Letters to the Editor | March 15, 2023

Pennsylvania State Rep. Mike Zabel (D., Delaware) yielded to demands by certain colleagues that he resign from office, after being accused of sexual harassment (March 9). Zabel’s fate contrasts sharply with that of ex-President Donald Trump, who stands credibly accused of sexual misconduct by multiple women; yet he remains a viable candidate for a second term in office, with solid backing from both GOP leadership and the party’s base. It’s fair to say that an egregious double standard is evident in these two cases. In Zabel’s case, his forced resignation not only ends a promising career in public service but may also adversely impact his future livelihood. As for Trump — in spite of the scandals — it’s still business as usual. Fitness to serve in public office should be determined by the voters, rather than by a bunch of politicians who seem to have no qualms about the use of a double standard.

Patrick J. Hagan, Ardmore

President Joe Biden’s budget plan, rather than being reckless, seeks to undo the reckless path carved by many who refuse to understand why taxes are important and why endless wealth benefiting so few people undermines equity. It would be even better if it helped redirect this country away from Pentagon spending to projects like building affordable housing and environmentally sound energy development.

Joan Gunn Broadfield, Chester, broadfieldje@gmail.com

In its March 5 editorial, The Inquirer Editorial Board cobbled together unrelated statements to suggest that I have a lack of clarity on public safety. However, my track record is clear: My top priority is making sure every Philadelphian is safe and feels safe. I’ve transformed high schools with high rates of violence into safer learning communities, championed our city’s first mental health emergency crisis units, pushed for faster 911 response times, and wrote a youth anti-violence report with clear recommendations about how to save young people in the path of violence. The mayor retains the authority to choose their own police commissioner, and I have always been clear that my police commissioner will not only lead the effort to fight crime and invest in communities, but will also be dedicated to restoring morale within the department and building public trust with the residents of this city.

Helen Gym, former at-large city councilmember and Democratic candidate for mayor

With all the politicians struggling with excessive use of violence by police toward unarmed citizens, one crucial issue is never mentioned: the occupational mental hantiealth problems caused by law enforcement work. It’s clear that many, if not all, police officers have a significant level of post-traumatic stress disorder. Instead of discussing banning choke holds in violent encounters with citizens, I am proposing regular monitoring of the mental health of all police as a normal response to the traumatic events they confront daily and often in their careers. I see it as no different from monitoring environmental hazards in certain occupations, such as miners and other jobs that have constant exposure to hazardous chemicals. Our police need to be cared for because of the unusual amount of exposure to terrifying encounters.

Joseph Baillie, retired, licensed social worker, Philadelphia

Certainly, benefits would accrue from capping the Vine Street Expressway (March 9). But doesn’t the city have more pressing needs? Based on the information provided in The Inquirer article, the capping project would cost somewhere between $175 million and $210 million (seven blocks at $25 million to $30 million per block). How many asbestos-infested schools would that kind of money remediate? How many century-old schools would it replace? How many preschool programs, after-school programs, and anti-crime programs would it fund? How many social workers would it add to child protective services? In short, doesn’t the government have more important things to do with the limited resources it has than to cap the Vine Street Expressway?

Mike Egan, Plymouth Meeting, mchlegan@gmail.com

Jules Epstein has written a persuasive op-ed on the wisdom of Gov. Josh Shapiro’s moratorium on the death penalty (March 10). The death penalty is error-prone, as innocents are sometimes wrongfully executed. It is enforced unfairly and discriminatively against people of color and those with intellectual disabilities. It has not been shown to deter crime, it is expensive, does not make us safer, and does not bring closure to the victims’ families. As Shapiro says so simply and eloquently, “The commonwealth shouldn’t be in the business of putting people to death.” Sadly, the commonwealth is in the shameful business of sanctioning the death penalty for babies in utero. May Pennsylvanians be on the right side of history concerning the death penalty and abortion and euthanasia as well. We have been given a gift of life. May we choose to so fully support the lives of the men and women who generate life so that abortion becomes not rare but unthinkable.

Bruce Fay, Narberth, brewster.fay@gmail.com

Thank you for covering the recent avian flu outbreak in Pennsylvania (March 9). As a veterinarian committed to advocating for animals and public health, I’m deeply concerned that if there aren’t immediate steps taken to begin transforming our food system, the consequences for this and future disease outbreaks could be dire.

The potential for human-to-animal transmission of avian influenza is very real, and governments and industry aren’t doing enough to prepare for and prevent the next human pandemic. When it comes to stopping outbreaks that begin in large-scale animal agriculture operations, biosecurity protocols and even vaccines won’t protect public health from future viruses. These intensive farming facilities are breeding grounds for pathogens, and the answer needs to involve scaling down the size of these massive facilities and instituting policies that devote more funding to feeding humans instead of livestock.

We must take prompt and decisive action to revolutionize how food is produced in our country. This means putting pressure on elected officials to stop subsidizing the producers who are doing the most harm and instead support the transition to nutrient production that doesn’t involve animals and the risk of disease.

George Bates, Shippensburg

I counter right-leaning Jennifer Stefano’s applause because more Black people are buying guns (March 12) with the left-tilting notion to outlaw the sale and possession of bullets in the general population. Compare America’s gun death rate with that of more developed nations and common sense would end the argument there. Make criminals cobble their own arsenals. Citizens wanting self-protection should be allowed stun guns. Washington should legislate that ammunition manufacturers may provide their product to police and military only. Have national, state, county, and local law enforcement conduct a lightning strike against every gun shop from Maine to Guam, seizing all ammo. Compensate via eminent domain. Ammo remaining in private possession then would be used very judiciously. Bizarre interpretations of the 18th-century Second Amendment have made the unthinkable commonplace. How about some thoughts and prayers for a bullet-free society?

The Rev. Robert J. Gregorio, Glassboro

Join the conversation: Send letters to letters@inquirer.com. Limit length to 150 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,