In response to Councilwoman Marie Mock’s Readers’ Forum article of Feb. 9, “Cancellation appalling,” it is unfortunate that the councilwoman has failed to recognize that with the Jan. 4 reorganization, it was thought that a new attitude and cooperative spirit would be present.

The cancellation resulted in all members being polled by phone as to whether the meeting should be canceled, considering another major storm was expected to hit the area.

I also talked with Acting City Manager Bruce Haselrig regarding the removal of snow from city streets. It was decided that department heads who normally attend council meetings should be free to attend their duties during the snow emergency.

Also, several citizens had signed up to speak before council, and it was decided to avoid having them travel in the event of the additional snow.

For Mrs. Mock to “scold” a majority of council for taking these factors into consideration is also appalling. City council for years has, when called upon, met without hesitation. The agenda for the canceled meeting had no final actions scheduled that would hinder or stop any city operations.

While Mrs. Mock had attempted to submit certain items for council’s consideration, she failed to submit the information as required, and unless the information was forthcoming at the meeting, no actions could have been legally taken.

No council member had any fear of traveling, but rather concerns for bringing out people and employees when it was possibly hazardous and whose time could be better utilized.

Jack Williams

Councilman, City of Johnstown



Haitians deserve, need our help

I’m only a senior in high school but even I can see that Haiti deserves the help America can provide. Before people make their biased opinions claiming “we have our own people who need help” perhaps they should do some research and study some of the photographed devastation from the earthquake.

I am disturbed that Americans would separate themselves from another country and act as if geography should be an issue.

We are all humans. We should not neglect them from what we can provide.

Yes, we have poor in our country, but being poor in America and being poor in Haiti are totally different. The Haitian people did not ask for this catastrophe.

We have choices and options in America. There are shelters and charities always looking out for the poor and homeless.

What do the Haitians have except an already poor country and now a natural disaster with nowhere to turn? I think we need to come together as people and not as separate countries. How would we feel if tomorrow a disaster struck us, and we read that America has enough money, it can help itself?

Think about it before you form an opinion. Are we all not equal?

Marlayna P. Wright

Seward



Can’t help thinking about injured deer

I hope someone can ease my mind. My friend told me that two deer come into her yard most mornings, and she noticed that both were injured. One had a bad leg and the other had more serious injuries that seemed be related to it being struck by a vehicle.

As the deer came to rest, the one was progressively weaker. She told me that this was so difficult to witness, so I told her to call the state game commission so the animal could be put out of its misery if the commission determined it to be as bad as she said.

She called me later, crying. She was told by the game commission to let nature take its course.

By law, her husband is not permitted to do the deed. We both feel so badly knowing that the deer will meet a painful death if a coyote gets to it and think that the husband’s way would be the most humane.

What is the role of the game commission? And is this fair to a person to watch a deer suffer? I hope someone can tell me the purpose of the game commission.

Who do you call when a deer is hit by a car or is suffering in your back yard?

Sue Renzi

Central City



Cooperation can save the steeples

It is nice to see Save Our Steeples and Bottle Works joining together for a concert at the former Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic Church to raise money for a study to preserve all the beautiful churches in Cambria City. The concert is from 3 to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets are available at Bottle Works and at the door for $20 for two or $12 for one.

The performers will be a collection of the finest talent in Johnstown. This is truly going to be a celebration of what this magnificent building can be used for, which, in this instance, is a performance hall. We don’t want to see these structures misused or demolished.

Everyone who was up in arms about the church closures should be in attendance at this concert or make a contribution to the cause. We had no control over the closures, but we certainly can have control over the fate of these buildings. This event is a step in their preservation, and we all should be supportive of this effort.

A big thank you goes out to the Rev. Alan Thomas of Resurrection parish. He sees the potential and appreciates the vision of Save Our Steeples.

As a thank-you gesture, Save Our Steeples is making a good-will donation to Resurrection parish to cover expenses for the building for February.

This is what cooperation is about. If everyone pulls together, it will be beneficial to all.

Dolores Horner

Johnstown



‘Golden door’ is not invitation to riches

The words etched in the base of the Statue of Liberty proudly proclaim:

“Give us your tired, your poor,

Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore – Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me.

I lift my lamp beside the golden door.”

The “golden door” is not an invitation for the world to cash in. Rather, it is a welcome to immigrants to seize the opportunity of freedom and make their dreams for a better life a reality.

Obviously, lobbyists representing multibillion-dollar enterprises have missed this meaning. They callously seek advantageous governance for the few, but at a cost to the many. How is this legal?

Try to influence a public official such as a judge or a police officer with “goodies” in exchange for a desired result, and, in most cases, you probably land in jail.

Why are elected public officials permitted to look the other way when they pass laws that benefit the lobbyists while accepting influences from the lobbyists?

Legal campaign contributions are one thing; lobbyists writing our legislation is quite another.

Mandatory sentences should be imposed against all forms of offering or accepting lobbying efforts. Only then will the promise of true freedom shine from the base and the torch of Lady Liberty.

Jerry Yahner

Ebensburg