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Federal gas tax holiday a mistake

America’s motorists and commercial drivers do not need the three-month federal gasoline and diesel taxes “holiday” proposed by President Joe Biden. The short tax reprieve could do more harm than good. It is not difficult to understand why. The price of fuel is built on supply and demand. Generally, if there is a decline in supply, the price increases, encouraging motorists to conserve. If demand decreases significantly, the price, under normal economic circumstances, drops. With gasoline prices hovering at just below, at or slightly above $5 a gallon, the 18-cent-a-gallon ...

Don’t take libraries for granted

More than a month has passed since the Altoona Area Public Library celebrated its 95th anniversary and launched its full reopening after two years of challenges stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic and, amid that medical crisis, having suffered extensive damage from a construction accident that resulted in interior flooding. However, May 11, the day of the celebration, did not end “Anniversary Observance 95,” since that number will continue to be a source of jubilation and triumph for this great community resource until next May, when “95” gives way to “96.” Whatever the ...

Our view: Public dollars should always be in full view

What follows has nothing to do with any current Altoona Area School District administrator or school board member. However, what happened with the Altoona board and district administrators of about 50 years ago remains as relevant and instructive today for any governmental entity, agency, group, contractor or individual spending public dollars as it was back then. Let us take a brief trek back into history to grasp some understanding of what should exist today on one front, but on that front apparently is somewhat lacking. We will reveal up front that this editorial ultimately ...

Digesting Altoona’s crime report

There is much to like regarding the 2021 crime report issued by Altoona Police Chief Joe Merrill at a City Council meeting Monday. Unfortunately, there are some things not to like, although not nearly as many as some communities of Altoona’s size, in Pennsylvania and elsewhere, are encountering. Merrill was right in not trying to portray the report as a panacea, but at the same time there are bragging rights of which our city residents can be abundantly proud. Nevertheless, the bottom line is that there is room for improvement in the city’s crime picture, and the city as a ...

Fireworks limitations reasonable

As we approach the Independence Day holiday — which this year creates a three-day weekend because of July 4 falling on a Monday — we approach a time that many look forward to, but certain others dread. It’s not because of the celebration of America, it’s because of the method of the celebration of America — mainly fireworks. For many, fireworks are a fun tradition, whether setting off their own or watching a professional display. But for others, fireworks are at best an inconvenience and at worst a legitimate hazard. The inconvenience comes from those with small ...

Schools must remain transparent

With people of the United States still feeling shock and grief over the massacre of 19 children and two teachers in Uvalde, Texas, last month, officials of school districts across this country have embarked once again on the task of assessing security at their respective educational facilities and regarding students’ participation in various activities. While students and teachers get a break from what often is referred to as the classroom grind, not so for administrators and school boards, both of whom are tasked with assessing what went right and what went wrong during the just ...