Letters to the Editor | April 6, 2023

Economic difficulties are the news of the day. Expanded Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits have expired, gas prices have spiked (again), housing costs remain in the stratosphere, and grocery prices remain high. I was unprepared, though, for the April cost of a gallon of whole milk: $5.39. That is a 75-cent increase over the previous week in March. I asked store management about the cost and was told, “We received the monthly federal email telling us what to charge.” I called a few other supermarkets, and the new price was confirmed. Are there any representatives looking into what it means to children’s nutrition, especially in underserved communities, if milk becomes as unaffordable as any number of other staples? Yes, the dairy industry has been impacted by gas prices and feed costs, but such an increase per gallon from one month to the next, following repeated increases over the past several years, needs to be challenged and somehow explained. If the price is somehow justified, then there needs to be some type of national subsidy put in place. The costs of managing the physical consequences of growing bones denied milk because it became too expensive would be even higher and downright shameful. There just seems to be such unchecked abuse of consumer trust from one store aisle to the next, all the while management and shareholders of our once-favorite brands could not be more delighted with their previously unfathomable profit margins.

Mary Kay Owen, Downingtown

In late February, Gov. Phil Murphy posted a tweet that sent shockwaves throughout the Armenian American community in New Jersey. He issued a false statement that extolled the corrupt government of Azerbaijan by recognizing the “Khojaly Genocide,” which was both historically inaccurate and ill-timed. By doing so, the governor essentially inserted himself into the ongoing conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh, which is part of historical Armenia. Armenian Americans in New Jersey found the governor’s use of the word genocide to describe what took place at Khojaly to be offensive and inaccurate. There is no denying that deaths happened on both sides during the fighting, but to suggest that a “genocide” occurred is an insult to Armenians who have fought for decades to have their own genocide recognized by the United States. Genocide is a term that should not be used loosely. It is one of the many reasons why the governor needs to set the record straight and remove his tweet and apologize for his misleading statement. Whether Murphy issued the statement directly or if it was made by a member of his staff, the governor needs to take responsibility and ownership of what was said and know that it can be misinterpreted and used for nefarious purposes.

Stephan Pechdimaldji, San Ramon, Calif.

Special thanks to Inquirer reporter Kristen A. Graham for her thoughtful work related to Philadelphia’s schools. Her recent article focused on an initiative involving a novel approach that could impact water purity in the Schuylkill. Highlighted were students working with scientists and with the possibility of having their work published in a scientific journal. Kudos for focusing on what students are doing given the opportunity.

Joan McCarney, Warminster

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