Editor, New Era:

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has a few problems, so they say, that could easily be resolved if they would look at ideas from the citizens. Here are some suggestions:

Sell off the current liquor stores at public auction. This would raise some quick cash and get rid of long-term expenses (rents, electric bills, administrative costs, etc). Of course, have annual fees for the new owners and keep collecting taxes from the liquor sales. Make the sale of the stores attractive to the new prospective buyers by putting a hold on anymore store openings for five years.

Take all of the current liquor-store employees and offer them other jobs in the state. This would save their jobs and fill vacant positions that are being unfilled by the hiring freeze. This would help them keep their jobs with the commonwealth and protect their retirements.

From what I have seen in the attitudes of the current liquor-store employees, they are not really happy working in them anyway.

Steve Soldner
Mountville