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Housing safety must take priority

Some Altoona residents might think that the city is being harsh in ordering that two recovery homes be closed because the operator opened the facilities prior to them having passed life-safety inspections that are the responsibility of the Fire and Codes departments. The fact that the homes are a worthy and needed mission here does not override the necessity that the homes be in full compliance with city regulations aimed at protecting the lives and well-being of those whom the homes serve. The fact that the homes are a worthy and needed mission must not ignore the safety and ...

Vaccinations should not be political

COVID-19, beyond sickening many millions of people in this country and, in fact, worldwide, as well as exacting a heavy death toll, greatly ramped up a broad debate about the safety of vaccines, including those developed to try to end the pandemic. That safety debate continues today, despite the successes and knowledge that have emanated from medical science’s battle against the coronavirus. Recent years seem to have verified that as long as mankind exists, some skepticism about vaccine safety will continue to walk side by side with the complete confidence that others hold in regard ...

Taxpayers lose when repairs stall

Blair County Commissioner Laura Burke voiced an interesting point the other day when commenting on the newly approved third phase of the courthouse roofing project. It was a noteworthy point for any county resident who pays county property taxes — especially the longtime taxpayers who recall politicians’ claims, virtually year after year, of meeting their fiscal responsibilities and in particular, their talent for avoiding tax increases. However, rather than being elated about such taxpayer-friendly claims, whether accurate or not-so-accurate, taxpayers need to focus on a fact ...

Frustration felt with power shift

I write as a deeply concerned citizen who is increasingly frustrated by what appears to be a sustained abdication of constitutional responsibility by both Congress and the Supreme Court in favor of an ever-expanding executive branch. The Constitution was designed around a careful balance of powers. Congress was vested with the authority to legislate, appropriate funds and conduct oversight. The Judiciary was entrusted with interpreting the law and serving as a check on unconstitutional action. Yet in practice, both branches seem increasingly willing to defer to executive authority ...

PIT count of homeless misleading

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s annual, nationwide Point-in-Time (PIT) count of homeless people is aimed at “getting a handle” on the scope of homelessness in this country. However, that task this month — conducted, for example, in Blair County on Jan. 21 — can best be categorized as barely meaningful. How can a meaningful count be carried out during a miserable-weather month like this month has been? Homeless people, more visible to others when better weather conditions exist, have resorted to whatever means they have been able to find to protect ...

Restoring Gable’s worth the effort

While it is far-fetched to even be thinking in the following way, the main point of that thought process has a worthy objective behind it for the city of Altoona. Here goes: How wonderful it would be if some Altoona lottery player were to win a hundreds-of-millions or a billion-dollar Powerball or Mega Millions jackpot and decide to do something special and great for this wonderful city? Some people also might wonder whether there might be enough wealth in and around the city whereby a number of individuals or entities might be willing and able to come forward to make possible the ...