Letters to the Editor | Sept. 25. 2023

She arrived at a time of transition. She came with experience, competency, and credentials. And many people in our city made it clear that they were ready to embrace a woman — especially a Black woman — as the leader of the Police Department. So why the lack of support for Commissioner Danielle Outlaw? A thoroughly trained and highly educated top cop, she came to the city as an outsider with ideas of changing a police force buffeted by allegations of sexual harassment, racial misconduct, and widespread misogyny.

She started out with big plans — to improve investigative technology, add body cameras for every officer, and enlist more mental health experts to deal with nonemergency 911 calls — but the pandemic, which forced the country to shut down three weeks after she arrived, undermined many of them. During a turbulent three-year stint in a male-dominated industry with an entrenched “old boys” culture, some critics found fault with her fingernail polish, lambasted her hairstyles, and questioned her decisions. Research shows that Black female leaders are more likely to be questioned on their decisions and competence and subjected to demeaning behavior.

Although we doubted her when we should have supported, encouraged, and stood with her, Outlaw leaves our city better than she found it, with violent crimes down by 20%. Thanks to his insight and courage, Mayor Jim Kenney made a wise decision to hire her, and Outlaw will go down in history as the first African American woman to hold the post. She is owed a debt of gratitude and should be thanked for the time she spent in Philadelphia.

Evelyn Sample-Oates, chief communications and community affairs officer, Fairmount Park Conservancy

I just read Jonathan Zimmerman’s column about the Palestine Writes conference at Penn. As a 91-year-old Jew who remembers the start of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in 1948, I am ambivalent about this event. I don’t like hearing antisemitic remarks. On the other hand, I’m also a retired Philadelphia lawyer who recognizes the importance of the First Amendment in our Constitution. Controversy is built into our form of government. Let’s hope we can continue to solve our differences in a peaceful way.

Shel Seligsohn, Philadelphia

In response to The Inquirer article about criticism of the Palestine Writes conference, there are plenty of non-Jews and non-Muslims who are aghast at Israeli actions and policies against the Palestinians. We do not accept that criticism of Israel’s treatment of the Palestinians equates to antisemitism. Groups such as Jewish Voice for Peace and If Not Now are clear examples of this.

WC Hodgson, Lansdowne

. . .

As a Penn and Daily Pennsylvanian alumnus, I believe that universities and newspapers are obligated to identify and refute misinformation and disinformation. This includes omissions of important facts regarding the recent Palestine Writes literature festival. The boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement sensationalizes wedge issues, but never identifies the end goal. Nowhere is there discussion of the violence and mass casualties that could occur in an attempt to overthrow an existing, legitimate government — the only Jewish state amid numerous Arab and Muslim states.

Another glaring omission is diplomacy and peacemaking. Where is the list of compromises their side is willing to make to achieve peace? Another omitted topic is terrorism. The Middle East is a complex system of state and non-state actors, some acting benevolently and some acting destructively. But this conference, and the BDS movement generally, communicates as if Israel is geographically surrounded by tranquillity. Why were Palestinian writers who favor peace negotiations not included in this conference? The most insidious sessions were not the speakers with obvious hatred, but the portrayals of history that necessitate extensive scholarship to refute.

Linda Seltzer, Redmond, Wash.

. . .

Palestine Writes conference organizer Susan Abulhawa erred when she referred to Palestinians as indigenous to Israel and to Jews as colonists in a recent Inquirer article. It is very evident from any history of the region, from the many Jewish antiquities dating back before the Christian era and even from the text of the Bible, that Jews have lived in Israel for thousands of years. The Arabs, who now identify as Palestinians, first invaded Israel in 634 AD and proceeded to colonize it. Nevertheless, Israel continues to be the homeland of the Jews, just as the tristate area continues to be the homeland of the Lenape even though many Lenape were forced to leave it.

Hal Tarr, Philadelphia

According to a recent Inquirer article, various Republicans (and some Democrats) cite the need for “ideological diversity” in their opposition to the Working Families Party’s attempt to replace Republicans on City Council. Are these people living in a time warp? The GOP of today seeks to limit or end reproductive rights, spreads hatred against immigrants and sexual minorities, wants to overturn national election results through lies and violence, safeguards unlimited access to weapons of war, suppresses voter turnout, disputes the reality of climate change, opposes lifesaving public health measures, bans books in school libraries, censors history lessons in classrooms, and excuses the criminal behavior of their former leader. In short, the Republican Party of 2023 poses a grave threat to American democracy and bears no resemblance to the GOP of old. The Working Families Party’s bid for two City Council seats gives Philadelphians a welcome opportunity to reject candidates affiliated with the “ideological diversity” now represented by Republicans.

Carol Stein, Philadelphia, csstein66@gmail.com

I am tired of reading articles about how the tax abatement is responsible for so many of the city’s problems. I live in a senior citizens’ development of 320 houses that has a tax abatement. The residents are middle-class working people. First, let me point out that the abatement means you pay lower taxes for 10 years, not no taxes. Second, the abatement has actually increased the city’s tax base. Many people in my development have actually moved back into the city from the suburbs. An equally large number did not move out of the city because of the abatement. Many of the houses have passed the 10-year mark and are now paying full taxes. No one has moved out because of that. The result is that the city now has a larger number of tax-paying households because of the abatement.

Ronni Flitter, Philadelphia

Philadelphians greatly respect the city’s professional firefighters for risking their lives to protect residents 24/7. After reading Jenice Armstrong’s column, it’s a crying shame that city government officials apparently don’t feel the same way. I personally know veteran Philadelphia Fire Battalion Chief John Narkin, who contracted a rare, terminal cancer while in the line of duty. He is a man of great valor and loyalty — to his city, his family, and his fellow firefighters.

He absolutely qualified to receive the additional benefits provided under the Pennsylvania Firefighter Cancer Presumption Act, yet inexplicably had to fight to obtain the benefits that would provide for his family after his passing. Fortunately for Narkin and his family, the city’s denial of the benefits due to him was overturned in April. Firefighters have a higher risk of contracting job-related cancers than any other profession. It’s the leading cause of death for firefighters. It’s bad enough that they must battle infernos and risk cancer while doing so. It’s disgraceful that they also have to fight city government for the health protections they have earned and deserve.

Frank Keel, North Wales

Join the conversation: Send letters to letters@inquirer.com. Limit length to 150 words and include home address and day and evening phone number. Letters run in The Inquirer six days a week on the editorial pages and online.