Letters to the Editor | June 16, 2023

In the recent editorial on Donald Trump’s second indictment, to say that “Trump’s cult-like followers continue to fall for his lies” overlooks a critical point and the reason why no amount of fact-checking will ever make a difference. If these people are falling for anything, it’s not Trump’s lies, but his ability to get away with them. For the true believer, the more gargantuan the untruth, the more it’s proof of Trump’s strength and success in taking on (and taking down) an establishment that they see as standing in the way of “Making America Great Again.” An establishment that, to them, lavishes favors on people of color and immigrants at the expense of patriotic white Americans; that wants to rub their noses in the nation’s history of slavery and racism; that promotes same-sex marriages, transgenderism, and drag queens; that wants to take their guns and Bibles away. Nothing delights Trump’s base so much as “owning the libs,” and nobody does it better than Trump. It all comes down to this: They don’t care how much he lies to them, as long as he keeps lying for them.

Isaac Segal, Cherry Hill

Guns are killing young people. As of June 12, there have been more than 800 shootings, with 58% of victims under the age of 31. Many young people walk the streets with the fear they will be gunned down. More than 90% of victims are Black or Hispanic. Research shows that an increase in programs and activities for youth can help curb violence, yet as seniors at Central High School, we have seen firsthand that there aren’t many places we can go after school outside of school programs. And as gun violence has increased, officials have attempted to quell this by closing many hangout spots.

Instead of making it harder for young people to gather, funds must be allocated to build rec centers, community centers, and community green spaces, particularly in the areas of the city hardest hit by gun violence, such as Council Districts 5 and 7. In the meantime, people who want to help can start a club — it can be basketball, crocheting, gardening, gaming, or anything you want it to be. Go into your community and recruit the young people around you to explore their interests. Every issue starts and ends with the people, so are you just going to wait around and do nothing? Or are you going to stand up to make a change?

Siani George and Aminah Collins, Philadelphia

So, the city has a budget surplus. How about using it to increase the number of inspectors in the Department of Licenses and Inspections? This could move projects along faster, more quickly respond to neighborhood complaints, get projects on empty lots approved or not, etc. A deteriorating property on Spruce Street in Society Hill has had a “fix or demolish” notice in the window since March 2022. We expect a lot from our local government. Let’s give it adequate funding to do the job.

Judy Hartl, Philadelphia

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