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  • Dear Abby | Sparks fly once more when ex reenters the picture

    DEAR ABBY: My son is 27. He has had some problems recently that were so serious I reached out to his father. His father and I were teenagers when we had him, so the last time we spoke was 18 years ago. Our relationship was really toxic, which is why we split when we were young. (We both had other children.) Since we’ve begun talking again, we have shared that the relationships we’re in now aren’t good. Mine is verbally and emotionally abusive. (He used to be physically abusive until two years ago.)

    Abby, all my feelings for my ex have come back, and he says he feels the same. We’re different people now. We haven’t taken it any further than talking and texting. I’m so confused. I don’t know if I should end the relationship I’m in and give it another go with my ex, or leave it alone.

    — HOPELESS ROMANTIC IN TEXAS

    DEAR HOPELESS ROMANTIC: You have nothing to lose and everything to gain by ending a relationship that’s emotionally and verbally abusive. If your ex is sincere about what he has been telling you, he may want to end his unhappy relationship as well. IF you decide to move forward with what you’re considering, I STRONGLY urge you to get to know him first. Couples counseling can help you accomplish it, considering the baggage you are both carrying from the first time around.

    ** ** **

    DEAR ABBY: While we were growing up, my father was abusive toward me and favored my younger sister. He said she was “too dumb to be successful,” so he pushed me mercilessly (punishing me when I wasn’t perfect) and mostly left her alone. As an adult, I finally found the strength to ask him to treat me right.

    I suggested we go to family counseling to improve our communication. My father agreed initially, then said he was too busy (he’s retired) and refused to go. He then cut me off and announced to the family that he was disowning me. My sister believes his story that I cut him off. Since she was never treated poorly, she doesn’t believe that I was. How can I continue my relationship with her, while she remains close with him?

    — ESTRANGED IN FLORIDA

    DEAR ESTRANGED: You can try to get other family members who remember the dynamic between you and your father to vouch for the fact that you are telling your sister the truth. However, if that’s not possible, and you want to maintain a relationship with her, then you will have to agree to make the subject of Dear Old Dad something you do not discuss.

    ** ** **

    DEAR ABBY: How should I respond to close friends — a couple — who are extremely nosy? Recently, the husband asked me if any of my siblings are citizens of the country my now-deceased parents emigrated from. When I replied no, he proceeded to ask me why. I was caught off guard by his rudeness and couldn’t answer. They both do this. I have mentioned previously that I’m very private about my family, yet they persist. How do I stop this rude behavior?

    — NOSY FRIENDS

    DEAR NOSY: The next time you are asked something you feel is none of their business, respond by saying, “Why do you ask?” And when they answer, say, “That’s very personal,” and change the subject.

  • Dear Abby | Young adult living his best life in parents’ home

    DEAR ABBY: Our 20-year-old son works full time and lives with us. He doesn’t do any household chores or pay us anything, not even his car insurance (which he agreed to pay). He then moved his girlfriend in, and after that a dog, without permission. He has anxiety and depression issues, which he thinks he’s treating with marijuana.

    When we try to approach him about his plans for the future, helping out at home or paying ANYthing, it becomes a screaming match with him punching the walls. How do we handle this without a fight? I mean, we could kick them out, but we’re afraid he’ll then move to a bad neighborhood. He’s angry because his friends got to go to college, yet he showed ZERO interest and didn’t have the grades. Your thoughts would be appreciated.

    — EXASPERATED MOM IN TEXAS

    DEAR MOM: Do you want your son to continue to live with you in perpetuity and not assume any responsibility for the privilege? If the answer is yes, continue doing nothing. If the answer is no, then it’s time you and your husband finally assert yourselves.

    Tell your son that by now he should have saved enough money from his job for a down payment on an apartment for him, his girlfriend and his dog. Give him a deadline to move. If he has to live in a less desirable neighborhood, so be it. When he starts punching the walls, tell him to stop immediately and, if he doesn’t, call the police. You will be doing all of you a favor.

    P.S. Unless your son has been using marijuana with a doctor’s prescription, he is breaking the law in Texas by using it to self-medicate.

