Our Opinion: Transfer drug task force to Luzerne County’s control or explain holdup

Letter to the Editor: Good police too often overlooked, while a few bad apples grab attention

Social media have become increasingly more essential in political campaigns to spread the message of a particular candidate. But what happens after an election? Or, more importantly, after the swearing-in ceremony?Most of these candidates, now elected officials, fall off the face of the social media earth.At the end of 2015, there were 2.078 billion active social media accounts in the world. Needless to say, the world is fairly active on social media. This also rings true for Wilkes-Barre and the surrounding area. Our area is becoming increasingly more active on social media, particularly Facebook and Twitter. We utilize social media as a way to engage with our peers and those who we do not see very often for a variety of reasons.So, let us bring this full circle. What does this mean for elected officials?Well, while many people still rely on newspapers as their primary source of information in regard to meetings, community events and everyday news, social media is becoming an increasingly more important information outlet. Many people rely on Facebook and Twitter for their news. Those who are confined to their homes due to a disability, those who do not drive or those who have conflicting work schedules find it difficult to participate in community meetings or events. As elected officials, we can ensure our entire community is active in the conversation of what we can do to improve our community through social media.On my Facebook page, I post question-and-answer videos, meeting notices and community notices, and I encourage an interactive forum between myself and my constituents. The outpouring from the community has been incredible. People want their voices heard and their questions addressed, and for many, social media provide the most convenient way to accomplish just that.If you live in Wilkes-Barre, I encourage you to &#8220;like&#8221; my Facebook page by the name of &#8220;Wilkes-Barre City Councilwoman Beth A. Gilbert&#8221; to stay up to date on events, meetings and other tidbits regarding Wilkes-Barre and your community. You also can follow me on Twitter at @BethGilbertWB.To my fellow elected officials, I encourage all of you to stay involved, well after your campaign has ended. You never know the difference you might make.Beth GilbertWilkes-Barre

Letter to the Editor: Community leaders should use social media to keep people constantly informed