— I am dismayed and outraged by the decision to close SCI-Cresson and the back-door antics in which the decision was passed down and delivered to the 524 employees who have provided their dedicated service. I hope local taxpayers realize what a travesty this is.

Employees were informed of the closing via local news media. It happened while they were at home with their families or perhaps while working a shift at the very prison that is closing. What a way to learn that your career – and loyal service – is potentially coming to an end.

I would also like to point out that many of these employees are veterans who served our country both at home and abroad. We are always talking about honoring our vets. Is this how we do it? By dismissing them via news broadcasts?

As already pointed out by many, this is one of the few big employers in our area and the prison employs a lot of local people.

The statement that closing SCI-Cresson “should save taxpayers money” is no comfort to me. Nor should it be to the local business owners and contractors.

Employees at SCI-Cresson are people who use businesses in our towns. This will have a long-term negative economic impact on all of us.

I hope we are not going to sit back and watch this happen to our people, in our town.

Jennifer Spielvogle

Loretto



Flying unlighted flag in dark disrespectful

I leave my home at 4:30 a.m. to go to work, so there are still a few hours before daylight. Along the way, there are at least a dozen homes (these are the ones I can see; I’m sure there are more) plus small businesses and organizations, a fire hall, a borough building, a VFW, and even the U.S. Post Office flying the American flag in the dark.

A lightbulb hanging on a side of a building or a streetlight 30 to 40 feet away does not constitute illuminating the flag.

I challenge all who read this to speak up. Do not turn away and pretend you did not see it. Flying our flag is an honor and a privilege, and that honor and privilege comes with responsibility.

Almost everyone I know has either had or has someone serving in the military. The price so you and I have the privilege of flying the flag has been and continues to be extremely high. Show respect.

Lawrence Behe

Lilly



Sewage complainers receive sweet deals

As United Steelworkers local president and an employee of the Johnstown Redevelopment Authority, it’s my job to see that union employees are treated fairly, including those locked-out workers at the downtown sewage office.

(We are employees of RDA because of a successorship clause in our contract. The city of Johnstown is just a mechanism for payments.)

We at the sewage plant continue to receive complaints in reference to billing mistakes, and complaints that nonunion employees are not answering phones.

I’ve had several people tell me they have called the sewage office because their bills were incorrect and no one answered the phones. So they tell me they went to the office, explained their problems and  replacement employees simply deleted the bills and started them out at zero.

Sweet deal, I’d say.

As employees, we have to do the best we can with what management gives us to work with, but what do you do when equipment just doesn’t work or when “the dog don’t hunt”?

We have to be fair to management also, so what I would like to see done is to have a survey of the taxpayers on how they feel about the new software system.

Also, anyone with outrageous bills, please send me a copy (attention USW President Craig Cernic at 519 Somerset St., Johnstown, Pa. 15901). Please cross out any personal information.

I believe in being fair, but the taxpayers are the ones who suffer. Maybe the Johnstown Redevelopment Authority board needs new leadership, and maybe that leader is Mark Pasquerilla.

Craig Cernic

Johnstown



Rothfus’ flood-aid vote was heartless

Newly seated U.S. Rep. Keith Rothfus doesn’t get it. Johnstown has been flooded three times, and has received federal assistance after each one.

How could he vote “no” for aid to Hurricane Sandy victims? For our neighbors in New Jersey and New York? Rep. Jack Murtha would never have voted against aid for flood victims. That’s just mean.

Rothfus doesn’t deserve to be in Congress. He lacks empathy for others.

Dan Dougherty

Queens, N.Y., formerly of Upper Yoder Township



Tax billing change causes snafu

Why has the city changed where taxes are paid and were receipts come from?

I paid my taxes at the office and was told I needed a self-addressed envelope to get a receipt. I did that and got my bill back with a receipt for a person on Daniel Street.

Do I have to present another envelope to get my receipt? Why is the city not taking care of this? Don’t we need the jobs here?

I wonder whether anyone else has had this problem.

Mary Jane Woods

Johnstown

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