Letters to the Editor | May 10, 2024

I am concerned that the city of Wildwood has agreed to host a Donald Trump rally for the presumptive Republican nominee on its beaches on May 11. This event was planned and organized by New Jersey congressman — and far-right Republican — Jeff Van Drew, who has become an ardent Trump sycophant.

There are a large number of other events planned for that day, including a cheer competition, which will involve a large number of children and teens. The city will be crowded with spring visitors, who are eager to return to Cape May County to experience our beautiful beaches and boardwalks.

In my position as a “peacekeeper” at a Trump counterrally held in January 2020, I witnessed a great deal of violent rhetoric, cursing, and even spitting on those with views that differ from those held by ardent MAGA supporters. It was a chilling event, and I worried for my personal safety while trying to keep those around me safe.

Wildwood should want to protect its image as a family-friendly vacation spot. I worry Trump’s supporters will have extra incentive to lash out at this time while Trump sits in a New York courtroom facing 34 counts of falsifying business records and election fraud

The city of Wildwood should have reconsidered this decision to support Trump and the MAGA movement. As Trump’s loyalists flood into town with their flags and banners while chanting and cursing about their racist views, the city leaders would be wise to recognize that the children (and the tourists) are watching.

Janet Yunghans, Petersburg, N.J.

. . .

Donald Trump will be holding a rally in Wildwood on May 11. This is a great chance for all of us to experience the “long version” of Trump. The whole spectrum of voters should try to attend so they can see and hear for themselves this man who wants to be president.

If you are not sure news organizations are being “fair” in reporting on what he says, then go to Wildwood. Only in person can you really experience, live and on full display, the negativity, hatred, and venom of Trump. Listen to how mean and cruel he can be in person. Watch him demean his opponents almost as a sport. Hear the hundreds of lies about his “persecution.”

If you are already a Trump fanatic, you will love the hate show. If you already support Joe Biden, then your resolve to work against Trump will be strengthened tenfold. If you are undecided, you might get some answers to the question of, do I really want this guy as president?

I wish every voter could go to a Trump rally and hear the “anger” in person. See Trump never smile. Never hear him say a kind word. The election would be a landslide.

Michael J. Makara, Mays Landing, N.J.

The May 9 editorial on hospital facility fees noted that 74% of physicians as of 2021 (and I would think a higher percentage now) work for hospitals. It later posed the question as to why, if physicians were able to pay their light bills as independents, hospitals now have to charge more.

The obvious was missed. The reason physicians now work for hospitals is that they could not afford to pay the light bills, not to mention rent, heat, malpractice and facility insurance, equipment, disposables, staffing, third-party insurance billing, electronic medical records, etc., etc. Neither can the hospitals based on the same insurance reimbursement given to physicians as independents, especially if skewed toward Medicaid.

Therefore, although it is a nice thought to save patients’ money — particularly for unanticipated bills — the logical answer is not to tie hospitals’ hands, but to address the for-profit health-care system from the top down, starting with the entities that derive outsized profits at the expense of providers and patients.

Henry Scovern, Wyomissing

I’m tired of being forced to vote between the lesser of two evils. I’m tired of campaigns spewing toxic venom on the airways. I’m tired of watching candidates win elections without a majority of votes. I’m tired of the way we vote. Our current system is corrupt and allows politicians who don’t represent our best interests to be in office. Every time I go to the polls, I am frustrated because I’m forced to pick between two establishment candidates who don’t actually represent and understand me. It’s exhausting, and we can do so much better.

There’s a simple solution to this: ranked choice voting. Already in use across the country and world, ranked choice voting is the fastest-growing nonpartisan voting reform. It’s a straightforward solution that gives us more choice and more voice. Using ranked choice voting literally couldn’t be easier. All you do is rank candidates in order of preference: first, second, third, and so forth.

We deserve more choice and more voice. We deserve to vote with our hearts.

Andrea Pauliuc, Philadelphia

It is very newsworthy that first-time home buyers cannot find a house they can afford. I have been a land developer and homebuilder for decades. Interest rates make house payments expensive, but it is much more than that if you look at the affordability of a first house, especially in New Jersey.

Here are a few reasons why:

In New Jersey, there are still some 500-plus towns that have “minimum floor area” laws in their town ordinances, which have been illegal since 1973. This affects what size house must be built.

Most towns are “built out,” and there is little vacant land left. Many rural towns never, ever went out of their way to build sewer systems, because they knew for sure that if they had sewers, builders would ask for and get dense affordable housing, which would change their towns. Most potential new home buyers are married couples. When you add the cost of two necessary cars, and car insurance and maintenance, it adds up. If a married couple has kids, if both people work, day care has to be figured in. Often, a new home will be far away from “work,” since prices vary by location, and high gas prices must be added in. Remember that years ago, people moved to South Jersey and commuted many hours to North Jersey jobs. New furniture and “home maintenance” can often be expensive. Inflation has caused necessities to go up.

Zoning laws in more than 500 different towns vary and are often misunderstood by nonlawyers. It will be some time in the future in New Jersey, in my opinion, even if rates come down, when builders will be selling to first-time home buyers who will be able to get a mortgage and afford a home unless they have a lot of help from a family member.

David F. Lipton, Toms River

My sympathies to the letter writer from the suburbs who encountered traffic delays and closed roadways when trying to drive into Center City for a Sunday orchestra matinee and arrived late. He considered taking the train but chose not to due to infrequent service. The writer got one thing right and one thing wrong. What he got right is that SEPTA’s service levels are wholly inadequate to serve the needs of the metropolitan area. Most global cities have fast, reliable, and safe public transport to serve visitors to their urban core. Philadelphia has the rail infrastructure to do it, and once did. What the letter writer got wrong is asserting that Center City is empty. The latest data from the Center City District show that weekend pedestrian volumes in Center City are equal to 2019 levels. Fixing SEPTA is the key to our traffic woes. With 2026 just around the corner, time is running out to do it in time for the celebrations.

Paul Steinke, Philadelphia

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