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Opinion

Mamdani's victory strut Is premature

Editorials

Yes, Mayor Zohran Mamdani's socialist picks just knocked off some Democratic incumbents in New York City. They included surprising defeats, especially that of Rep. Adriano Espaillat, chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. Espaillat lost to Darializa Avila Chevalier, whose social media swims with past calls to abolish the police, free prisoners and stop deportations for any reason, presumably including murder. It's not like Espaillat's district was dominated by the young professionals who flocked to Mamdani. His electorate is 52% Hispanic and includes such non-hipster ...

‘40 acres and a mule’ — black reparation

Editorials

To the Editor: Have you ever heard the story of the phrase “40 acres and a mule?” Although I enjoy history, I couldn’t recall this story. This was the first attempt to provide a form of reparations to newly freed slaves after the Civil War. Astonishingly radical, it called for the federal government to confiscate 400,000 acres of private property from Confederate landowners and methodically redistribute it to former black slaves. How did this all come about? Gen. Wiliam T. Sherman and Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton met with 20 leaders of the black community, mostly Baptist ...

‘Top-notch’ officers’ lauded after flawless performance

Editorials

Anyone who ever has harbored the foolhardy notion of trying to smuggle an illegal substance or item into the Blair County Prison was dealt an “eye-opener” by way of the June 5 Altoona Mirror article “Warden commends work to halt smuggling.” The lesson was that, to be successful, it will take a plan much more sophisticated than the one hatched to “funnel” illegal items to an inmate who was at the Station Medical Center on Ninth Avenue in Altoona for an appointment — and that an even-more-sophisticated plan is likely to be doomed to failure, with additional criminal charges ...

Readers' opinions

Letters to the Editor

Yellowstone is world marvel and must-see destination To the Editor: I loved Rhonda Kelley’s story about Yellowstone. It is amazing. A few more things. What makes it so unique is, one of the world’s largest volcanoes is under it. The volcano powers the 10,000 hydrothermal features and more than half of the world’s geysers. Yellowstone is a high plateau in the heart of the Rockies. It’s surrounded by rugged peaks. In the winter cold air settles in the park and temperatures are possible of -40 degrees and lower. The park sits on the North American plate which is drifting ...

The hidden value of area senior centers

Editorials

The idea of a senior center can feel stuffy and old. It brings to mind bingo and bridge. It shouldn’t. A senior center can be like “Cheers,” the place where everyone knows your name. That’s a good thing in so many ways. Sure, it’s comforting. It feels like home — and that’s something that shouldn’t be undervalued. We all need to have relationships. For some seniors, their family members might have moved away. Friends have died. Health and mobility issues can make it harder to go places and do things. Senior centers can help maintain networks and keep routines. ...

Readers' opinions

Letters to the Editor

Independent voters not denied right to vote To the Editor: No, Mr. Ciecierski, it was not I that missed the point but you. I have the right to belong to a party I choose and support that party in an effort to bring its candidates to the ballot box. Sometimes I disagree with their points, much like one might disagree with a family member’s issue. But that does not permit me to enter my neighbor’s home and interfere with their choices, or would you think otherwise? You are not denied the right to vote, but if you choose not to participate in a party’s efforts, then why ...