Letters to the Editor | Feb. 19, 2025

Gov. Josh Shapiro shows a lot of courage in standing up for Pennsylvania by taking the Trump administration to court for illegally blocking more than $2 billion in federal funding that has already been legally obligated to our state. This is real money for real projects Pennsylvanians depend on. Congress, with bipartisan support, approved this funding to protect public health, lower energy costs, and create jobs in rural communities. These funds are tied to legally binding contracts between Pennsylvania and the federal government. No president — Democrat or Republican — has the power to simply tear those agreements to shreds.

As our former attorney general, Shapiro knows the law. He understands that according to the Constitution, Congress holds the “power of the purse,” not the president. The president’s role is to carry out the law, not ignore it. He doesn’t have the legal right to wipe out entire federal initiatives with the single stroke of a Sharpie. Nor can he legally send an unelected billionaire like Elon Musk to do the work on his behalf. Sen. Dave McCormick and most Pennsylvania members of Congress have kept silent while our state is under attack. Fortunately, Shapiro has the courage to stand up for us.

Linda Godfrey, Winfield

Minutes before the Super Bowl ended, I gleefully ran to Frankford and Cottman Avenues to find thousands of Eagles fans had already done the same. Born and raised in Philly and having only gone to Broad Street for post-victory celebrations, I saw the same excitement and friendliness found everywhere throughout the city. There was a guy with a puppet, many Eagles luchador masks, an Eagles Grinch, even Batman. It was a sea of green and joy. No fights. Just pure Eagles euphoria. The entire time, I had one thought: Is this really happening?

The Philadelphia Eagles decimated the Kansas City Chiefs. Once again beating the best quarterback of their generation in a Super Bowl, like they did when they trounced Tom Brady of the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LII. President Donald Trump, the first commander in chief to attend the game, had to watch his favorite Chiefs get destroyed by the team that refused to visit the White House in 2018. He left the game early, his ego as fragile as the Chiefs’ offensive line.

America can seem like a nightmare. The hot new thing seems to be calling yourself a Nazi. But if we can’t have democracy, at least for one night, we had football. And Philadelphia — where “bad things happen” — danced all night long. At the victory parade on Friday, we all waited to catch a glimpse of the new champions. There was not a sad person in sight. The Eagles failed the last time around. But in true Philly fashion, they put their heads down and kept grinding (sorry, Swoop). Perhaps that’s how the country may also endure. Today, the Eagles are champions and parade down Broad Street. I don’t know, that might be a metaphor for something. It’s been a long week. Go Birds!

Bryan Bierman, Philadelphia

My husband proposed during halftime of the 1979 Super Bowl. I had been sitting next to him absorbed in my work when he entered the room with Champagne and roses. Everyone I was close to knew I had to be deeply in love, for I had always steered clear of football. To me, real life was dangerous enough. Games offered no diversion, only fear a player would be badly injured. But my husband is a loyal fan. Through the years, I sat next to him doing work, loving that he would hoot and holler, cheering his beloved Eagles on in their wins, and sure they would turn things around when they were losing — even hopelessly so.

As time passed, when the cameras focused on Philly fans, or players, coaches, and owners were interviewed, Stan would nudge me to put down my work to watch and listen. It struck me, as my husband and I sipped Champagne last Sunday, toasting our team to victory (and our anniversary), that President Donald Trump, who sat in the Chiefs’ box, left during halftime when his support, regardless of the outcome, would have meant so much. Our fans would never, ever do that. What does our Super Bowl championship mean to me? The grit and determination of our soaring Eagles, the unwavering love and loyalty of their fans, and my gratitude to live in my adopted city.

SaraKay Smullens, Philadelphia

I am in search of our newly elected senator, Dave McCormick. I have written several letters with no response. Every other time I have written to an elected official, the office has sent a reply, at least acknowledging they received my email. No such acknowledgment from McCormick. Even newly elected officials know it is crucial to keep an open line of communication between their office and their constituents. I have also called several times and left messages. Not only was there no response, but now when you call his Washington office, you get a recording that states the voicemail box is full. Obviously, no one is even checking the messages to ascertain how Pennsylvania feels about the direction our country is taking. Where is he? Perhaps he is back in Connecticut?

Ellen McGuigan, Clarks Summit, Pa.

In 2024, John Fetterman had one of the worst voting records in the U.S. Senate, according to congressional watchdog group govtrack.us. The week of Feb. 3, Fetterman missed all votes on both Monday and Thursday. Sen. Dave McCormick missed none. If Fetterman is still having health issues, he needs to resign. If he is lazy or cowardly or both, the voters need to demand he do his job as well as his constitutional duty and represent the people of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania by showing up to vote.

Miriam Fisher, Philadelphia

A half-century ago, the poet, musician, and griot Gil Scott-Heron recorded the plaintive song “Winter in America” — a track that today aptly describes Donald Trump’s destructive impact on an already imperfect nation. Scott-Heron, a Black man giving voice to the frustrations of Black America, was acting as the canary in the coal mine — warning of the dangers of dictatorial rule, bigotry, political partisanship, and injustice. How many years did Black people around the world protest South African apartheid, and the forced labor of Africans in dangerous diamond, gold, and coal mines? Others not only remained largely silent about the exploitation of the mineral-rich nations of southern Africa, they also reaped enormous profits from the bounty.

And now, in 2025, as Malcolm X is quoted saying, “The chickens have come home to roost.” So much of the wealth that is allowing Trump and his billionaire class to deconstruct America’s tattered pseudo-democracy can be traced back to the often lethal labor of working in the continent’s mines. We are now seeing what occurs when we ignore the canary’s warning. Today, the brutality we’re seeing is not limited to the African miners or inner-city poor folks or migrants. Now, the attacks are directed at farmers in the heartland, middle-class workers for the federal government, and even Ivy League-educated judges who have dared to rule against Trump or one of his disciples. It is truly winter in America.

Karen Warrington, Philadelphia

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