    ** ** **

    DEAR ABBY: I’m in my early 30s and have decided to lead a child-free life. I think having a kid in the current state of affairs (rising costs, social injustices, crime, global warming, etc.) is unkind and irresponsible. But I’m worried that I won’t have anyone to look after me if (or when) I am immobilized due to age. What are your thoughts?

    — WORRIED MILLENNIAL

    DEAR MILLENNIAL: Oh, I am SO glad you asked me that! Having a child hoping it will guarantee that you will have someone to care for you in your old age is not old age insurance. There are no guarantees, as anyone who has read my column for any length of time can attest. As you grow older, it will be up to YOU to provide for your old age by consulting an attorney or a financial planner to ensure you have enough assets in place to assure you will receive the help you think you will need.

    ** ** **

    DEAR ABBY: My husband and I file taxes together every year. I work, and he does as well. But when we get the tax refund, he never gives me a dime. How should I feel or what should I do about this?

    — STILL WAITING IN PENNSYLVANIA

    DEAR STILL WAITING: If you are working and contributing financially, then you should be entitled to some of that refund. That your husband would refuse to share with you is selfish and controlling. How should you feel? The words frustrated and angry come to mind. What is he doing with the refund money? Could he be applying it to next year’s taxes? What you should “do about” it depends upon how assertive you are willing to be.

  • Horoscopes: Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025

    ARIES (March 21-April 19). Sometimes connection lingers like sound after a concert. You wonder if the other person hears it, too. Maybe they do; maybe they don’t. What matters is that you’re learning the frequency of your own peace. Stay tuned there.

    TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Your indecision will have a mesmerizing effect. As you try to make up your mind, you swing back and forth between options, and someone is getting hypnotized trying to follow you. Uncertainty creates suspense, curiosity and emotional movement.

    GEMINI (May 21-June 21). You’ll fantasize about how it would be liberating to live with less because you’re lighter, freer, unburdened. But it does take courage because you must face your fear of emptiness — and discover that emptiness is not nothing; it’s space.

    CANCER (June 22-July 22). Some drift through the social landscape. You map it like a surveyor. Experience teaches you to see people’s motives, learn their pacing, predict their patterns. Because of this, you’ll pull off a deal today.

    LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You know it’s true — when people grow apart, it doesn’t always mean forever. One version of you and one version of them came into misalignment. But life keeps editing us. Someday, new versions might meet again, ready to work.

    VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). The established order is a well-worn path that few have a reason stray from… until they do. Such a reason will soon arise. The balance of power will be upset. You’ll have your opportunity.

    LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). You notice a lot. If you pointed out every small flaw, life would feel tense for everyone, including you. Instead, you choose your moments wisely, focusing on what helps relationships grow smoother and more harmonious.

    SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). You’re doing so well that maybe you’ve started to wonder how to handle it. Can you sustain this pace? Should you push harder or ease up? These aren’t problems; rather they’re signs you’ve entered a new, higher level of success.

    SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). There’s something mesmerizing about you today. Maybe it’s the way you linger in possibility. Your indecision isn’t confusion; it’s depth. As you weigh your options, others lean in, sensing they’re watching a mind alive with wonder.

    CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). There’s more than one way to get unstuck, and for the current situation, you have the time to analyze the situation a bit. Often direct force isn’t the smart answer. Probably what you really need is a lever.

    AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Your active imagination will fill in every blank if you let it, but it’s important to leave some of those blanks quite open. That’s how you see what is instead of seeing what you want, wish or need there to be.

    PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). When your goal is too complex, big or expensive to reach with your own resources, this is the blessing that will bring you together with like minds, angels and people whose gifts are very different from your own.

    TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (Nov. 29). Welcome to your Year of Banding and Bonding for the Cause. Your warmth and discipline attract the perfect allies. You’re brimming with creative potential, and you’ll get both the platform and the stamina to fulfill it. New destinations and uncharted intellectual territory will be sources of exhilaration, discovery and change. Romance surprises you with its depth. A financial risk pays. Aquarius and Libra adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 9, 39, 27, 6 and 8.

  • Tyrese Maxey’s 22 points leads Sixers to 115-103 win over Brooklyn

    Tyrese Maxey’s 22 points leads Sixers to 115-103 win over Brooklyn

    NEW YORK — Tyrese Maxey scored 22 points, Jared McCain had 20 off the bench and the 76ers beat the Brooklyn Nets 115-103 on Friday night in an NBA Cup game.

