Letter to the Editor: Shouldn’t Wilkes-Barre Council get say on redirection of $50k?

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Mohegan Sun slot supervisor accused of stealing 26K heading to higher court

This letter is in reference to the front-page article &#8220;<a href="https://www.timesleader.com/news/524132/back-mountain-and-wilkes-barre-chambers-of-commerce-send-letters-in-support-of-penneast-pipeline" target="_blank">Chambers back PennEast Pipeline</a>&#8221; (on March 23). The article is typical gas company propaganda.James V. Reino Jr., president of the Back Mountain Chamber, is an employee of UGI. Isn&#8217;t it surprising he backs PennEast, since UGI is one of the gas companies that makes up PennEast and stands to make big bucks? He is a lackey of PennEast.He claims &#8220;5 percent of the population voiced concerns against the pipeline.&#8221; From where does he get this statistic?He also stated it will &#8220;bring in jobs and lower energy prices.&#8221; Not true. Jobs will be short-lived and most will be from out of state. Energy prices will rise because the gas will be sold overseas at higher prices, causing local prices to rise. Liquefaction plants are being built in coastal states so they can transport the gas overseas.&#8220;Cogen&#8221; is nothing new. It is not the panacea Reino makes it out to be. Operation and equipment replacement costs are high.The Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber is not a group that I would go to for any advice. Just look at its dismal track record.The proposed PennEast high-pressure, high-volume gas pipeline is a disaster waiting to happen. Environmental destruction, private property destruction, catastrophic explosion possibilities, destruction of peace of mind of everyone living near the pipeline. The PennEast Pipeline is not necessary nor wanted by effected residents. Installation by eminent domain and in residential areas will only make the gas companies rich and the property owners will be left with all the destruction and problems.Eminent domain by private companies is unconstitutional. But I forgot, the elected government of the United States doesn&#8217;t run our country, it is the corporations.Don&#8217;t forget; if you protest the gas companies from cutting down your maple syrup-producing trees, they will send U.S. marshals with assault weapons to make sure you don&#8217;t protest too much. What has our country become?It is time for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to show some guts and reject this evil project.Michael E. LoncoskiMember, Plains Township Citizens Against the PipelineandMember, Delaware Riverkeeper Network

Letter to the Editor: See through ‘propaganda’ and reject PennEast Pipeline