Letters to the Editor | Feb. 13, 2023

What a powerful piece of journalism — message and photographs — on display in the Sunday op-ed “My bike is taking me far.” Thank you for giving Sarahi Franco-Morales a space to voice her talent and determination, and offer quiet witness to her family’s integrity. Her story captures the true spirit of the American journey. Thanks, too, for Inquirer photographer Tyger Williams’ expertly framed images. The family’s travels by bicycle affirm the practicality, economy, and safety of urban bicycling. As Sarahi’s bicycle is her “soulmate,” so is mine. As an 84-year-old urban bicyclist, I travel the same bumpy roads and smooth streets. No speed, just peddling, getting there. In my journeys, I see the beauty and opportunity that Sarahi and her parents see each day, the paths that make this city one of the richest, most diverse in America.

Fred Allen Barfoot, Philadelphia, fredallenbarfoot@gmail.com

The Commonwealth Court ruling that Pennsylvania’s underfunding of public schools violates the state constitution is long overdue and is as big a victory for our state’s children as we could hope for. Let’s resolve to make public education the priority it should be for this and future generations of students.

Thomas Sutton, Bala Cynwyd

Writing for the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, Justice David Wecht is correct when he states that the statute as written requires that for a mail ballot to count, it must be dated with the date the voter filled it out. This was drafted and approved by lawmakers and signed by the governor. Unfortunately, they wrote a law that should be easy to comply with but forgot that people are human and sometimes make mistakes. It is up to the legislature to correct this, not the courts. There is no reason the law can’t be amended to use the postmark stamp as the required date.

Joe Palma, Swedesboro, jrpalma@comcast.net

I applaud The Inquirer’s stance vis-à-vis the obvious corruption in the Philadelphia Sheriff’s Office. The next mayor will face many problems, chief among them what to do about the guns and gun violence that plague our city. Close behind our gun problem is the issue of corruption. The reaction of our mayoral candidates, Allan Domb excepted, to the question of abolishing or reforming the Sheriff’s Office can be seen as an indicator of how these candidates will govern. Business as usual cannot be the standard going forward. Philadelphia desperately needs a mayor who is willing to take on the pols who run this city and govern for the people, not the politicians.

Angelo Sgro, Philadelphia, agsgro@comcast.net

Columnist Kyle Sammin shouted a warning about the catastrophic size of the U.S. debt, which sits at about $31 trillion. Our annual gross domestic product is roughly $25 trillion — 80% of our present debt obligation. This debt obligation is not even close to the risk level of a typical homeowner. If a homeowner with an income of $100,000 per year were to buy a home for $300,000 with a $60,000 down payment, no one would accuse him/her of being irresponsible — even though his/her annual income was only 41% of the new debt obligation of $240,000. Cries of “the sky is falling” are simply a distraction by wealthy people who want to avoid paying their fair share of taxes.

Joel M. Levin, president, Escotek Inc.

Corruption: The plot is always the same, and the ending is never a surprise. Political scandal followed by public outrage. Politicians pander, meander, and do nothing. The sad reality is that we are conditioned to accept corruption by politicians as the norm. Once again, we are at the crossroads of outrage and opportunity. Everything is on the table, except what’s under the table, like cash, gifts, and “slush funds.” State House Speaker Mark Rozzi’s listening tour should have included Gobbler’s Knob. Let’s go back in the time machine. The much heralded Speaker’s Commission on Legislative Reform (2007-2008), cochaired by then-State Rep. Josh Shapiro, considered campaign finance, reorganizing the Ethics Committee, developing a “members code of conduct,” and term limits. The commission passed “internal” rules — many of which have already been broken — and did not attempt to ban cash, gifts, or gratuities. The Ethics Committee still does not advertise meetings, post agendas, or record minutes. If you want to reform the government, ban cash and gifts, eliminate the slush funds, and make white-collar creeps do blue-collar time. Otherwise, let’s cut to the chase and put slot machines on the floor of the legislature.

Eric Epstein, Rock the Capital, Harrisburg

Faith compels us to care for all of our neighbors — whether they live around the corner or across the globe. One of the most powerful ways Americans live this mission is the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. Launched by President George W. Bush, PEPFAR has helped save 25 million lives from HIV/AIDS since 2003. It’s one of the most successful global health programs in history, and a linchpin in America’s moral legacy. Twenty years ago, faith leaders helped get PEPFAR across the legislative finish line and win the support of the American public. My faith tradition proclaims, “let us not grow weary in doing what is right.” After two decades of stunning progress, Americans must not grow weary in our fight against AIDS. In his State of the Union address, President Joe Biden applauded this bipartisan commitment to fight the global AIDS crisis. I ask Sens. Bob Casey and John Fetterman, our U.S. representatives, and their fellow lawmakers to reauthorize PEPFAR in 2023 to continue saving lives. It’s the right and compassionate thing to do.

Pastor Matt Staniz, Chesterbrook

Consider this a historical rebuttal to a recent letter chastising the media for using terms such as “cycle of violence” and “occupied territory” when dealing with the Israel-Palestine conflict. During the height of World War I, an agreement was reached in which Britain, seeking international Jewish support, would help establish a Jewish homeland in Palestine. Following the war, Britain was assigned Palestine as its mandate. Britain was to administer the land, not to own it. During and after World War II, there was an influx of Jewish settlers into Palestine. Still, the population there remained predominantly Arab. In 1948 the United Nations created the state of Israel, dividing the territory of Palestine in half, giving the western region of Palestine to Israel and the eastern region to Palestinian Arabs. The Arab nations rejected this division and a war ensued. Following that war, Israel arrogated to itself a large piece of Palestinian territory which it had overrun during the war. Israel had no right to do so. The body which had created Israel, the United Nations, forbids one nation from acquiring another nation’s territory as a result of war. The United States and most of the nations of the world do not accept Israel’s claims to this occupied territory as legitimate. Still, Israel occupies these lands. It should be noted as well that following the Arab-Israeli War in 1948, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians were driven from their ancestral home in those lands which were now occupied by Israel. Another flagrant violation of international law. And a humanitarian outrage.

William Cooney, Philadelphia

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