Find and fine people who litter
It has become a very unsightly type of problem in the Lehigh Valley: Litter all over our roads! It takes away from our beautiful scenic roads and especially neighborhoods.
We need a program with a hotline where people can report people that litter. Use a license plate or any way of providing the identity of persons that litter. Fine those people a few hundred dollars and give the money to those who report littering.
Signs should be put up to warn people they will pay for litter. If it would be possible, maybe take fingerprints off some of the litter and charge the offenders the cost of doing the research to identify the litterer.
Some states you go through down south let you know in no uncertain terms that you do not want to litter in their countryside! I just came back from a small town in Canada. Their roads, country and city are impeccably clean from litter.
— Rudy Savelli, Allentown
Trump investigations were based on evidence
The evidence of our own eyes and ears — the pictures of cartons of files at Mar-a-Lago and audio of the phone call with the Georgia secretary of state seeking more votes — established a prima facie case for at least initiating a criminal investigation of Donald Trump.
Within hours of the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the Capitol, the Republican leaders of both the House and Senate, as well as such prominent senators as Lindsey Graham vigorously denounced Trump’s actions and assigned him responsibility, in effect indicting him for the insurrection.
Two grand juries found there was sufficient evidence to proceed with criminal prosecution of Trump. No viable evidence was produced to substantiate Trump’s repeated stentorian claims that he lost the 2020 presidential election because it was rigged.
And yet we now have a Republican-led Senate committee prosecuting, if only at the moment in the area of public opinion, the Trump prosecutor and, at its recent hearing, exhibiting belittling and boorish behavior in the process.
All I can say is, I would not buy a used car from a Republican senator.
— Edward J. Gallagher, Bethlehem
Brooks would fight against inane Trump ideas
A big reason Bethlehem Steel went under here is that it was landlocked. It had to transport raw material and finished product by expensive rail or truck compared with cheaper bigger loads of shipping by water.
Donald Trump wants to build a big steel plant in landlocked Iowa, which makes as much sense as his inane idea of injecting bleach to treat COVID. We’ll continue to have more of this absurd leadership with the support of Ryan Mackenzie in Congress. Bob Brooks will fight to check the dangers of Trump policy.
— Rick Kirkpatrick, Allentown
Brooks’ political policies would increase federal spending
I have observed many political campaigns. When I look at Bob Brooks’ background, extensive political platform and endorsements by prominent democratic socialists, I fear for the country if Mr. Brooks begins casting votes on national issues.
Our federal government is a large sprawling mass of employees and political appointees in approximately 400 agencies, sub agencies and bureaus. About one-third of the federal workforce is unionized. Any serious attempts at overhauling governmental operations to increase efficiency, reduce nonvalue-adding work, save tax dollars and increase accountability is sharply contested by those unions and their members.
Bob Brooks, a longtime government employee, union member and officer, would be unlikely to vote to cut any spending that affects government workers, no matter how justified and much closer the government gets to the fiscal cliff. Indeed, aside from a few social issues, virtually every proposal in Brooks’ platform calls for more federal spending, increased taxes or higher business costs.
Friends, I doubt that Bob Brooks ever heard of TINSTAAFL — There Is No Such Thing As A Free Lunch (every resource use has a cost). If elected, he would increase the large group of legislators who also never heard of it.
— James Largay, Upper Saucon Township
Expressive arts therapy can help treat mental health
When trauma strikes, words often fall short. Unspoken grief, post-traumatic stress disorder and deep-seated anxiety frequently lodge in parts of the brain beyond the reach of traditional talk therapy. This is where expressive arts therapy becomes a transformative force for healing in our community.
Expressive arts therapy, incorporating visual art, music, movement and drama into clinical practice, is far more than a creative pastime. Professionals holding a masters in expressive art therapy and counseling undergo rigorous clinical training, blending psychological theory with creative modalities to help survivors safely process complex trauma, rewire neural pathways and regain agency. By externalizing pain through creative mediums, individuals can communicate feelings that language fails to capture.
As mental health challenges continue to rise across the Lehigh Valley, expanding access to credentialed expressive arts therapists in local hospitals, schools and community health centers is essential. Recognizing expressive arts therapy as a vital, evidence-based pillar of trauma recovery will build a stronger, more resilient community. Our regional health systems must prioritize and integrate these specialized clinicians into holistic mental health care. Healing requires more than words, and it is time our healthcare approach reflects that truth.
— Wednesdae Reim Ifrach, Bethlehem
The writer is professor of clinical counseling and the program coordinator for the Moravian University’s masters in expressive art therapy and counseling program.
Contact your legislators to make kratom illegal
Kratom is being openly sold in vape shops and gas stations. This is a dangerous drug that is linked to addiction and even deaths. Although it is legal now, it should not be, and I urge you to become aware of this danger and contact our governor and urge legislation to make it illegal in Pennsylvania. The law is slow to catch up but lets make this happen now.
— Gene Morgan, North Whitehall Township
Election letters
Letters to the editor about candidates and issues in the Nov. 3 general election must be received by 10 a.m. Oct. 22. Election-related letters will not be published after Oct. 29.
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.