Pedestrians at risk from e-scooters
In a recent opinion piece (“The e-scooter boom is putting kids at risk,” July 17), the writer details the growing number of injuries and deaths among teens who ride e-scooters and e-bikes, but doesn’t mention the danger these motorized vehicles pose to pedestrians. On Hamilton Street in downtown Allentown, it’s become common to see e-scooters and e-bikes on the sidewalks, maneuvering among walkers and fixed obstacles like trees, light poles and signs. They are a menace, not only to their riders but to the people who are using the sidewalks properly, namely, to walk.
It seems only a matter of time before a collision between one of these riders and a pedestrian occurs, causing potentially serious injuries or a death. As someone who walks Hamilton nearly every day, I appreciate the many improvements and conveniences that have made downtown a better place to live and work. E-scooters and e-bikes on the sidewalks are a detriment to this improved quality of life. The business community and our city leaders need to take a hard look at this problem and find a way to keep our sidewalks safe for pedestrians.
— Joseph Skrapits, Allentown
Raise bank interest rates
Here are two things we could do to help average Americans.
Raise bank interest rates on savings accounts, which have been insanely low for decades. Does anyone remember the 1970s, when depositors got 5% interest on savings accounts at a bank? Today they are lucky if they get .01%. Does anyone remember when the banking industry was bailed out by the government? We the depositors keep paying for the banks’ bad investments while they just keep making the same type of bad investments and costing us more. This is not how banking is supposed to work. Depositors are supposed to get a good return interest rate not have the banks constantly increase fees, costing us more and giving us less.
Second, raise Social Security payments to a livable wage for everyone in the program. Too many people can’t live on the wages they make when working, cutting that amount makes retirement entirely unlivable.
— Michael Walter, North Whitehall Township
Wealth tax an unfair burden
For many years I worked to better myself and also save for retirement, keeping in mind the possibility that Social Security could be gone or cut. I made sacrifices along the way. Now with the real possibility Social Security payments could be cut, Lehigh County Controller Mark Pinsley has proposed a wealth tax. Pinsley seems to think I should once again be taxed on my money when every tax season I already pay taxes on dividends and capital gains. Why should I be punished for those who choose not to make more of an effort or sacrifices along the way? I am sick and tired of being told I need to take care of the less fortunate. They had just as much opportunity as I did. Leave my retirement money alone.
— Keith McDermott, Alburtis
Easton tradition should be honored
As someone whose family has long contributed to Easton’s historical storytelling, I was concerned to see the Sigal Museum describe Robert Levers’ 1776 reading of the Declaration of Independence as a “family myth.” That phrasing dismisses a tradition that shaped Heritage Day for decades. My parents, Evelyn Gulick and Charles Gulick, co‑wrote Easton’s 1976 Bicentennial Pageant using sources such as A.D. Chidsey’s book “A Frontier Village,” which the museum still sells. They worked with Levers’ descendants and documented the tradition. In 1981, my mother, then executive director of the Downtown Improvement Group, wrote to John Levers to thank him for his reading and affirm the family’s role. Historical interpretation evolves, but long-standing traditions deserve careful handling. The discussion of Levers’ role in history could have been handled more inclusively by presenting new scholarship alongside the traditional interpretation and including descendants and local historians. Easton’s traditions deserve stewardship that respects emerging research and the families who preserved our heritage.
— Angel Gulick, Easton
Hospital staff deserves thanks
No one wants to be in the hospital. I am grateful, however, to the nursing staff at St. Luke’s Hospital-Allentown and especially to physician assistant Natalie Piger. Every day Natalie came to see me and she ordered my care. I am especially grateful to her.
— David A. Swartz, Allentown
Graphic has geographic errors
I appreciate the Morning Call’s large articles on American history during this time of celebration.
However, the article “On the Move” in the July 13 edition, while attempting to show the growth of our nation, includes errors, odd exclusions and unusual opinions.
The errors include a map putting five islands in the Caribbean on the continent of South America. The odd exclusions include no mention of the District of Columbia, a place seeking statehood.
One unusual opinion, that may be considered humorous, is that the California writer featured as important the claim of California independence in 1846, an event that lasted less than a month. What happened then was that some American settlers declared their independence from Mexico, two months after the United States had already declared war against Mexico.
More troubling is the opinion that there is little interest in Puerto Rico becoming a state, even though it voted to become one, because of its “high unemployment and debt.” Puerto Ricans have given their lives for American wars. Opposition to its statehood may be racial prejudice against the Hispanic identity of its people.
— Richard Taylor, Easton
The Morning Call publishes letters from readers online and in print several times a week. Submit a letter to the editor at letters@mcall.com. The views expressed in this piece are those of its individual author(s), and should not be interpreted as reflecting the views of this publication.