Dear Editor,

Having resided in North East Township for more than 10 years, we enjoy reading your newspaper after it arrives in our mailbox each Friday…cost free, I should add. Cost free, of course, because of the ads you include…ads which we also review, for we shop locally whenever we can and give preference to the merchants and businesses that advertise within your pages.  

Your articles highlight community activities, organizations and citizens. We like that focus within your newspaper, the only media source for truly local articles about local life.

In contrast, you are outmatched when it comes to the reporting of national issues, especially in the political sphere. As such, we do not read your paper for national political news. So, in your Aug. 21 edition, when you reported on the visit to Erie by Vice President Pence’s nephew; and, in your Sept. 25 edition, when you reported at length on the visit to Erie by Trump’s son, we were dismayed that your paper had displayed an obvious shift.  

Not only were you reporting on family personages who are unelected and untrained in the matters of federal government, but by presenting two color photos of the Pence nephew and a photo of the Trump son, you further revealed the true political leaning that your publication apparently maintains.  

Collectively, with these articles, I think you crossed the line and failed the objectivity test.

It is my hope, you will have four more publication opportunities before election day to provide your readership with relevant updates about state and local political issues and the candidates for whom we will vote.  

Please rise to the occasion. Please be our reliable source for voting information and candidate updates…information that will help us in decisions we must make.

Particularly, two political issues are of local interest. Our ballots will include a Pennsylvania race for State Senator: Slomski vs. Laughlin.  Also, there is a race for the U.S. House of Representatives: Gnibus vs. Kelly. Please acknowledge these contests and guide your readership with useful information. This is your chance. Please rise to the challenge.

Sincerely,

Richard E. Ahlfield

North East resident