and for the planet. Such an investment would lock the station into dependence on fossil fuels for decades to come. Eight months have passed since Amtrak promised to share its review. It has still not done so, nor has it responded to our latest inquiry or to a new petition, also signed by us, calling on it to invest in green energy to heat the station. Amtrak’s Net-Zero Strategy states: “To address this urgent [climate] issue and align with existing international and U.S. climate goals, immediate and long-term emission reductions are needed from every aspect of the company, including our equipment, infrastructure, and purchasing decisions.” Amtrak should follow this strategy in renovating the station. It should also honor its commitment to Philadelphians to undertake an objective review of its plan and to share the results.

Elaine Fultz, Philadelphia, Don Campbell, Glenside, and Kate Rojas, Philadelphia

It’s becoming increasingly difficult to read The Inquirer without seeing an uptick in violence, shootings, and deaths in Philadelphia and across the country — and nowhere is there any movement toward reducing access to guns. Republicans blame the Democrats for the increase in crime, and Democrats blame the Republicans for the proliferation of guns. Meanwhile, neither party does anything to address this crisis. No one brings up the NRA. “Stand your ground” laws and the Second Amendment have become the mantra to justify the shootings. For once, the political parties need to come together to find common ground to address this issue. It affects all their constituents. There is no excuse to do nothing.

Carol L. Smith, Philadelphia

. . .

I understand that lawmakers are unable to pass legislation limiting the right to own firearms. A suggestion for a legally acceptable method to protect the public from becoming victims of gun violence would be a statute or ordinance requiring all gun owners to place a sign in the front of their residence advising the public of the presence of firearms. The failure to do so can be made a misdemeanor punishable by a substantial fine and a greater penalty for repeated violations. At the very least, people can avoid confrontations with those individuals. Doing so may also act as a deterrence to those with unlawful intentions.

Edwin P. Smith, Philadelphia

. . .

In case you missed the Sunday article “Inventor says this smart gun knows your face,” you may want to go back and take a look. It not only tells a story about our young people and their incredible talent but about the lives lost and the suffering (you may need to read between the lines) of so many who are dealing with the loss of a loved one due to gunfire. Ask yourself, why did it have to take so long? I know it may not be the perfect solution, I know that it may have drawbacks, but I also know that thousands are killed every year by the unauthorized use of guns, many of which have been “stolen.” This gun and its technology may well be a light at the end of the tunnel. I recommend the inventor/developer Kai Kloepfer for Man of the Year and wish him success.

Philip A. Tegtmeier Sr., Honey Brook

I often agree with Signe Wilkinson’s editorial cartoons, but her piece in Sunday’s Inquirer showing a person shot by an NRA member for approaching the wrong house is dangerously normalizing gun violence. The artwork shows the victim on a stretcher being carried away by an EMT with a bloodless gaping hole in the abdomen. While I generally don’t condone gore, the cartoon is quite misleading. Perhaps if we accurately showed images of the real impact of gun violence, more gun owners would come to their senses and support commonsense gun reform.

Steve Stern, Mount Laurel

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