Letters to the Editor | April 24, 2026
Inquirer readers on trash pick-ups and the convoluted rules and regulations that govern opening a business in the city.
Faster, cheaper, simpler
In last week’s Shackamaxon column, Daniel Pearson included a photo of a sprawling flowchart, created by my team at the Institute for Justice, cataloging the myriad questions an entrepreneur would need to ask themselves before opening a restaurant in Philadelphia. While it’s true that starting a restaurant in Philadelphia is no easy feat, Philadelphia has been making significant progress.
In my conversations with restaurant owners throughout Philly, I’ve consistently heard frustrations with inconsistencies in inspections. One business owner told our team, “Unless you have a lot of money, compliance and enforcement is a cat-and-mouse game.” In response, the PHL Open For Business initiative is working on creating a multilingual inspection checklist to help food businesses prepare for inspections and communicate food safety standards, due to be published this year.
In another step, last year, we supported a resolution that passed City Council that allowed sidewalk cafes in more areas of the city “by-right,” removing a lengthy requirement to go directly to City Council for approval.
There’s still a long way to go, but bit by bit, we are transforming that sprawling maze of questions into a single answer: Yes, Philadelphia is open for business.
Zoe Tishaev, city policy assistant, Institute for Justice, Washington, D.C.
Trashy highways
In a little over two months, Philadelphia will take its place on the global stage as our city serves as a host for the FIFA World Cup and as the epicenter of our nation’s Semiquincentennial celebration. I’m worried, however, that the first thing the massive crowds that descend on our city will see is our trash-filled streets.
Mayor Cherelle L. Parker’s “Gateway to Philadelphia” program does a commendable job of addressing beautification, but not enough resources are devoted to trash remediation. While a mural is an improvement over graffiti, it doesn’t distract from the garbage nearby.
Our mayor must address the situation immediately, or the epithet of “Filthadelphia” will stick for the next 250 years.
Lorraine Hoffner, Wayne
Tragic loss
The senseless death of Imani Ringgold infuriated me. Ringgold had just started a new job and was accepted to the Community College of Philadelphia. She was just trying to enjoy some pizza while talking to her grandmother when she was struck by a barrage of bullets not intended for her.
Ringgold’s death shook me the way the death of Nick Elizalde did four years ago. Nick had just started high school and was leaving football practice when he was killed by bullets not meant for him. Nick would have graduated from high school this year.
In one online tribute to Ringgold, a user commented: “Gun violence continues to rob the world of the best of us. This is entirely unacceptable, and anyone who thinks this is a necessary ‘cost of freedom’ needs both their head and heart examined.”
Imani Ringgold and Nick Elizalde should still be alive, preparing to walk into their futures.
Janice Tosto, Philadelphia
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