Letters to the Editor | Jan. 4, 2023

We have a very closely divided Pennsylvania House of Representatives, so maybe it’s time for lawmakers to work together. A good start would be to agree that legislation with sufficient bipartisan support (say, at least 10 representatives from each of the two main parties as sponsors) must be voted on. In its “Dysfunction by Design?” report, which analyzed recent sessions of the state legislature, Fair Districts PA documented a significant number of bipartisan bills that were not allowed a vote. My own experience advocating over the past six years for bipartisan solutions for full and fair funding of basic education — which have not been allowed out of the Education Committee — has shown me that respect for bipartisan efforts needs to be written into the legislative procedures.

Nicholas Sanders, Philadelphia

Our Jewish cemeteries are so central to our tradition and beliefs. They are visual reminders of the brevity and value of life, and of the stories and lessons from our ancestors that survive within each of us. Thanks to The Inquirer for a wonderful story on Har Hasetim and the Friends of the Gladwyne Jewish Memorial Cemetery. As a Jewish Philadelphian, I believe that the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia should play a lead role in ensuring the identification, maintenance, and preservation of our area cemeteries. Although Judaism raises up anonymous charity as a special mitzvah, perhaps someone such as Stuart Weitzman would be interested in establishing such an initiative.

Julie Slavet, Philadelphia

Incarcerated people in Pennsylvania state prisons now pay 26.7% more for food, toiletry, clothing, and other commissary items. Inflation nationally in December was 7.1%. Commissary food became more important during the pandemic when the quality and portion sizes of prison meals declined and never recovered. Prison wages have remained flat at $0.19 to $0.42 per hour. One man wrote to the Pennsylvania Prison Society that he had to work in the kitchen for three days to afford a tube of toothpaste. A 6-ounce tube of Colgate Sensitive now costs $6.62, a 67% increase over the previous price. When the society asked the Department of Corrections when the last pay increase was, a spokesperson said it was “unclear.” They also declined to say whether there was a plan to raise pay. The state legislature must allocate resources to improve food portions and quality and raise prison wages.

Brian Taussig-Lux, Media

I read Timothy Cragg’s op-ed regarding violence toward nurses. He is right on point. Violence against clinicians in hospitals has been a terrifying issue for decades. A problem that I witnessed in my 40-year career in health care is that many nursing administrators persuaded victims not to formally report their attacks. Hospital administrators routinely encouraged hospital personnel (especially nurses) to report attacks to police. 2020′s Act 51, which made violence against nurses a felony, was a godsend. But when we would explain it and encourage reporting, nursing leadership would often share misguided advice, which dissuaded the victims from reporting. We certainly recognized the exceptions (such as dementia and traumatic brain injuries); however, there were more attacks from patients and visitors that did not fall under these categories. A security department leader once gave me amazing advice, which echoes Cragg’s words: “When a patient or family member attacks you, they have crossed the line into being a criminal.”

Rose Busick, Warrington

As an 85-year-old retiree of the School District of Philadelphia, I am appalled that the state legislature and the Pennsylvania Public School Employees’ Retirement System (PSERS) have not provided a cost-ofliving adjustment (COLA) to its retirees since 2001. I retired in 1992 and have received only two in 30 years. The cost of living has ballooned this year. It is hypocritical that while legislators and PSERS employees receive pay increases, they haven’t provided aging retirees the same. We have given decades of service to Pennsylvania’s children, but are no longer valued. Though there is a process for putting a COLA in place, it seems the legislature is unwilling to assist us with getting what we deserve. We have been more than patient, but it is time to make this happen.

Kezirah Means Vaughters, Philadelphia

The recent Inquirer article on how some people are unhappy with Philly’s drag educators gave me pause. As an elderly individual living in an assisted-living institution, the subject never occurred to me until a group of drag queens came to entertain. They were fun, exciting, and provided a pleasant experience. As a devout atheist, I firmly believe if everyone lived by the so-called golden rule and the 10 Commandments, this world would be a better place. Priggishness aside, sex education and acceptance should be taught in elementary public schools by those equipped to do so. Most parents avoid the subject or do a lousy job. We are all human beings sharing a small piece of the universe, and if drag queens provide an impetus for togetherness, more power to them.

Ralph D. Bloch, Jenkintown

The Dec. 22 article on the “mysterious Filbert Street provision” included in proposed legislation sponsored by Councilmember Mark Squilla laid bare the colluding of the Kenney administration, the councilmember, and the Sixers to roll over the Chinatown neighborhood. With shrugged shoulders and a round of fingerpointing, each powerful player denied being the source of the provision facilitating the construction of a new Sixers arena. This underhanded effort is damning evidence that Chinatown residents and businesses are right: Their concerns will be ignored as the mayor tries to deliver a new Sixers arena in the waning days of his lackluster second term. Kudos to Asian Americans United for bringing this despicable effort to light. Everyone loves the Sixers, but they don’t cheat on the court. Their development team shouldn’t, either.

Ellen Ryan, Philadelphia

The recent op-ed by Amelia Warshaw and Rebekah Diamond (“The health system is failing children”) is truthful and accurate, but it understates the problem. The health-care system is failing everybody except for those making the big bucks as executives and the shareholders they serve. I worked for 50 years as a community psychiatrist. I treasured the work and the privilege of being paid to provide service to others. Like many physicians of my age, I retired not for lack of love for the work or my capacity to perform it, but for my weariness from years of struggling with the relentless incursion of various profit centers into the rational provision of care. The irony is that often as not, the profits gleaned in one segment of the system increased costs in another. The losers were the patients and those of us trying to serve them on the front line.

William S. Greenfield, Doylestown

Much has been written over the past two years about the struggles of Philadelphia’s public library system. There is seemingly never enough money, never enough staff, and always some sort of racial conflict. Many of the branches are simply closed (lack of personnel or building maintenance issues) and hours are limited. The flagship branch, along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, has substantially reduced hours, from Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. During this holiday break, there was no programming at all for kids and students who are out of class. Who exactly, then, does the library serve? Those hours certainly do not serve patrons. Perhaps the library should start by being open Tuesday through Saturday. That way — with no increase in cost — patrons would be able to visit at least one day during the weekend.

Bryan Anderson, Philadelphia

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