Berks officials should pressure lawmakers on lack of budget

The failure of the Pennsylvania Legislature to adopt a state budget after more than 16 weeks is inexcusable and unacceptable. Berks County Community Foundation is in the process of publishing a series of articles called “Government Cuts, Local Impacts.”

Hospital charity costs are skyrocketing. Food banks are closing; people providing essential human services are being furloughed, and educational institutions are being forced to undertake expensive borrowings to continue operations.

Meanwhile, at least $2.5 billion in payments to our county is sitting in state coffers, unable to be disbursed to crucial service providers in the community. Last week officials in York County announced a decision to stop remitting funds to the commonwealth until a state budget is adopted. We commend this action and wonder what Berks officials will do to pressure a resolution to this ridiculous standoff.

Kevin K. Murphy President, Berks County Community Foundation

Dangerous driving spreading on roads throughout region

In recent weeks there have been several letters regarding motorists ignoring speed limits, stop signs and red lights and pointing out the desire for some drivers to tailgate. I have also noticed the decay of common courtesy on the roads, especially within the city limits of Reading.

How did this happen? Let’s look at the abundance of out-of-state license plates, especially from New York and New Jersey. The citizens of the city elected a mayor who is from New York. With so many residents relocating from there to our once great city, he has turned Reading into the sixth borough of New York.

We have slum lords buying up properties and putting multiple families in homes that they were not designed for. They bring multiple cars, taking up spaces. We have cars parked on corners so you can’t make a safe turn. Drivers stop in crosswalks, not allowing for safe pedestrian crossings. Drivers pull their vehicles beyond the intersection lines, not allowing buses or large trucks to turn safely. Drivers use turning lanes to pass cars traveling in the correct lane. People double-park in both lanes so no vehicle can pass.

Our roads look like we live in New York. Our city and county have been overrun with people from New York and New Jersey, and they have brought their horrible driving habits with them. Route 183 and West Buttonwood Street have become drag strips. Our once quiet city and county are becoming as obnoxious as New York City.

Eric Mazur Bern Township

Note the differences between Democrats and Republicans

There is a difference between Democrats and Republicans. Republicans don’t want to give free health care and other freebies to illegal immigrants. Neither do I. There is not one illegal immigrant who deserves anything. If they invaded another country they would be sent out.

I also don’t want my money going to woke overseas projects that Democrats want. President Donald Trump refuses to pay for these, and I agree.

Trump is trying to control the rioting in Democratic-controlled cities, which Democrats should be doing. So many of the 2020 riots were in Democratic cities. I have never seen such chaos by dangerous groups of thugs.

Democrats support cashless bail so the criminal goes right back on the street to commit crimes again.

The president cleaned up the slums in Washington, D.C., making it safe to walk the streets again. President Joe Biden did the opposite. He let criminals in at the border.

Yes, there is a big difference between the two parties.

Janet Spatz Sinking Spring

Can one expect enduring peace in troubled Mideast?

Once again a peace agreement between Israel and her many enemies is capturing worldwide acclaim and fanfare. Those supporting Israel and Hamas exerted much pressure and wrist-twisting to finally achieve this latest agreement. It appears to be a very uneven prisoner swap and ceasefire.

Ironically, neither warring party had representatives at the grand and formal ceremony in Egypt. A yet-to-be-determined multinational force is to oversee rebuilding in Gaza. Will rebuilding the physical somehow transform hardened hearts of perpetual hatred? Can one expect enduring peace with a party that is sworn to the other’s destruction?

Tragically, history and memories are being overlooked for this misguided fantasy of tranquility. How many times must this scene repeat before rational minds can reach a real and lasting deliberation?

Does anyone recall Israel’s evacuation from Gaza in August 2005? Israel was pressured to vacate by Western nations, especially the U.S. After 8,000 Israelis departed, some via force by their country’s own Army, productive businesses and flourishing greenhouses were destroyed by the Palestinians. Such actions should have clearly revealed to our gullible world the derangement of these fanatics.

That year God gave America a stern warning in the form of a destructive tempest named Katrina. The ancient prophet Joel warned against meddling with God’s chosen people, parting their land. Jesus is the prince of peace, and only he can produce real peace.

Larry D. Clauser Amity Township