Letters to the Editor | Nov. 17, 2025

I was deeply saddened to read the article regarding the death by suicide of former Rothman CEO Michael West after an Alzheimer’s diagnosis. I’m also deeply grateful to his widow, Lynn, for sharing her family’s story. My heart goes out to the West family. I work in the memory care unit of a local long-term care facility. I believe there is an unfortunate misunderstanding about quality of life. As we age, what we once valued may be reprioritized (e.g., travel vs. time spent with loved ones). I am privileged to witness that there is a decent quality of life for my clients. People with Alzheimer’s or dementia still have the capacity to connect with and care about one another, to reminisce, to express emotion, and to give and receive love. When family and loved ones visit, seeing our residents light up — even if they can’t generate a name — demonstrates that they haven’t forgotten the bond of love. I am not trying to diminish the tragedy of this disease and its monumental impact on families. Yet, those who care for people living with dementia are reminded that we have only the present moment and the endurance of the human spirit.

Sister Mary Annette Gailey, Philadelphia

Mike West, suffering from early-onset Alzheimer’s, took his own life rather than suffer the loss of dignity and joy. Anyone who has witnessed a loved one go through the tragic ending of dementia can understand that pain. How and when we want to leave this earth should be our choice — and our choice alone — not the government’s. A peaceful death with the timing of your own choosing to ensure a loving goodbye should be your right, no one else’s.

Carol Strogen, Berwyn

In 2024, over 375,000 homes in Pennsylvania experienced an involuntary termination of utility services. This number is only expected to increase as the cost of energy and utilities soar because of growing data center demand and persistent delays in the Pennsylvania-New Jersey-Maryland Interconnection, the system that coordinates the flow of electricity across 13 states and Washington, D.C.

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) has been a lifeline for families struggling to pay their utility bills, providing cash grants up to $1,000. LIHEAP is administered by the state, but funded by the federal government.

During the government shutdown, Congress had not approved funding for the upcoming 2025-2026 LIHEAP season. This delayed the application process for thousands of families who are not able to heat their homes, which can be a dangerous situation for folks with severe health issues.

Roughly 46% of the payments from the $229 million that was allocated for the 2024-2025 cycle in Pennsylvania were for households with a resident over 60. About 28% went to homes with folks with disabilities, and 17% went to homes with children under 5.

Congress needs to commit to protecting LIHEAP in the future, and state legislators need to establish a funding stream for the program, so this critical funding can get to those who need it the most.

Tim Hayes, Dublin, Pa., timothyjhayes97@yahoo.com

A recent Inquirer editorial credited the Election Day success of Democrats to Trump administration policies, but said nothing about the president’s attacks on suspected drug smugglers. The “American Experiment” in government replaced the whim of monarchs with the rule of law. Has he decided the rule of law is dispensable?

It must be understood that drug smuggling is not a capital crime. If the Coast Guard seized a boat in U.S. waters, the occupants of that boat, after a trial, might receive prison sentences, but they would not be executed. To date, the U.S. Navy, under order of the president, has murdered over 60 people. And that they were killed in international waters could constitute an act of piracy.

OK, assuming everyone now at the bottom of the Caribbean or the Pacific was drug smuggling, given the lack of anything even resembling due process, they are still murder victims. And that means the president is no different than a mob capo ordering a hit on a rival gang.

One ground for impeachment is the commission of “high crimes.” Are there higher crimes than murder?

John Nedby, Philadelphia

If the health insurance offered under the Affordable Care Act was actually affordable, massive subsidies wouldn’t be the norm.

Long before the government shutdown, our lawmakers should have been taking a long look at the greed and questionable business practices of insurance companies and started working to change how healthcare is provided in our country.

Instead, the issue of healthcare and affordability is being used as a political football.

Carol Rhodes, Barnsboro

Regarding SEPTA’s condition in general, from fiscal year 2012, its best operating year, through fiscal year 2024, its systemwide ridership fell from 339.3 million to 198.3 million, a loss of 41.6%. The authority simply can’t continue to provide the same level of service it has in the past. It’s time for SEPTA to consider scaling back significantly. Both SEPTA and the general public have to face reality.

Mike Egan, Plymouth Meeting

The United States, we are told, is the richest country in the world. Is anyone else shocked that 42 million people in this rich country are receiving food stamps? And most of those people are working primarily at low-paying jobs. Which brings up the shocking fact that Pennsylvania’s minimum wage is still $7.25.

Marcia S. Kung, Philadelphia

Why do states have to undo full Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program payouts when our president, Donald Trump, hasn’t wanted to undo any of the illegal and unconstitutional actions he’s taken over the past 10 months? He didn’t turn around the jet that was taking Kilmar Abrego Garcia to a notorious El Salvador prison in defiance of a court order. He still wants to illegally send troops to Democratic-run cities after judges have told him not to. And he didn’t even follow local laws and procedures when it came time to submit plans for his “big, beautiful” $300 million ballroom. We should all be outraged that we live in a country where everyone else has to follow the law, while our president acts like he’s above it.

Michael Miller Jr., Philadelphia

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