Contrasting Entrances in Allentown
Allentown resident Donald Cease draws attention to the sharp difference between the city’s main entry points. The new Downtown Allentown gateway arch gleams with modern design and lighting, signaling urban advancement to business district visitors. In stark contrast, the Basin Street underpass exposes rusted metal, decaying concrete, and persistent graffiti, often serving as the initial view for South Side arrivals. Cease calls for equal investment in all neighborhood pathways to uphold a unified city standard.
Donald Cease, Allentown
Call to Reject the SAVE Act
Bethlehem’s Gail Preuninger opposes the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, co-sponsored by Sen. Dave McCormick. The legislation mandates documents like passports or birth certificates for federal voter registration, despite noncitizen voting already being illegal and exceedingly rare, as confirmed by various studies including those from the prior administration. Preuninger warns it burdens eligible voters, including military families relocating, disaster survivors lacking papers, and women with name changes post-marriage.
Gail Preuninger, Bethlehem
Widespread Disgust with Government Operations
Martin F. Stockman III of Bethlehem identifies a shared American frustration with governmental inefficiency. Both major parties prioritize job security and media soundbites over public needs, fueling unprecedented litigation and partisan media propaganda. This dynamic, Stockman argues, fosters desires for authoritarian leadership and signals a loss of democratic focus.
Martin F. Stockman III, Bethlehem
TRUMPRx Falls Short on Prescription Savings
Maxatawny Township’s Bob McInerney challenges claims that the TRUMPRx website delivers the world’s lowest drug prices. For Farxiga, international options like PharmacyChecker.com offer 98 pills for $110 including delivery, versus TRUMPRx’s $182 for 30 pills without shipping details.
Bob McInerney, Maxatawny Township
Push for Civics Education in Schools
Upper Macungie Township resident Frank Simek advocates reviving civics and American history classes, once standard with hands-on elements like shadowing officials. He stresses that a republic demands informed, critically thinking citizens amid low voter turnout and campaign finance-driven elections focused on popularity over policy.
Frank Simek, Upper Macungie Township
Concerns Over Police Tactics
Nazareth’s Karl Schwartz questions aggressive policing where officers mask up, wield automatic weapons, and detain without identification. At 75 years old, he recalls no such norms and wonders why Republican elected officials tolerate it.
Karl Schwartz, Nazareth
Emoluments Violations Threaten Democracy
Bethlehem’s Richard Israel highlights constitutional breaches of the foreign emoluments clause, barring officeholders from foreign gifts without congressional approval. Post-reelection earnings exceed $1.4 billion, dwarfing median household income— including a $400 million jet from Qatar, $23 million from over 20 overseas licensing deals, cryptocurrency ventures, and a $2 billion UAE deposit tied to U.S. computer chip access. Israel contends such corruption undermines democratic trust, aiding autocratic shifts.
Richard Israel, Bethlehem
