Letters to the Editor | June 27, 2023

The recent op-ed, “How a marijuana arrest kept me from being admitted to the Pennsylvania bar,” only showed the tip of the iceberg. Pennsylvania law keeps countless people out of a job because of their criminal records — and not just lawyers. The state stops many people from getting a license to work because of their record, even for convictions that are old, irrelevant, and relatively minor. Back in 2018, my organization — the Institute for Justice — brought a successful lawsuit on behalf of a mother in Yardley who was denied a cosmetology license because of two old DUIs, even though she had since been sober for five years and had an employer eager to hire her. Afterward, the state legislature reformed the law, but it didn’t go far enough. Our organization recently gave Pennsylvania a C for its licensing barriers to those with a record. With the labor shortage, reform in this area is needed.

Erica Smith Ewing, Arlington, Va., esmith@ij.org

I applaud the small-business owners in Doylestown who recently had their Pride flags stolen, yet refused to be intimidated or silenced and had new flags up a day after the thefts. As a gay woman and small-business owner myself, I proudly fly both an American flag and a Pride flag in front of Fat Lady Brewing in Manayunk. I also feature every current derivation of Pride flags inside the bar to fully reflect the amazing diversity of our community. I, too, have been a victim of vandalism and verbal threats made by small-minded bigots but refused to be silenced or driven back into the shadows. Just last week, our Pride flag was torn down (the third time in the past two years) but was back up flying proudly a day later. It’s so important — not only during Pride month but always — that we celebrate our diversity and reject hatred and intolerance wherever and whenever we see it.

Jane Lipton, Philadelphia

A thank you to Gov. Josh Shapiro for considering Lifeline Scholarships among education funding for students in low-performing public schools. With state budget negotiations underway, parents are anxiously awaiting decisions on education spending that could change their lives. Increases to the state’s Educational Improvement Tax Credit and Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit Programs — along with proposed Lifeline Scholarships — would give families the opportunities they seek now. Lifeline Scholarships are the best option for these families to gain access to private or tuition-based schools. I am grateful that Gov. Shapiro and Education Secretary Khalid Mumin are prioritizing students. While we discuss long-term solutions, a short-term one is to allow families stuck in low-performing schools to select an alternate option with financial assistance from state-based programs. As the opportunity divide deepens, Philly parents should be empowered to make decisions for their children.

Keisha Jordan, president and CEO, Children’s Scholarship Fund Philadelphia

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