Letters to the Editor | Oct. 9, 2023

The hypocrisy of Penn and its Ivy League coconspirators that avoid paying athletes or even providing a free education to them has to end. Sports columnist Mike Jensen writes that name, image, and likeness, or NIL, collectives are “not the Ivy League way,” at the same time declaring that the current Ivy League approach is “wildly successful” financially. Of course it is. The players generate revenue through ticket sales, broadcast rights and sponsorships, merchandise sales, etc., but the players get nothing. Now, with the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that players are entitled to profit from their name, image, and likeness, the Ivies ignore the ruling and make sure their players get nothing, while they remain “wildly successful.” Hopefully, new Penn president Liz Magill will declare that the “Ivy way” is not to profit from free labor.

Scott Applebaum, Philadelphia

A proposal to build one of the city’s largest development projects is announced. Nearby residents are up in arms over its possible effects, and politicians are split over it. No, it’s not the Sixers’ proposed arena on Market Street. These were reactions to a developer’s proposal in 1985 to replace the Liberty Bell Racetrack in the Far Northeast with a regional mall, Philadelphia Mills. While the arena has been met with fears, skepticism, suspected political contributions, unwillingness to release a report claiming $1.5 billion in tax revenues, and charges of a consultant’s conflict of interest, the mall’s developer was able to overcome initial objections.

To achieve this, the developer provided funding to a coalition of 12 community groups to retain independent experts to examine the findings of economic, social, design, and environmental studies conducted by city agencies. These consultants were selected by and reported to the coalition. The community’s technical representatives — I served as lead adviser to the coalition — became working members of the developer’s team, attending project meetings, reviewing plans, making suggestions, and reporting back to their clients. Transparency characterized each step of the process.

After months of collaboration, a legal agreement approving the mall was executed. It contained guarantees of landscaping, sound barriers, visual buffers, light, and other measures to offset potential impacts, as well as millions of dollars in transportation improvements and community recreational and social service facilities. The Sixers’ decision to delay City Council consideration offers an opportunity to reset relations with their prospective neighbors. Funding independent study oversight conducted by consultants selected and accountable to the affected communities would demonstrate not only confidence in the results but faith in the very people they are asking to trust them.

Joel Epstein, Philadelphia

If you are a resident of Penn’s Woods (also known as Pennsylvania) then you are no doubt aware of all the history that echoes from every corner of this great state. The second oldest state in this great nation, in fact. Pennsylvania’s history goes back much farther than when William Penn arrived in 1682, of course. The Lenape were here for hundreds of years and bartered with Penn, who acquired Pennsylvania from King Charles II in exchange for a debt owed to his father by the British monarchy. Although the Europeans took notice of Pennsylvania’s vast wooded areas in the late 17th century, Penn made provisions for trees from England to be planted in the colony. Recently, one of the trees dating from Penn’s time in his new territory fell in Chester County. Officials are deciding what is to be done. But, in case you are wondering, it did make a sound.

Michael Thomas Leibrandt, Abington

I have been riding a bike in Philadelphia for years and have never been injured by a vehicle or pedestrian. Yet on a recent morning, it finally happened: I was doored. Luckily, I saw what was coming and slowed down; it was a little too late for the car door to miss hitting my handlebars, but it could’ve been worse. Being doored is just one of the many life-threatening obstacles people who bike for pleasure, sport, or transportation must face whenever they get on a bike.

The People Power Movement notes that Philly has more bikers per capita than the other 10 most populated cities in the U.S. So the safety of people on bicycles affects a lot of us. Yet in 2020, there were 224 “crashes” involving motorists and cyclists in Philly. In 2021, eight cyclists were killed, the most in five years. Despite all the dangers, I love riding my bike and believe it is one of the best ways to commute — but I do not think it is safe.

This time, I was very lucky; I only had a mildly sore left side for a couple of days. As I said, it could’ve been worse, but it could also be different. We know that protected bike lanes work to slow down traffic and reduce dangerous crashes. We need the city and state to commit to installing more of them. We also need pedestrians and people who drive and ride in cars to be more aware of the others around them. And we need vehicles to stop parking in bike lanes. All these things are possible. People who ride bikes deserve to get to and from their destinations safely. So please, look both ways before stepping into the street, crossing lanes, or turning corners in a car — and hold the door to check for a cyclist before opening.

Marion Leary, Philadelphia

Per a recent Inquirer article, World Cup games are coming to the U.S. in 2026, on the condition that all games will be played on natural grass. That would include MetLife Stadium, where the New York Jets’ Aaron Rodgers suffered an Achilles tendon tear on the turf field. Union manager Jim Curtin said, “Hopefully they can eliminate turf, especially for the pros, just because of the injury risk.” Also in The Inquirer? A story about how the Kingsessing Recreation Center is getting an artificial turf playing field with a $200,000 grant from the Eagles. If pro football players consider turf fields unsafe, why would they provide one for young athletes?

Artificial turf will last about 10 years, and then it must be replaced. A grass field will last as long as it is maintained. Yearly maintenance costs are less expensive than replacement costs, especially if the local community provides volunteer field work. A turf field is like laying down carpet over grass. It becomes a lifeless organism, not a green space. It is very hot in the summer. Replacing grass fields with artificial turf should be resisted by communities whose recreation centers are on the Rebuild agenda. It is a bad idea for the long term, when the turf needs replacement, and for safety in the near term.

Gerry Givnish, Philadelphia

During the recent government shutdown fight, a member of Congress pulled a fire alarm in the U.S. Capitol. Nothing could be more symbolically appropriate. After all, American democracy is on fire. My alarm has been ringing since that moment in the first Republican presidential debate when six of the eight contenders for the nomination against front-runner Donald Trump said they would vote for the “conflagrationist in chief” even if he was convicted of a felony — an incendiary moment that has not received due recognition. There are so many outrages these days that we seem numb to the fact that our potential leaders are unconscionably playing with fire. I see that explosive image — of those six presidential candidates, arrayed on that sparkling red, white, and blue stage, with upraised arms proclaiming their moral and political imbecility — emblazoned on the last page of the elegy for American democracy. That requiem will soon be written if somebody doesn’t put out the fire.

Edward J. Gallagher, Bethlehem

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