Letters to the Editor: Fair cost of living adjustments

Fair cost of living adjustments

As a federal retiree under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS), I am writing to bring light to fair cost-of -living adjustments. Currently, there is a significant disparity in cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) between retirees under FERS and those under the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS), resulting in unfair differences in retirement benefits.

The cost of living affects all retirees equally, yet FERS retirees receive smaller COLAs compared to our CSRS counterparts. This inequity undermines our financial security and erodes the value of the benefits we earned through years of dedicated public service. The Equal COLA Act will correct this imbalance by providing the same COLA to all federal retirees, ensuring we can maintain our purchasing power and live with dignity.

As inflation and living costs continue to rise, it is more important than ever to ensure that all retirees receive fair and equitable adjustments to their benefits. This legislation is a necessary step toward correcting an unfair system and honoring the service of those who dedicated their careers to the federal government.

Alice Strasser

Hooksett, NH 

Will the Dems’ Convention stay peaceful?

Enthusiasm, as we all know, is often an indispensable emotion. When it’s present in a relationship, an assignment or a Red Sox vs. Yankee game, it goads the heart and the psyche, transforming common events into memorable ones. Yet in excess, enthusiasm can become something unsettling, even destructive.

I was pondering this emotion when considering the upcoming Democratic Convention in Chicago set to begin Monday, August 19th. For outside, on Windy City’s polished, well monitored streets is where enthusiasm’s awful shadow may surface; chiefly around the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian war, the little publicized humanitarian crisis and the Biden-Harris administration’s role in funding the Israeli Defense Fund’s assault on Hamas.

Certainly demonstrations have a long proud history in American life. When featuring nonviolence and carried out in careful, principled ways, it may indeed move mountains. It spearheaded the Boston Tea Party, the Civil Rights movement and yes, the Pro-Palestinian encampments last spring that erupted on our most prestigious campuses. This time in Chicago, I pray its forceful gentle power is what’s most apparent. A replay of the 1968 Chicago police riots – or a demonstrators’ version, is the very last thing the country and the Dems need.

R. Jay Allain

Orleans, MA

Enough pablum about climate change already

I understand that we all need to be conscious about conserving energy. However, the way our politicians are going about pushing green energy is out of control. The rhetoric surrounding fear mongering and fake progress must stop.

A recent article published by the Telegram and Gazette on August 4th honored the former U.S. Rep. John W. Olver, who passed away in 2023 after 44 years of service. Thank you, Mr. Oliver.

The article was about naming the new Rail Trail bridge that will connect the Fitchburg and Leominster rail trails. Congressman Oliver was a big supporter of the Rail Trail project, which cost taxpayers over $10 million so far. The headline of the article was “Meeting ‘our climate goals’: Overpass for rail trail connecting Leominster and Fitchburg named for late U.S. Rep. Olver”.

During the naming ceremony, Governor Maura Healey said, “Congressman Olver understood that rail trails have tremendous value in providing more travel options and getting people out of cars so we can meet our climate goals.”

I do not want to take this honor bestowed to Mr. Oliver away in any way. I love rail trails; they are flat and great for kids to ride along.

The thing that really ticks me off is that woke politicians simply cannot tell people what something is or is not. If politicians think that building a rail trail would have any impact on climate change, they are delusional. It is not a mode of transportation in any way. It is purely a recreational program that enables people to take a nice easy ride on a bicycle. That’s it.

I think that our politicians should focus on things like maintaining the rail trail after it is built to keep it rideable and safe to ride. That will not happen. The day it was built was its best day and ten years from now it will be decrepit. Sad.

The rail trail in the twin cities has largely, in a very short time become basically a conduit for crime and homelessness. Listen to a police scanner for a few evenings. The rail trail is a very active place for crime.

Any mention of rail trails helping the environment is a meaningless talking point. Let’s take climate change out of the equation.

Bob Brown

Leominster, MA

Endorsing Karen Cassella for Register of Deeds

Karen Cassella stands as a leader with the Registry of Deeds, with a vision to invest in our community through accurate and accessible deed recording, with a focus on efficiency, and accuracy of securing titles and building Trust. Karen pledges to be your devoted partner in navigating and securing the deeds of our homes through her trusted experience and knowledge.

With the ability to identify and implement the changes needed to help the functionality of the office. She has been part of the Registry of Deeds for thirty-one years and has performed all aspects of the job. This has given her extensive knowledge and experience of operations throughout all departments. Also the hands-on experience has provided an advantage in understanding the inner workings of how the office operates and identifying areas of improvement in the future. The campaign has consisted of meeting residents throughout the district and discussing their experiences and concerns regarding how we could better serve them. For the reasons above it is my pleasure to Endorse Karen Cassella for Register of Deeds.

George Ferdinand 

Board of Health member

Tewksbury, MA

Harris’s extreme policies

Respectfully, I am at a loss as to how folks can be in favor of Kamala Harris. These are the extreme policies and positions that Harris is supporting. Knowing this, can you really continue to support her?

Open borders; decriminalization of illegals; citizenship for illegals; free healthcare for illegals; free education for illegals; against voter ID; favors abortion through entire term of pregnancy; favors transgender surgeries; cut funding for police; eliminate cash bail; anti-energy independence; would ban fracking and offshore drilling; pro-Hamas/Palestinian and anti-Israel; $25,000 to new home buyers (our tax dollars!); favors green new deal; socialist policies for the U.S.; raise taxes on businesses to 28% from 21%; more government spending and resulting inflation; anti-2nd amendment / confiscation and buy-back policy.

You may not like Donald Trump’s personality, but his policies are just and righteous. If you love this country, please consider carefully…the country’s future is at stake.

Nancy E. Walsh

Westford, MA 

How the rich treat food

A big press conference at a Trump golf club tells us all about food prices. It was crystal clear that Trump has never ever cooked a meal for himself or others. Sausages, dairy products, and many other perishables were left in 87 degree heat. Soon the flies showed up ready to feast. This man has never eaten anything except what has been cooked for him. What a waste of food by a stumbling clown.

Robert Walton

Chelmsford, MA