 
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Wednesday, April 11, 2001
Open discussion about rape encourages understanding
First, a big "thank you" goes to columnists Sally Kalson ("How Should Rapist, Now a Penguin, Pay for His Crimes?" March 28) and Mark Madden ("Tibbetts Did Time, So Set Him Free," March 31). Over the past two weeks Kalson and Madden have been waging a war of words over Billy Tibbetts' employment with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Response to these columns was overwhelming, and Pittsburgh Action Against Rape would like to take a broader look at one of the many issues raised.
Sally Kalson wondered where Tibbetts' victim is today. Is she functioning in society or trapped by this tragedy from her past? It is true that victims of sexual assault are at greater risk for alcoholism, drug addiction and suicide. However, many victims learn to deal with their pain, fear and anger in a productive way.
PAAR supports the victim's recovery and healing independent of whatever happens (or doesn't happen) to the perpetrator. It is much more important that survivors of sexual violence be encouraged to do what makes sense for their own healing. This may or not mean pressing charges.
According to the National Center for Policy Analysis, only 16 percent of rapes are reported and only 16 percent of these reports lead to time in jail for the offender. Consequently, placing too much emphasis on the outcome of a trial can lead to a second "victimization" if the victim loses. On the other hand, "winning" the case does not instantly lead to healing, even if the perpetrator serves his time in jail. Therefore, PAAR's goal is to provide the victim with a healing process that is within the victim's control.
PAAR has been assisting victims of sexual assault for 29 years. We understand the high emotion evoked by the subject -- we feel strongly, too. We encourage open discussion and feel it plays a critical role in increased sensitivity and knowledge.
Mostly, we support any effort that moves us toward the day when our services are no longer necessary because people have learned to treat each other civilly and with the respect that each human being deserves.
BEVERLY HORN
Downtown disgust
Pittsburgh can be proud of the beautiful new baseball stadium, and shortly the city will have a new football stadium, which will evoke an equal measure of pride. These gems are a reason for envy among visitors. When these visitors are Downtown, however, envy is not the emotion they feel. Pittsburgh's Fifth Avenue between Market and Wood streets is a disgrace.
For many years I thought that someday they would tear down these decrepit buildings and build some that would be attractive. Any attempts at real improvement, however, by people with a vision for the future are quickly shot down for dubious reasons. Try walking up Fifth Avenue on a Sunday and you will think you are in a ghost town. You also will think to yourself, "How could anyone not want to get rid of this blot on the city's image?"
BILL HUNTER
No thanks to Murphy
I take exception to Steve Leeper's comments regarding my business ("Ad Watch: O'Connor's TV Ads Are First to Air," April 6). Mr. Leeper claims Mayor Tom Murphy saved my business and without the new Home Depot in East Liberty, I would have been "done." Nothing could be further from the truth. While I appreciate Home Depot's willingness to accommodate me after City Council President Bob O'Connor brought us together, my business was thriving before it came along.
As for Tom Murphy, he was going to move my business to a side street. He did nothing to "save" my business. In fact, I would probably be out of business if the mayor had his way and if Bob O'Connor had not stepped forward to help me.
Unfortunately for the people of Pittsburgh, my business was not the only one Murphy tried to shut down. Remember his antics with Fifth and Forbes? Tom Murphy has a track record of trying to put family business out in order to accommodate big business.
Instead of distorting the truth about what he did to my business, why doesn't Mr. Murphy explain why he focuses on helping Downtown corporations instead of helping family-owned businesses?
ALBERT P. VENTO SR.
Reward clerks' loyalty
I recently obtained a copy of the March 23 editorial "Whiskey Rebellion," which discussed the long-standing open collective bargaining agreement between the United Food and Commercial Workers union and the commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Every labor leader understands why the members are worried and upset about the lack of a raise, and it is clear that everyone would agree they should obtain the raise that the union has been fighting for. However, the Post-Gazette editorial misses the point. The PG should be demanding, first of all, that the Ridge administration pay the raise to every single employee, retroactively, to make up for its deliberate attempt to throw these workers onto the street.
