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The life, wisdom and positive example of a simple farmer

My father-in-law, Glenn Paulhamus, liked to characterize himself as a “simple farmer.” This always appealed to me, because growing up my mother liked to talk about living on a small dairy farm in upstate New York until she was age 15. She talked about what a hard life it was in those days. They had no central heat, but rather they lived by a woodburning stove. “The girls” milked the few cows they had and “the boys,” my mother’s brothers, did “the hard work.” Mom went to school, in the winter, on a horse drawn sleigh, which one time, she recalled, turned over in the ...

A city in need of a permanent address

The location of City Hall is an issue that has sparked passionate debate between and among our City leaders and community—debate that has played out in regional publications and social media, as well as in countless official city meetings. While no one yet knows how City Council will vote this Thursday on the disposition of City Hall, we two members of Council believe that it is likely irresponsible to vote without a long-term plan for a future City Hall. Mayor Slaughter’s editorial in Thursday’s edition of the Sun-Gazette outlined his belief that the most cost-effective solution ...

Support fearless journalism and help preserve democracy

The challenges and threats facing our Democracy can seem so enormous and systemic that you might think one person, one article, or one vote couldn’t possibly make a difference. But the biggest threat of all is giving in and believing all is already lost. This month we celebrate Democracy Day as a commitment to the preservation of our freedoms. At Spotlight PA, it’s also a stark reminder of what’s at stake, why we work hard to produce unique journalism that informs and equips people to drive change, and why we need your help. Nationwide, we’re losing newspapers at a rate of ...

Staying safe behind viral lines to keep America strong and healthy

The people of Lahaina in Hawaii’s Maui County are justifiably angry that the unmistakable tall, green sirens posted all around the island’s coast were not activated last month to warn everyone of impending wildfires. Many lives could have been saved. On the mainland, residents have benefitted from timelier alerts made possible by technical advances in forecasting hurricanes, tornadoes, and floods more accurately. As in wartime, civilian populations can receive early alerts of danger and later warnings to seek shelter. Americans of my generation may recall the DEW line, a string of ...

The most cost-effective path forward for where city offices are located

The ongoing debate regarding the fate of our current City Hall building has sparked fervent discussions among City Council members and the general public. Unfortunately, emotions and misinformation have clouded the discourse on this crucial matter. Our decision must be grounded in facts and a realistic assessment of our city’s financial condition. City Council has been, and will continue to be, fully informed of all the facts relating to this issue. In early 2020, an American with Disabilities Act (ADA) lawsuit was filed against the city in federal court. We hired a professional ADA ...

Workers — and updated e-verify law — deliver

Pennsylvania’s construction workers are some of the hardest working citizens in the nation. An excellent example came this summer when a stretch of I-95 collapsed in Philadelphia. In just 12 days, approximately 200 workers with the Philadelphia Building & Construction Trades Council had it repaired. For such an impressive workforce, our laws to protect that workforce need to be just as impressive. That is why I sponsored legislation that went into effect earlier this year – Act 141 of 2022, also known as the Public Works Employment Verification Act. The Public Works Employment ...