Roses to citizens who are turning gripes into action
socks
Roses to citizens who are turning gripes into action
Editorial
Mercury
ROSES to citizens of the area for getting involved on issues that
affect
their property taxes instead of just complaining to friends and
neighbors.
Hundreds of area taxpayers are planning to join in an event in October
dubbed the "Harrisburg Tea Party." As many as 20,000 people from across
the
state are expected to converge on legislators Oct. 24 in support of
legislation proposed to eliminate school property taxes, according to
local
taxpayer organizations. Three area taxpayer groups are planning bus
trips
and car pooling to get residents to Harrisburg in force. Property taxes
have
hit many residents hard and some say they will lose their homes if it
doesn't
stop. The newest group of frustrated taxpayers to band together is in
Amity
Township, where the cost of building schools for an increasing
population
has driven up millage. The newly formed Daniel Boone Taxpayer
Association
has been lobbying for property reassessments in Berks County but is now
broadening its approach to work for tax reform on the state level.
Citizen
involvement requires a commitment of time and energy, but it results in
a
better informed group of people, and the pressure on state legislators
may
make a difference.
THORNS to those disgruntled parents and taxpayers in the Pottsgrove
School
District who are resorting to name calling or taunting of teachers
walking
the picket lines at Pottsgrove schools. While many may disagree with
the
decision of professionals, particularly teachers, to strike, there is
no
excuse for piling abuse on the individuals who are walking the picket
line.
This strike in particular seems to be generating more problems than we
have
seen in the past. Disagree with teachers' decision to strike. Write
letters
to the editor stating positions. Speak out at school board meetings.
But don't
shout from car windows or throw things at teachers on the picket
line.With
school out of session, taunting people and bullying is not the lesson
children should be getting.