The city was right to honor commitment to Kingsley

After having read the Feb. 19 article "City Told to Make Drastic Cutbacks" and your subsequent editorial "Comply Already" (Feb. 20), I felt compelled to respond to an apparent attempt to tie the Kingsley Association community center project into the city of Pittsburgh's financial distress.

For the record, Kingsley is in the final stages of completing a $7.6 million, 56,000-square-foot state-of-the-art facility in the heart of East Liberty, complete with an indoor swimming pool, gymnasium and office space to house the many partners who provide valuable social, health, educational and recreational services to thousands of families in East Liberty, Lincoln-Larimer, Homewood-Brushton, Wilkinsburg and other East End neighborhoods.

The city's involvement in the project dates back almost six years. In June 1998 the city made a $1.2 million commitment to the project. In fact that pledge, along with a commitment from the state for $1.4 million, really provided the impetus for kicking this project off. Private dollars and Kingsley's own money represent the majority of the remaining dollars necessary to complete this project ($5 million). With the support of our partners construction began in October 2002 and the facility is scheduled to be completed at the end of this month.

I applaud City Council and the mayor for honoring their long-standing commitment, not just to Kingsley, but to the residents of the East End. [After consulting with the Act 47 budget recovery coordinators, City Council voted Feb. 25 to approve the spending.] Kingsley Association began 110 years ago as an organization helping European immigrants settle in Pittsburgh and over the years, while the complexion and complexities of the neighborhood have changed, Kingsley's commitment to the neighborhood has remained the same.

This new facility represents a giant step forward for Pittsburgh's African American community. During these difficult economic times and with relatively few public dollars, we have stepped up to put our money where our mouth is. We have made sure that this summer both young and old in the East End will have a place to learn, to grow, to play sports and yes to swim.

JERRY LOPES
President, Kingsley Board of Managers
East Liberty

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What a waste

The North Shore Connector Project has got to be the biggest, dumbest, money-wasting project to hit our region yet: $363 million to dig a tunnel connecting two shores that you can walk in 10 minutes or less. This is total madness that we need to protest loud and often.

As a bus rider, I can attest to the abysmal bus service Port Authority offers -- and it's threatening more cuts. Good lord, it can't even provide dependable access for disabled riders but is going to pitch in roughly $10 million so sports fans don't have to exert themselves walking to games. I know the federal government is going to provide 80 percent of the funding, but since when does Washington have $300 million to waste?

We in the East End are still waiting for the proposed light-rail transit link to Oakland and Squirrel Hill. Oh, I forgot, that project would make sense and benefit too many people.

NORA BRONNER
Squirrel Hill

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Pay more to swim

In all the talk of swimming pool funding ("Council Eyes Way to Fund City Pools," Feb. 26), why has nobody considered raising pool pass fees?

Right now, city residents only pay $40 for family pool passes; half that for families receiving public assistance. This is dirt cheap compared to the cost of suburban municipal pools, which generally charge three to four times as much for family membership. And their pools are only open during the summer -- city pool pass holders can use the Oliver Bath House year-round.

Raising pool fees by $20 or so would not be a great hardship for most families (especially if the discount for those on public assistance is kept) and would provide much-needed revenue for operating the city swimming pools. Pittsburgh might even be able to reopen a couple more pools in addition to the 11 currently on the list.

NANCY OTT
Aspinwall

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A no-go

It is really disturbing to me that there has not been a loud protest against the discussions on broadening the state sales tax to include food, clothing, doctors visits, physical rehabilitation and other goods and services that are now exempt ("Sales Tax on Food, Clothes Eyed," Feb. 19).

The very things mentioned are the things the elderly, ill or disabled use. It is six of one and a half dozen of another. For example, I have a son with a terminal illness and the GOP is going to tax his doctors' visits? His drugs and care are extremely expensive, let alone adding taxes to them.