    Quentin Grimes added 19 points, and Paul George had 14 to help the short-handed Sixers snap a two-game losing streak.

    The Sixers (10-8) played without starting center Joel Embiid (right knee management) and VJ Edgecombe (left calf tightness), and then lost backup center Andre Drummond (sprained right knee) midway through the second quarter.

    Sixers’ Andre Drummond leaves Nets game with a knee sprain and will not return

    Drummond attempted to block Tyrese Martin’s floater and then tried to grab the rebound with his left hand, but fell on the court and immediately reached for his knee.

    Egor Demin scored a career-high 23 points, and Martin had 16 for Brooklyn. The Nets (3-15) have lost three consecutive games and fell to 0-9 at home this season. They are the only team without a home win this season, with their last one at Barclays Center on April 8 against New Orleans.

    The Sixers led by as many as 21 points in the first half and saw their lead cut to nine after Brooklyn went on an 11-2 run, capped by Denim’s 3-pointer that made it 74-65 with 4 minutes, 7 seconds left in the third quarter.

    Brooklyn Nets’ Drake Powell (center) is defended by Sixers center Adem Bona, left, and Jared McCain during Friday night’s game.

    Denim cut it to nine again with a three-pointer with 4:35 to play. Demin’s layup made it 112-103 with 1:13 left in regulation before Grimes found an open Adem Bona, whose three-pointer extended the lead for good.

    Both teams were 1-3 in NBA Cup play.

    The Sixers will host the Atlanta Hawks at Xfinity Mobile Arena on Sunday (6 p.m., NBCSP).

  • Letters to the Editor | Nov. 28, 2025

    Letters to the Editor | Nov. 28, 2025

    Tilted table

    U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is making it more difficult for immigrants to register to vote.

    Several years ago, I went to a naturalization ceremony at Pennsbury Manor museum in Bucks County, welcoming more than 50 new Americans. Joy and hope danced in the air. As we left, I was thrilled to see volunteers at a nonpartisan League of Women Voters table helping our new citizens register to vote.

    What a dirty shame to learn that recently, USCIS announced that nonpartisan organizations and their volunteers are no longer allowed to register new citizens to vote after ceremonies — even though the work of those organizations is crucial in states like Pennsylvania, with no automatic or same-day voter registration.

    Lynne Waymon, Newtown

    A former aide faces charges

    Earlier this month, Natalie Greene, a former aide in the office of New Jersey Republican Rep. Jeff Van Drew, was charged with faking a politically motivated attack on herself.

    Greene said that three men slashed her and wrote “Trump Whore” across her stomach before leaving her zip-tied in the woods in Egg Harbor Township.

    But prosecutors said that it was all a lie, that Greene paid a scarification artist to cut her — and that they even had a receipt and a signed consent form (including a copy of Greene’s driver’s license) from the artist to prove it.

    It is not known if Greene remained employed as an aide to Van Drew during the four-month period between when she said the attack occurred on July 23 and when the criminal complaint was filed against her on Nov. 14.

    It is not known when Van Drew — who has not been accused of any wrongdoing — was informed of this situation.

    Quite frankly, not much is known besides the facts in the criminal complaint because Rep. Van Drew has mostly been silent.

    After the charges were announced, members of Van Drew’s team put out a statement offering “thoughts and prayers” and saying they “hope she’s getting the care she needs.” But no one has heard much else.

    And, strangely enough, Van Drew isn’t even mentioned by name in the criminal complaint — he’s only referred to as “Federal Official 1.”

    Rep. Van Drew’s constituents want to hear from him. The congressman often talks about transparency — this is his chance to be transparent.

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

    ACA enhanced subsidies

    A recent editorial states that subsidies are for Americans who earn up to 400% of the federal poverty level. However, the enhanced subsidies, which are due to expire, have no income limit. They are designed to keep the cost to an individual at no more than 8.5% of income. Consider this example: a single 60-year-old millionaire with $150,000 income. If the insurance company charges $1,300 per month ($15,600 per year), the ACA currently will subsidize this individual by $2,850 = $15,600 – 0.085 x $150,000. Whether such a person should receive government subsidies is debatable.

