Letters: Absence of integrity; Problems with short-term rental program

Absence of integrity

Have Republicans abandoned any semblance of integrity?

Glenn Thompson lacks integrity. Our congressman attended his son’s same-sex wedding, announcing that he was thrilled to welcome his new son-in-law, even though three days earlier he voted against a bill to guarantee marriage equality. Supporting the right of sexual preference in one breath, then voting against it to enhance his political standing shows us just how unprincipled Glenn Thompson really is.

Doug Mastriano is another who lacks integrity. The website Gab.com, managed by Andrew Torba, is a haven for neo-Nazis and anti-Semites. Its postings spawned the 2018 Tree of Life shootings. Any respectable gubernatorial candidate would avoid such an association. But Doug Mastriano hired Torba in April, paying him $5,000 for consulting services. Fishing for votes in such a cesspool reflects a total lack of morals and integrity.

Jenna Ellis, Mastriano’s senior legal advisor, also lacks integrity. Her involvement in the attempted coup to overthrow Biden’s victory should be enough for a candidate to distance himself from her but, of course, Mastriano himself played a role in the attempted coup.

After opposing Mastriano before the May primaries, many GOP officials now enthusiastically support his candidacy. National Committeeman Andy Reilly says, “You have to support a team member.”

No, you don’t!

If a member of your team is a detriment to our democracy, you oppose that team member — if you value integrity and honor. Placing party ahead of the state and its people shows a collective lack of integrity.

Problems with short-term rental program

I pointed out a few problems with the Short-Term Rental License Program the Borough is attempting to implement, along with the Borough ordinance (section 19-501) that states: “Under no circumstances shall home occupations include the following: Tourist homes.” The Borough became evasive and I felt they called me (paraphrased) a bigot (i.e.: my opinion may be discriminatory). In support of their position they stated that they rely upon nonexistent case law. I replied with various case law, statutes and also pointed out that the license program is a complex multi-party agreement with some potential problems. The Borough appears to be attempting to take existing rights away from bed-and-breakfast establishments and taking existing rights away from family neighborhoods while at the same time giving new rights to faceless corporate entities. I thought about attending the Borough Council meeting on Monday on related issues, but the Borough’s evasiveness does not appeal to me and they seem to listen but not hear. Calling someone a bigot is the new form of McCarthyism to shut someone down and make them go away. Should the Borough want to hear, then there are plenty of families and legitimate B&B owners with vested interests in the subject that have meaningful and real objections to the mentioned program.