The plight of disaster victims shows a vulnerable nation

Those left in New Orleans after the evacuation order could not escape the approaching disaster. Without resources -- cars, supplies, money -- they were left to the rising waters.

The lesson of Katrina is a growing awareness that too many people are living on the same edge of disaster. Nationwide there is a layer of people without resources -- enough food, savings accounts, health care, jobs that pay enough to live on -- who are steadily, slowly, heading for catastrophe. It won't take much -- the price increase of natural gas this winter may hit 70 percent. How far can the family paycheck stretch?

The new U.S. Census report says Allegheny County's poverty rate rose 2.1 percent to 11.1 percent. That means there are 7,000 more local residents living below the federal poverty level ($19,484 for a family of four!) than last year. Other waters are rising. Soon the Congress will consider Food Stamp "reform" as part of a $3 billion proposed cut in the Agriculture budget. Food Stamps are our most basic line of defense against poverty. Other social programs are also on the block, notably Medicaid. Failure to shore up these levees will bring disaster as sure as wind and water.

The outpouring of help to hurricane survivors is heartening. What about the 353,000 local people we serve per year? Our neighbors who did not receive salary increases, who are already struggling with day-to-day expenses?

The Food Bank will gladly share whatever we have with hurricane victims. This is what we do -- feed people in troubled times. People said if we had "fixed" the New Orleans levees, some destruction and loss of life could have been avoided. "Levees" need fixing all over the country, including here. Let's fix them now, for all Americans. No one should be left to the rising waters.

JOYCE ROTHERMEL
Chief Executive Officer
Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank
Duquesne

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Light a candle

As hurricane season proceeds to destroy and devastate the lives in the South, it is hard to sit back and watch the mayhem the citizens are going through.

Although I can thankfully say I have not been affected directly by the hurricanes, emotionally I have been struck with awe, confusion and anger to know that our citizens of the United States are being affected.

I do wonder, however, how I could help and make a difference and let these people know we care about them. As I thought about what I could do to try and help and feel as though I'm a part of this that, just as we had put up yellow ribbons on trees to show our support to the soldiers fighting in combat, we should put a single candle in our windows.

When looking across a large body of water, you can often see a lighthouse with a speckle of light flickering in the distance, to let sailors be aware of where to go in case they get lost in the storm. A single candle in the window captures this image. It is symbolic in that, although they feel lost right now and things are horrible for them, we are thinking of them and hoping that they'll find their way.

KAREN and CORRIE YANKO
Beechview

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Keep them out

I was stunned by the arrogant and disgusting tone of the Sept. 18 Forum piece by Richard Delgado and Jean Stefancic, "Let's Welcome Latinos to Pittsburgh."

They have declared war against all working people in your city regardless of their race or ethnic backgrounds. Not only do they accuse construction workers and restaurant owners of making too much money, they want your readers to believe that nobody but "pious and industrious" Latinos can do these jobs better and for less. That racist statement must be condemned in the strongest possible terms.

Cheap foreign labor, much of which is illegal, is what is undermining this country's standard of living and causing increasing economic pain for millions of own working poor who once were able to support their families working in meatpacking, construction, poultry processing, drywall installation and janitorial services.

American cities like Pittsburgh don't need more unskilled and uneducated immigrants whose presence only serve to depress wages and erode working conditions. What they need are more good-paying jobs for citizens and legal residents.

DAVE GORAK
Executive Director
Midwest Coalition to Reduce Immigration
LaValle, Wis.

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Bring them home

It's unfortunate that so many of the United States military sites are slated for closure. It's obvious this will affect the lives of those employed by the base, the retired military members and their local economy. Why the absence of so many of our overseas locations?

In Europe, our troops and their families are living in Germany, England, Spain and several other locations. In Germany alone (the size of Oregon), only speaking of the Kaiserslautern area, there are tens of thousands of our troops. Can you imagine the revenue that could be generated by bringing this small portion of the families home to support American communities?

The threats of today are very different than previous years. We are a mobile military, capable of repositioning our troops within hours.

We live in a nation that is giving and supportive of many allies, near and far. Our generosity is exceptional. Along with our commitment to other countries, it's time we focus on our own countries stability.

It's going to take very strong leadership to implement such a change. Someone that is willing to raise the bar in our government's decision making. May this plan one day become a reality, the payoff would be an exceptional boost to our own economy.

FRANK HARTWIG
Verona

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About those mice

I write regarding the editorial on the plague-infected mice missing from the Newark, N.J., lab ("Minding the Mice," Sept. 22). I am a Ph.D. microbiologist with years of experience working with mice and have no connection with the lab in question.

Although the editorial assumes that someone absconded with these three animals, that conclusion is dubious. It is more likely that the missing mice were consumed through cannibalism, a frequent occurrence among captivated rodents. It is unfortunate that this episode has been blown out of proportion and perhaps someone in Newark should have done their homework before raising the alarm.

BRUCE MOLHOLT
West Chester, Pa.

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Onward, upward

In response to Edward Stankowski Jr.'s Sept. 17 First Person, "Steel Amnesia," criticizing the new SouthSide Works development for not recognizing the industrial heritage of its site:

I recently moved to the South Side from Los Angeles and was delighted to find all the stimulating things Pittsburgh has to offer. I am retired and genealogy is a hobby. To acquaint myself with those who have come before me, I've researched the history of the property I rent.

The renewal of the South Side is as outstanding as its history. Care is obviously being taken to assure that the new architecture not conflict with the historical flavor of the neighborhood. I enjoy walking about the area, observing the revitalization. And the last time I looked, except for the preponderance of gray-haired retirees like me, most are young "working class" -- vibrant and gracious -- contributing to the tax base the city sorely needs.

If Mr. Stankowski believes so strongly in a memorial at SouthSide Works to the steel, iron and glass workers of the past, he should formulate a committee, ather funds, hire artisans and execute what he envisions himself. Why should developers be responsible for the past? They are ensuring a much-deserved future.

DELLI SPEERS
South Side

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Sheriff DeFazio should be fired after 'taking the Fifth' in a federal case

As the Post-Gazette reported on Sept. 3, during the recent federal perjury trial of Capt. Frank Schiralli of the Allegheny County Sheriff's Office, Sheriff Pete DeFazio, Michael Mullen Jr. (Defazio's executive assistant and campaign treasurer) and Sgt. Daniel Stehle were called as defense witnesses ("Sheriff's Captain Found Guilty of Lying to Federal Grand Jury"). Each of the three took refuge behind the Fifth Amendment, claiming that if they were required to testify they may be forced to incriminate themselves.

Does that strike anybody as strange? A person who is called to testify may "take the Fifth," but something's wrong in this case. Schiralli was on trial for lying to a federal grand jury as to whether he pressured other Sheriff's Office employees to contribute to Sheriff DeFazio by purchasing tickets for fund-raisers and for lying about keeping a list about those who did. (He was found guilty of the second charge, not guilty of the first.) Isn't it a contradiction that the top law enforcement officer for Allegheny County and his executive assistant decide that it's necessary to take the Fifth Amendment on matters involving the sheriff's office?

If it's outrageous that Sheriff DeFazio and his executive assistant decided that it was necessary to plead the Fifth Amendment about the internal affairs of his office, then it's equally outrageous that he should continue in office as the sheriff of Allegheny County or any political office.

Where is the outrage by County Chief Executive Dan Onorato, the County Council or any other city or county officials, Democrat or Republican? Maybe I missed it, but I have not seen or heard a word from anybody.

JOHN M. FEENEY
Shadyside

The writer is a lawyer and a former criminal court judge on the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas.