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Economic benefit of public banks
Vanessa Lowe and Stan Shapiro (“Bring our money home. Philly needs a public bank,” March 2) point to ethical and antidiscriminatory lending practices that a public banking authority would bring to Philadelphia. There are considerable economic benefits, too. The public bank would spur economic recovery and economic opportunity. This month, in a peer-reviewed economics journal, I provided an estimate of the economic impact of a public bank in Philadelphia utilizing regional input-output analysis. This approach is the same one used to calculate the potential gains of a new hospital, a branch campus of a university, or a stadium.
The overall takeaway is that every $1 billion in new lending would yield approximately: $142 million of increased earnings in Philadelphia; 3,171 new jobs in Philadelphia; and $1.50 billion in new metro-area gross product in our region. There will clearly be a positive economic impact from such an institution in our city.
Deborah M. Figart, Philadelphia, deb.figart@stockton.edu
Provide more details in Council budget
Regarding “City Council’s budget should not be immune to scrutiny” (Feb 23), Council’s failure to convene a hearing on its own budget is of less concern than Council’s long-standing tradition of refusing to provide any budget detail for public discussion. Council’s $42.5 million budget for fiscal 2021 begins with a blank organization chart. The reader has no idea how many people Council has on staff at a cost of $15 million. The budget includes a $25 million line item entitled “Contributions, Indemnities etc.” for which there isn’t a single word of explanation. How many more years will the citizens continue to tolerate this contempt for accountability? An outsider might think the people of Philadelphia just don’t give a damn.
Mike Egan, Plymouth Meeting
How the Grinch stole literacy
As a former teacher and lover of Dr. Seuss books, this banning has gone a step too far. Theodore Geisel (aka Dr. Seuss) made a major contribution in getting children to read. Are those opposed aware that it was the very early Dr. Seuss “I Can Read” books that not only helped to include new and struggling readers but heightened a child’s interest in reading? To me, this has gone too far. I hope Mother Goose is safe.
Bernice Sherman, Philadelphia, abclady@comcast.net
Player a disgrace to Phillies
A photo in Thursday's Inquirer pictured a violent abuser in a Phillies uniform. Odúbel “The Bull” Herrera attacked and brutalized a woman half his size. Herrera, who spoke with teammates today, claims, “Everything’s good. Everybody was happy with me.” Really? Wishful thinking perhaps? Joe Girardi says, “None of us is perfect.” It’s a long way from imperfect to handprints on a woman’s neck. I’m a season-ticket holder. My baseball season begins at Spring Training and continues through fall — come what may. I am a Phillies fan. I am a woman. I am revolted at the sight of that bully in a Phillies uniform. Management may forget Herrera’s brutality. Many of us — the fans in the stands — will not. I love baseball; I have missed games at the Bank. I would rather be there, cheering on my team, than outside protesting a violent abuser who wears a Phillies uniform.
Beth Mooney Fitzsimons,
Swarthmore
Republicans possessive of Toomey
After reading the article on the Republican Party’s treatment of Pat Toomey, I can’t understand why the Republicans believe that Toomey is only “their” senator. Although I did not vote for Mr. Toomey, I am certain that a lot of Democrats did vote for Mr. Toomey. Additionally, once one becomes a senator, they are expected to represent the best interests of all Pennsylvanians. He should be held accountable for representing all citizens of the commonwealth. Those interests may not always perfectly align with the sole interest of the Republican Party. Perhaps Republican leadership should invest some time reading old civics books.
Susan Murray, Glenmoore, smurrayesq@comcast.net