The Monroe County Transit Authority Pocono Pony Ride Share program is inflicting terrible treatment on Monroe County’s elderly people, senior citizens, invalids, handicapped, infirm, ill, poor and disabled citizens who rely on the Pocono Pony shared ride program to get to medical appointments, dialysis treatments, therapy, stores and so forth.

The elected officials who can put a stop to this treatment are state Reps. Rosemary Brown (570-420-8301), Maureen Madden (570-894-7905), Jack Rader (570-620-4341), and Monroe County Sen. Mario Scavello (570-620-4329). These irresponsible people should not be re-elected in the Nov. 6 election. If state Reps. Brown, Madden, Rader and state Sen. Scavello claim they do not have oversight authority over MCTA or the shared ride program, they are flat-out lying.

Brown, Madden, Rader and Scavello have oversight over the MCTA and thus the shared ride program. They can, should and must immediately use their oversight authority to direct the Pocono Pony people to immediately stop the horrors complained about at PoconoVoice.com.

If Brown, Madden, Rader and Scavello do not get this problem taken care of immediately, we should see to it that they lose their November 2018 election. Tell all your friends and everyone you know to vote against Brown, Madden, Rader and Scavello. As members of the general assembly, they have authority and oversight over transportation and the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. As members of the general assembly, they have authority and oversight over the allocation of state funds. They can introduce and push for passage of a bill that will provide some sort of a voucher system in which the per-fare reimbursement that is paid to Pocono Pony can be paid directly to the riders. The software used by MCTA is either not very good or is not being used properly. Most likely that software has to be done away with. There should be legislation giving the Public Utilities Commission the same jurisdiction that it has with private transportation companies for MCTA as well. Drain the swamp! Fire these people at the Nov. 6 election.

Mike Vianello,

Brodheadsville