Will Reading Be Impacted by the Government Shutdown?

Though impact from the government shutdown is already being felt throughout the state and country, Reading officials are not expecting much change at the local level.

At a state level,  a total of about 8,000 federal workers have been furloughed, and tourist sites such as the USS Constitution, Bunker Hill Monument, and Minuteman National Park are closed to the public after the struggle in Congress continued midweek.

But in Reading, Town Manager Bob LeLacheur said it is his understanding that the impact will be minimal.

LeLacheur was among the local officials who took part in a conference call with Congressman John Tierney on Tuesday afternoon to discuss the shutdown.

“We won’t see any direct impact to our services,” said LeLacheur. “The real key is how long the shutdown lasts, which obviously is anyone's guess at this point. The longer we go, the more impact on all communities.” 

What is your take on the government shutdown? Who’s to blame? Have you seen any impact yet? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.