School district realignment could still be done
East Penn School District recently paused its proposed K-8 realignment since estimates show it would require the maximum property tax increases allowed under Act 1 for many years, even without making improvements to Emmaus High School.
I foresaw precisely this in a note to the school board in October 2023 and with my public comments at its April 2024 meeting. Later that spring, I described Upper Merion’s eight-year preconstruction financial planning that allowed that district to build a new high school. About a decade ago, I advised East Penn to preserve about $6 million of expiring debt service payments, which could be useful now. Sadly, they didn’t listen.
Fortunately, there still may be a way to preserve the K-8 realignment plan with most of its beneficial features. My plan would also allow flexibility in case enrollment drops 10%, as suggested recently by demographers.
First, convert Lower Macungie Middle School grades 7-8 on a slightly reduced scale. Then, make Eyer grades 5-6, without any expansion, with the overflow going to Shoemaker, located on the same campus.
This will free space for changing needs in all the lower elementary schools while leaving some funding for high school improvements.
Ted Dobracki
Emmaus
Mackenzie should stand up for his constituents
The government has shut down after Republicans in Congress refused to permanently extend health care tax credits that make Affordable Care Act health insurance plans more affordable for working families. Now Rep. Mackenzie’s constituents are suffering the consequences.
I am a home care worker who relies on the ACA. I pay $450/month, the top end of what I can afford on my income. If premiums go up, I’ll be forced to downgrade my plan to something I can afford monthly — which brings higher deductibles that I won’t be able to pay.
I have health conditions that require medications and regular infusions. If I can’t take care of myself, I can’t work. I need health care so I can keep taking care of others.
Mackenzie claims addressing this health care crisis is important, but we are nearly a month into this government shutdown and costs keep rising. If Mackenzie fails to act, thousands of his constituents like me will lose access to affordable health care. As I look ahead to open enrollment — when my new rates will be an estimated 82% higher — I hope Mackenzie will remember whom he works for and stand up for the Lehigh Valley community.
Lynn Weidner
Hanover Township, Lehigh County
Landfill expansion not a healthy idea
The Bethlehem Landfill produces thousands of gallons of leachate each month for the Bethlehem Wastewater Treatment Plant to process before it gets dumped into the Lehigh River. Leachate is the liquid that drains from landfills as the trash slowly degrades. It commonly contains PFAS (“forever chemicals”) that break down very slowly and accumulate in peoples’ bodies over time. PFAS are associated with significant negative health effects.
Additionally, in its proposal to expand, Bethlehem Landfill wants to remove trees from 200 plus acres along the steeply wooded embankment that borders the Lehigh River. These trees act as an additional filtering source for run-off from the trash that is already piled high along the Lehigh River’s banks in Lower Saucon Township.
The Lehigh River has been identified by American Rivers as one of the most endangered rivers in America.
Bethlehem Landfill expansion is not good for the Lehigh River, our environment or our health and the health of our children and grandchildren.
Bob and Cindy McKellin
Lower Saucon Township
Supreme Court making bad decisions
The Supreme Court has always been seen as the one branch of government that stands for fairness, intellect and justice. Most previous Supreme Courts were labeled as “liberal” or “conservative.” Our current court appears to be political in its interpretation of laws and the Constitution and unfriendly to previous Supreme Court rulings. Its decision that a sitting president — Donald Trump to be precise — cannot be prosecuted for law violations is a perfect example.
Compared with previous chief justices, John Roberts appears unable to persuade his fellow justices to follow the law and not accept expensive gifts and free vacations. He concurred with the majority opinion in the infamous Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission decision that allowed unlimited dark money campaign donations. Worse, he has allowed the scourge of originalism to invade Supreme Court opinions, particularly by Justice Thomas. How can anyone purport to know the minds of our Founding Fathers? Would Justice Thomas advocate restoring slavery?
Too often in 2025 this Supreme Court has not used its review powers to overturn obvious constitutional law violations from the executive orders of President Trump. This court ignores the will of the American public and common legal sense.
Mark Anderson
Longswamp Township
Where are ‘pro-life’ voices on deadly administration?
The following actions all have two things in common. Can you guess what they are?
The Trump administration cut 83% of U.S. Agency for International Development programs, which distribute medicine and food to vulnerable communities. The cuts are expected to result in 14 million deaths by 2030.
Between Sept. 2 and Oct. 26, the Trump administration killed at least 43 people in strikes on boats in international waters. No evidence of illegal narcotic trafficking has been presented as justification for these attacks and no due process has been extended to the sailors.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has fired 20,000 employees and cut billions of dollars from services to inspect restaurants and monitor wastewater and from programs to prevent chronic diseases such as diabetes and cancer and infectious diseases like tuberculosis and HIV.
So, what do these three actions have in common?
First, the “pro-life” community has not risen up en masse to protest any of them and second, each action received significantly less coverage from some media outlets than that time President Obama wore a tan suit to a news conference.
Becky Bartlett
Upper Nazareth Township
All Americans should get Congress’ health plan
Here’s a quick and simple solution to the looming health insurance crisis:
Members of Congress are enrolled in the Gold Level health plan offered to small businesses in the District of Columbia.
Why not just offer the same plan to their constituents? That seems only fair.
After all, even before benefits, they are paid $174,000 per year. (And Trump seems to be doing much of the work.)
Dan Church
Bethlehem
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.
