Vital health and safety services are refused RAD funding

I read with great disappointment that the budget for the Regional Asset District board increased an additional $2.4 million ("Asset District Unveils Record Budget," Oct. 4), while the RAD board still refuses to fund volunteer fire departments and emergency medical service providers across Allegheny County.

Last year, while I was on Allegheny County Council, I proposed that the RAD board fund these organizations, and again this year as a private citizen, I twice appeared before the RAD board to argue for this funding.

Instead the RAD board found Attack Theatre to be more worthy of consideration than the thousands of volunteer firefighters who daily place their lives on the line, who serve without pay and protect 75 percent of our county's population.

There was nothing in the original statute that created RAD that prohibits the funding of volunteer fire departments and EMS providers.

The statute states that RAD was created to ensure the continued viability of civic and other regional assets that are vital to the health, welfare and quality of life for area residents.

Nobody plays such an important role in the health, welfare and quality of life of area residents than volunteer fire companies and EMS providers.

Volunteer fire departments across the county are struggling to raise money, but with the additional $2.4 million, the RAD board could easily allocate $8,000 to $10,000 to every volunteer fire company and EMS provider in the county.

Instead the RAD board has chosen to put the entertainment of a few ahead of the public safety of the many.

ED KRESS
Shaler

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A singular purpose

I am continually amazed at the obscene "logic" used by people such as Leo Stankus Jr. in his Oct. 8 letter "Cars Kill, Too." He argues that since cars and knives can be used to kill as can guns, then these items should be banned as well.

I'm not sure Mr. Stankus knows there is only one purpose for a gun, especially a handgun or a semi-automatic weapon, and that is to maim or kill a living being.

Obvious to everyone but him and his like-minded citizens, cars and knives have a multitude of uses; a car can be used to save someone's life and to enhance it.

I'm also not sure if Mr. Stankus knows the full text and intent of the Second Amendment, which was to provide the new republic with weapons to form a militia. The last time I looked, militias serve no purpose in a civilized society.

As long as people with beliefs such as Mr. Stankus' uphold their "right" to own multiple handguns and semi-automatic weapons, we will continue to see innocent children slaughtered in their schoolrooms.

MIMI BOTKIN
Squirrel Hill

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Be a reform leader

The Oct. 8 editorial "Got Reform?" clearly recognizes the need for better state government in Pennsylvania but holds little hope for change because our state does not "have an active political citizenry and a responsive political culture."

True enough, but there is a way to get there from here. The way is not to go to a state constitutional convention, at least not at this time.

If I owned a newspaper, I would lead the way to presenting a 21st-century state constitution, probably less than 40 pages long.

This document would be developed based on university and public policy foundation studies and on existing state constitutions. The idea, at this point, would be to keep active politicians at arm's length, and then present the final document to the public for comment and, eventually, to a state constitutional convention.

This is an exciting way to solve a difficult state constitution problem.

I know your paper is having a tough time financially. To ease your pain, I will contribute $10,000 to the effort I have outlined and hope others interested in better state government will also help out.

WALTER E. HOPKINS JR.
Pleasant Hills

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Beyond bungling

The Bush administration can be described in one word: incompetent. Books have been written cataloging the many errors that President Bush made in failing to heed warnings of the impending 9/11 attacks and then leaving the job in Afghanistan unfinished to pursue a totally unnecessary and counterproductive war in Iraq, which has been one bungle after another.

This enormous blunder transformed worldwide support for the United States after 9/11 to worldwide condemnation, while costing 2,800 American lives and hundreds of billions of dollars.

The war enhances the terrorist threat, according to the latest intelligence report.

The problem of global warming has been ignored despite the universal warning of scientists, risking worldwide consequences that may make the Iraq war pale in comparison.

Add to these substantial missteps the Katrina debacle; massive budget deficits; fatal incompetence in administering the mine safety, air traffic control and environmental protection agencies; the health-care crisis; the attempt to privatize Social Security, etc.

The reasons for this monumental incompetence are clear. Within the Bush administration only conservative views are tolerated resulting in an ideological inbreeding. Conclusions of scientific panels are ignored if they don't follow the party line.

Capable people are driven from government and replaced by political hacks and corporate cheerleaders who were big campaign contributors. Secrecy replaces honest and open discussion. Because of party loyalty, the Republican Congress has done nothing to avert the Bush train wreck. Now is the time to replace this Congress with one that will perform its constitutional oversight duty before the consequences become even more dire.

WALTER MASTROPAOLO
Mt. Lebanon

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Get him out

If anyone has been ambivalent about our senatorial candidates, they should reread Garrison Keillor's commentary "Rule of Law, Overruled" (Oct. 4 Midweek Perspectives) listing Sen. Rick Santorum among the many senators who voted to "suspend human rights in America" through the "enemy combatant" bill.

This election is not about electing Bob Casey, Jr.; it's about eliminating Santorum.

J.B. WELLER
Downtown

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Bilingualism benefits

N.Z. Malachias' Oct. 8 letter ("Language Unity") contained this puzzling statement: "All one has to do is look to our neighbor to the north to see how having two languages in one nation can give rise to all kinds of problems, the least of which are the inevitable calls for separatism."

Having lived in the Pittsburgh area for the last four years, this Canadian wonders what problems the letter writer means.

What is it about Canada -- the lower crime rate, universal health care, higher standard of living and quality of living -- that are so problematic for him or her?

While the Canadian policy of official bilingualism is by no means perfect, its benefits to Canadian society far outweigh its drawbacks.

BRIAN BJOLIN
Wheeling, W.Va.

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Rude treatment of Jeb Bush was embarrassing

I read the "Jeb Bush Gets Rude Welcome" article (Oct. 7) with disbelief and disgust. The knuckle-dragging thugs who harassed Gov. Bush are an absolute embarrassment to the city. No wonder visitors like actress Sienna Miller have a negative impression of Pittsburgh.

I hope Mayor Luke Ravenstahl plans on making a formal apology to Mr. Bush and ensuring that no future visitors receive such a "welcome."

DAVE CHECQUE
Houston, Pa.

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What goes around

To the people of Pittsburgh: I want to thank you for the warm and cordial manner with which you greeted our governor. We would hope that you would expect to be treated similarly in our state. Please wear your union label.

BILL BROWN
Lecanto, Fla.