For economic growth, we need adequate transit funding
I am writing in response to the editorials regarding transit funding and the governor's economic stimulus package. It is important to make the link between public transportation (mass transit) and economic development. Our communities cannot be revitalized if our transit systems are not funded to grow to meet the needs of these communities.

This concept is incorporated into the platform of the Pennsylvania Alliance for Public Transportation Advocates (PAPTA). See www.sus-tainablepittsburgh.org.

The governor identified the link between transit and economic development during his campaign and when he introduced Allen Bieh-ler as his nominee for secretary of transportation. The commonwealth is fortunate to have a governor and Cabinet with a focus on the role of land use and transportation in promoting economic development.

However, the governor's announcements of the fiscal year 2004-05 budget and the economic stimulus package do not mention the role of public transportation in economic development. There are programs for construction of bus shelters.

The commonwealth's fiscal year 2004-05 budget proposes a 3.4 percent increase for public transportation operations. This amount will never allow transit agencies to keep up with demand that should be created with capital investments.

PAPTA endorses the Pennsylvania Public Transportation Association's funding proposal (www.ppta.net). Please ask your legislator to use the PPTA proposal to develop a stable and reliable source of funds and contact the governor to remind him that his new programs cannot be successful without funding for public transportation.

DAVID GINNS
Transportation Specialist
Transportation for Livable Communities
Downtown

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Just tolerate it
In a recent letter ("We Can at Least Dream of Political Campaign Reform," April 8), the writer's dream for reforming negative campaigns would turn into a political and social nightmare for the nation.

Proposed reforms limiting campaign duration, spending and content are grossly undemocratic. Limiting political campaigns and speech only pushes us in line with "reformed" nations like Cuba, Iran and China.

That push is intensified with other misguided reform ideas calling for expanding government-approved public financing of elections. The consequences of having any government decide what speech to fine and what speech to subsidize is the real nightmare.

Negative campaigns are like unpleasant medicines. They taste bad, but we need to tolerate them for our well-being.

If you want to discourage negative campaigns, career politicians skirting real issues and government bureaucrats judging political speech, then do what I do: support a third party such as the Libertarian Party.

MARK CROWLEY
Plum

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May they lose
I don't think the people of the United States should ever blindly follow the Republicans again without making them show proof that what they say is true.

The Republicans cherry-pick intelligence information to invade countries that aren't an immediate threat and do not ask help from the United Nations to take some of the pressure off our GIs.

I hope the Republicans lose the election in November; if they would win they might take it as a sign that what they are doing is condoned by the people of the United States and invade more countries!

ALEXANDER AUTHER
City Acres

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Campaign nonsense
I have had just about enough of this nonsense coming out of the Bush-Big Game Hunter Cheney camp, having to do with John Kerry planning on raising taxes across the board when he is elected. John Kerry wants to lower the taxes of 98 percent of U.S. taxpayers, and just not show favor to the upper 2 percent.

They have done more than enough for all of their affluent friends, don't you think?

MARTHA J. LONDON
Verona

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Subject to criticism
In response to the editorial "Dishing the Dirt: Some Are Stooping Low to Target Teresa Heinz Kerry" (March 14), the writer was correct in stating that Barbara and Laura Bush have not had any scandal attached to their names -- for good reason. They have not been involved in any scandalous behavior or actions.

Yet I think most intelligent people would agree that the work they have done as first ladies and continue to do, namely literacy and education, is important to the future of our country. These women have worked tirelessly to further their causes and have done so in a quiet, dignified manner.

Hillary Clinton, since entering the national arena of politics, has never been without scandal and has never done anything without measuring its political value. I have never understood the women who say Hillary is a great role model for women of all ages. This is a woman who allowed her husband to cheat on her and humiliate her in front of the entire country and who wants us to believe that she had no idea what was going on. What is so admirable about that?

Teresa Heinz Kerry is free to spend her money as she chooses; however, if she is going to be a public figure, her choices are open to public scrutiny and criticism. The stellar reputation the writer speaks of is for the Heinz name and the Heinz family contributions to this area. The Heinz spokesman said the money was for environmental charities, none of them radical. I believe the decision of what is radical, especially in the environmental arena, is highly subjective.

NANCY MERCER
Finleyville

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Aid for former POWs
One of the highest priorities at the Department of Veterans Affairs is meeting the needs of former prisoners of war. They are extraordinary men and women who have endured captivity, suffered extreme deprivation and sacrificed their own freedom to preserve the freedom of all Americans. In recent years, VA benefits and services for former prisoners of war have been improved and expanded.

However, there may be as many as 11,000 former POWs nationwide who are not receiving the benefits to which they are entitled. I am asking you to join me in locating these veterans and inviting them to take advantage of the benefits being offered by a grateful nation.

Since most missing former POWs are World War II veterans, we must act as quickly as possible to find them and their survivors. You can help these former POWs by encouraging them to contact the VA through a local, county or state veterans' service office, by calling 1-800-827-1000 or by looking at the VA's POW Web site. This may be the last chance for these selfless Americans and their survivors to receive the benefits they have earned. Let's be sure they do.

DOUGLAS A. WALLIN
Acting Director
Veterans Affairs Regional Office
Downtown

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Block scheduling provides advantages
In response to the Associated Press article "Philadelphia-Area School District Finds Block Scheduling Doesn't Deliver Higher Test Scores" (April 4), Coatesville Area School District has made a choice for its students that is based only on numbers, not on what's good for students. Eight years ago, the Pittsburgh High School for the Creative and Performing Arts instituted a block schedule. CAPA's high scores on standardized tests are common knowledge.

Block scheduling makes so much sense. Where else do we do things in 40-minute periods? Colleges certainly don't operate on that schedule, nor does the workplace. The schedule provides the time to work together. Teachers can attend to individual students' needs because they have time to do so during the class period. The longer periods allow for extended independent practice and time to write, rewrite and discuss an essay, have extended class discussion and do many other long-term projects.

Teaching in the block schedule is not just a doubling of periods; it's a different way of thinking and teaching. The physics teacher who said that he "primarily stuck to lecturing because he believes students should learn how to listen and take notes" obviously missed the concept of block scheduling. Teach, model, practice and demonstration are the way to success. Imagine what 80 to 90 minutes of lecture must be like. No wonder the scores in Coatesville did not go up.

It would have been helpful had the article shown the alternative view to the traditional schedule. Forty minutes is a limited time to teach concepts; limited time leads to limited thinking.

RUSSELL A. KUEHNER
Ben Avon

Editor's note: The writer is a gifted facilitator at CAPA high school.