Letters to the Editor | May 28, 2023

The Inquirer’s eye-opening, detailed study of the six electoral coalitions leading to the overwhelming victory of Cherelle Parker (May 17), where she would not have needed one single vote from the three voting blocs made up mostly of white Philadelphians, speaks volumes: Parker supporters are desperate for safety and appropriate resources in their neighborhoods — especially for their children. Our city has paid lip service to those resources, but not provided them. Parker supporters are sick and tired of leaders who ignore their basic needs and treat their neighborhoods as invisible. They trust that finally, they have found a political leader who sees them, knows them, and will work tirelessly to deliver necessary care and protection. Further, the study shows how deeply out of touch white neighborhoods are with the fears and suffering our fellow Black Philadelphians face minute by minute, hour by hour, day by day.

SaraKay Smullens, Philadelphia

I was in Washington, D.C., two weeks ago and passed the Wizards’ arena on the edge of its former Chinatown. There is no Chinatown there. The surroundings were dark and airless. Surely the 76ers can do better than horning in on our wonderful Chinatown, the best anywhere in the East. Surely the unions know that 9,000 jobs would be available wherever the arena is built. Columnist Inga Saffron has suggested several other optimal places.

Those of us who live in Center City are eager to hear what the Wells Fargo Center will offer to make its location, which we all love, more acceptable to the 76ers. Why doesn’t the team stop this discussion for a while and give us a fairy-tale story for the ages? Take Mike Jensen’s advice and hire South Carolina coach (and Philly native) Dawn Staley. As he said, “She could become the most important coach in the history of this city.” Win or lose (and we’ve done plenty of the latter), she would ignite the town, come with Olympian goals, and gather a team that could knock the socks off the nation. For once, give us a dream that might really work. Please.

Priscilla McDougal, Philadelphia

On May 8, childcare educators gathered for rallies in communities across the nation to give folks a “taste” of what a parent’s day would be like without childcare. The reality of not being able to work strikes panic in the heart of a parent. Here in Philadelphia, our own childcare educators and supporters gathered at City Hall to rally. The fear in their hearts was that they would not be able to stay in their jobs doing work they loved because of low wages. In my 28 years of advocating for wages for childcare educators, our mantra has been: Parents can’t afford to pay, teachers can’t afford to stay, there’s got to be a better way. The better way is to make sure our Pennsylvania Senate and House members look into their hearts and vote yes to increase the unlivable wages of childcare educators.

Gerri DiLisi, Lansdale

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