Letter to the editor: Reschenthaler not representing

Working people in Southwestern Pennsylvania are struggling — and it appears our congressman doesn’t see it.

Rep. Guy Reschenthaler wants us to believe the economy is booming, prices are decreasing and jobs are everywhere. But, in his own district, people are working harder than ever before and falling behind.

He claims the president “created” 345,000 jobs but fails to mention that 275,000 public servants had lost their jobs earlier. That is not job creation — it’s a shell game. Rehiring people you fired isn’t progress.

Young people are losing hope. We’re told to follow the rules and work hard, yet many of us can’t afford rent, let alone dream of buying a home. Wages haven’t kept up with inflation, and the federal minimum wage hasn’t changed in over a decade.

While Reschenthaler praises the economy from Washington, he refuses to hold a public town hall here in the district. That says everything.

We deserve representatives who fight for affordable housing, living wages and real economic justice — and who have the guts to sit down with the people they represent. Reschenthaler owes us a town hall. We need to be heard.

Zakery W. Wiles

New Stanton

The writer is studying public policy and political science at the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg, where he is senate vice president of the Student Government Association