Letters to the Editor | June 12, 2024

A coalition of urbanists, environmentalists, and advocates for the disabled are backing a bus terminal in Old City. I wonder how many of these activists live there. As a long-term resident, I experience the daily struggle to deal with the traffic congestion caused by delivery trucks, buses, double-parked cars, and ride-share drivers picking up and dropping off passengers. The last thing Old City needs is more congestion traveling on our narrow streets.

I have not encountered one business owner in favor of the bus terminal. In fact, they all believe the terminal will hurt their business. Many of my neighbors say they will avoid the Second Street area if a terminal is opened. Having the people who have made the place vibrant and who support the business community avoid Old City will only hurt the neighborhood. More than 1,000 people in Old City have signed a petition against the terminal. I say listen to the people who live here, not well-meaning outside groups who will not have to live with this misguided idea.

Edward Collins, Philadelphia

Automated speed enforcement has been an unquestionable success on Roosevelt Boulevard, and it is well past time for it to be expanded to Broad Street. The data show what we all know: Broad Street is one of the most dangerous streets in the city because of speeding motorists. If we are truly to be the “safest, cleanest, and greenest” city in the country, we must expand the speed camera program and begin investing in traffic-calming infrastructure. We must prioritize human life over shaving 30 seconds off someone’s commute. I applaud Mayor Cherelle L. Parker and Council President Kenyatta Johnson for supporting speed camera expansion on Broad and urge them to pass legislation to install speed cameras on every arterial street.

Brian Elmore, Philadelphia

The GOP gets more debased every day. Lawmakers in Congress stopped a bipartisan border bill from passing because Donald Trump said so. Recently, they drilled Anthony Fauci over how he handled the pandemic, and Attorney General Merrick Garland about what they say is the weaponization of the U.S. Department of Justice. These two honorable men have done an excellent job. The latest disgrace is that some Pennsylvania House Republicans booed two Capitol Police officers when they visited the legislature. These men put their lives on the line and tried to protect Congress from the insurrectionists on Jan. 6, 2021. Republicans waste the country’s time on these things and fail to pass any legislation that would help us. They need to be voted out.

Susan Fossler, Elkins Park

I am frustrated that polls are showing many people in this country feel our economy was better under Donald Trump than under Joe Biden. Here are some facts I received from Sen. Bob Casey after I wrote to him about this issue: Wages are rising, the official poverty rate is the second lowest it has been since 2000, and unemployment in Pennsylvania is at a record low. When people see prices for gas and groceries rising, it feels as if our economy is doing poorly, yet inflation has slowed significantly. In April, the inflation rate was 3.4%, down from a high of 9.1% in June 2022. So why are families still feeling pinched?

From July 2020 to June 2022, corporations increased their profits by 75%. They have done this, in part, by reducing product sizes by a few ounces, or adding air while keeping prices the same, known as “shrinkflation.” Casey introduced the Shrinkflation Prevention Act to give the Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general authority to crack down on corporations deceiving consumers in this way. Shrinkflation means that an average Pennsylvania family paid $3,194 more in 2021 and $3,546 more in 2022 just toward corporate profits. Ironically, these mega-wealthy corporations may shift support from Biden to Trump because people don’t realize who is to blame for high prices. They’re betting on Trump to serve their interests if he wins. I hope voters won’t be fooled.

Sue Edwards, Swarthmore

As a member of the U.S. Public Health Service, I took care of many brave men who were drafted to serve in Vietnam. Donald Trump’s medical deferment during the war, from a doctor who rented office space in one of his father’s buildings, and his bragging in a ‘90s Howard Stern interview of how his Vietnam was avoiding STDs, are an affront to the service of those veterans. Fast-forward and Trump made a statement about Sen. John McCain, a true hero of the Vietnam War, saying, “I only like heroes who were not captured.” Trump’s policies while he was president didn’t impress me, either. I cannot understand why any active military or veteran would vote for a man who makes a joke out of serving, and who mocks the men and women who risk life and limb for our country.

JoAnn Carey, Warminster

Many of the young voters quoted in The Inquirer article “Trump’s youth movement” appear to be misguided about the powers of the president and in their blame of President Joe Biden for things they don’t like. In particular, one young woman said she was going to vote for Donald Trump because of the antisemitic nature of the college protests against the Gaza war. Does she not understand that the protests are happening because Biden is correctly standing with Israel, which she presumably does, as well? The president is on her side. If Biden were not backing Israel, there would be no protests.

What young people and others need to understand about the 2024 election is that it is about greater matters than individual policy preferences. Trump has clearly exhibited contempt for the rule of law, and the desire to destroy the institutions that have sustained our rights and liberties in this nation, including free and fair elections. Once the government no longer answers to the people, these institutions will be almost impossible to rebuild, and any change not desired by the state will be thwarted. We all lose if our democratic system is compromised, but young people most of all.

Bill Fanshel, Bryn Mawr, wfanshel@hotmail.com

I am writing to address the May 16 letter criticizing my compensation as CEO and principal of Global Leadership Academy Charter Schools (GLA). A charter school CEO is equivalent to a school superintendent, as defined by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. I oversee two schools assisted by six staff members. Philadelphia’s superintendent has a large staff for human resources, personnel, fundraising, compliance, etc. Downplaying my role in comparison with the superintendent is misleading.

The writer calculated my entire compensation package, including medical benefits and retirement funds, not just salary. With 50 years’ experience as an assistant superintendent, school principal, and classroom teacher, my comprehensive responsibilities justify my compensation. I handle human resources, write budgets, manage transportation, enrollments, marketing, community relations, and fundraising. Comparing GLA’s principal to district principals is also unfair. Unlike district principals, who do not manage their budgets or hire and fire staff, our principals undertake these responsibilities.

The letter writer’s criticism based on third-grade test scores during the pandemic fails to consider the extraordinary circumstances. Despite significant disruptions, we achieved 100% growth in English language arts and 86% growth in math this year, surpassing state averages. It’s important to look at the totality of our scholars’ K-8 experience. They gain acceptance into the city’s top high schools — including Central and Girls’ High — and go on to attend excellent colleges and universities. Charter schools like GLA have distinctive challenges. Using selective and disjointed comparisons does a disservice to our students and staff.

Naomi Johnson Booker, CEO, Global Leadership Charter Schools

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