    Tom Muench, Ridley Park

    Brew safer than water

    As one who is fond of the malty brew, a former home brewer, and a student of history, I read with great interest the recent article about the role of tavern life in shaping the American Revolution. I enjoyed it and am certain it enlightened many of your readers, but there was one major oversight. While the Founding Fathers certainly enjoyed their brews and other beverages, there was, I think, another reason for imbibing so much not only in Philadelphia but throughout colonial and revolutionary America: the water. Even well water was usually extremely unhealthy to drink. The water of the period was often highly contaminated and the bearer of diseases, many fatal. People knew this. Beer, wine, hard cider, and distilled liquors like whiskey, consisting of a certain amount of alcohol and brewed and distilled often with heated water, were far safer than water and even milk. It was not unusual for “small beer” (beer with a lower alcohol content) to be imbibed even by children (small amounts) and with breakfast. I’m disappointed this was overlooked by the author.

    Kenneth J. Wissler, Halifax, Nova Scotia

    Forgotten American hero

    Ken Burns deserves great credit for producing the magnificent six-part PBS series documenting The American Revolution. But there is no mention of any Jews who helped win the nation’s freedom, which is a major oversight. Many Jews fought on the side of the patriots — perhaps none more selflessly than Haym Salomon.

    The British arrested Salomon for revolutionary activities in New York City in 1778. He was sentenced to be executed, escaped from prison, fled to Philadelphia, and became a prominent member of Congregation Mikveh Israel, Philadelphia’s oldest synagogue. He is most remembered for financing George Washington’s Yorktown campaign, the decisive battle of the American Revolution. Washington believed that without Salomon’s financing to provide salaries and supplies, much of the Continental Army would have deserted with catastrophic consequences. Salomon died destitute at age 44. He is buried in Mikveh Israel Cemetery.

    In 1975, the United States issued a commemorative stamp honoring Salomon as the “Financial Hero” of the American Revolution. A 1939 film, Sons of Liberty, depicts his life; Salomon is played by Claude Rains. The movie won an Academy Award for best short film.

    At a time when antisemitism is once again raging in America, Haym Salomon’s life deserves to be remembered.

    Jacob Daniel Kanofsky, Philadelphia

    Right side of history

    Assuming civility and sanity return and American democracy survives, I would love to be here a hundred years from now to read historical accounts of what’s happening in America today. If the reporting is reliable and factual, Will Bunch’s recent column, “The night America’s doomed ruling class gorged on lamb, blood, and oil,” should definitely be included. Sure, it’s an opinion column, but he paints a truthful overview that will serve historians well.

    Jacques Gordon, Devon

    Join the conversation: Send letters to letters@inquirer.com. Limit length to 150 words and include home address and day and evening phone number. Letters run in The Inquirer six days a week on the editorial pages and online.

  • Dear Abby | Man wonders why he’s stayed in marriage so long

    DEAR ABBY: I have been married for 38 years. We have three adult children and four grandchildren. I have always wondered whether I have stayed in the marriage out of obligation and/or because I got a young woman pregnant. I have on many occasions asked myself if I should have ended it and continued on with my life after the first child was born. I have tolerated the lifestyle I created and would like some advice from someone who has heard about a lot of circumstances.

    — UNSETTLED IN NEW JERSEY

    DEAR UNSETTLED: A divorce at this point will disrupt the family unit you created and have nurtured all these years. Would it be worth the pain and expense involved? Once you have your “freedom,” what do you plan to do with it? Some discussions with a licensed counselor may help you gain perspective. Compiling a list of reasons why you should stay married and all of your reasons for wanting out would be helpful, too. Set it aside for a few days, review it and it may give you some insights. No one’s life is perfect, but if you are truly unhappy, it should never be too late to make a change.

    ** ** **

    DEAR ABBY: I hope you can shed some light on my problem. I swear — a lot. It’s been this way off and on most of my life. I was raised in a household in which swearing was common. Through the years, I managed to curb myself around children, but I find as I age that it’s getting worse. I conditioned myself to use other words in the past, but now that I’m in a new community, it has returned full blast. What, if anything, can be done to eliminate this from my speech? Hypnosis? I’m willing to learn anything that would help.

