Letters to the Editor | Jan. 2, 2024

I was diagnosed with schizophrenia before attending Temple University in the 1990s. I was a good student, and after 90 credits of work, I didn’t think I needed my medicine anymore. Needless to say, I became psychotic again while going to school to study social work. James H. Kelch, who recently passed away, was one of my professors. I went through the whole semester psychotic. I dropped some of my classes because I was extremely vulnerable, but I didn’t drop his class because I sensed his kind nature. I felt I could trust professor Kelch. I finished the semester, then dropped out, never finishing my degree. I have since recovered from my illness enough to have some measure of happiness and fulfillment. Yet I will always have some degree of disability. I became a natural bodybuilder and poet, having self-published four books. When I saw the professor’s obituary in the paper, I was grateful to be lucky to have him at a time of my life when I was very troubled.

Timothy Patrick Butler, Drexel Hill, tpbutler51@gmail.com

Chester is one of the most racially and environmentally disadvantaged areas in Pennsylvania, however, the Chester Water Authority is a minor political and engineering marvel. Constructed in the 1930s, it brings us some of the most highly rated public water in the state — at reasonable rates — from the beautiful Octoraro Reservoir. The CWA is fully funded and fiscally strong, but the consistently bankrupt city is being heavily pressured to sell the water authority to Aqua, a company that is also engaged in fracking and oil production.

Much wealthier communities bordering ours, long ago having fallen to Aqua, have considerably poorer quality water at considerably higher rates. We may soon have the same if this is not stopped. Chester is bankrupt, and the sale of CWA will perhaps solve this issue for a few years, but we will all lose in the end if this goes through. Water is increasingly the most valuable of all resources, and it is not hard to imagine in the coming years what all of the chemicals fracking has introduced into our groundwater will reward us with. Please turn your attention to this one little environmental light in a very dark landscape and help us prevent this.

Elizabeth Seltzer, Parkside

The Inquirer has highlighted the limited number of for-profit businesses that are among Philadelphia’s largest employers. What was enlightening was the number of nonprofits on this list. These entities are not only exempt from income taxes, but also may not pay real estate, sales, or excise/use taxes. Yet, an examination of the financial position of some of these organizations reveals vast amounts of accumulated wealth. Take for example four organizations: the University of Pennsylvania (including its health system), Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and St. Joseph’s University. They have a combined net worth of more than $26 billion; most of which is comprised of cash and investments.

Accumulation of this much wealth begs the question if they should maintain their tax exemptions. Moreover, the governing bodies of these entities should be challenged to voluntarily divest themselves of much of this wealth to benefit and uplift the poorest big city in America. Just imagine what just half of the wealth of these four entities could do to improve Philadelphia schools, provide health care to all, affordable housing to many, and virtually eliminate food insecurity. If the governing boards of these entities fail to do so voluntarily, then I would urge the local and state elected representatives to enact legislation to force such a divestiture.

Taylor McCormick, Drexel Hill, rtmtmac@gmail.com

It has been more than two months in which the world has observed the Biden administration sitting on its hands regarding the war in Gaza except to veto a United Nations cease-fire resolution. Indiscriminate Israeli bombing of innocent civilians has taken well over 17,000 lives. Recently, the U.S. seems to have publicly changed its tone somewhat. But don’t think these voices, now being raised by Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Vice President Kamala Harris, have any compassion for the Palestinians. In reality, the Biden administration realizes there’s an election coming and values the votes of young Americans and Muslims in the U.S. in hopes of keeping the presidency. In short, an Electoral College vote is much more valuable than the blood that spills from Palestinians in Gaza.

Kalim A. Bhatti, Hummelstown, kalimthedream@gmail.com

Why is Israel bombing buildings on the surface in Gaza? Hamas’ military infrastructure is its tunnel network, not buildings on the surface. World War II veterans will remember the island-hopping campaign in the Pacific. The assaults always began with Navy battleships standing offshore, pounding the island with heavy artillery. The Japanese simply retreated into their caves and waited out the bombardment. In the end, the Japanese had to be defeated by infantry in hand-to-hand combat. What is the point of bombing buildings on the surface?

Donald Neville, Philadelphia

We live in a place that has laws against violence and killing. Morally and ethically, we create and stand by these laws as a nation. We live in a world that seems to be OK with killing and using war as a means of communication and problem-solving. Unreasonably, the U.S. supports and uses this when convenient internationally.

As a species, why do we condone killing as an accepted solution? We know the unique and limitless potential everyone has. We know that violence does not change the mind of an opponent, but fortifies the differences and creates more hate. With every war or conflict, the atrocities seem to be more horrific. In studying war in history class in high school, I recall thinking there would never be another war after World War II, as the horror of it was plain to see. I thought society had evolved to the point of never justifying that means to solve a conflict.

Again and again since then, we have gone to war and watched wars this country was not involved in. The current wars inflict no personal or economic impact on the U.S.; life goes on as usual here as we witness more killings in the Middle East and Ukraine. When will the value of a human life garner enough value to take the time to resolve political issues with dialogue? When will the people of the world insist on this?

Anne Snipes Moss, Coatesville

As 2024 arrives, many Americans will benefit from pay hikes as 22 states will enact minimum wage increases. New Jersey’s and Delaware’s minimum wages will go up to $15.13 and $13.25, respectively. Pennsylvania is not among these 22 states. Our minimum wage languishes at a woeful $7.25 per hour, the federal minimum, unchanged for 15 years. Meanwhile, Pennsylvania legislators — those who determine our state minimum wage — will benefit from an automatic pay increase of 3.5%.

Their increasingly generous pay (already the third highest in the country) does not equal tasks completed or jobs well done. Fewer than 80 bills made it to the governor’s desk, roughly half of the annual output of previous years. A Democratic-controlled House and a Republican-controlled Senate have led to too much impasse, too much stonewalling, too much political grandstanding. It does not help when a House measure to raise the minimum wage to $15 is labeled “unreasonable” by Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman. It does not help that seemingly slam-dunk partisan legislation, something even as simple as changing Pennsylvania’s primary date, is doomed thanks to “poison pill” amendments that are added to make the measures unpalatable to the other party, and thus unpassable.

My tax dollars are not at work. It is tough to witness these well-paid, out-of-touch legislators promote their own politics over a bipartisanship that would promote the people of Pennsylvania. Almost nothing gets done, but not to worry. That lack of progress does not prevent these lawmakers from happily pocketing their not-so-well-earned yearly pay.

Deborah DiMicco, Newtown

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