Letters to the Editor | Sept. 5, 2025

I was recently assaulted at 21st and Sansom Streets while crossing the street. A car came within inches of me while I was in the middle of the crosswalk with the green light. Startled, I hit the side of the car with a very soft gym bag filled with dirty laundry. The enraged driver got out of his car and threw me to the ground, causing injury. And then he fled. I won’t provide driver details here, but there were two witnesses. I am a 70-year-old recovering cancer patient. The driver, according to the witnesses, is a young 30-ish, very athletic-looking man. I hope he is proud of himself.

The witnesses helped me and stayed with me while I called 911. Good people. I provided all the details to the 911 operator, thanks to my witnesses, including a description of the vehicle and license plate number. The operator instructed me to seek out a police officer and file a report. I saw a Philadelphia Parking Authority agent on a bike. I hailed him to help me find a police officer. I was bleeding. He looked at me and rode on with his radio. He could not be bothered.

I live near Rittenhouse Square, and I walked for an hour until I found a police officer. Great guy, but told me I had to go to 400 N. Broad St. to file a report with Central Detectives. What’s the point? Cars do what they want. They run stop signs, threaten and hurt pedestrians, and let’s not forget what they are doing to bikers. For example, the intersection of 19th and Rittenhouse is a very dangerous crosswalk with no camera or supervision of any kind. Older people and children beware. Cars do not stop. They expect pedestrians to get out of the way.

The pedestrian safety issue begs the question: Why do we have so many parking authority agents on the streets without being cross-trained to assist pedestrians, photograph cars violating stop signs, record driver threats to pedestrians, and direct traffic when needed? We do need to fund the police. They need resources. But let’s try to make walking in Philadelphia less hazardous by using the resources we already have on bikes, on foot, and in cars — the parking authority personnel.

I am concerned about the future of Center City.

Michael Zuckerman, Philadelphia

With all the talk these days about the dismal employment prospects for recent graduates of colleges and universities, I was reminded of an article published in The Inquirer in December 1976. At the end of that academic year, I was awarded a doctorate in sociology from Temple University. The Inquirer article was titled “Ph.D.: Degree of Frustration” and was about the lack of job opportunities for people who thought they would easily move from earning a doctorate to becoming a professor at a university. It appeared with my picture underlined by the words, “Brownstein doesn’t know what he’ll do when he graduates.” The author of that article might be surprised to learn that in the decades since then, I have had one exceptional opportunity after another, and the good fortune to have met and worked with countless smart, creative, interesting, and caring people, all of whom have informed my work and enriched my life. I would just like to offer a word of encouragement and hope to today’s graduates. Look beyond the short term and recognize what you have to offer in the long term. Be open to finding those places where you can make a meaningful contribution. Do not focus on the advent of artificial intelligence with the limitations and imperfections that are the product of its dependence on data available to task-oriented computer programmers. Recognize and appreciate who you are, and the knowledge, experience, and humanity you offer the world through the boundless curiosity and creativity of your natural intelligence.

Henry H. Brownstein, Sterling Ranch, Colo.

The headline of a recent article noted that “Philadelphia’s collar counties are missing tens of millions of dollars in funding for social services while the Pennsylvania General Assembly negotiates a budget.” True. Yet, my state legislators in Montgomery County are still being paid, and thus feel no urgency to do their jobs.

When I sent a letter in June to a group of Pennsylvania lawmakers who were negotiating the budget related to SEPTA funding, State Sen. Cris Dush, a Republican from the 25th District in the north-central part of the state, responded with a long email. He said that the people who used the service were somehow responsible for allowing the system to fall into “disrepair.” He claimed the budget “favor[s] those who live and work in SEPTA’s region at the expense of our northern and western counties.” This belief that urban and rural communities’ needs are at odds with one another is inaccurate and destructive. Whether it’s a nurse in Philadelphia relying on public transport to reach work, or a community in Johnsonburg in need of road maintenance funding, both are equally deserving of support.

The residents of Pennsylvania count on our elected representatives to find ways forward in the face of challenges. Stop pitting us against one another and pass a budget that’s reflective of the needs of the people.

Cindy Maguire, Merion Station

The unimaginable happened on Aug. 15. The United States, represented by its president, rolled out the red carpet for an accused war criminal. Vladimir Putin, the Russian leader, the person responsible for the deaths of thousands of Ukrainian men, women, and children who died as a result of his illegal invasion of Ukraine, was greeted as if he were an ally, a friend of the United States.

I couldn’t help but compare this warm welcome with the way Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was berated in the Oval Office in February. Zelensky has held the line against Putin’s aggression in Eastern Europe. President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and the American people owe him and the courageous Ukrainian people our gratitude for their bravery.

This non-summit with Putin had no positive results. Trump gave us some vague assurances about another Trump-Putin meeting. Trump mentioned Putin might be willing to have a face-to-face with Zelensky. Neither has come to fruition. The only “winner” was Putin. He offered nothing to stop the killing or end the war. Trump promised us he would want a commitment from Putin for a ceasefire, or enact severe consequences if he did not. No such commitment occurred, nor did Putin suffer any severe consequences. This was not a good day for us — or Ukraine.

Paul S. Bunkin, Turnersville

A recent political cartoon about the Minnesota school shooting evoked a visceral response. While Americans are arguing about the Cracker Barrel logo, DEI, and “wokeness,” innocent children, teachers, and elderly churchgoers are being killed. There is no longer any room for compromise. We must repeal the Second Amendment.

Mary Ann Furin, Philadelphia

We now learn the city of Philadelphia has decided to fund the restoration of service to routes serving schoolchildren. Along with older people and Philadelphians with low incomes, schoolchildren were severely impacted by SEPTA’s draconian service cuts. However, such funding — and court injunctions — are only short-term solutions.

Until a long-term solution is found, my senior neighbor here in Northeast Philly is still searching for a way to get to the Giant on Grant Avenue. SEPTA’s trip planner recommends a two-block ride to Grant and Academy, followed by a 45-minute walk to the store for groceries and prescriptions. That is not public transportation. And State Sen. Joe Picozzi: It does not serve your constituents in Northeast Philadelphia well.

Richard O’Connell, Philadelphia

After Congress refused to release $1.1 billion in funding to the District of Columbia for education, public safety, and infrastructure, 6,000 armed, camo-wearing National Guard troops mulching greenery around the Washington Monument eliminated any mention of Jeffrey Whatshisname from the front pages of every newspaper in the country. Well done!

Jack Troy, Huntingdon

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