    — CURSED IN MICHIGAN

    DEAR CURSED: It might help if you try to zero in on the underlying conditions that have made your old habit return. Could the move to the new community with all the adjustments involved be the cause? People sometimes swear when they are upset or in a situation that makes them nervous. If that’s true in your case, learning to lower your stress level could help you manage your problem.

    ** ** **

    DEAR ABBY: I have been in a relationship with my boyfriend for almost four months. Recently, we have been talking about trying to tell my mom about it. The problem is, back when we were in grade school, he said something hurtful to me and she found out. Because of it, she started to hate him. My friends and I have all seen that he’s changed and that he is trying. What should I do?

    — MORE GROWN UP IN MISSOURI

    DEAR MORE GROWN UP: What you should do is take it slowly. Do not suddenly announce to your mother that this boy is your boyfriend. Start by casually mentioning the difference you and your friends have noticed in him, that he seems to be trying to be a better person and how much he has changed for the better. Because people usually socialize in groups, it shouldn’t surprise her that he has become part of the group. Save the announcement about a relationship for a month or two, and it may be less of a shock for her.

  • Horoscopes: Friday, Nov. 28, 2025

    ARIES (March 21-April 19). Something new has your full attention, and it feels good to be lit up again. Just remember to look up from your project now and then. The people who love you most want to share in your excitement, too.

    TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Someone’s pattern of letting you down has begun to weigh on you. Instead of holding it in, bring gentle honesty to the situation. If things don’t change, you’ll know it’s time to seek the care and consistency you deserve.

    GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Relationships don’t stay strong by accident. It depends on how they are grown and protected. They thrive when people nurture trust, honesty, curiosity and time together. Neglect makes love brittle; care makes it resilient.

    CANCER (June 22-July 22). You’ve taken on a job and figured out how to do it in your own very specific way. Someone gets what you’re doing and respects your approach. Their recognition will benefit you in more ways than one today.

    LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Today you’re like an actor with the good lines. With dialogue this sharp, you don’t need to perform much; just say the words that come to you and make your exit. Brevity is always welcome because most people are in it for the action scenes.

    VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). You’ll feel a surge of creativity after you tidy up. Clean surfaces brighten your thoughts and signal to your subconscious (and anyone who drops by) that all is well and ready for beauty to unfold.

    LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Minding your own business is a challenge with so many wanting you to mind theirs. Attention-grabs abound, but you have a talent for tuning it out today so you can focus on solving problems and creating your own success.

    SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). When something doesn’t work out, you don’t take it personally — any more than a puzzle piece would resent not fitting every shape. You trust that the right connection will click naturally, and that trust is your peace.

    SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). Instead of imagining what others see when they look at you, you make it your job to know. You practice in a mirror; you self-tape; you ask. You’ll enjoy this process of discovery, since what others are seeing today is validating.

    CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). You’ve been trying so hard to time things perfectly and say all the right words. It’s exhausting! Don’t quit, just pause. Take a breath, loosen your grip, and let your mind wander. Clarity comes when pressure lifts.

    AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Some people are just harder to understand. That’s why you feel proud to finally be able to accurately read and predict a person — not only what they say, but the silences, too. Those pauses will reveal much today.

    PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Privacy is precious to you because it allows you room to delve into your feelings authentically, especially the “hotter” ones you might be tempted to tap down. “Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate.” — Carl Jung

    TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (Nov. 28). Welcome to your Year of the Visionary Leap. Not only do you see a different world than the one around you; you have the tremendous courage to create it. Your determination attracts support, including friends and allies willing to put their time and money into your projects. More highlights: Financial stability through wise choices, a refined aesthetic that draws admiration, and a home with loving relationships that make you feel like your truest self. Pisces and Capricorn adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 21, 50, 5, 39 and 14.

  • Hong Kong inferno puts a spotlight on the risks of bamboo scaffolding

    Hong Kong inferno puts a spotlight on the risks of bamboo scaffolding

    HONG KONG – Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in three decades has highlighted its risky use of flammable bamboo scaffolding and mesh for building work in a tradition dating back centuries to mainland China. Authorities have not determined the cause of the blaze, but images from the scene showed the fire spreading rapidly across green netting covering the scaffolding erected around the housing complex.

    Some of the bamboo lattices crashed to the ground in flames. For decades in the skyscraper-strewn former British colony, bamboo has been the material of choice for scaffolding – cheap, abundant and flexible – bound together with nylon cords.

