Cheer

The news that Butler Transit Authority would have its own compressed natural gas fueling station operational by 2019 likely didn’t make waves, but it is a major step forward for public transit in the area.

The station, which is being paid for through a PennDOT partnership project, will not only promote the updating of the authority’s fleet to CNG buses — it will use a homegrown fuel, in natural gas, that is produced right here in Butler County. The station would also be available for use by residents who want to transition to their own CNG vehicles.

It’s hard to see any downside. This will result in cleaner-running vehicles for the authority, more transportation and fueling options for local residents, and fit nicely into a regional CNG fueling infrastructure project that is expected to be complete sometime in 2021. It’s an important step for Butler County and the entire region.

Jeer

It is perfectly reasonable for residents in a community entertaining the prospect of adding a group home to the neighborhood to have questions. But some residents of Renfrew went out-of-bounds March 21, when about 40 people turned out to a Penn Township supervisors meeting and put on an embarrassing display while speaking out against allowing the facility.

In a particularly repugnant moment, one resident said they were opposed to allowing the home, which would house three individuals with intellectual disabilities, because its residents would not be “normal.”

People with disabilities have the right and dignity to live in a nice home in a nice community with nice neighbors — just like anyone else in this country. They are not, by default, dangerous or bent on running amok in the community. They are not so different from anyone else. They need support and compassion, just like most of the rest of us do.

It’s a shame that some residents in Renfrew either can’t see that, or can’t be bothered to care.

Cheer

It’s past time that the legal kerfuffle between state representatives Peter Daley, D-Washington County, and Daryl Metcalfe, R-12th, was put to bed. And it was, finally, on March 28, when Daley withdrew a writ filed in the Butler County Court of Common Pleas stating that he intended to file a civil suit against Metcalfe.

It’s clear now that the threat, which Daley repeatedly refused to discuss after giving notice in February, was nothing more than chest-thumping on the part of Daley, who will retire at the end of 2016.

Daley, who is a lawyer, should be ashamed of attempting to use the court system as an election-year bully pulpit. He should also be ashamed that it backfired so spectacularly; the only thing he accomplished was making himself look like a buffoon and giving Metcalfe an easy public victory.

The silver lining: now that the circus act has wrapped up, voters in the 12th District — which is host to one of very few contested primary races this month — can devote their full attention to the choice they’ve been presented.