Letters to the Editor | Aug. 11, 2023

While the season two finale of Abbott Elementary was memorable for showcasing the much-loved Franklin Institute, it particularly stood out to me for showing a character with sleep apnea. After the principal “teaches” the Abbott students about aliens and their need for a breathing apparatus if they were to invade Earth, mass panic ensues when the kindergarteners spot exactly that: Mrs. Howard wearing a CPAP machine. She goes on to explain how she was diagnosed with sleep apnea and now wears a CPAP whenever she sleeps. Given that the vast majority of Americans with sleep apnea (30 million) are unaware of their condition and fewer still are treated for it, this plotline showcases yet another way that Mrs. Howard really is a role model for us all.

Obstructive sleep apnea is a condition in which the upper airway can become blocked either partially or completely while someone sleeps, leading to decreased oxygen and fragmented sleep as the person is often jolted awake trying to catch a breath. More than one in three middle-aged men and one in six middle-aged women meet diagnostic criteria for the condition. In the short term, this can lead to things like fatigue, daytime sleepiness, nodding off, mental fogginess, and headaches. Over time, these effects can build up and cause much more severe problems.

This condition becomes more prevalent as people get older, and has been linked to diseases like hypertension and heart disease and has even been associated with increased death. Often the first signs of it can range from snoring to feeling sleepy and tired throughout the day. But it is usually straightforward to diagnose and has many treatment options available to provide hope to millions of people. Here’s to finally getting a good night’s sleep (and waiting for the new season of Abbott Elementary).

Noor Shaik, resident, department of neurology, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania

The U.S. Supreme Court has temporarily reinstated regulations requiring manufacturers of so-called ghost guns to mark their products with serial numbers and to maintain records to allow law enforcement officials to trace those firearms used in the commission of crimes. Ghost guns are assembled from readily available kits. The 5-4 ruling required Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Amy Coney Barrett to join the three liberal justices to overcome the court’s conservative majority. While hailed as a victory by gun control advocates, it actually reveals how far this country’s love affair with firearms has gotten.

The ruling is only temporary until the challenge moves forward in the courts and does not in any way restrict the purchase, assembly, or use of these weapons. It merely requires that they have traceable serial numbers. What is most disturbing is why there is any debate over these simple regulations. What purpose do unregistered and untraceable ghost guns serve? Just about every product sold in the U.S. has a number that can be traced. Yet four justices dissented from this decision, essentially saying that unregistered and untraceable firearms are just fine with them. How can anyone justify this?

Ben Zuckerman, Philadelphia

Relying on large-scale developers and government programs to provide affordable housing is not enough. Neighborhood-based developers remain a largely untapped resource that can drive down the cost of housing. This is where Jumpstart Philly comes in. By training, mentoring, networking, and financing local aspiring real estate developers, we create naturally occurring affordable housing (NOAH) in our middle neighborhoods. The cost of acquisition and reconstruction of rowhouses and twins is less expensive and results in significantly lower rents and home sale prices.

NOAH does not require government subsidies and can be produced by small, local developers, such as the 2,500 graduates of the Jumpstart Philly training programs. By producing NOAH, jumpstarters provide affordable housing options while revitalizing their neighborhoods and keeping wealth local.

Jumpstart Germantown was founded eight years ago as a way to empower local residents to remove blight from their own communities. Today, 13 Jumpstart programs exist in the Philadelphia region. Jumpstart graduates are overwhelmingly Black or brown and more than half are women. Increasing diversity in real estate development leads to more equitable and sustainable housing options. To date, the Jumpstart Philly Loan Program has made 366 loans, totaling more than $45 million in financing in just six neighborhoods. Jumpstart Philly has now expanded its financing throughout the city of Philadelphia. Going citywide will create additional NOAH units and provide more local developers with opportunities to succeed. Jumpstart Philly is committed to offering more affordable housing options and helping women and people of color succeed in the real estate development industry from which they have historically been excluded. Join us in our mission to build more affordable housing.

Ken Weinstein, Philadelphia, ken@phillyofficeretail.com

I was so excited that the Phillies’ Michael Lorenzen pitched a no-hitter against the Washington Nationals at Citizens Bank Park. He pitched it in his second career start with the Phillies. He became the first Phillies pitcher to throw a no-hitter since Cole Hamels on July 25, 2015, against the Chicago Cubs.

It was also the 14th no-hitter in franchise history. I think Lorenzen is not only one of the greatest pitchers in Phillies history but also one of the greatest pitchers in major-league history. Congratulations, Michael Lorenzen.

Paul Bacon, Hallandale Beach, Fla.

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