Bravo for funding city pools, but we should pay, too

Pittsburgh officials said there was no money available to open the city pools this summer. At the request of city Councilman Sala Udin, foundations and corporations stepped in to save the summer for thousands of city children by raising enough funds to open 16 of the 31 city pools.

One of the pools that didn't open was the one I usually frequent just about every day throughout the summer. Sure, I was disappointed, but willing to travel a greater distance to cool off, have fun and relax.

Much to my surprise and amazement, when I asked to purchase my annual swim pass for the usual nominal fee of $20 per year, I was told this year the passes are free! Instead of being overjoyed, I was stunned. The usual $20 annual fee per person to swim in city pools all year round is already absurdly low every year. I and other swimmers I've talked to agree a $50 fee per year would not be out of line -- especially when you consider suburbanites pay upwards of $500 per summer for private pool memberships.

As I floated in the cool, clear water surrounded by the screams and laughter of all these children, I wondered if it's free to swim this year, what will happen next year? The city is in financial crisis and we are swimming absolutely free. It doesn't make any sense. Why weren't fees collected so all pools could open for all the children and taxpaying residents to enjoy?

Why weren't fees raised or even collected and put away for next summer to at least give residents the choice to swim or not swim? Will the foundations agree to raise $850,000 next year, too?

MARLENE GENTILCORE
South Side

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About UPCI

As chair of the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute Council, I want to comment on the July 11 article "UPMC Wrestles to Balance Research, Income." Your readers should know the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute and the UPMC Cancer Centers are comprehensive programs that bring extraordinary benefits not only to our own community, but also to the entire nation.

It is also important to recognize that Dr. Stanley Marks and his highly respected oncology team were recruited to join UPCI to enhance the outstanding program established by Dr. Ronald Herberman. Dr. Marks and his team have added dramatically to UPCI and UPMC, and their skills and passion for treating and fighting cancer and related diseases have earned national acclaim for UPCI.

In addition, translational research -- "translating" research findings from the laboratory to the clinic where they most benefit cancer patients and people at risk for cancer -- is a challenging endeavor. UPCI's expertise and success in this field is event in the awarding of two widely sought, major grants from the National Cancer Institute. Two Specialized Programs of Research Excellence grants were awarded to UPCI for its lung cancer and head and neck cancer programs over other centers based on its strengths in translational cancer research.

As to the suggestion that doctors are leaving UPMC due to a shift toward business and away from academic research, it is important to note that over the last decade, many world-renowned doctors, scientists and clinicians have joined the UPCI family. Their exceptional skills and dedication have propelled UPCI into an international leader in cutting-edge medical research and treatment.

Thanks to their collective efforts, UPCI's programs, whether in research, hospital operations or translational research, have grown significantly, yielding important findings that have catapulted research into new directions and have greatly improved cancer diagnosis and treatment.

While UPMC and UPCI certainly add to the economic vitality of our region, their No. 1 priority is and will always be saving lives. Personally, as a lifelong resident of Pittsburgh, I'm delighted that we have to look no farther than our own hometown to find the absolutely best physicians and patient care available anywhere in the world.

SY HOLZER
President, PNC Bank
Downtown

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Will they forget?

It's amazing how both political parties have "discovered" Pennsylvania. We're hoping that no matter who wins the election, they still remember our importance. We're watching!

INGEBURG MOCKENHAUPT
O'Hara

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Only one Chiodo's

After reading the article "Chiodo's May Make Way for New Walgreens" (July 22), I can't help but feel that some people in the Pittsburgh area are still being fandango-ed into some bad business propositions. It seems Pittsburgh is being swarmed by a few developers who want to raze the existing small-business infrastructure to "redevelop?" the New Pittsburgh.

This proposal by Anchor Properties does not instill community pride in the Mon Valley or in the surrounding region. I can shop anyone of the 6,000 Walgreens nationwide, but there is only one Chiodo's.

To all of the Real Steel Pittsburghers: Park your car on Eighth Street, order a famous Mystery Sandwich and live like your granddad would want you to. After all, his work in the mill built this city.

MARK B. YOKIM
East Carnegie

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Takes two to tango

First, my background: I am a native raised in lower Munhall whose first (summer) job was at the Homestead Steel Works. I've been to Chiodo's plenty of times, and long before the bar gained its national fame.

This, however, does not make my opinion any better than your letter writers from Bellevue and Aspinwall who, along with your prior articles, seemed to reserve blame for the uncaring, out-of-town developers, but it does seem to be the reason why I apparently care more about my roots than the only real culprit in this matter -- that being the bar's owner.

If I were the owner of Chiodo's and desired to get out of the business and wanted to preserve a legacy in local sports lore, I would be far more choosy about to whom I sold my establishment. How many among us are condemning this big, bad out-of-town developer while saying to Joe Chiodo, "Go for it, Joe, and get as much as you can out of the deal?" I say, "What is it that you want to leave behind for your community and those who have been your customers since 1947?"

ROBERT HAVRILLA
North Side

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A sigh

Of all the gin joints in all the world, why does Walgreens have to show up at Chiodo's?

JOHN HEMPEL
Braddock Hills

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Obnoxious behavior

So I found myself sitting in front of my computer after having read Torsten Ove's July 24 Saturday Diary, "Litter, Litter Everywhere, and not a Slob Who Thinks." I, too, am completely fed up with the "pigs" in this world.

My husband and I live on a major route through the borough we live in, and I never cease to be amazed at what we find in our front yard. Not only do people not have any regard for other people's property, but they also have no regard for what they discard and where they discard it!

Members of our immediate family and friends had occasion to spend the Fourth of July watching the fireworks at the new -- and I might add impressive -- overlook in the Elliot section of the city. We were totally appalled at the way people vacated the area after the fireworks display. Empty pop cans, containers of food, paper, you name it and you probably could have found it on the beautiful landscaped grounds.

What made it even more appalling was that there were plenty of trash receptacles throughout the area and people were just too lazy to place their trash in them. Instead "the pigs" left the trash sitting next to the receptacles. Members of our group, including young children, were gathering up "trash" as we were exiting the grounds and making comments about "the pigs"; we too felt it didn't matter who heard our comments because they obviously didn't care what other people thought or they would not have done what they did in the first place.

Perhaps if the fines that supposedly are to be imposed on people for littering were enforced often enough, this problem might begin to be eliminated and more people would start to once again take pride in where they live!

J. KRONZ
Crafton

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Fidel Castro was a gracious host for our Semester at Sea group

I am a college student who recently visited Havana, Cuba, in January with the Semester at Sea Spring 2004 voyage. It was an eye-opening experience that changed my opinion of a country that I was taught to fear in the classroom growing up.

I am highly disappointed that Semester at Sea will not be going back to Cuba for quite a while due to tightening U.S. government restrictions ("Semester at Sea, Si! Cuba, No!," July 23). The hospitality shown by the Cuban people and Fidel Castro himself was amazing.

As I stepped of the S.S. Universe Explorer, I was somewhat nervous because I had never heard one good thing about Cuba. I was immediately greeted by students at the University of Havana who became our friends for four days. They showed us around the city and had events planned for us every day for the four days that we were there. On the final day, Fidel Castro invited the entire shipboard community to meet with him.

It was truly an incredible experience as he talked to us for four hours, never saying anything negative about the United States. Afterwards, a large reception was awaiting us with lots of food and music.

I don't support communism nor do I support Fidel Castro, but my once-negative view of Cuba is now gone, replaced with hospitality, smiling faces, mojitos, beautiful scenery and a sense of hope. I hope that other college students will again someday get to experience Cuba like I did.

KEITH BALKEY
Oakland

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