Submitted by Readers
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Considering the many pressing issues in our town, I feel almost foolish writing about this issue, but I’m sick and tired of being forced to accept indecent exposure as a form of style.
Additionally, these same individuals consistently crowd the exits at a Moxham convenience store like it is some sort of hangout.
A few days ago in this store I was forced to look at a partially exposed buttock and the rest of that area was covered only by underwear. Is this not a crime? I mean, I watched a 6-year-old girl walk in the door and stop as she was shocked to see this exposure at eye-level.
If it were my child, I would have been enraged.
Some people say this is fashion. I say it is a total lack of respect for society. How can these individuals feel it is OK to expose themselves to children and adults alike? Is there no shame?
I’m certain there are indecent-exposure laws prohibiting such behaviors. I have read about indecent-exposure charges being filed across our country to curb this disrespectful behavior. It has been attributed to a specific race, but I have seen all races doing this.
I pray our law-enforcement officials start taking this issue seriously and arrest these brazen criminals. Our society can do without exposed buttocks, and our children deserve better examples.
Matthew S. Armbruster
Johnstown
Name has changed, but vote is the same
Mark Critz was elected to fill a vacant U.S. House seat after running a “blue-dog platform” that no doubt attracted many votes from registered Democrats who are disillusioned by the direction that the legislative and executive branch leadership has chosen for this country.
But don’t be fooled by Critz’s declarations of conservative democratic principles.
A quick check of his record (http://re-publicanwhip.house.gov/You Cut/week8.htm) will show that he votes with the current policy agenda and along party lines, as did his predecessor.
There’s a new name on the door, but the vote remains the same on the floor – and it probably doesn’t represent your viewpoint.
Robert Troxell
Johnstown
30 years later, city’s in the same funk
For more than 30 years, this city has been in distressed status. That is three decades.
While I was no fan of U.S. Rep. Jack Murtha, I have to admit that he did bring a lot of union jobs to the area.
So why hasn’t Johnstown grown?
The infrastructure is in shambles. The morale of the police department has to be low, because officers’ jobs are uncertain.
For 30 years, city council has done nothing. Members talk about not having money, but we have all this money coming in during the summer from tourists, and we get state and federal funds that go to help cities such as Johnstown.
Where does it go?
Go into any neighborhood and look at the weeds, trash, the welfare recipients and the Section 8 housing. Johnstown’s neighborhoods are falling apart, just like that downtown parking garage did.
Check out the sidewalks, in front of your house and in the downtown.
Think about what happened with the Johnstown Chiefs, then think about our city government.
In every election, you see smiling candidates saying all kinds of bull.
It’s time to clean house and elect people who really care about our city and our neighborhoods.
We need new ideas. We need a new city council.
Ron Marol
Moxham
Waitresses, waiters depend on your tips
I understand that the economy hasn’t been the greatest lately; however, I don’t think everyone realizes that many waitresses and waiters are paid only $2.83 an hour.
Employers expect the wait help to earn the rest of their hourly wages through tips.
Therefore, if you go to restaurants and fail to tip the help, they’re actually losing money because they are not earning the minimum wage in some cases. These same waitresses and waiters are assigned only a certain number of tables, and when they are stiffed, they are basically working for free.
I am a waitress and have not only been stiffed, but have even been yelled at concerning food I have not prepared. I always feel bad if my customers don’t get their meals as requested.
People are just plain mean sometimes.
Waitresses work hard and are on their feet for a shift. A respectable tip (gratuities) around 20 percent is appropriate if the wait help provides acceptable service.
Erica J. Floyd
Johnstown
