Orie and Turzai have acted responsibly on city crisis

I am writing to endorse the actions taken by my state legislators, Sen. Jane Orie and Rep. Mike Turzai, in the city of Pittsburgh fiscal discussions.

I read with amazement the letter to the editor from David Christopher in the Post-Gazette on Dec. 16 ("Actions Show the Republican Party Has Gone Downhill"). He seems to think that the Republican Party in Allegheny County has gone downhill because it is supporting the call for some fiscal responsibility by the city administration.

As a member of the Allegheny County Republican Party, I resent the implication that we are irresponsible. These two legislators love this area as much as I do and are working for responsible government at all levels.

We are fortunate to have legislators who are willing to take other than the easy road in making decisions. It would be so easy and less costly on a personal level for them to just bow to the pressures of high-profile members of the community; but, instead, they are listening to their constituents. We are telling them to resist the stampede to more taxes. More taxes may be needed; but that should not be the first solution out of the box.

My concern is that if given the unfettered ability to tax, the city will find more things to spend the money on, rather than bringing current fiscal problems under control. Some politicians with new-found tax money in their hands can be like an alcoholic with a new bottle.

If Mr. Christopher, Dave Roderick and Elsie Hillman are so enamored of the fiscal responsibility shown by the city administration, they could use their funds and abilities to organize a foundation to underwrite the city's shortfall.

LAMAR OLIVER
McCandless

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Nothing left to cut

As a lifetime city of Pittsburgh resident who understands the mentality of our pathetic state Legislature, I was not surprised the state House is resorting to desperate measures to stop the city from using existing legal options through Act 47 to gain assistance ("House Tries to Head Off City's Plan," Dec. 11). The region and state have historically benefited from the city on the backs of a shrinking urban tax base.

They just don't get it. There is nothing left to cut! There are absolutely no options left that will not force remaining taxpayers to flee the city. I find it frustrating that our suburban neighbors refuse to acknowledge that their $10 occupation tax is due an increase due to inflation.

But there is much more we can do. The shocking truth is that banks, utilities and manufacturers pay nothing. Even poor city workers are subsidizing stockholder dividends of these entities. Can you imagine how quickly just a small city business tax would get us out of the hole? There are few industries who care less about the public trust than banks and utilities. Similarly, why should manufacturers be exempt when most small businesses are paying their share?

And what about those nonprofits. There are nonprofits like Highmark and the hospitals, and then there are nonprofits like homeless shelters. Little we can do about it, but they could certainly cut executive salaries and purchase used office furniture as the true nonprofits do. I could say the same for some of the churches too.

Finally, how is it that city clerical workers have a no layoff clause and police do not? What genius felt it would be harder to replace a clerical worker than a cop? An empty clerical position would result in hundreds of qualified and experienced applicants. I say let that contract rest in peace at expiration. We need more unions to protect workers from unfair labor practices. Contract clauses like that hurt the cause of all workers.

No doubt, sacrifices will have to be made. But continued sacrifice by the few taxpaying city residents left will be devastating to the region.

FELICIA SAM
West End

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Pittsburgh to blame

There is no rational justification for the criticism heaped on state Sen. Jane Orie regarding her stand on allowing the city to increase or use new taxes to generate revenue.

No one questions that the city needs more funds to pay the bills. However, this situation has arisen because of totally irresponsible expenditures made by the mayor and his entourage. Clearly, Pittsburgh has operated for years without balancing income and expenditures, and without a financial oversight authority. To give Pittsburgh more funds would just enable the present setup to continue.

JOHN A. FITZGERALD
Ross

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The mayor's failure

The main reason Tom Murphy has been a failure as mayor of Pittsburgh is that he never learned the following, "You can catch more flies with honey than you can with vinegar."

EDMUND M. POPIDEN
McKees Rocks

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Crossed the line

I regularly read the editorial opinions of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, sometimes agreeing and sometimes disagreeing, but until now have never felt compelled to fire off a response. However, the Dec. 24 editorial "Domestic Terror: City Council Is Scaring the Neighbors," crossed the line.

It is ludicrous to claim that the efforts of Sala Udin and other council members to propose new taxes to save our city is "scaring the neighbors" and an act of "domestic terror."

The really scary actors in this drama are legislators like Sens. Jane Orie and Sean Logan who will literally sell out this city in order to placate wealthy suburban benefactors who have a different agenda, one that includes austerity measures, forced privatization and regressive user fees on city residents.

Their condescending rhetoric that city residents must accept "tough love" is closer to "domestic terror" than the valiant efforts of council members like Sala Udin who are doing the best they can to save our city and represent all their constituents in the face of ridiculous constraints imposed by Harrisburg politicians.

Clearly it is time for city residents to organize and mobilize to save our city. According to the introduction to the mayor's proposed budget, those who live and work in the city earn an average income of $25,000, compared to those who live in the suburbs and work in the city and earn an average income of $56,000.

It is "domestic terror" when any group not elected by city residents is able to force austerity measures and a fiscal plan on our city, whether that group be Wall Street bankers who set bond ratings or suburban legislators who have a different agenda.

We need to reclaim our city. For too long it has been used as a source of profit for outside investors who fill the campaign coffers of politicians whom we never get to vote for or against.

TIM VINING
Bloomfield

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Expensive visit

We learned a very expensive lesson on Dec. 19, and we learned the reason there are very few shoppers coming into the city of Pittsburgh!

We attended a holiday get-together at a restaurant at 3 p.m., the time we entered the Gateway Center garage. The gathering was short and we left at 5:30 p.m., the time we exited the garage. This is where we discovered the reason for the sparse number of shoppers. Our parking fee was $15. That's right -- $15 for 2 1/2 hours.

This is ludicrous. Thank heavens for the malls in the suburbs and their free parking.

CLAUDIA and JIM FISHER
Finleyville

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The failed effort on slots is not good enough

I am writing this letter in regards to the article in the paper Dec. 24 stating "Did Rendell Miss his Best Shot at Slots?" When I was done reading this article I was furious; how dare these legislators be so callous as to raise our taxes, and then say, "Now that the $1.3 billion tax increase is completed, some say there's no immediate pressure to work on the slots measure."

This is the kind of statement that needs to be remembered on Election Day. The credit for the failure is given to Sen. Vincent Fuomo, D-Philadelphia. He wanted to reserve one or two casinos for American Indians. Since when is Mr. Fuomo representing the American Indian? I always thought that he was there to represent the people of Philadelphia.

Our legislators sit in Harrisburg spending our money on their car leases, expense accounts, free haircuts and who knows what else, since they do not have to account for the spending. But when it comes to doing something for the people, they say there is not immediate pressure to do so.

Another statement, "It's an election year" for House members and some senators. "They won't touch it." Well I think these people should think again. This is an important issue.

We sit and watch these people dole out the money to their different departments and we also sit and watch no return for our tax dollars. Look around at your roads, your schools, and what is left of our industries and think about who represents you now. Is this what you want for your future, for the future of your kids? Other states all around Pennsylvania are getting their share of the gambling money that is pouring out of Pennsylvania as we sit and watch.

It is an election year and I know I will not vote for these people, and I want to say to them, "There will be no immediate need to vote for any of them."

LAWRENCE I. WALKER
Arnold