Letters to the Editor | Nov. 10, 2023

Hate and bigotry lost in the Central Bucks school board election. The current extremist board majority would never have been elected if they originally ran on the platform they implemented. Countless community members and students had the courage to come to the microphone during open comment at school board meetings to share their stories on the poor treatment of LGBTQ students, book banning, and the total lack of civility ushered in by the board majority.

There is nothing wrong with creating or joining a private school that aligns with your religious and social views, but it is wrong to try to convert a public school district designed to serve all students. We simply cannot agree to disagree on this fundamental point. For all the pain and suffering the community has endured, there are two positive takeaways: First, large amounts of political money from a few cannot subvert the will of an entire community. Second, it shows that while it may be easy to scare people into hating a faceless “they” at the national level, at the local level “they” have a face — that of a classmate, coworker, neighbor, teacher, or friend.

The Central Bucks community scored a large victory with this election, and it gives hope that others around the country will rise to battle against the brand of hate and bigotry experienced there. This also serves as a timeless lesson for all, but especially for younger people, that their voice and vote matter. We learn from history that when we get complacent or disengage, there will always be darkness willing to fill the void.

John Rackas, Furlong

Given columnist Jennifer Stefano’s self-professed expertise on the topic of productivity, readers are anxiously awaiting her assessment of the work of the Republican-controlled state Senate. While the Democratic-led House has actually engaged in legislating, the Senate seems only interested in delay, obstruction, and pontification. Inaction in that chamber explains much more clearly why Gov. Josh Shapiro has not had many bills to sign, despite Stefano’s rant on his lack of productivity.

Laslo Boyd, Philadelphia

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Columnist Jennifer Stefano blames Gov. Josh Shapiro for a late budget. When has the legislature completed it on time? The Republican Senate gutted and replaced the entire budget on June 30, and then left town for a 10-week summer recess. They don’t appear to care about an on-time budget or negotiating with the Democratic-controlled House. Despite a 2016 lawsuit, our legislature ignored school funding. Republicans led both chambers until 2023. The “choice” that Stefano lauds would give only 16,000 students — out of the 210,000 attending Pennsylvania’s worst schools — a chance to get out. This leaves over 90% of students stuck. She calls that a fix. Our legislative structure blocks moderate, sensible, bipartisan solutions from debates and votes. It allows party leaders to drive all decisions based on their partisan agenda, not on what Pennsylvania’s citizens want. We want citizens to win, not either of the parties. See some reliable analysis and some ideas to improve the legislative process at FixHarrisburg.com.

Rachel Sorokin Goff, Elkins Park

The banner headline in Wednesday’s Inquirer proclaimed that Cherelle Parker had made history by her election as Philadelphia’s first female mayor. But another historic event was overlooked: the election of Christy Brady as city controller. The first time in the city’s history that someone was elected to that office who came up through the civil service ranks. Brady will be occupying a corner office not because the party decided to place her there, but because she decided to place herself there. As such, the Controller’s Office will hopefully enjoy independence in doing its job of ensuring the accuracy of information regarding the city’s financial position and the economy and efficiency of its operations. Philadelphians have much to be thankful for.

Mike Egan, Plymouth Meeting

Earlier this year, in preparation for a talk I gave at Temple University, I interviewed many young leaders in the Greater Philadelphia region on their struggle to be taken seriously in politics. Many spoke at length about elder statesmen talking down to them due to their perceived lack of experience and naïveté. Further, they would often have to fight tooth and nail to be taken seriously, often having to work twice as hard for those in power to hear them out.

Perhaps the most important insight I gained from these interviews was that nearly everyone I spoke with believed that their youth and “lack of experience” gave them insight into the issues we face today, and how best to solve them. Their solutions were often practical reforms for issues that needed to be addressed but were overlooked. If we want a future Philadelphia to achieve real growth, this can’t be the case going forward.

Of course, listening to young people is not a panacea, and their opinions are certainly not homogenous. However, the realities faced by most young people in Philadelphia often align, including historic levels of student debt, a lack of affordable housing options for developing families, a deeply struggling and underfunded public school system, and not to mention climate change. New mayor Cherelle Parker should give young people a seat at the table and the opportunity to truly engage with the future of Philadelphia. After all, they are the inheritors of that future. We have a responsibility to listen to them and hear their concerns.

Jacob Fuller, Philadelphia

A permanent intercity bus station needs to meet these criteria: no conflict with existing traffic, a “union station” serving all intercity bus carriers, easy connection with local transit, full-time employees who can sell tickets, and restrooms (and not the portable type used at construction sites). I remember the underground Greyhound station at Penn Center.

Robert Sechler, Media, rpssjs@yahoo.com

There is a reason Sixth and Market Streets is crowded with passengers waiting for buses. Residents and New Yorkers use these buses to visit the two cities, which adds to Philadelphia’s revenue. The new plan (with three days’ notice) means that not only will passengers still be outside in winter, but they will also be on the far end of Center City, forcing people to walk or take the El at an extra cost. What were they thinking? Why not place it on Fifth Street north of Arch Street, where school tour buses drop off students and park? Yes, still outside, but while looking for another place, at least it’s closer. I hope this decision can be reversed. Philadelphia needs to welcome bus riders, not leave them in a barren space after dark.

Steve Ramm, Philadelphia

In November, President Joe Biden will take a break from addressing the inequities in our economy and important world events to pardon a turkey — a turkey who has done nothing requiring a pardon. This year, exercise your own pardoning power by choosing a nonviolent, cruelty-free Thanksgiving. The 245 million turkeys killed in the U.S. in 2022 were raised in crowded sheds filled with toxic fumes. Their beaks and toes were clipped to prevent stress-induced aggression. At 16 weeks, slaughterhouse workers cut their throats and lowered them into boiling water to remove their feathers.

Consumers pay a heavy price, too. Turkey meat is full of cholesterol and saturated fats that elevate the risk of chronic diseases. Intense prolonged cooking is required to destroy deadly pathogens lurking inside. Turkey meat production in the U.S. from January through September 2022 was 3.91 billion pounds, down only 7% from a year earlier. But we don’t have to support this industry. This Thanksgiving, let’s give thanks for our good fortune, health, and happiness with a cruelty-free feast of plant-based holiday roasts, vegetables, fruits, and grains. Search “vegan Thanksgiving” for countless simple and delicious recipes.

Eric C. Lindstrom, executive director, Farm Animal Rights Movement

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