Minors as slots suppliers? Bad public policy in action

I never understand how anybody thinks legalized slots are a good thing for Pennsylvania.

The information in the July 22 article "Slots Link to Lobbyist Decried" further brings this point home. How can state gaming officials say Stephen R. Wojdak, a prominent Philadelphia lobbyist and political contributor, whose own minor children are listed as applicants for one of the supplier licenses, will not be a "direct beneficiary" of profits gained from that license? How many minor children do you know who independently (without parental involvement) apply for a slots supplier license? Minor children will presumably not be able to frequent the casinos but will be able to profit from the suppliers' licenses. How is that so?

The state officials and governor will want us to think that the fact that Mr. Wojdak is a large political contributor has nothing to do with the fact that his children got a license. What makes it worse is that, according to the article, the application with Mr. Wojdak's children is not the only one that lists "minor children" as applicants. The fact that minor children are being exploited by an apparent loophole in the legislation is a further indication to me that the scheme to use gambling money to reduce school property taxes is terrible public policy.

This is another example (just like the pay raise debacle) of our state officials thinking and hoping that people are uninformed and that they will go away.

I commend state Sen. Jane Orie for bringing this issue out, and I sincerely hope she will not let it die.

ALAN T. SHUCKROW
McCandless

The writer is a member of the North Allegheny school board.

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Simply shameful

We are now seeing what gambling will do to some of our leaders.

Many politicians voted to have middlemen handle our slot machines. Why? That is a silly question -- so they can line the pockets of special people. All legislators who voted for this should hide their faces in shame.

Sen. Jane Orie helped to do away with middlemen in a Senate bill ("State Senate Gets Rid of Slots Suppliers," June 28). Maybe the senators are more honest than those in the House, which failed to act on the measure. Money from slots is for property tax reduction for seniors and all taxpayers in the future. As much money as possible should go to Pennsylvania citizens. No other state has middlemen racking up profits.

So call your House member and ask what in the hell is going on. If eventually a measure to rescind the middlemen does pass, let's see what the governor does.

JACK W. HEIM
Avalon

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Bush's poverty

The United States influences the world in three important ways: morally, militarily and through feelings of good will toward us. However, George W. Bush has no currency in world affairs, as the North Korean crisis and the Mideast conflict so dramatically illustrate.

Why should either Hezbollah or Israel listen to the commander in chief of the disastrous "pre-emptive" doctrine of warfare? Why shouldn't they also use military force pre-emptively and in the face of international disapproval? Therefore, he has no moral currency.

Why should North Korea fear a military that can't control even Iraq, a country bombed nearly into the Stone Age? Unilateral nation-building usually demonstrates military weakness, not strength. So, he also has no military currency.

A great country like ours does both right and wrong, but strong immigrant ties to many countries often mean we get the benefit of the doubt. Unfortunately, Mr. Bush's "my way or the highway" doctrine has managed to make a large portion of the world, especially Muslims, hate us, no easy task after the outpouring of support that followed 9/11. Therefore he has no currency of good will, the worst poverty of all for an American president.

A letter like this may lead to vicious conservative responses. Watch their language ("moonbat," "liberal media" and, most awful but puzzling of all, "Hillary") and realize that we have given power to people who neither compromise with nor respect anyone whose honorable and well-considered beliefs differ from their own.

JOSEPH F. McLAUGHLIN
Shaler

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Some sanity left

I often find that Reg Henry's column is on target and written with refreshing insight. His July 19 column "A Bad Case of Testosterone Poisoning" in American society is truly on the mark and written with such wit. Great piece.

Thank you, Reg Henry, for weighing in on the side of sanity and consistency.

CHARLES B. GREENBERG
Murrysville

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Ben delivered

John Vater's comments about where Ben Roethlisberger chose to make his first public appearance is typical of a fanatic -- not a fan ("Steelers Fans Deserved Better From Big Ben," July 18 letters).

Did it really matter that his first appearance came from Los Angeles and not Pennsylvania? In each interview, Ben never failed to apologize to and thank the greatest fans -- Pittsburgh Steelers fans.

This tendency to think we are owed a front-row seat and a say into every aspect of our professional athletes' lives is absurd. We all deserve the right, whether public or private citizen, to live our lives as we so choose.

The only thing Ben Roethlisberger owes us is 100 percent when he steps out on the football field. If I remember correctly, we all got much more than that when Ben and all the Steelers gave us our coveted one for the thumb.

TERI CORMAS
North Huntingdon

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Policy all wet

One of our favorite things to do on a hot summer Saturday or Sunday in Pittsburgh is to head Downtown with our three small children to play in the PPG Place fountain.

As parents living in the East End, we like to expose our children to the urban charm of Downtown and have them experience tall buildings, creative spaces and more bridges than they can count.

On a visit to the fountain recently, however, we got more of a chill than we were expecting. According to a security officer who approached us, individuals must wear street clothes. No swim attire -- even for small children -- is permitted. We were surprised because our children in the past had worn swimsuits there. The officer indicated the rules are out of respect to the tenants of PPG Place.

While I can understand fully the appropriateness of this rule on the weekdays, I think it is just ridiculous to enforce such a policy on the weekends when the plaza is mostly empty and most of the tenants' offices are closed.

The fountain is such a landmark in Pittsburgh, so accessible and so much fun for both children and adults.

If city officials and businesses want folks to come Downtown on the weekends, I would encourage them to think more creatively about how to adapt some of the public spaces used by the work force during the week, so that these spaces can be enjoyed by individuals in a more leisurely way on the weekends.

PAULA CERRONE
Point Breeze

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A garden of good

Regarding the elderly gentlemen who had their tomato garden trampled and destroyed in Hazelwood:

I was so upset myself and am so amazed at the outpouring of help, money and good wishes sent to these men ("Things Now Look Just Vine for Vandalized Hazelwood Tomato Garden," July 20). Goes to show you, again, we Pittsburghers come to the aid of those in need.

Shame on those who did the dirty work -- no respect for others' property today seems to be the norm.

PEARL G. EHRENBERGER
Carnegie

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We must work together to find a public transit funding solution

A robust transportation network serves our economy the way the circulation system works inside the body. If blood can flow freely carrying nutrition to all body parts, you feel healthy and alive. Cut off the supply and you suffer. It's the same with our regional economy. If our network of highways, bridges and public transit systems can get people and freight where they need to go, the economy thrives. As that system crumbles, though, so does our economy.

Pennsylvania is at a critical juncture in development of ongoing funding to maintain and expand the transportation networks that serve urban, suburban and rural areas. Without a solution, for example, significant fare increases and cuts in public transportation service are inevitable as would be the negative impacts to southwestern Pennsylvania.

It is vitally important for business and civic leaders and citizens to support the governor's call for a funding fix by voicing their support for stable and reliable funding of transportation. The good news is more than 400 organizations and individuals have endorsed the Transportation Funding Initiative (www.sustainablepittsburgh.org/TFI/). Go online and add your endorsement to this growing list and send a strong message to the governor and Legislature on the critical need to identify a permanent and reliable source for funding our transportation infrastructure and systems.

Let them know citizens are willing to reach into their wallets to pay for essential public services that improve their lives and provide a good value ensuring the region's prosperity.

LALIT CHORDIA
President and Founder
Thar Technologies Inc.
Harmar

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