    The craft originated on mainland China where bamboo, viewed as symbolizing grace and moral fortitude, has since ancient times been a cornerstone of architecture, even reputedly used for scaffolding and tools in the building of the Great Wall.

    Hong Kong fire poses test for China’s grip on the city

    Metal scaffolding becoming more prominent

    Now, though, it has largely been phased out in Mainland China for sturdier metal scaffolding and clamps. But Hong Kong, despite its modernity, still has around 2,500 registered bamboo scaffolding masters, according to official figures.

    The number of metal scaffolders is around triple that. Small teams of scaffolders scrambling up vertiginous gleaming facades to sheathe a building in a matter of weeks is a familiar sight in the global financial hub.

    The bamboo lattices are also often used alongside green construction mesh to prevent debris from injuring passers-by, as was the case in the tower blocks at the Wang Fuk Court housing complex in Hong Kong’s northern Tai Po district.

    Scaffolding checks promised

    The fire that began Wednesday afternoon killed at least 55 people with nearly 300 missing. Hong Kong police said on Thursday that “the building’s exterior walls had protective nets, membranes, waterproof tarpaulins, and plastic sheets suspected of not meeting fire safety standards.”

    The city’s Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) said it had launched an investigation, while Hong Kong’s Chief Executive John Lee said a task force had been set up to investigate the cause of the blaze. He said the government would check whether scaffolding mesh materials meet fire retardant standards and other safety standards on other projects.

    Police arrested two directors of the contractor responsible for the renovation of the building and a consultant on manslaughter charges after finding materials were used in construction that did not meet safety standards.

    The company, Prestige Construction & Engineering, did not answer repeated requests for comment.

    In March, the government said 50% of new public works contracts would be required to use metal scaffolding going forward.

    But the emphasis appeared to be more on worker safety rather than fire risks. There were 22 deaths involving bamboo scaffolders between 2019 and 2024, according to official figures.

    A firefighter works to extinguish the blaze that broke out at Wang Fuk Court in Hong Kong.

    Lee told reporters on Thursday that Hong Kong’s government was considering mandating the use of metal scaffolding in the future and had met with industry to discuss a phase-out of bamboo. In October, a massive bamboo scaffolding caught fire at the Chinachem Tower in the Central business district. Fire consumed construction netting and bamboo poles, leaving windows burnt out and external walls badly seared.

    The Association for the Rights of Industrial Accident Victims in Hong Kong said in a Facebook post that there had been at least two other fires involving bamboo scaffolding this year.

    Protective nets, screens and tarpaulins or plastic sheeting installed on the face of scaffolding “should have appropriate fire retardant properties in compliance with a recognized standard,” says the Hong Kong Labour Department’s Code of Practice for Bamboo Scaffolding Safety.

    Whistle-blower points to risks in other housing blocks

    Jason Poon, a whistle-blower who has previously exposed shoddy construction work in Hong Kong, said in a Facebook post on Wednesday that fire hazard risks existed in scaffolding at many housing complexes.

    He said he had reached out to various government departments last year concerning the lack of fire retardant in scaffolding nets at another complex, but he was ignored.

    Firefighters work to extinguish the fire at Wang Fuk Court on Wednesday.

    Hong Kong’s fire and building safety regulators did not respond to a request to comment.

    “Of course, in terms of material, metal scaffolding is less flammable. That’s a fact,” said Chau Sze Kit, chairman of the Hong Kong Construction Industry Employees General Union. But he said the fire risk for bamboo scaffolding could be limited if a construction management team takes the right steps.

    “Fires on scaffolding usually happen because construction debris accumulates on it – things like paper, towels, clothing, or other flammable materials,” he told Reuters. “Poor management leads to these incidents.”

  • Hong Kong fire poses test for China’s grip on the city

    Hong Kong fire poses test for China’s grip on the city

    HONG KONG/BEIJING – A huge fire still burning in a Hong Kong high-rise apartment complex that has killed at least 55 people with almost 300 missing poses the biggest test of Beijing’s grip on the city it has transformed since the mass pro-democracy protests of 2019.

    Under sweeping legislative changes, pro-democracy voices and other critics have been silenced and elections limited to “patriotic” candidates, with the next legislative council poll set for December 7.

