With actions like this, no wonder the city is in trouble

On Oct. 24, the Post-Gazette had an article out of Harrisburg concerning changes in the withholding of funds for the emergency municipal services tax ("Senate OKs Change for Collecting $52 Tax"). However, the bill excludes Pittsburgh through 2009; until then, the city will continue to be able to withhold the tax in a lump sum at the beginning of the year.

Shame on the Legislature and all members of City Council plus the mayor for placing the burden of a $6 million budget deficit on the workers who can least afford it.

Workers who make less than $12,000 will be forced to pay the $52 annual fee in January, then apply for a refund of $42 at year's end. In the meantime they will be faced with paying an additional $52 in the next year before they can even recover the $42 for the current year. Is this fair?

The majority of the low-income workers probably are senior citizens who are trying to supplement their income to pay high hospitalization and medical fees plus property taxes. Students and part-time summer workers also might be affected. This is really an injustice to these workers. If their money is necessary to maintain the city budget, we are in serious trouble.

In looking at this program it appears to me that the city is operating a scam to get a 0 percent loan from these workers for a period of 15 months. Ridiculous. No wonder no new industry even tries to move into the city.

PAUL F. MURAWSKI
Baldwin Borough

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Map out the vision

The Oct. 24 article "Vision Forms for Giant Riverfront Park" was the most exciting local story I've seen in the paper for quite a while.

Before I could finish the first paragraph, I tore through the rest of the section looking for a map to show me the vision. Nothing excites walkers, joggers, commuters, stroller-pushers and bikers more than maps showing possibilities of weekend parties using local paths, possibilities of increasing daily exercise with a by-foot or by-bike commute, possibilities of bed-and-breakfasts along the river where our out-of-town visitors can stay.

Alas, no map. To increase support from the communities, somebody should help them visualize how working and retirement lives could be improved.

For example, I have tried three different part-time jobs during my retirement: one in McKees Rocks, one in Mt. Lebanon and one in Oakdale. Hands down the best is the one in Oakdale because I can walk on the Panhandle trail during lunch or after work.

I'd use your map to find my next job or home.

LESLIE EVANS
Mt. Lebanon

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Not a true station

What an insult to the intelligence of the citizens of the old Zone 4 police station for the city to say it has reopened the station ("Zone 4 Station Reopened," Oct. 21).

The city has not reopened it as a police station but as a place to house squads and units whose responsibilities do not address the needs of our communities as the old police station did.

Once again we get the crumbs with fanfare and hot air. This is what the West Pittsburgh Partnership wanted but not what the communities wanted.

The West Pittsburgh Partnership interest is only in the small area of the West End, not the surrounding communities. Perhaps a few motorcycles on their street make them happy but not the people of the western communities of the city.

I can assure you that we do not consider the station reopened and the issue is not over. The voters of the western section of the city will keep fighting till our station is reopened and we receive the same quality of police protection the other parts of the city receive.

NORENE BEATTY
Westwood

The writer is past president of the West End/Elliott Citizens Council.

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Support this brew

In the Oct. 25 article "Judge Grudgingly Gives Pittsburgh Brewing Two More Weeks," it is clear to me and hopefully to all people who call themselves Pittsburghers that this brewery needs us now more than ever. In today's world, where most beer is mass-produced by multimillion dollar breweries, Pittsburgh Brewing Co. has lived on, but the future does not look so bright.

Iron City is to Pittsburgh as the Steelers are to Pittsburgh. I cannot see Pittsburgh without either one of these mainstays. So when you go out to the South Side, or to your favorite bar, instead of ordering an import or any another domestic beer, why not order an Iron or IC Light and help support your local brewery?

RYAN STAIGER
Dormont

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Wasting lives in Iraq

Imagine you're taking a walk in the woods on one of these beautiful fall days, and you see a stick on the ground and pick it up and stab yourself in the eye. Imagine walking through the kitchen of your house, and you smell a wonderful aroma coming from the oven, and you open the door and intentionally grab the metal baking rack and hold on until you've burned your hand.

