FROM: WILLIAM PEDUTO
Member of Council, City of Pittsburgh

Leadership is needed to end the city vs. suburb battle that is forcing us to compete against each other instead of Minneapolis, Charlotte and Portland. Moving forward means breaking the political, social and economic barriers of the past century and creating new alliances to transform Allegheny County into a 21st-century metropolitan region.

		Want to weigh in? You, too, can offer advice to Allegheny County's new chief executive. Next week, we'll publish "Memos to Dan Onorato" from readers. Send your text of 150 words or less to opinion@post-gazette.com, by fax to 412-263-2014 (attn. Forum Memos) or mail to Post-Gazette Forum, 34 Blvd. of the Allies, Pittsburgh PA 15222. Please include your home address and daytime telephone number. Deadline: Thursday, 10 a.m.

We must begin by merging duplicative government services. Creating a single unified economic development agency should be part of an enhanced countywide planning department. The greatest detriment to development remains the fractionalized efforts to plan for our future. By creating a countywide plan for future growth, we can assure that new development does not create additional infrastructure, which leads to additional taxes. We can begin to reward development that adheres to true economic growth for our region and deter projects that simply move jobs from established areas to greenfields -- a process that only benefits the developer.

Economic growth is contingent on improvements in transportation. The old economy relied on a system that brought product to market; we must create a system that brings people to jobs. The first step is to modernize our present roadway system and to enhance it through a countywide light-rail system.

Courage, communication and compromise will be needed to make these changes reality. I look forward to working with you to make it happen.

FROM: F. MICHAEL LANGLEY
CEO, Allegheny Conference
on Community Development

On behalf of the Allegheny Conference on Community Development and its affiliated organizations, congratulations on your recent election. You take office at a pivotal moment in the history of the region. Yes, there are immediate challenges to overcome, including the city of Pittsburgh's fiscal crisis, and the critical negotiations and actions required to maintain and enhance the reliability of regional air service at Pittsburgh International Airport.

But there are real opportunities as well: As you follow through on your plan to seek ways to consolidate services between the county and city, you can help to save taxpayers millions of dollars, and provide more responsive and competitive government services that will encourage job growth and new capital investment in the region.

In partnership with the nine surrounding counties of the Pittsburgh region, you can begin to address critical infrastructure and land use issues (transportation, water and sewer, industrial site preparation) that currently prevent the region from realizing its full potential. Our priorities for marketing and improving the region are consistent with your stated goals, and we are ready and willing to partner with you and your administration to build a leading region in a globally competitive economy.

FROM: LYNN CULLEN
Radio talk show host, WPTT-AM

Hang onto your faith, your family and your sense of humor. You're going to need them. In the rancorous political climate you're bound to inhabit, I figure you can pretty well forget about pleasing just about anyone.

My advice? Don't even try.

I voted for you, Dan, and you had me spitting mad before you even took office. What the heck were you thinking when you canned Calvin Lightfoot?!? You won't find a finer, more capable man to run that jail and you know it. Sure, you had a little disagreement with him and came out on the losing end, but firing Lightfoot was heavy-handed and wrong-headed. It had the odor of petty political payback and there's too much of that around here already.

Speaking of petty, watch your back. Some of those ossified Democrats standing behind you are probably more perilous to your success than the Republicans. Don't be afraid to take them on. We're all looking forward to the row over the row offices and we're expecting you to win.

You are now the official head of one fractious, dysfunctional family. I hope you will prove to be what the present occupant of the White House said he was but clearly isn't: a uniter, not a divider. If Allegheny County ever needed such a man, it is now. Good luck, Dan.

FROM: JOYCE ROTHERMEL
CEO, Greater Pittsburgh
Community Food Bank

Some have said the measure of the quality of good governance is the measure of the quality of life of a community's most vulnerable citizens. Based on this principle comes the following counsel:

Demonstrate a valuing of our most vulnerable populations: children (our human capital of the future), seniors, people with disabilities, the economically disadvantaged. With each decision, ask how it will impact them.

Value the role of human service providers; we play a strategic role in addressing the basic needs of our neighbors.

Affirm the importance of strengthening the public/private partnerships between government and nonprofit human service providers. Together we can provide a reliable safety net for those unable to meet their basic needs.

Encourage young people and the newly retired to make service to those in need a regular part of life. Human services agencies can provide many opportunities.

Supplement with county resources the funding needed to address local hunger and food insecurity. Hunger and food insecurity have risen dramatically in Pennsylvania. (Current resources come from federal and state sources, not the county budget.)

