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Letters to the Editor

Other prison options must be considered

I am writing to oppose the recent move by the majority of commissioners to acquire the land now owned by the Alto Rest Cemetery Association through eminent domain. I recently drove by the old prison. I am curious if the board has requested an RFP to demolish the original portion of the prison, then demolish the county/borough building adjacent to that structure, and acquire the three structures that remain on the prison side of the block. I observed that one of the three additional houses appeared to be vacant. I think this would leave the space required to construct a two- or ...

Power to change found in ballot box

Last night sitting and listening to the news where President Donald Trump and Elon Musk are indiscriminately closing critical agencies, laying off valuable federal workers and curtailing the ability of agencies to monitor illegal actions within the government and the public, my wife frustratingly asked me, “What can we, as average citizens, do to prevent these tragic actions from happening?” That similar question is on the minds of all U.S. citizens who fear the direction this Trump regime is taking us. These concerned citizens are not only Kamala Harris supporters, but are many ...

Tax breaks to wealthy won’t be magic fix

Republican economic dogma suggests, erroneously, that the doling of monies in the form of tax breaks to the wealthy will magically flow downhill to the commoners. The Democrats believe that tax breaks to the downtrodden are the answer to economic stimulation. Go ask a plumber what magically flows downhill and then ask a farmer what rises to the top. “Good gravy” we all know how a pyramid scheme works. A poor man with a pocket full of cash is going to buy a new sofa or refrigerator, etc. A rich man will deposit his endowment in the bank. Doesn’t that just make sense? Trump ...

Elected officials must remember the people

Our elected representatives need to stand up for the people who elected them. Our system of government is to remain a balance of power. We need them to protect our democracy and our democratic principles, not blindly support an administration bent on undoing the laws and safeguards that are in place. Elected representatives should protect the rights of all people to have appropriate health care, protect Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, protect the voting rights of all people and ensure a fair election process, work to ensure that capable, know­ledgeable people lead our ...

Spruce Creek access should be reinstated

For 30 years beginning around 1950, Colerain State Park along Spruce Creek was my family’s favorite picnic area. It was clearly marked and maintained as Commonwealth property. Private cottages were along the Route 45 side. The land on the Rothrock Forest side of the stream was public. On hot summer days, the park was full of families enjoying the cool rustic beauty and cold creek water. Picnic tables, pavilions, restrooms, grounds upkeep, etc., were maintained by public employees. A ranger station was in the park. There were two swimming areas: a deep one downstream with a sandy ...

Musk and Trump on the wrong path

Today, March 5, I just finished reading the article that the “right” Altoona Mirror on Page A5 on DOGE’s planned closing of many federal offices in Pennsylvania, including the IRS office in Altoona and other offices in State College and others throughout the state. These two men, President Elon Musk and his assistant Donald Trump, are leading our state and country on a path to authoritarian rule, where only the multimillionaires and billionaires will be in complete control of our country, our lives and our livelihood. They are removing government agencies and employees who are ...