part of the solution

I would like to clarify a recent article ("PHL solution: Fly Jersey," Thursday) that cites my position on expansion of Atlantic City International Airport as "the perfect solution to the limited room for growth at Philadelphia International."

My position has always been that all parties need to come together and find a less costly, safer, and less harmful solution to the delays at Philadelphia International. Exploring integrating regional airports, such as Atlantic City, Lehigh Valley, and Wilmington, is just one option.

PHL is an economic engine for the region, one that I strongly support. However, I cannot support inefficient and harmful spending of taxpayer dollars such as the billions spent on runway expansion at PHL, which fails to meet even 50 percent of its future demand and reduces delays only by mere minutes. And then there is the educational and health impact of those who will be asked to live under now lower-flying aircraft.

Incorporating the use of Atlantic City airport could reduce delays at a fraction of the cost. However, this approach is not the solution, but rather one example of more cost-effective, safer, and healthier solutions that we must work toward developing.

Rep. Joe Sestak (D., Pa.)

Washington

Keep veterans

in your prayers

As a proud Vietnam veteran who is preparing for Veterans Day, I find it tragic that so many of my fellow Americans view Nov. 11 as just another day off work. I lost friends in Vietnam, and I made a promise to their families that they would never, ever be forgotten. With wars on two fronts - and the VA workload topping one million claims - it's time for all Americans to remember the true meaning of Veterans Day.

As we near the holidays, please keep our deployed troops and their families in your prayers. Send a care package or donate to a program that supports our troops and veterans, such as VFW Operation Uplink (www.operationuplink.org). Always remember those who have fought for your freedom!

John Kearney

Upper Darby

Medicare Advantage

is worth saving

As supporters of Medicare Advantage health plans, we are writing to express our growing worries for the future of this program.

Medicare alone does not offer the great benefits that seniors can receive from Medicare Advantage. Thanks to Medicare Advantage, seniors have access to additional benefits such as vision, hearing, Silver Sneakers, dental benefits, and a personal coach to assist you with your medical problems. Although each plan is unique, all of the plans help keep out-of-pocket expenses low. For a senior on a fixed income, these savings are crucial, especially considering the state of today's economy.

As Congress looks to make budget cuts, Medicare Advantage should certainly not be the program to suffer. Far too many seniors rely on the program for the health benefits they could not afford otherwise.

Michael and Mary Louise Di Renzo

Philadelphia

AARP's support

is self-serving

It's disgusting how self-serving AARP is in its backing of the Democrats' health-care bill. The bill will significantly cut Medicare benefits for seniors, who then in turn will have to buy more supplemental health insurance.

And who is the biggest seller of this? Why, AARP. This organization has not been acting for the benefit of seniors for a long time now and should be avoided by all seniors.

Jeffrey Davis

Media

Geminitis@gmail.com

Phillies put on

quite a show

For a Phillies fan now living in New York, it was disheartening to be surrounded by championship cheers for the Yankees. But baseball is entertainment. And the Fightin's put on another great show this season. Sure, they fell a couple games short but, overall, we got more than our money's worth. To be grumbling because they couldn't win a second straight World Series would be acting like, well, a spoiled, indulgent Yankees fan. And we've got too much class to go there.

Richard Paul

New City

rikndebi@verizon.net

Refunds for

transit passes?

Now that SEPTA workers will apparently be receiving their "signing bonuses," will they be compensating those commuters whose weekly and monthly passes were worthless last week?

Marie Conn

Hatboro