Council still hasn't gotten the message about finances

Regarding "City Council Balks at Austerity" (March 9), please congratulate the council on its purchase of yet another $140,000 worth of bad publicity and the ongoing affirmation of its myopic stance regarding the city's dire budgetary situation.

City Council needs only to look at the electoral result regarding the recent state pay raise issue to see just what kind of political outcome its refusal to cut a further $140,000 will reap.

Pennsylvanians, in general, and Pittsburghers, in particular, are sick and tired of the double standard applied by public officials to their own budgets, while our municipality sinks further into a quagmire of debt and stagnation.

One can only hope council will stick by its misguided and arrogant demand for an additional $140,000 in operating expenses, and thus reap the public's full ire when re-election time comes around.

LAWSON BERNSTEIN, M.D.
Squirrel Hill

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Debt deception

Recently, Vice President Dick Cheney announced that a newly created division within the Treasury Department would show that tax cuts increase, not reduce, federal revenue ("Debt and Denial," Feb. 18 Paul Krugman column). If true, said increased revenues going into the treasury should be compared to what is taken out of the treasury for the tax cuts. Only then do you get the real picture. Our U.S. Treasury becomes a big loser.

To me, tax cuts make sense only if taken out of government surpluses, something we haven't had since Bill Clinton was president. As it is, Messrs. Bush and Cheney's tax cuts came from borrowed money, increasing, instead, our already huge deficit and debt we are leaving for our children and grandchildren.

BILL SUVAK
Turtle Creek

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All about revenues

At a time when our city faces severe financial challenges, we need to create as many well-paying jobs as we can. With the debate over casino proposals raging, we need to look beyond the obvious and focus on the heart and soul of the matter: Who can generate the most revenues and create the most jobs for Pittsburgh? Who has the experience to run a casino well over the long haul?

As the general manager of the Westin Convention Center Pittsburgh hotel, I fully understand the importance of tourism and revenues to a business and a city.

The plan put out by Forest City Enterprises and Harrah's makes a compelling case that no other can. Harrah's is the largest name in the business and includes brands like Caesars and Horseshoe. This company knows how to attract people and bring in revenues. I honestly believe people would travel to Pittsburgh to visit a Harrah's, because Harrah's has the unparalleled capacity to market and attract them.

They project that $155 million of the revenues in the first year alone will come from outside Allegheny County and more than 10,300 jobs will be created. Smaller casino players cannot commit to do what Harrah's could do for Pittsburgh. It is that simple.

JOSEPH R. KANE
General Manager
The Westin Convention Center Hotel
Downtown

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Chemical killers?

In light of the loss of Dana Reeve to lung cancer ("Widow of 'Superman' Star," March 8 obituary), we Americans are forced to take a look at what in our environment could possibly be contributing to the increase of this dreaded disease.

It surprises me that the focus is only on cigarette smoking. Why not look at the indiscriminate use of pesticides on lawns in our neighborhoods and even in our parks and along railroad tracks? These companies interested only in making a profit should be held accountable for what they're dumping on us.

And of course the American Cancer Society is always whining for more money for research. I am not impressed with its record so far.

The research I choose to support would be that of Devra Davis at the University of Pittsburgh. She's been given a grant to study the effects of the combination of all these chemicals on our breathing.

ELAINE O'NEILL
Stanton Heights

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Principles matter

Regarding your March 7 editorial on Kate Michelman's possible run for the U.S. Senate ("Off the Cliff: A Run by Michelman Could Re-elect Santorum"): It's not Bob Casey's support for Justice Samuel Alito that bothers this pro-choice voter. It's how Mr. Casey came to run for the Senate that makes me angry. It's how the Democratic leadership, including Gov. Ed Rendell, talked pro-choice Barbara Hafer into withdrawing in favor of anti-choice Casey.

It's how Democrat Casey's position on stem-cell research mirrors right-wing Sen. Rick Santorum's. It's how people who are supposedly pro-choice or pro-stem-cell research are willing to sell out their principles for political convenience.

You say "abortion rights make up just one issue that affects the lives of women." It is too huge an issue to any woman making that decision for the Post-Gazette to cynically minimize it. Reproductive rights (including contraception) are under attack in this country and that affects both sexes. It is too serious a situation to elect another candidate who doesn't respect the rights of individuals to make their own choices.

Mr. Casey was the top vote-getter in the last election for the position of state treasurer. He didn't do nearly as well when he ran for governor. Maybe that means voters trust him with their money but not to make their moral decisions.

If Mr. Casey is Sen. Santorum's only opposition, I'll reluctantly vote for Mr. Casey. If Kate Michelman runs, I'll sign her petition. Sometimes principle is the most important thing, especially when we're just trading one social reactionary for another.

JOE CASTELLI
Squirrel Hill

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A better system

I was disappointed with the name-calling in your recent editorial "Off the Cliff" (March 7). Usually the editorials in the Post-Gazette provoke thoughtful discussion rather than resort to childish name-calling. This one was an exception that I hope won't be repeated.

In fact, there are many opportunities for thoughtful comments on this issue. For example, there are at least two candidates already in the race who are pro-choice: Chuck Pennacchio in the Democratic primary and Green Party candidate Carl Romanelli.

More importantly, consider Kate Michelman's (and the other candidates') reason for running: She feels that none of the current candidates adequately represents her views. What could be more democratic than that? This is the sort of political response that we should encourage, not deplore.

Nevertheless, the premise of the editorial is correct: Such a run may in fact benefit Sen. Rick Santorum at the expense of Bob Casey Jr. But the fault is primarily with our voting system. Why should the outcome of the election depend on whether a minor candidate runs? It shouldn't!

Fortunately there is a win-win solution: adopt a better voting system such as instant runoff voting (www.fairvote.org/irv/), which encourages broad participation while alleviating the problem of "splitting the vote." Ms. Michelman, Mr. Casey and democracy all stand to benefit from such a system.

Instead of criticizing Ms. Michelman, the Post-Gazette would do better to ask why Mr. Casey's campaign isn't loudly advocating such voting improvements.

BRADY HUNSAKER
Point Breeze

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George F. Will and others prefer the easy route of blaming the poor

I am so very glad that columnist George F. Will has opened my eyes as to why I am poor ("John Edwards' Journey," March 6). Apparently, it is because of my lack of "punctuality, hygiene, industriousness" and the inability to "defer gratification" rather than because of complex social and economic factors. What a relief. All I have to do is brush my teeth and show up on time and someone will magically hand me a job that pays enough to purchase food, transportation, shelter and health care.

Mr. Will accuses former vice presidential candidate John Edwards of being behind the times when it comes to poverty, but Mr. Will is being downright naive! There are many reasons why people are impoverished. These include lack of decent jobs (most are part-time, pay $5.15 an hour and don't offer health care), lack of transportation (public transportation is spotty and inconvenient, and cars and gas are expensive) and lack of housing (more and more lower-income housing is being bulldozed to make way for expensive and more profitable apartments for higher-income folks), among many other things.

Mr. Will and those who think like him don't want to consider these factors, because that would mean we, as a society, would have to do something about them. It is so much easier to blame the poor for being poor than to start to make a real difference.

MORGAN HARDY
North Charleroi

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