    The fire struck as Hong Kong braces for the sentencing of media tycoon Jimmy Lai – the most prominent of hundreds of pro-democracy figures and activists facing lengthy jail terms under national security and protest-related charges.

    “I think Beijing is attaching great importance to two issues – number one, how will the government handle this tragedy? And secondly, will we see a changing perception of the citizens on the Hong Kong government,” said Sonny Lo, a political scientist who has written several books on Hong Kong politics.

    “The government has done well on national security, but national security includes a human security dimension.”

    The leadership of both the Hong Kong government and China’s Communist Party moved quickly to show they attached utmost importance to the tragedy, with police targetting the construction company in charge of the renovations.

    Hong Kong’s sky-high property prices have long been a trigger for discontent and the tragedy could stoke resentment towards authorities despite their efforts to tighten political and national security control, analysts said.

    From faulty fire alarms to workers smoking cigarettes and the risks of traditional bamboo scaffolding, many residents questioned whether risks were ignored and safety systems installed and operational.

    As they huddled in shelters, some criticized what they saw as negligence and cost-cutting as a cause of the fire, echoing similar sentiments online.

    Around 10 p.m. on Wednesday night – with flames still shooting out of windows – Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing urged an “all-out effort” to extinguish the fire and to minimize casualties and losses, according to state media reports.

    Xi “expressed sympathy to the families of the victims and those affected by the disaster” and “attached great importance to the accident and immediately sought updates on the rescue efforts and casualties.”

    Four hours later, Hong Kong leader John Lee held a news conference after touring shelters for survivors of the blaze.

    Some 4,600 people live in the complex’s eight towers, seven of which caught fire.

    “The priority is to extinguish the fire and rescue the residents who are trapped,” Lee said. “The second is to support the injured. The third is to support and recover. Then, we’ll launch a thorough investigation.”

    But at 5:54 a.m., only three hours after Lee’s news conference and before the fire was fully under control, police announced the cause of its spread and said three officials from the construction company had been arrested.

    As well as the towers being covered with sheets of protective mesh and plastic that may not meet fire standards, some windows on one unaffected building were sealed with a foam material that had been installed by a construction company carrying out maintenance work, police said.

    “We have reason to believe that the company’s responsible parties were grossly negligent, which led to this accident and caused the fire to spread uncontrollably, resulting in major casualties,” said Eileen Chung, a Hong Kong police superintendent.

    Three men from the construction company, two directors and one engineering consultant, had been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter over the fire, she added.

    Questions of accountability

    While protests are relatively tightly controlled in Hong Kong, a full range of online forums remain accessible and are likely to offer an early barometer of the public mood.

    Analysts say public anger and concern may spread beyond the construction firms to the government’s fire safety and building regulators and pressure is likely to build for extensive and open investigations into what happened.

    Traditionally, the Hong Kong government has staged open inquiries into large-scale tragedies, often headed by an independent judge.

    One comparison raised by experts is a commission of inquiry into a fire in a Kowloon commercial building that killed 41 people in 1996, a year before the handover of Hong Kong from Britain to China.

    That inquiry sparked new building and fire safety laws and regulations. But it may no longer be enough.

    “I believe we need to seriously review fire safety and site safety management across the entire industry, including government oversight,” said Chau Sze Kit, chairman of the Hong Kong Construction Industry Employees General Union.

  • Letters to the Editor | Nov. 27, 2025

    Letters to the Editor | Nov. 27, 2025

    What’s in your wallet?

    Are you experiencing the Donald Trump/JD Vance boom? Vance recently said, “It’s gonna take a little bit of time for every American to feel that economic boom which we really do believe is coming.” How long does “every American” need to wait? Do you know who doesn’t have to wait? Do you know who is feeling a boom you or I will never see? The Trump family.

    Since Trump has taken office, the family has made over a billion dollars. No waiting there. No deciding how they are going to pay bills. But the everyday American — who can’t afford rent, groceries, or healthcare — needs to wait.

    How many vacations have you taken since this regime took office? Vance has taken how many? Last I saw was eight. That’s almost one a month. He’s not waiting for a boom. Does this administration even know what affordability means?

