BGE rate hikes have gone too far

It’s no surprise to read that Baltimore Gas and Electric Co.’s latest rate hike is being felt across Baltimore. However, it’s disheartening to hear the utility’s short-sighted decisions are putting additional strain on our school districts which already face tight budgets (“BGE price increases stress Baltimore-area residents, school districts: ‘It’s ridiculous,'” Jan. 17).

For residents like my grandmother, a homeowner in Forest Park who lives on a fixed income, rising gas bills aren’t just painful — they make it hard to make ends meet. Her house, like many in her neighborhood, was built in the early 1900s and lacks much of the solid weatherization and insulation that could help keep the cold out during weeks of bitter temperatures.

I try my best to cover our drafty windows every year, but each winter the cost to stay comfortable always knocks us out. The fact is, these rate hikes didn’t just fall out of the sky. BGE has spent millions of dollars on unnecessary infrastructure projects that bring a nice rate of return for the company’s shareholders but result in higher bills for my grandmother and her neighbors.

Whether it’s spending through the Strategic Infrastructure Development and Enhancement Plan (STRIDE) or multi-year rate pilots, it all leads to one thing: higher bills. We can’t afford to go through this song and dance every winter. Maryland leaders need to stand up for our elderly residents, our students and our neighborhoods and reject these gas hikes.

— Erica Puentes, Baltimore

Make Super Bowl a bit kinder, gentler with plant-based wings

As Super Bowl Sunday nears, it’s worth considering the staggering number of chickens sacrificed for a single day of indulgence — an estimated 375 million altogether — just for wings. This annual tradition, though beloved by many, comes at a great cost to animals, the planet and even our health (“A healthy resolution for 2025: Eat less meat,” Dec. 31).

Fortunately, there’s a kinder and equally satisfying alternative: plant-based wings. Made from ingredients like tofu, seitan, potatoes or even cauliflower, these options pack all the flavor without harm to animals. Brands like Blackbird, Gardein and Daring offer ready-to-enjoy wings while homemade cauliflower “wing” recipes are easy, delicious and crowd-pleasing.

This year, why not make your Super Bowl spread one of compassion and sustainability? By swapping traditional chicken wings for plant-based alternatives, you’ll score a win for animals and the environment, all while enjoying a healthier take on a game-day favorite.

— Bob Cartier, Rockville

How to honor MLK: Expand child tax credit

On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, The Baltimore Sun editorialized that remembering Dr. King involves (among many inspiring messages) “tackling economic inequalities” (“Remembering the promise of MLK,” Jan. 19). Mayor Brandon Scott, too, has been thinking about King’s words on “economic justice” (“Black Marylanders celebrate MLK Day in the shadow of Trump’s inauguration,” Jan. 20).

And, as President Donald Trump declared on the eve of his second inauguration, today is a “new day.” (“Donald Trump holds campaign-style rally in Washington before inauguration,” Jan. 19).

The U.S. Census Bureau’s Supplemental Poverty Measure shows that child poverty is rising in our country. From 2022’s child poverty rate of 12.6%, it rose in 2023 to 13.7%. Only three other countries with similar economies to the United States have higher rates of child poverty. To echo President Trump’s calls for renewed greatness, these are embarrassing numbers we need to improve.

There are 17 million American children whose parents earn too little to qualify for the federal Child Tax Credit. That’s right. Four kids whose parents earn a mere $25,000 annually get a child tax credit of $3,375 while four kids whose parents earn $400,000 annually get a child tax credit of $8,000. How is our country great when we treat innocent children this way?

The original child tax credit was passed in 1997 by a Republican-controlled Congress. Both Vice President J.D. Vance and U.S. Rep. Kweisi Mfume of Baltimore grew up in poverty themselves. The child tax credit deserves and has a history of earning bipartisan support.

Maryland’s U.S. Sens. Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks, Congressman Mfume and all others in Maryland’s delegation to Congress must show that America cares again. Lift the United States above other countries that ignore hungry children. Expand the child tax credit in 2025.

— Jan Kleinman, Baltimore