Letters to the Editor | Aug. 5, 2025

SEPTA is essential for public transportation within the cities and counties in Southeastern Pennsylvania. People who don’t drive need a way to travel that is not expensive. Those who drive may want to save money on gas and parking. SEPTA provides convenience with traveling to jobs and other daily activities, and the system has good and talented drivers, most of whom are respectful and patient. However, the workers are too lenient with the “free rides” — although who wants to argue with nonpaying riders? Each of those people who isn’t paying costs SEPTA money. Please keep the city of Philadelphia running on all forms of transportation. For many people, buses, trolleys, and trains are important and necessary. SEPTA should post daily how much money it is losing due to these free rides. Right now, three bus routes I use will be eliminated, and that will be very inconvenient.

Dana Wilson, Philadelphia

I recently read that President Donald Trump intends to interview prospective four-star general candidates. This is a serious break from past practice. Will such action mean the politicization of our military? Trump may be looking for future generals who are more loyal to him than the U.S. Constitution. Is there a possibility for him to create a crisis in 2028 and declare martial law to remain president? This might seem a stretch of the imagination, but considering all that has occurred in the past six months, such an event is entirely worth considering.

Paul Lang, Ivyland

No, Donald Trump does not operate within the tradition of the Founding Fathers, as Delgreco Wilson would have one believe in his op-ed. And no, his use of the term fake news is not about exposing institutional bias. It is about making a claim that only he is the one to deliver the “real story,” even when there are mountains of plain evidence that he is lying. His constant filing of lawsuits against anyone who peeves him is not about getting to the truth, but cowing any opposing viewpoint. His denigration of women who would dare ask a question he doesn’t want to answer cannot be defended on any basis. Leaders take the tough questions. Trump calls those who dare question his decisions nasty, or worse.

Robert Franz, Plymouth Meeting

Our president claimed while campaigning, and continues to insist, that his deportation regime targets “dangerous criminals” and “the worst of the worst.” Why, then, send Jose Reyes back into the community? Reyes was convicted of smuggling migrants, illegally reentering the U.S. after deportation, and drunkenly opening fire in public. Yet, the Trump administration has released him and given him permission to stay in the U.S. for at least a year — all as a reward for serving as the administration’s star witness in its case against Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the Maryland man who was unlawfully deported to an infamous prison in El Salvador.

Trump happily releases violent people into our communities when it serves his purpose or whim to do so. (Remember the Jan. 6, 2021, assailants?) Meanwhile, his masked and unidentified U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents sweep into grocery stores, farms, and courthouses, injuring and kidnapping workers — including U.S. citizens — who feed our nation and fuel our economy, tearing families apart and sowing fear. ICE itself classifies most detained people as presenting “no threat.” This president and his enablers care nothing for our safety. Racism and cruelty drive this campaign of terror. History will judge how we the people respond.

Shobhana Kanal, Bala Cynwyd

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