FROM: ESTHER L. BARAZZONE
President, Chatham College

Please pay serious attention to doing what it will take to keep young people in this region. The colleges and universities are doing a great job getting them here. The nine institutions in the county educate nearly 90,000 students annually. However, we lose them once they receive their degrees. Despite the draw of our institutions, we are one of the worst of the Rust Belt cities in retaining and attracting the young.

A large number of people worked on a report for the Allegheny Conference regarding this problem. I hope you will read the report to get the full analysis. However, one thing came through clearly: the absence of diversity in the leadership of this region is one of the greatest problems we must confront. People of color, women and internationals must be given positions of real responsibility, and in greater numbers than they currently are.

In the case of gender equity, this region seems not to even be aware that there is an issue of gender inequity. The wage gap is greater for women here and very few sit on boards of leading corporations or local economic development organizations, despite the presence of many talented women in our community. Women need to be present in significant numbers and to occupy leadership positions, not just a seat.

Young people must see people like themselves in leadership positions if they are to be persuaded to stay, and to make a better community for us all in the future. The talent is here; please use it.

Good wishes for your successful tenure.

FROM: JAKE HAULK
President, Allegheny Institute for Public Policy

From my perspective, the commitments you made during the campaign and the statements you have made since the election form the basis of a very constructive agenda.

Consolidation of row offices, reductions of taxes and spending, opposition to local tax dollars for a new Penguins arena, opposition to a car rental tax to bail out the convention center, and the need for the city to merge services with the county and cut spending before any new taxes are considered are all policy positions the Allegheny Institute heartily endorses. We hope you will concentrate on this agenda.

There is one key issue where we might disagree. It is vitally important for the future of Allegheny County that any plans to deal with US Airways and the airport keep two crucial factors in mind. First, no public dollars should be used in a way that preferentially benefit US Airways to the competitive detriment of other carriers. Second, any plan must look at least five years into the future and envision the most desirable situation for the airport.

I recommend strongly that the fortress hub strategy at the airport be abandoned in favor of more carriers and more competition. Our unusually heavy dependence on one carrier with its market power to beat back competitors has proven to be very poor public policy. It is time to adopt a better vision and strategy.

FROM: BISHOP DONALD WUERL
Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh

One of the great strengths of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County is the many neighborhoods with their rich history of service to people. They speak of the style of life and the quality of our community.

I feel comfortable that our new county chief executive will recognize these neighborhoods and the potential for good that lies within them. Schools, churches, homes and shops are woven together with our government, community programs and social outreach in our local neighborhoods, whether it is the South Side of Pittsburgh, Munhall, Homestead or Wexford.

When you drive through this wonderful county, you find churches, synagogues and places of worship that reflect the deep faith that generates the spiritual bonds of our community, rooted in these neighborhoods. They nurture the family bonds, personal ties and the devotional life of people young and old. All of these are intangible but real treasures of Allegheny County.

What we do to build up these neighborhoods will only strengthen Allegheny County as a whole. If these neighborhoods and the people who live in them are at the top of your agenda, we will be a good way along in solving the problems we face.

I wish God's blessings on you, your staff and all who serve in public life to make our community a better place to live for all.

FROM: MIKE ENGLISH
Executive Director, Pittsburgh Urban Magnet Project

Dan Onorato, you should act your age. At 42, you are young, and our county needs the energy and optimism of youth to meet our many long-term challenges. These challenges include regionalism, economic development and diversity in leadership.

First, work toward the future consolidation of the governments of Allegheny County and the city of Pittsburgh. This is an intimidating challenge that we must approach incrementally. In the short-term, fulfill your promises to reform county row offices and share government services with the city.

Second, you should take a long-term approach to economic development. Plan very carefully and target wealth-creating industries such as the technology sector in order to take advantage of the skills that are cultivated by our local universities.

Finally, I urge you to appoint young people to Allegheny County boards. The energy and creativity that young people offer will benefit the attitude of this County's leadership in the years to come. Involving the young is the best way to assure that public policy works to attract the young. Allegheny County can be young and prosperous again if our leaders are not afraid to tackle big problems. Mr. Onorato, lead the way.

FROM: ESTHER L. BUSH
President and CEO, Urban League of Pittsburgh

Congratulations and counsel must accompany your election to the seat of chief executive of Allegheny County. As the county transitions into a new administration, we hope the priorities for the county will not shift as well. The Urban League of Pittsburgh shares many of your goals and we are confident that these issues will remain priorities.