    Trump and Vance imposed tariffs — “the most beautiful word” — that raised prices on everyday goods and services. Now they are retracting them to make life “affordable” again. That’s the only boom you and I will see. And they will expect you to be humble and ever grateful for their willingness to put out the very fire they started.

    This is your economy. This is your mess. This administration is so out of touch with the everyday Americans they swore to serve. They ran on making life affordable, and the only ones who seem to be able to afford basic life needs are they and their oligarch cronies.

    Ellen McGuigan, Clarks Summit

    . . .

    In 1992, James Carville coined the phrase, “It’s the economy, stupid.” It’s still a priority today, but Donald Trump’s solutions to the pesky economic challenges are little more than trumped-up pigs in a poke to sell us a bill of goods. Can’t buy a first home? How about a 50-year mortgage? Lower monthly payments, but pay no attention to the fact that banks will likely charge higher interest, the total cost will increase 86%, and the first 10 years of payments cover interest and no equity. Need affordable healthcare? The Affordable Care Act is now offering catastrophic coverage (plans once limited to people under 30). Lower monthly payments (sound familiar?) but with a whopping $10,000 deductible. It’s gonna cost ya! Chris Bond, a spokesperson for AHIP, an insurance lobbying firm, cautions that “catastrophic plans … are not a replacement for affordable comprehensive coverage.” And let’s not even get started on Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s “miasma theory,” his blast us back into the past approach to medicine that Amesh Adalja, of the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, said is “all just obfuscation to support his idea that vaccines are not valuable.” Pigs in a poke. A bill of goods. Don’t do us any favors. And the final insult? JD Vance, sensing Trump’s lame-duck status, is suddenly in the picture, all unctuous empathy, addressing our concerns about the high cost of living, assuring us, “We hear you,” and we just need to “have a little patience.” Yeah, right. They might hear us, but they are not listening. It’s still the economy, but it’s their lame brain “solutions” that are the epitome of stupid.

    Deborah DiMicco, Newtown

    Loss of HUD funding

    The announcement that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development will no longer fund permanent supportive housing is a disaster for homeless service providers like the Bethesda Project, Project HOME, and the women and men who live in HUD-supported rooms or apartments. The Bethesda Project operates 150 units of permanent, supportive housing for formerly homeless men and women. Most, if not all, of those units are supported by HUD subsidies that make up the difference between one-third of a resident’s income and the market rate for a permanent room or apartment. Absent the HUD subsidy, most residents cannot pay the market rate. Those residents will likely end up back on the streets of Philadelphia. This Trump administration policy is misguided, counterproductive, and stupid.

    Angelo Sgro, Philadelphia

    Restore viable vacancies

    In another world, the demolition of the former Admiral Court apartment building at 237 S. 48th St. would never have happened. A sturdy four-story apartment building with 46 units, in a city that is in need of affordable housing, should have been a prime target for rehabilitation and reuse. Instead, the building is lost. Even after a devastating fire that investigators are treating as arson, there was still enough of the structure left that this building could have been saved. Now, the neighborhood will get an empty lot to look at, despite pleas from neighbors and from a member of City Council to see this building put back into service.

    The current owners of Admiral Court also control 4710 Locust St., which is listed as having 56 apartments and has been vacant for many years. Hopefully, the city can intervene before another arson fire destroys this building, as well.

    Katherine Dowdell, Philadelphia

    No promises

    New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani met with President Donald Trump. I hope no one thinks Trump promised Mamdani anything. President Trump talked only in generalities.

    President Trump said he agrees that it would be great if Mamdani could make NYC more safe. He said it would be great if Mamdani could make things more affordable, and great if he could help the housing shortage. That means ab-so-lute-ly nothing. Trump just wished him well. President Trump did not promise to do or finance anything specific to help, for sure. Mayor-elect Mamdani’s methods may be way, way different from President Trump’s methods to help anything, and we will all wait with bated breath to see what the future brings.

    Also, Mamdani is not a dictator. He can only pass laws with the majority agreement of himself and of 51 city council members from the five boroughs. That has never even been mentioned. How will the 51 members vote?

    All President Trump really did was to say hello and good luck.

    David F. Lipton, Toms River

    Join the conversation: Send letters to letters@inquirer.com. Limit length to 150 words and include home address and day and evening phone number. Letters run in The Inquirer six days a week on the editorial pages and online.