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Opinion

Commissioners lack transparency

Letters to the Editor

In a Dec. 19, 2025, Mirror article, it was disclosed the county commissioners are close to signing an agreement for an as-yet unnamed piece of ground for a new prison. There has been much discussion recently, but as usual, no specifics from our commissioners. The question arises, why the secrecy? Why can the taxpayers not be informed where a potential $90-120 million of our money will be spent? I must argue again the many drawbacks to a location outside of the current location of the prison, not the least of which will be the increased issues of transportation from the prison to the ...

Ward credited with changing lives

Letters to the Editor

This is a follow up to the recent Altoona Mirror article: “Ward remembered for leadership, kindness to all.” In that wonderful article were several outside local businessmen paying tribute to G. Bill Ward. I would like to take you back to early October 1968, when I was discharged from the U.S. Navy, and returned to Hollidaysburg to join my wife, Thelma, and 1-year-old daughter, Lisa. My job search took me to Ward Trucking. I interviewed with W. W. Ward, chairman of the board, and President G. Bill Ward. These were two of the finest gentlemen I had ever met. I was so impressed ...

Where are the lower food, drug prices?

Letters to the Editor

So Donald Trump’s pitch for affordability (I’m sure the word sent his billionaire buddies rushing for a dictionary) lasted all of about a week before he labeled it a “Democrat hoax.” A hoax? Really? Americans not heavily invested in crypto would wholeheartedly disagree. As a presidential candidate, Donald Trump didn’t think it was a hoax when he needed votes and made wild promises that absolutely nobody with a functioning BS detector would believe. Like these: “Starting the day I take the oath of office, I will rapidly drive prices down and we will make America affordable ...

City right to restore blighted lots

Editorials

To anyone who might be thinking that Altoona’s new blighted-property rehabilitation program is but a threat upon which the city would not follow up with substantive action, the best advice now must be “think again.” The city Redevelopment Authority’s already initiated steps against a dilapidated house in the 1800 block of Fifth Avenue is indicative of a solid commitment by the city and its agencies to make good on the program’s availability, legal options and overall promise. No matter how and when that effort ultimately concludes regarding the Fifth Avenue property, the ...

Trump policies help lower-income families

Opinion

During President Donald Trump’s first term (Trump 1.0), his economic policies set the stage for higher wages and more job opportunities for working people, especially low- and middle-income families. Here is a quick review. First, the Tax Cut and Jobs Act of 2017 cut the Federal Income Taxes of low- and middle-income families by about $2,000. (Data source: public statement from former Congressman Bill Shuster). Second, the legislation reduced the Corporate Income Tax rate from 34% to 21%. The lost tax revenue was small but had a large silver lining – it provided a strong ...

Christians don’t hate others

Letters to the Editor

There have been letters in the Mirror praising Charlie Kirk with one comparing Kirk to Jesus Christ, saying Kirk spread the words of Jesus Christ across America. I could not find in my Bible where Jesus Christ spread words of hatred, like Kirk did. Did Kirk not spread words of hatred against Jews, Blacks, Hispanics, Muslims, gays, etc? The only group he missed was Native Americans. Kirk was a throwback to very dark days in America, where those who Kirk said, if you don’t look, act, talk or think like me, you don’t belong. A letter writer said Sept. 10, 2025, will live in infamy. ...