The Urban League stands for a segment of the community that is underrepresented. For this reason it is important to us that you reaffirm your commitment to the issues that have a strong bearing on our underrepresented citizens such as quality health care, equal employment, fair housing and civil rights. A true demonstration of this commitment will be to leverage resources within the county to support these areas and programs that address those needs.

One valuable resource for social change and empowerment in the county has been having African-Americans in key decision-making positions as both employees and volunteers. We look forward to your new appointments and hope that you will continue this commitment to diversity in hiring at all levels. It is in the county's best interest to continue to support equality and parity for all residents within our community.

FROM: TEDDY XIDAS
President, Association of Flight Attendants, Local 40

I believe the next couple of months in the US Airways negotiations will be trying. I trust that you and the state delegation will do what's in the best interest of Pittsburgh and Pennsylvania and thus labor. You are all we have now, as this new management has forsaken the employees here, and we depend on the county chief executive to do the right thing, whatever that may be, even if we end up losing the US Airways hub in Pittsburgh.

The hard-line approach is, in my opinion, the best way to approach the talks with US Airways management. I was in negotiations with these folks on the first restructuring agreement of summer 2002, every day for five weeks. I can tell you it was nothing short of a nightmare.

I have been employed by US Airways for 22 years and I want US Airways to stay, but, again, it must be for a "fair exchange" and equal risk. If it is only for the presence of MidAtlantic Airways, a poverty-wage employment division, then that would not be helping Pittsburgh's economy in the long run, and thus the employees of US Airways' mainline.

I submit to you that I wear the hat of labor and am a born-and-bred resident of Pittsburgh whose father operated a family restaurant here for 40 years. I have thought of this matter in a global sense and realize that in the long run, the conditions must be right for Pittsburgh, and risk must be equally shared by the parties.

We employees are humble and committed and have built this franchise of US Airways with our sweat and dedication. We have the ability to be the greatest airline around -- we just need the opportunity to prove it.

FROM: DAN ROONEY
Chairman, Pittsburgh Steelers

Allegheny County saw drastic change in the 20th century. 1950: steel was king, most men had jobs, the Pennsylvania Railroad was very influential. By 2000 steel was gone, the railroad no longer existed, the city of Pittsburgh's population was down to 334,000.

Suburban people do come to the city for culture or games, but shop at malls. The county must change barriers in mind and action. You have the energy to accomplish your goals.

You must develop a plan. To say Pittsburgh caused the problems is nonsense. It is everyone's problem. Problems exist because people moved from the city; now half pay for the services. Everyone must pay more taxes. City and county services must be combined. Labor must do its share -- negotiate new contracts.

The planning committee should include capable architects to design the physical structures needed.

The business community's leadership stands for what is good for the area.

Carnegie Mellon and the University of Pittsburgh use their knowledge to develop new products -- and join business to bring new companies here and sell those products internationally. Jobs are No. 1 to keep people here.

The committee should include religious leaders to guide our moral integrity. Allegheny County has a diverse people which gives a special emphasis for the best of all minds to be a part of our culture.

Begin to believe that we can make it happen. Bring the folks from all parts of southwestern Pennsylvania together. It is a team. Like the Steelers -- many different individuals personality-wise, ability-wise and emotionally come together. Everyone's ability makes us better. Dan Onorato is the quarterback -- you have to motivate and traverse through the obstruction and stay with the plan.

Allegheny County can return to the glory days! Dan, make it happen.

FROM: PETER KOPE
&MICHELE DE LA REZA
Co-directors, Attack Theatre

The arts in this region generate over $40 million in revenue for the city of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County. As artists, we export our region's reputation throughout the country and the world. Ultimately, the role of the arts is to reach and move people, and to encourage them to look at their surroundings with fresh eyes and a new enthusiasm.

The jobs of Attack Theatre and the county chief executive are really quite similar: We collaborate with people who are talented, free-spirited, dedicated and opinionated, and lead them on a journey that has a positive impact on those who experience the end result. Both jobs must choose what course of action will have the desired outcome on the audience, constituent or citizen.

We should not undervalue the benefit of bringing hope to a constituency through art and performance. We cannot miscalculate the improvement to our quality of life that occurs when someone looks from a fresh perspective at their world. When what we create affects others' points of view and helps them search for a new solution -- that is leadership.

You have an opportunity to lead. Please remember that part of your job is to inform, entertain and inspire your audience.