Letters to the Editor | Dec. 26, 2022

Much praise is due to The Inquirer and former City Controller Rebecca Rhynhart for exposing the systemic abuse of the disability system at the Philadelphia Police Department. The Inquirer now reports that the number of police officers out on disability has dropped by 31% since the abuse was publicized. It should be noted, however, that a 31% drop still leaves Philadelphia’s rate of off-duty officers at 7.59%, compared to 3.3% in Chicago; 0.6% in Phoenix; 1% in Tampa; and 1.95% in Portland, Ore. With gun violence at record highs in our city, we need every able-bodied officer out on patrol. We cannot afford to have an absence rate more than double that of the next comparable major city. The entire system of police officer disability must be examined and revamped.

Angelo Sgro, Philadelphia, agsgro@comcast.net

Donald Trump has portrayed himself as a stable genius and a brilliant businessman. We now know the truth through the release of the tax returns he so desperately wished to keep secret despite falsely promising on multiple occasions to release them. His reported adjusted gross income for 2015 through 2020 was negative $52,601,872. If this is demonstrative of keen business acumen, I would hate to see the figures for a business failure.

Oren Spiegler, Peters Township

Thank you to the Pennsylvania Common Pleas Court for finally reining in the power of Judge Genece Brinkley. For years we have read about her inability, or refusal, to carry out the law when sentencing defendants before her. Removal of all her pending criminal cases is a blessing. I only hope that she will be permanently placed in a position where she will be stopped from doing further harm to defendants and to the integrity of our justice system.

Steven B. Erisoty, Philadelphia

Recently, Juul agreed to pay $38.8 million to Pennsylvania’s Department of Health as part of a settlement in a lawsuit over its marketing practices. While this is welcome news, there’s more to be done to reduce vaping among teens. Nicotine use among teens harms the developing brain, causes mood disorders, lowers impulse control, and harms the part of the brain that controls attention and learning. While the settlement money will fund antitobacco initiatives, it’s better not to start smoking or vaping in the first place. There is no safe way to use tobacco or vape. Both lead to physical harm and cost our health-care system billions of dollars, not to mention the billions of dollars in lost productivity due to illnesses caused by their use. If you’re a smoker or vaper, make a plan to quit. It is never too late to quit and improve your health.

Steven Rosenberg, Ph.D, psychotherapist and behavioral specialist, Huntingdon Valley

I take no joy in the release of the Jan. 6 committee report. There is no doubt that the events leading up to the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection, and the attempt to derail the orderly transfer of power, are among the darkest moments in American history. I am also painfully aware that a criminal prosecution of Donald Trump will inflame the passions of those who have no real love of country and are driven by bigotry, grievance, and hatred. The only thing worse for the future of our precious democracy than a criminal trial of the disgraced former president is no trial at all. A failed insurrection without consequences is “practice.” And the possibility that those who participated in the storming of the U.S. Capitol are punished while the mastermind remains unaccountable is an affront to the norms of fundamental fairness and equal justice. There is no guarantee that trying Trump will result in some measure of accountability, but if the Justice Department fails to prosecute, the rule of law will be left in tatters. It would be a broken promise and a betrayal of the patriots who gave us a Constitution and a chance to build a more perfect union.

Dean Phillips, Ambler

A letter writer accused columnist Helen Ubiñas of insensitivity to Italian Americans and then referenced events from more than 100 years ago. Discrimination against Italians a century ago is an important part of our history, but the enslavement, decimation, and other mistreatment of Indigenous peoples such as that perpetrated by Christopher Columbus is a particularly brutal legacy that continues to occur and reverberate to this day. Italians have progressed, succeeded, and excelled in so many ways. They have no need of a very flawed and cruel historical figure who in no way represents their values and their contributions to our history, culture, and society. The statue of Columbus belongs in a museum, where the whole story can be displayed in full detail in one place.

David Westerfer, Philadelphia

Worker protection laws are great, especially when enforced in a timely manner. On Oct. 26, I submitted a completed wage theft complaint to the Office of Worker Protection. On Monday, Nov. 7, they responded: “Due to high volume, someone from our office will contact you within two weeks for inquiries and within 90 days for complaints.” As of day 54, I had yet to receive any further communication. The wage theft coordinator has only 110 days from receipt of the complaint to make their determination (Philadelphia Code 9-4303.5.a). Justice delayed is justice denied. Delay is unfair to the employer who believes they are acting properly, but is then cited for each week of their error. Delay is even more unjust to the employee who may be repeatedly wronged over the 11-plus weeks of waiting to get any response.

Kenneth Young, Elkins Park, kendrayk@gmail.com

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