(Fleetwood, PA) June 1, 2008 — The plan by Berks County Commissioners to spend millions of tax dollars to acquire property by eminent domain and to develop 10 more miles of Berks County trails has come under fire from the grassroots group, People for Pennsylvania's Future. The Commissioners have announced their intention to take through eminent domain if necessary a 66-foot by nearly ten-mile stretch of land that crosses about 50 private properties in southern Berks County.

According to PFPF spokesman Jerry Thacker, "There is no need to spend public monies on this project. When our infrastructure of bridges, highways and other public services needs to be replaced or improved, spending for something that will be used by only a few people and that tramples the property rights of so many families is unconscionable."

A new ad campaign launched by People for Pennsylvania's Future talks about needful vs. unnecessary spending. "Most people in Berks County wince when they go to the gas station. It used to cost $20 or so to fill up the tank. Now it's $40, $50 or even $100 for some trucks. We're pinching pennies just so we can go to work and go to the grocery store. That's why is seems unwise and unreasonable for the County Commissioners to want to use millions of our tax dollars just to add ten more miles to the existing county trail systems."

PFPF quotes a report on the proposed trail area published on Berks County's website: "According to NRPA (National Recreation and Park Association) the existing recreational acreage is twice what is recommended for this region's population ... Amity Township, Birdsboro Borough, Caernarvon Township, Douglass Township and Union Township all have more acreage set aside for recreation than what is recommended by NRPA. These Townships practically contain all the recreational opportunities for the entire region."*

PFPF says the amount of property to be seized totals about 78 acres and includes suburban streets, ag preservation farmlands and even passes through parking lots and people's backyards. "To take a swath of property wider than an interstate highway and nearly 10 miles long is wrong. It's abuse of the power to tax and condemn property," says Thacker. He urges all Berks County property owners to call or e-mail the Berks County Commissioners and tell them not to spend tax dollars for unnecessary projects that benefit only a few people of the county. The phone number for the Berks County Commissioners' office is 610-478-6136. Their e-mail address is commissioners@countyofberks.com.

People for Pennsylvania's Future
Jerry Thacker, Spokesperson
Phone: 800.588.7744
E-Mail: contact@peopleforpa.org
www.peopleforpa.org