Under the proposal, the tax rate would drop from 6 percent to 4 percent. Yet the House Republican Policy Committee estimates that the broader tax would raise an additional $8 billion a year, which "would be used to lower or eliminate school property taxes." There must be a better way for all. One can see this would benefit the wealthy by lowering their property taxes while their sales tax idea is a small drop in the bucket to them.

I have never been a proponent of gambling. But after reading the Feb. 19 article, I say "bring on the slots, even casinos, whatever it takes" before using this terrible sales tax idea.

GRETCHEN COCHRAN
Bethel Park

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My actual point

I am writing in response to the Feb. 16 story "Expert's Critique on Iraq Winds Up in Political Swirl" by Post-Gazette National Security Writer Jack Kelly. I was one of several U.S. Army War College Analysts Mr. Kelly interviewed for this story.

The story said, "Raising questions about the wisdom of official policy is what researchers at the Strategic Studies Institute are supposed to do, said Steven Metz, a member of its faculty. 'The way we best serve the Army is to be the loyal opposition,' he said."

This is a very inaccurate portrayal of the research and publication process I attempted to describe during the interview. In the vast majority of cases -- as I indicated to Mr. Kelly -- my research, like that of my colleagues, supports and augments official policy. The point I was attempting to make was that in those instances where our research leads us to a conclusion at odds with official policy, we play the role of loyal opposition rather than partisan opposition.

STEVEN METZ
Carlisle

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Don't adjectivize woman

Regarding the Feb. 24 article, "St. Bonaventure Names City Native as University's First Woman President": The Post-Gazette has once again committed my major grammatical pet peeve, which, unfortunately, seems to have become accepted usage.

My Webster's dictionary tells me that the word woman is a noun, i.e., person, place or thing -- the same information we learned in elementary school. Why, then, has it become accepted to use "woman" as an adjective? Would you have printed the headline, "St. Bonaventure Names City Native as University's First Man President"?

The adjectives are "female" and "male." Please do not contribute to society's poor communication skills.

COLETTE M. HUCKO
Baldwin

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Callous toward victim

Anyone with even minimal common sense and intelligence would agree that bicyclists do have a right to safe passage on our streets and most highways. However, it is both regrettable and even callous that Michael Browne chose to use a most tragic incident involving a bicyclist and my brother to make that point in the Post-Gazette ("Drivers: Share the Road With Bicyclists," Feb. 16 letters).

Most disturbing in Mr. Browne's letter is the incorrect implication that my brother in any way prompted this incident. He, and not the bicyclist, is the victim of an outrageous crime, one that could very easily have resulted in my brother's death.

My brother spent nine days in the hospital, and faces months of rehabilitation as he recovers from a bullet wound to his arm, chest and lung. Yet, Mr. Browne failed to offer any legitimate sympathy to him or his family.

It would be foolish of me to suggest that all bicyclists are gun-carrying criminals. I suggest, similarly, that Mr. Browne refrain from making equally outrageous generalizations and implications regarding those who do not share his affection for bicycling.

LINDA KENDRO
North Huntingdon

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Parents, don't be wimps: Stop your kids from littering

I don't want to put the damper on the magical beauty of spring, but I am not looking forward to the litter that comes with it.

I am writing this letter in regard to some destructive children and some parents who could care less what their kids do

When you try to approach their parents to remedy the problem, they are insulted and come back with a retort like, "My kid would never do that." I've got news for them: They do that and more. I had nine of these little angels and surprise, surprise and surprise what they do and did.

Some of these kids and adults eat pizza and then throw the empty box in front of your house, along with empty pop bottles and candy and snack wrappers. If I caught the kid who did it and gave him or her a swift kick in a place that parents should have located years ago, I would be arrested for child abuse.

What are they going to do if you have to start paying for your garbage pick-up? I certainly am not going to be their janitor for free. "Show me the money, honey."

Instead of buying their kids all those videos and cell phones, buy them a broom and show them how to use it. Some kids think a broom is on Halloween with a witch flying through the air with it. Some of these so-called kids are flying up in space right now with their drugs.

This is Hazelwood, not Kansas, so come to Earth and face reality.

DOROTHY HOPKINS
Hazelwood

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