What the successor clause is intended to do is to make sure employees who have given good, loyal service and know the product, know how to card individuals to make sure they are old enough to drink and know to flag those who have had too much to drink continue in their employment if the state liquor stores are privatized.
What does it matter if someone new on the block decides he can make more money by paying somebody the minimum wage or slightly above it? It matters, among other reasons, because those new people will have little, if any, understanding of the need to perform the proper functions of a liquor store clerk, and they will have little incentive. What is wrong with some sense of job security for liquor store clerks, be they from Western, Central or Eastern Pennsylvania?
I previously had the privilege to serve these liquor store clerks as assistant to the president of Local 23 in Pittsburgh. I believe the PG has misguided thoughts in this matter. Its concern should be for the employees and not merely for those unnamed political contributors who may get the chance to buy these licenses.
We may live in a throwaway society, but that is no reason to throw away these workers. This proposal to eliminate the successor clause is bad public policy and should be treated as such. In the meantime, certainly the workers are entitled to a raise. The problem is, their raise is being held hostage by the people who want to take care of their political friends by putting them in the ownership ranks. This is not free enterprise; this is socialism only for the rich.
PETER V. MARKS SR.
Presidential support
A recent letter by Anthony Slomkoski criticized former United Steelworkers President George Becker for his appeal to President Bush to assist the ailing American steel industry ("Back the Right Party," March 21). The steel industry has been in a state of crisis since 1997, largely due to failed trade policies that have allowed foreign steel producers to sell their products at prices below the actual cost of production.
If present trends continue, much of the American steel industry could be forced into bankruptcy or liquidation. This situation is already decimating the number of decent-paying steel jobs available to American workers. And if no action is taken, we could face a situation where tens of thousands of retired steel workers would face a severe reduction in benefits, thus harming the standard of living of many retirees in Western Pennsylvania.
The writer suggests that the steel workers shun the president at this crucial time. We feel this course of action would be counterproductive to the needs of the union's membership. Instead, we hope to win the support of President Bush for the Steel Revitalization Act, which is progressing through Congress with support from members of both political parties. If this bill (H.R. 808) is passed and signed by the president, it would provide enduring relief to the steel industry and the many industries that it supports. Simply put, saving the steel industry at this crucial time is more important than perpetuating a political grudge.
ANDREW "LEFTY" PALM
Unacceptable English
Tell Dennis B. Roddy that Pittsburghese is not acceptable journalism. Mr. Roddy wrote (in "Anti-Abortion Terrorist Eludes Growing Dragnet," March 30): "Harmening said Waagner's trajectory would take him toward the mountainous region of the Carolinas where another anti-abortion fugitive, Eric Rudolph, is believed hiding."
Say what? Doesn't he mean "is believed to be hiding"? Slack-jaw journalism will not suffice. Come on, stop being lazy and use acceptable English, not what you feel is acceptable English.
D. PTAK
The lottery should help relieve our school tax burden
I have read with interest the proposed joint lottery involving Ohio and Pennsylvania ("Pa., Ohio Lotteries Weighing Merger," April 3;"Pennsylvania, Ohio Can't Agree on Joint Lottery ," April 6). Pennsylvania officials have indicated they want to provide for more senior programs. Meanwhile, those in Ohio want to provide more for education. Why can't Pennsylvania do the same?
Most states have their lottery profits go to education or to their general operating funds. Every lottery dollar earned in Pennsylvania already goes to senior programs. A new game could provide the additional infusion of cash to our system that we all know is necessary to have parity in education in all districts.
Perhaps this is also the venue to provide relief from the burden of school taxes that affects every property taxpayer. School taxes are an exceptional burden to seniors. What better way to assist them while at the same time helping education and benefiting all taxpayers?
Our legislators have commented on relieving the burden of school taxes, but were at a loss to find the funds. Now they have the opportunity to act -- use part of this revenue to fund education programs and reform and part to fund school property tax reform for all taxpayers. In this way everyone benefits, not just one segment of our population.
WILLIAM C. BECK
Executive Director
Pittsburgh Action Against Rape
South Side
McCandless
Vento's Pizza
East Liberty
Ocean City, N.J.
Director
United Steelworkers of America
District 10
North Versailles
Highland Park
McKees Rocks