Letters to the Editor | March 11, 2026

Iran’s hatred for the U.S. is largely rooted in our long-standing support for Israel in its conflict with the Palestinians. We have provided billions of dollars a year in military assistance to Israel, going back decades. The rationale given by our government for this support is that Israel is our only ally in the region. But it is our only ally precisely because our support for it has drawn the ire of Arab countries. So, yes, perhaps it is unconstitutional that Donald Trump preemptively attacked Iran without authorization from Congress, but it was necessary given that the country is ruled by Islamists dedicated to the death of what they call infidels, with Americans and Israelis being their primary targets. And going to Congress for authorization would surely have resulted in time-consuming debates and delays, which would have prevented President Donald Trump from acting as expeditiously as possible so as to lessen the lethality of Iran’s defense against our military. As far as allowing for diplomacy to effect a resolution to the nuclear issue, Iran, along with its terrorist proxies, has so much blood on its hands that it simply cannot be relied upon to keep its word that it will not develop a nuclear weapon.

Fred Hearn, Turnersville

When I finally dried my tears — flowing as I read Meredith Elizalde’s yearning for her murdered son — I put on my psychologist’s hat and said, “What all children and young people need to help them grow into fully functioning adults, is support from the adults in their world; they need to know that who they are and what they do is important, that it matters.” The students at Lankenau Environmental Science Magnet High School created and produced the most meaningful, interesting, and timely exhibit in the recent Flower Show, a truly artistic display of the natural world. I can only imagine how hard they must have worked — designing, building, gathering supplies, moving the entire display, setting it up, and caring for it during the show. They deserve presidential medals. And how do their elders react?

They seem to say, “Yes, your work is good, but we have more important things to think about, so we’re closing your school.” In other words, “You don’t matter.” How can the school district not see the enormous potential in these kids? How can the school district not see how much they care about their school, as they give out fliers at the Flower Show asking people to help to save their school from closure? I urge the school district to pay attention to these kids and give them what they need to grow into competent, caring adults — probably among those who will find some solutions to the perils of climate change. I urge the school district to let these kids know that what they do is important and that they matter.

Jean Haskell, Philadelphia

One of the schools district officials has proposed closing is Lankenau Environmental Science Magnet High School, which is a green haven for the students who attend. The name alone tells you what a unique school this is. Why would the district want to deprive students of the opportunity to learn in a sylvan setting within the city limits?

Rather than close, the school district should attempt to attract additional students to Lankenau so more young people can enjoy this rare learning environment.

Faith Steigelmann, Philadelphia

As a parent of a student at Lankenau Environmental Science Magnet High School, I am asking a simple question many families across Philadelphia are asking: Where is Mayor Cherelle L. Parker on the proposed closure of 18 schools?

Lankenau is a high-performing school that does not belong on this list. Yet our children, teachers, and families are now living with uncertainty about the future of a school that is working.

The school board recommending these closures was appointed by the mayor. Because of that, parents deserve to know her position.

Does the mayor support these closures?

Does she oppose them?

Or is this part of a broader plan for Philadelphia’s schools?

Right now, the silence from City Hall is troubling. Parents and students deserve transparency and leadership, especially when decisions like this affect children’s stability, education, and future.

Our children and families deserve to hear directly from the mayor about where she stands.

Tiona Brown, parent, Lankenau Environmental Science Magnet High School

How can the Philadelphia School District’s plan to close some middle schools and consolidate others move ahead without a discussion of curriculum and test scores? Whether it’s the K-8 model or the middle school model, the focus should also be on whether there is an equitable distribution of programs and curriculums to ensure students are prepared for the departmental structure and rigor of high school academics.

How many students burned out in high school because the curriculums in lower grades failed to academically prepare them for the demands of math and science?

Education is based upon academic building blocks. If key academic steps are not offered, seldom do students overcome these deficits.

Full disclosure regarding curriculum offerings and test score results certainly should be part of the equation about closing a school or consolidating others. Parents, students, and taxpayers deserve no less.

Karen Warrington, Philadelphia

For years, China — like the United States — has been a major polluter. To meet its energy needs, China burned dirty, plentiful, bituminous coal. Within the past decade, however, China has transformed itself into the world’s top energy producer from renewable energy sources. In 2024, wind turbines and solar panels were installed at a record pace in China. Although China’s energy needs are so large that fossil fuels still generate a majority of its energy, by 2030, the amount of Chinese energy produced from renewable sources is on track to exceed fossil fuel-generated energy. Chinese technology has also made the cost of renewables cheaper due to innovation and economies of scale.

Contrast this with the United States, where the Trump administration lives in the fantasy world of clean coal and encourages more fossil fuel exploration, to the delight of the entrenched fossil fuel lobby. And with the current hostilities going on in the Middle East, it should be noted that unlike oil, coal, and gas, which have finite supplies and are subject to geopolitical tensions — just look at the Strait of Hormuz and the current gasoline prices next time you fill up — renewable energy can be built and accessed where there is sufficient sun, wind, and water. What does China know that we don’t?

Larry Skvir, Delran

The planned closure of the Grocery Outlet on Welsh Road is a devastating blow to Northeast Philadelphia. This isn’t just about losing a supermarket; it’s about losing a community lifeline.

The independent operator, Dan, has built something rare in corporate retail. He isn’t interested in politics or “making waves” — he is interested in people. In an era of record inflation, Dan has consistently kept his prices lower than those of other locations because he understands his customers’ struggles.

For many of our neighbors on fixed incomes, his store is the only reason they can afford fresh groceries.

By closing this profitable, community-focused hub to “optimize” corporate growth, Grocery Outlet is prioritizing spreadsheets over human beings. It is removing a hardworking operator of color who reflects the diversity of our neighborhood and cares for its most vulnerable members.

We urge Grocery Outlet to reconsider. Don’t punish an operator for putting his community first.

We need Dan, and we need the Welsh Road Grocery Outlet.

Alex Kalman, Philadelphia

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