We've reached a new low if this is the definition of 'folk hero'
I am responding to Brian O'Neill's April 14 column ("No Partridge, No Pear Tree, Just Yuletide-Wrapped Garbage"). I read with disgust as he allowed Robin Troy to gloat about the vile package she sent containing a used sanitary napkin. It was gift-wrapped with a return address of "Santa" and mailed before Christmas to our home where two young children reside.
The worst was yet to come as an aide to City Council member Barbara Burns was quoted claiming her support for Troy. What an embarrassment to all the intelligent people living in the city of Pittsburgh that a city official is even associated with this, let alone announcing her support.
Troy used this column to brag about her vulgar deed. It seems to me that her enthrallment with columnist O'Neill's repeated press coverage of her has become her main agenda.
As a landlord of the eight units located across the street from Troy, I have invested more than $20,000 in improvements since purchasing these buildings less than two years ago. At Troy's urging, I met with city police officer Robin Brandt and she searched her records by address for drug-related arrests. One was found, and he was immediately evicted.
Troy continued to attempt to muscle me into evicting other tenants on her word of drug use. I persisted in telling her that evidence beyond her word alone was needed to legally evict.
Let me see, Mr. O'Neill: $20,000 spent on a building in less than two years equals absentee landlord. Sending a leaky, wet package with used sanitary napkin via the U.S. Postal Service equals folk hero. OK.
BRIAN STRIEGEL
Cranberry
Vulgar, not heroic
I am writing in response to Brian O'Neill's April 14 column. I am appalled by the idea that someone can become a "folk hero" by sending trash to someone else, via the U.S. Postal Service at that!
In the column it was stated that Ms. Troy lives across from a duplex where trash bags that had been put out days early would be torn and dragged about by dogs and cats -- and that her 66-year-old mother was the one picking up the trash.
Having been in the position where I have had to clean up trash caused by someone else's animal knocking over the trash can, then tearing open the bags and scattering contents, I know it is not a pleasant chore. Although she left a note for the tenant, did it occur to Ms. Troy or her mother to knock on the door to try to address the situation with the tenant? How about the possibility of complaining to the sanitation department?
Instead this woman decided to be crass and vulgar and send a dirty sanitary napkin, along with other trash, wrapped up to deceive the recipients. There was a court hearing, and she was found guilty of disorderly conduct. She admits to sending the trash, yet she is appealing, and a City Council member is backing her, including endorsing a "fund-raiser" for her.
Landlords have only limited control of what their tenants do. A landlord can have rules, but that does not mean a tenant will obey the rules. I have learned that people have to care about where they live in order to want it to be a nice place, and frankly, some people do not care at all. To blame the landlord at all costs for the actions of the tenant does not seem totally fair. Nor does it seem a reason to send a package of garbage.
From what I've read, this faux crusader would rather harass benign individuals than those actually committing wrongdoings. And the fact that City Council member Barbara Burns is supporting and endorsing her and that the Post-Gazette gave free advertising via this column to the "fund-raiser," including time, date and place, are equally as appalling to me.
PAM McKINNEY
Wilkins
Neighborhoods suffer
I am writing in regard to Brian O'Neill's April 14 column about Robin Troy. First, I am a personal friend to Robin and I am the Community-Oriented Police officer for her area. Robin and I have continuously fought to make her North Side neighborhood a better area to live in. Sometimes it seems we take one step forward and two steps backward.
I have recently spoken with City Councilwoman Barbara Burns' aide Nancy Schaefer concerning landlords and how they can be held more accountable. Why should we as citizens have to suffer from disorderly tenants who deal drugs, play loud music or keep trash out while it doesn't bother the landlords -- after all, they live in Cranberry or outside the city limits. They don't have to suffer, just the neighbors.
I asked Ms. Schaefer if possibly City Council could look into a permit for landlords, where the city would have a better hold on them. For example: If a tenant has excessive complaints, a landlord could be fined or lose such privileges as the ability to rent property. I think something like this would make the landlords more accountable for their property.
As for Robin, I feel she might have used bad judgment on the package -- but if you constantly have your complaints fall on deaf ears, what do you do? I praise Robin's efforts and pray that this frivolous charge be dropped.
MICHAEL F. ZAGGER
Lincoln Place
Cooperation is essential
After reading the story "Taking on Truancy" (April 14) by Barbara White Stack, I was amazed. The story talks about some specific cases, including Jennifer Lasko. What amazes me is that a young lady may have to repeat seventh grade for a second time and is performing at a third-grade level. Why should it surprise anyone that she doesn't want to go to school? That would be like a freshman in college taking graduate-level classes or a child in preschool trying to perform at a third-grade level. Skills are not there to perform at that level.
The article said she was in special education classes for English and math. Her other classes would involve English and math at the seventh-grade level. How does that help her?
There are other issues involved in truancy than missing school. And those are the issues that each school district needs to face. The school needs to stop blaming parents. Parents need to stop blaming the schools, and both parents and school officials should sit down with each other to decide the best course of action for each child. This would best be done as soon as the child starts having problems, not after a child has failed a grade.
JENNIFER HARENCAME
West Deer
Cranmer on thin ice
In response to former Allegheny County Commissioner Bob Cranmer's anti- arena views ("Don't Skate on This Thin Ice," April 14 Forum): Yes, Bob, you are a hypocrite! All of your concerns that you have for the Penguins' financial situation can be applied to the Buccos. And if the Steelers are such a strong organization, why did they need public funding?
Don't get me wrong, I would rather see the Pens go private; however, the proposed arena would be an all-purpose arena. It would be used all year, unlike the others. I recall Mr. Cranmer claiming how competitive the Pirates would become with a new stadium. What a joke.
LEE TAIT
Ross
Enticing, isn't it?
As a resident of the city of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County, I pay $10 occupational tax, 3 percent wage tax, 7 percent sales tax and ever-increasing property taxes. I put up with traffic nightmares, restricted alcohol sales, anti-gambling laws and an antiquated and inefficient local government.
Now I'm encouraged to invite my college graduate friends from other states to move here. If they need any convincing I'll just tell them that the Port-Authority would like to raise its fares to $2 per ride and that the school board may be wanting another increase in taxes next year.
CHRIS MURRAY
Mount Washington
Keep after PennDOT
I would like to commend Joe Grata for his April 16 article detailing PennDOT's waste of $2.2 million for traffic lights on the West End Bridge that do not work properly ("West End Span Lane Controls Out of Order"). I encourage the Post-Gazette to continue to explore PennDOT's decision-making, or lack thereof.
For too long the citizens of Pittsburgh have suffered at the hands of poor planning, waste or arrogance regarding road construction or repair. No other region in this country seems to require as much road repair as we do.
PATRICK KANE
Squirrel Hill
We should be given banned priests' names
Reading the Rev. Roger A. Statnick's pronouncements relating to diocesan priests accused of sexually molesting young boys ("Greensburg Bans 2 From Priest Duties," April 13), I have the following feelings: These priests should be identified and made known to the general public. Not doing this makes one feel that the Greensburg diocese and others -- including the Pittsburgh diocese -- are just proving that these miscreants are still members of the club.
I am not subscribing to branding a hot iron "p" on their foreheads, but I could subscribe to doing so on another part of the anatomy. Statnick's pronouncement, "We're . . . dealing with people's lives," makes me wonder who we are talking about: the innocent children or the members of the "see no evil, hear no evil" boys club?
I spent five years in the Marine Corps 50 years ago and knew several Navy chaplains when I was in Korea. I wonder what they would think of the priests of this era. Those guys were fine men -- something I can't say of the current crop.
DONN ADAMS
Plum
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