Keeping our soldiers in harm's way in Iraq, so that on average now three of them get hideously murdered every day, makes no more sense than the examples I've given and is infinitely more serious. I mean by this no lack of respect and admiration for our wonderfully courageous men and women overseas.

We should honor them in every way -- and the best way would be to act with purpose and good sense -- to bring them home. These young men and women are the beautiful days and wonderful aromas in our lives. Please let's not waste them.

GREGORY M. DISKIN
Squirrel Hill

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Twisting their lesson

Who could possibly take such a beautiful, forgiving and peaceful act that the Amish recently displayed and turn it into a self-serving political statement ("Christian Courage," Oct. 19 letters)? I guess not all of us understood the lesson they were teaching about peace, harmony and good will.

ED DALLESANDRO
South Fayette

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No-agenda Dems

In 1994 Newt Gingrich and the Republicans in the House of Representatives ran on the platform called "The Contract With America." It was conservative in nature and pushed the Republicans into the majority by a landslide, pretty much confirming that the nation as a whole is largely conservative.

The Republicans won because they actually had an agenda. This year the Democrats don't have an agenda other than: bash Bush, bash Republicans. That's it. Will the Democrats win back control of Congress? Not if we all show up to vote. Ignore the media polls and just vote.

Otherwise the party with no real stand on issues will win, with some aid from the media and all the spin.

DOUGLAS A. BAUMAN
Apollo

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Stack rain is a health threat, not a mere 'nuisance'

Throughout the Oct. 22 article "Dust Still Hasn't Settled, 3 Months After Soot 'Event,' " a Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection air quality manager was quoted referring to toxic air pollution with somewhat dismissive terms.

Specifically, he described "stack rain" at the Bruce Mansfield power plant as a "nuisance" and indicated that pollution plumes were "cosmetic" problems. The DEP manager also represented that white emissions from stacks were always steam. These quoted assertions are incorrect and misleading and they suggest a low priority for public health.

Stack rain should not be viewed as a nuisance. As the Oct. 22 article points out, both independent and government analysis confirms that the stack rain from Bruce Mansfield contains carcinogenic hydrocarbons and toxic levels of arsenic and mercury. Due to these toxins, residents of the afflicted area are urged to wear masks, wash exposed skin and avoid the outdoors. Appropriately, citizens are gravely concerned by this threat to their health and livelihood.

Furthermore, GASP (gasp-pgh.org), as well as the DEP, has certified smoke readers on staff; thus, we know the difference between white smoke plumes and "water vapor" plumes. Also, depending on the industrial process used, smokestack plumes can vary in color, including white.

Smoke plumes of any color are not simply "cosmetic" problems. They represent combustion inefficiency and the release of hazardous, unhealthy materials -- a situation the DEP is mandated to regulate through smoke opacity readings, among other methods.

In the future, the DEP should be careful not to characterize serious pollution events as "cosmetic" and "nuisances" of no immediate concern.

MICHAEL A. PARKER
Policy and Outreach Coordinator
Group Against Smog and Pollution
Squirrel Hill

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We receive more letters than we can fit into the limited space on the editorial page, so we'd like to share some additional letters with our Post-Gazette Web site readers.

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We know where Sen. Santorum stands

Your "Casey for Senate" (Oct. 22 editorial) is a reiteration of the Bob Casey Jr. talking points. I heard them in the debates. And I heard Rick Santorum's specific answers to Mr. Casey's mischaracterizations. I listened intently for Bob Casey to answer the questions or be specific within any answer.

The Post-Gazette can endorse whichever candidate it prefers. I believe there is a high mandate for truth within the pages.

You say that Sen. Santorum voted 10 times against raising the minimum wage. Yet you know, as was answered in the debates, that he also voted to raise the minimum wage in at least as many other votes. So why does the Post-Gazette still choose to paint the picture that Mr. Santorum is against raising the wage?

