Letters: Politicians attempt to cherry-pick rights; Say no to plastic bags and straws
Politicians attempt to cherry-pick rights
Congressman Fred Keller in his newsletter from the week of Jan. 10 addressing vaccination mandates being heard by the Supreme Court: “I am hopeful the Court will rule in favor of our Constitution and affirm that Americans have the right to make health care decisions for themselves, free from government coercion.”
The irony of his comments is laughable when I consider the assault on a woman’s right to make her own reproductive choices. We either have rights or we don’t ... politicians can’t cherry-pick the ones we get or don’t get. How is that justifiable?
Say no to plastic bags and straws
I am a grandmother living in Patton Township, and here is why I am happy to refuse plastic bags and straws:
I know that I am not responsible for the beached whale that died with its stomach full of plastic trash.
I know that the pain of the sea turtle with a plastic straw caught in its nose was not my fault.
I know that I did not support an industry whose radioactive frackwater ends up de-icing and contaminating our roads.
I know that I am not increasing the demand for plastics that is spurring the development of yet another plant in Pennsylvania that turns fracked natural gas into the nurdles that this plastic trash is made of.
I know that I am not increasing the number of missed school days of poor children affected by asthma in places where the air is contaminated by plastic trash burned to make energy from waste.
I know that I need to be thankful that I live in Centre County, where our leaders are showing the political will to reduce plastic trash and set an example for other communities in the commonwealth to follow.
Please join me and just say no to plastic bags and straws — and let’s make sure we’re leaving our children and grandchildren a world they can live in safely.
Focus on real community needs in 2022
In 2022, State College absolutely needs another student housing complex and a casino in the mall. It absolutely does not need an additional homeless shelter or affordable housing or emergency services especially when the temperatures dip below 10 degrees F with a wind chill of minus zero. Then the families who are struggling can find refuge in the new student housing and/or the casino instead a sheltering in their car outside a Sheetz because they can’t afford a hotel room and there is literally no room at the limited shelters State College can support. It is long past time for local community leaders to realize that behaving like ostriches and burying their heads in the sand does not make these problems go away. In 2022 let’s focus on the real community needs, not on the pocket-lining nonsense.
New PSU building a ‘looming eyesore’
The exterior rendering of the proposed Liberal Arts Research and Teaching Building, which appeared in Tuesday’s CDT, seems to herald yet another unfortunate example of the kind of bleak architectural style that Penn State now apparently favors.
The university, and the architects associated with this project, have obviously forgotten that a meaningful part of a student’s education is the inspirational nature of its architecture and ambiance. And it’s sadly ironic that this characterless, utilitarian structure is meant to house faculties associated with the heart of the humanities on campus.
The “design is subject to change,” according to the caption that accompanied the rendering, “as it still requires future board approval.” So perhaps it is not too late for someone in authority to take a more informed look at this looming eyesore and call a halt to its present configuration.
This story was originally published January 14, 2022 at 5:00 AM.