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Letters to the Editor

Housing plan should consider preservation

I commend the City Council and Redevelopment Authority for their comprehensive plan to improve housing and neighborhoods, but they should augment it to include historic preservation. Rebuilding Altoona’s tax base should include a Historic Preservation Board; provide tax breaks for the restoration of properties; educate the community about federal tax credits and deductions; and partner with a nonprofit, such as The Blair County Historical Society, to accept historic easements. Are you tired of seeing historic properties bastardized? Beautiful old homes and businesses wrapped in ...

Redistricting ruling a blow to democracy

The announcement of the Supreme Court’s redistricting is a blow to our democracy. All that stands between us and tyranny are our laws and courts behaving in a non-partisan way to uphold these laws. This is a Supreme Court dominated by reactionary ideologues who allow their personal views to turn back time to a shameful period in our history when African American citizen’s right to vote was suppressed or denied. Passing the Voting Rights Act was a watershed moment, a cashing of our promissory note to fulfill the inalienable rights guaranteed to our citizens in the Declaration of ...

Climate movement needs your help

So, you are concerned about the Climate Crisis and are sure what to do about it. Know that you are not alone. Also know that the Climate Movement needs you, it needs everyone, to do everything we can to address this crisis. Here are some ideas: — Learn more about how our world is warming; the causes, consequences and actions that need to be taken to stop it. Start by visiting NASA’s website on climate. https://climate.nasa.gov — Talk about it, a lot, with friends, family, neighbors, everybody and anybody. — Get involved; join a climate group or two. Ask how you can help. ...

Dispose of all nuclear arsenals

According to my research, currently nine countries are in possession of nuclear weapons. These countries are Russia, U.S., China, France, United Kingdom, India, Pakistan, Israel and North Korea. But the U.S. and Israel are determined that Iran will never have one. The obvious reason, of course, is that they would use it against Israel. The common sense, fair solution to Iran is for all nine countries to give up their nuclear arsenal, thus making the entire world a much safer place. To expect Iran not to have a nuclear weapon, when nine other countries have them, would seem to leave ...

Wealth inequality at concerning levels

Wealth inequality in the United States has reached levels that should concern every American, regardless of political affiliation. While millions of working families struggle to afford housing, healthcare, childcare, and higher education, a small percentage of the population continues to accumulate enormous wealth at a historic pace. Hard work should provide stability and opportunity, yet many full-time workers are living paycheck to paycheck. At the same time, large corporations and the wealthiest Americans often benefit from tax loopholes and economic policies that widen the gap ...

Theft: Cowardice without character

Minnesota fraud is the visible tip of a much larger fraud iceberg. According to the GAO, federal fraud costs taxpayers between $233 billion and $521 billion annually — sums so enormous they exceed the yearly budgets of multiple Cabinet agencies combined. This is not simple waste or bureaucratic inefficiency; this is deliberate theft from hardworking Americans. The recent decision by the Trump administration to freeze $260 million in federal payments to Minnesota highlights just how serious the problem has become. Federal officials allege that fraudulent social service disbursements in ...