Then there is the same skewing of his position on Social Security and other issues. Is it possible that not only Bob Casey but also now the Post-Gazette is afraid that the truthful acknowledgment of each candidate's positions would yield a result different from what they want?

I have no problem with you or any media accurately reporting a candidate's position. But when that is purposely distorted to misrepresent their positions, then the people are not served, but misled. Regarding Sen. Santorum's support of the war in Iraq, Congress voted to do so as well. Are there issues that the country is divided on? Certainly. But the fact that there is opposition doesn't mean that the direction is wrong.

It was very telling that when faced with hard questions in the debates, Mr. Casey never could answer but fell back on, "Rick, Rick, Rick . . . blah, blah, blah." rambling in vague generalities without ever answering. I forget how many times Mr. Casey was asked how many days he spent in his office, but he smiled and avoided it, as if he thought we might not notice.

Mr. Casey showed himself to be another politician who puts together words that don't really say anything. Mr. Santorum had specifics. Agree or disagree with him, but at least he gave me details so I could make an informed judgment. Mr. Casey's lack of details made it even easier.

RICK CATIZONE
Scott

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Disgusted by rubber stamping

Over the last few years, Rep. Melissa Hart sent out many warm and fuzzy questionnaires asking what issues are important to me. Suspiciously, the only two items I was concerned with were missing: congressional corruption and Iraq. There was never a blank to fill in.

Melissa Hart is a pleasant and attractive person. But all the while, as the House has eroded its oversight of ethics, blindly supported a disastrous invasion of Iraq and appropriated subsequent billions of dollars to support it, extended voting to twist the arms of Republicans to toe the party line, dished billions to big oil, Halliburton and insurance companies, where has Rep. Hart's vote gone? We all know: Rubber stamp 'em all!

In a democracy, theoretically, a congresswoman is supposed to represent her constituents. That's the purpose. But the Republican attitude, while controlling each branch of the government, has been to push their own agenda without compromise, then, come election time, use great gobs of special-interest money to present a phony, compassionate front to get re-elected. Melissa Hart has never represented the interests of her constituency any more than Rick Santorum has. She has always marched, like a little tin soldier, to the drum of the Republican marching band.

Corruption abounds in government when voters don't pay enough attention. I've been paying attention, and the current government disgusts me. If my fellow voters don't have the sense to send Melissa Hart on to some other more appropriate career, they deserve the lack of representation of their interests that they've been getting.

TOM NEHRER
Brackenridge

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In praise of thuggishness?

On Oct. 20 the Post-Gazette published a surprising pair of letters in praise of thuggishness -- defending the proposition that, if you disagree with what someone has to say, you should get a mob and shout him down, or worse, rather than debate his ideas.

How dare Jeb Bush come here and speak on behalf of Rick Santorum? Richard A. Marmura Jr. ("Jeb Bush Protesters Can Hold Their Heads High") claims a "right" to be "uncivilized" (a proposition remarkable for its ignorance whence rights arise), and Maria Somma ("Proud of Protest") says they could not have been thugs because "most of the protesters were women and young adults" -- as if thuggish behavior had gender and age limits.

Their perverse defense of incivility forgets Voltaire's benchmark for civil society: "I may disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it."

JOHN KAUFMANN
Murrysville

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Let's see more stories like this one

I think stories like "Monessen Shoe Shiner Honored for Giving $113,000 to Charity" (Oct. 18) don't get enough play. I applaud the Post-Gazette for posting this story, but it seems as if stories like these don't make the news half as much as a struggling football player, a murderer or a politician's problems from 20 years ago.

Albert Lexie gave every cent in tips he had made for 20 years to charity. To put that in perspective -- I am almost 17 years old and this man has given up every cent he earned in tips for longer than my life for a good cause. It is one of the most commendable things I have ever heard of, and I wish we could all see stories like this get more publicity more often.

ALEX CALDER
McCandless

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