Letters to the Editor | Nov. 19, 2024

Transit in Philadelphia and the surrounding counties has been incredibly valuable to me since I moved here three years ago. It doesn’t just get me to work every day. I can take the trolley to Clark Park for its weekly farmers market, the subway to the stadiums, or Regional Rail to the collar counties. It has provided me with a large area traversable without a car. This has allowed me to save money on expenses associated with a personal vehicle. Now SEPTA is in dire straits, facing a “managed decline,” in the words of its acting general manager, Scott Sauer.

The proposed service cuts would sever my connections within and outside the city. Gov. Josh Shapiro can stave off cuts by redirecting highway funding to public transit agencies, including SEPTA. Such action is not unprecedented, with Ed Rendell using highway funding for the same situation. Shapiro has an opportunity to protect public transit throughout Pennsylvania. Appropriate action to fund public transit would gain much-needed goodwill from voters throughout the commonwealth, goodwill Shapiro and his party sorely need right now.

Corrine Avacyn Hoagland, Philadelphia, [email protected]

Once again, we see two candidates and their parties battling over whether to count or disqualify mail ballots for errors such as a missing date or failing to put the ballot inside an inner security envelope. To me, this indicates that we need to take a close look at the design of mail ballots and consider what changes could reduce the number of such errors. Could Democratic and Republican legislators possibly agree on setting up a bipartisan commission?

Daniel Safer, Philadelphia

When I went to the polling place on Election Day, I was not required to date anything, just identify myself and sign my name. Why are those unable to physically make it to the polling place burdened to do more than those in person? If a complete ballot arrives before or on Election Day, it should be counted. You cannot make Americans with disabilities have a different experience, do more, or jump through hoops to enter a building under the Americans with Disabilities Act, why is it OK to make them do so to vote? Do we not count their attendance at sporting events or concerts if they need to sit in a different section of the stadium? How about in public meetings if they cannot speak or write out their thoughts like some others? If that’s the case, they shouldn’t be required to pay taxes since they are not represented. I believe they once held a tea party in this country for that very reason.

Ben Weinraub, Philadelphia

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