Letters: Be smart — wear a mask; Benninghoff can work to heal unrightable wrongs

Be smart — wear a mask

While visiting a local store, I was amazed to see people, including families, not wearing face masks. Notices were placed on all the doors, requiring face masks. I asked an associate weren’t people supposed to be wearing masks and was told, associates were not permitted to ask individuals to wear masks. We see signs on other stores, “No shoes, no shirts, no service.” That is enforced? Out of respect for you, I wear a mask, out of respect for me, you wear a mask. Look, no one likes wearing a mask. However, wearing one just might keep everyone safe. Isn’t a human life more important? Do we want to see numbers of cases rise like they are doing in many states? Let’s be smart. Wear a mask!

Benninghoff can work to heal unrightable wrongs

Last year, Rep. Summer Lee (D- 34) and other members of the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus put forward significant police reform bills that would protect all citizens. Sadly, the Republican leadership let them die in the Judiciary Committee. Today, as newly elected House Majority Leader, Kerry Benninghoff (R-171) has the opportunity to make sure that his power is matched by his responsibility to all Pennsylvanians.

These bills limit the use of deadly force, create oversight and investigative powers into incidents of police officers’ use of force and the ability to certify or decertify officers. They require law enforcement to keep all criminal, civil and ethics substantiated complaints, and the reason surrounding officer separations. Another provides PTSD support for officers involved in these incidents.

They are pro-community, pro-liberty, pro-justice and pro-security in the truest senses of the words. They are not anti-police.

Two bills passed on Thursday. But there are more.

Rep. Benninghoff has the chance to fortify a bipartisan coalition, round up the votes from his caucus and vote yes. Imagine if this were his first major legislative accomplishment as Majority Leader. At a time when the calls of justice are so loud, so clear and chanted by so many, he could take us on a path that honors the lives of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Osaze Osagie and too many other stolen black lives. He can work to heal unrightable wrongs.

Do the right thing Rep. Benninghoff. Pass these bills.

Chicken controversy speaks to bigger problem in township

The recent fuss over backyard chickens, and the powerlessness of the township supervisors to stop punitive fines against a girl that simply wants to keep her pet chickens, should leave folks scratching their heads. It seems pretty straightforward: Hold off on the fines until the township can review the ordinance. After all, backyard chickens have spread all over the United States; it’s not a new idea.

The controversy speaks to a bigger problem in College Township: local control and our form of government. In 1976, the township moved to a strong council manager system and gave up democratic control. In other words, the manager, not our elected officials, has almost all of the administrative control. When supervisors say they can’t decide whether ordinances are enforced, they mean it. In addition, unlike State College Borough and Ferguson Township, College Township does not have a Home Rule Charter, meaning we have far less local control and power to legislate.

That may be the letter of how our township government functions, but the supervisors should do what’s right and make clear they stand opposed to enforcing the ordinance until they have a chance to act. In the meantime, College Township residents should take a long, hard look at whether it’s time for our township — which has grown a lot and is still growing rapidly — to have more local control.