Letters to the Editor | Dec. 8, 2022

The man who raised me was a pure United States Army man. Growing up as a child of the ‘60s, watching the Army-Navy football game at Veterans Stadium was a tradition in our little efficiency apartment. Seeing that classic rivalry play out on our small 19-inch black-and-white television was our own family obsession. He was a die-hard Black Knights fan, so I knew that if he was rooting for the Army, I’d better be rooting for the Navy. That made watching the game a little more interesting. Many years ago, I lived in Charm City to attend graduate school. The local newspaper reported on Juliane Gallina, a young lady of Pelham Manor, N.Y. Midshipman Gallina, 21, was the first female brigade commander at the Naval Academy. That December 1991, she led the midshipmen on the field. Veterans Stadium is no longer around as the home field for the Philadelphia Eagles. Nowadays, it’s the Linc, but it continues to be the best venue for this pre-winter, Northeastern classic.

Wayne E. Williams, Camden

The 76 Place developers’ PR campaign to portray widespread support in Chinatown for their Center City arena has led to misleading news coverage, including in The Inquirer. Coverage of a 200-person meeting in Chinatown failed to mention the event was by invitation only, and that attendees who were opposed were told not to ask any questions that would embarrass the meeting organizers. The story about the developers’ formation of a Chinatown Steering Committee obscures the fact that organizations and individuals who question the project are excluded from the group, which has been formed purportedly to ensure that Chinatown is protected. Chinatown organizations have every right to join the developers’ steering committee. But they do not have the right to misrepresent themselves as speaking for the community.

Xu Lin, owner, Bubblefish Restaurant, Philadelphia

We have been Inquirer readers and subscribers for more than 50 years. We have stuck with you through many changes, including the recent font changes, with no comments. However, we need to voice our opinions on the most recent changes to the Comics section. We suspect that many of your readers are senior citizens like us, since most of the younger generation no longer rely on printed newspapers. We would think that by taking away the entire TV listings, it would give you ample additional space with which to work. But many of our favorite comics have been reduced in size — to the point where a senior citizen almost needs a magnifying glass to read them. Family Circus is the perfect example. We would encourage you to rethink the changes you’ve made to the section and go back to the previous format, including the TV listings.

Charles Stanbach, Springfield

Philadelphia School District Superintendent Tony B. Watlington Sr. has declared safety his number one priority, six months into his tenure and in a school year where five students have already been shot, one fatally, outside district schools. The fatality was Nick Elizalde, my grandson, who was murdered on Sept. 27. Outside, yes, on school grounds at a Roxborough High School football scrimmage. Three team members were shot in that incident. The intended target, also shot, may not be a district student. On Nov. 23, four Overbook High School students were shot, a block from their school. Outside, yes, but not at a district school. A difference without a distinction? Was safety as the number one priority vs. academics expressed by parents and staff during Watlington’s listening tour? Nick’s family is left wondering, “What if?”

Marge LaRue, Aston, laruehouse@verizon.net

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