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Letters to the Editor | Oct. 9, 2025

Inquirer readers on ICE recruitment ads and e-bike safety.

A cyclist rides an e-bike in designated bicycle lane along Market Street at 15th in Center City last week.
A cyclist rides an e-bike in designated bicycle lane along Market Street at 15th in Center City last week.Read moreAlejandro A. Alvarez / Staff Photographer

Worst of the worst?

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is spending millions of dollars on TV advertising to recruit local police officers and entice them to become federal deportation officers.

These television ads are targeting what the administration deems as “sanctuary cities.” Philadelphia is one of them.

Social media and news programs have allowed us to witness ICE’s activities all over our country. Can you say with confidence that those who have been arrested are the “worst of the worst”?

The Trump administration doesn’t show any interest in working with the leaders of America’s biggest cities to improve the lives of their residents. Rather, the president declares that those places are “war zones.” I respectfully ask what experience he has had in any war zone to characterize some of our cities like this?

Wake up and see what is happening. This administration is laying the foundation for martial law. Call your members of Congress. Speak up before it is too late.

Judy Endicott, Fort Washington

Bridge of humanity

It’s safe to say the list of views I share with Marjorie Taylor Greene could fit on the back of a small index card. With that in mind, I applaud her for the stand she has taken over releasing the Jeffrey Epstein files. The Republican congresswoman from Georgia recently asked, “Aren’t we all against convicted pedophiles and anyone who enables them?”

Sometimes debates get lost in nuance, but Rep. Greene goes right to the heart of the question. The victims are begging Congress for justice; they want to pull this sordid tale from the shadows of the closet where it has been hidden for way too long, and they want to shine the bright light of justice upon it.

The vote should happen, and it should be a landslide. After all, what member of Congress is going to defy Rep. Greene and say, “I, for one, am supportive of Mr. Epstein.”

Rob Howard, Rosemont

Sidewalk safety

The recent article on e-bikes is focused on the dangers posed to riders by newer and faster e-bikes.

Lost entirely is the daily threat to pedestrians posed by e-bike riders, mostly delivery people, riding on sidewalks or going the wrong way in bike lanes in Center City.

We pedestrians are not safe.

This administration has abandoned human involvement in traffic enforcement — like crossing guards or traffic cops — and substituted them with “traffic calming measures” instead.

Our city’s leaders should not abandon sidewalk safety.

Andrew L. Miller, Philadelphia

Misses at bat

I would like to introduce a new stat for Major League Baseball to track. The new stat would count how many times a player completely misses the ball while at bat. While this seems odd, it would take away from the players only trying to hit home runs. (Not that the Phillies have any of those guys, mind you …)

Maybe somebody’s already tracking this and can tell the public how many times Bryce Harper, J.T. Realmuto, and Trea Turner completely missed the ball when in the game. If that sounds ridiculous to you, consider that those three highly paid superstars went something like 3-for-12 in the first game of the National League Division Series. Having that stat available daily would certainly inspire our superstars to get their “stuff” together.

Dennis Fisher, Broomall

Join the conversation: Send letters to letters@inquirer.com. Limit length to 150 words and include home address and day and evening phone number. Letters run in The Inquirer six days a week on the editorial pages and online.