We should line up to support the 'Promise'

Bravo to Mayor Luke Ravenstahl and Pittsburgh Public Schools Superintendent Mark Roosevelt for proposing the Pittsburgh Promise ("Tuition Grants a Lure for City Schools," Dec. 14).

In November, I listened to a story on WDUQ from National Public Radio about the inspirational, and successful, program from Kalamazoo, Mich., in 2005. Mirroring that program should bring many of the same benefits to Pittsburgh's residents and businesses in addition to the students. With less financial assistance available from the federal and state level and the rising cost of tuition, this program could help those who would otherwise be unable to afford a college education.

Once more details of the program are in place, businesses, foundations and even individuals should be lining up to financially support this most noble cause. What could be more important than the future and prosperity of our city and our children? I would certainly donate to such a worthy cause!

ANTHONY E. ROSCOE
Stowe

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Turnpike folly

Your Dec. 12 editorial "Dead End: Don't Go Down the Road to Privatizing the Turnpike," suggesting a closer look at either leasing or selling the Pennsylvania Turnpike, prompts this letter.

Not only is the lease or sale put forth by Gov. Ed Rendell a short-term, crisis solution to a long-term financial problem, but it also raises the question in my mind as to how this can be done since the turnpike is part of the federal interstate highway system. As such, I would think that it would fall under certain state and federal regulations that might preclude private operation.

If such private operation proceeds, and it already has in Indiana and Illinois, the benefits to the public originally conceived for the interstate highway system would, in my mind, be compromised. It would become segmented into a series of privately controlled zones rather than the single system that has worked quite well in the 50 some years it has been in place.

More to the point, how can any state lease or sell its portion of the interstate highway system without federal approval and oversight?

L. ARTHUR LASSMAN
O'Hara

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Kudos for fine work

I'm on the streets of our neighborhoods regularly, and I speak to many neighborhood leaders about litter. I often e-mail Public Works directors and supervisors, and I often see foremen and workers on the streets doing their jobs.

I just want Mayor Luke Ravenstahl to know that every experience I've had with Public Works people from top to bottom has been pleasant and productive.

The volunteer's job is made easier because of these outstanding people. Pittsburgh is very fortunate to have them.

BORIS WEINSTEIN
Citizens Against Litter
Shadyside

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Pill cost is the issue

The development of a flavored, chewable pill may help some women use their birth control more reliably and prevent unwanted pregnancies ("Now, a Chewable Birth-Control Pill," Dec. 8).

However, in the excitement about new birth control options, very little is being said about the reason many of my patients have trouble using the pill: money. For many women, the biggest barrier to using regular birth control is the cost. Birth control pills can cost as much as $50 for a month's supply, and many insurance companies don't cover this medication. No amount of spearmint flavoring will solve this problem.

Twenty-six states have passed comprehensive laws or regulations ensuring equity in private insurance coverage for birth control. It's time for Pennsylvania to become one of them.

PATRICIA A. LOHR, M.D.
Garfield

The writer is a member of Physicians for Reproductive Choice and Health.

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More media silliness

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice may need a makeover, but it's not her clothes. I was appalled by your lead article in last Monday's Magazine section ("Power Wear," Dec. 11). Although it started as a piece criticizing media's tendency to trivialize women by focusing on their appearance, it soon transformed into just another article discussing the fashion choices of powerful women.

With Ms. Rice making decisions affecting the lives of our servicemen, do we really care whether she shows off her "long legs"? President Bush works out, too, but I never read articles claiming he should wear short sleeves to show off his biceps.

Until the media stop producing such fatuous articles, until the media perform their own makeover, they will continue to deserve the criticism claiming they lack substance.

JERI HURD
Swissvale

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About library funds

I thank the Regional Asset District board for challenging the Allegheny County Library Association to change the formula used to distribute tax dollars to our 42 municipal libraries ("Asset District Sees Record Tax Revenues," Nov. 28). This formula is confusing and is pitting libraries against each other for money.

Municipalities do not support their libraries equally. With ACLA's formula, RAD tax dollars either provide a surplus to one community library or help another community library meet state-mandated standards to operate. The distribution is creating winners and losers by subsidizing wealthy libraries at the expense of struggling others.

The state gives money to libraries based on how much local support comes from municipalities and how much money was spent in respective budgets the previous year. ACLA's objective is for libraries to raise more money within their communities to continually improve services. The scheme is similar to matching or challenge grants.

Together the state and ACLA's incentives have libraries continually spend more money each year. Is there ever an incentive to help libraries operate cost efficiently?

Local municipalities cannot be continually asked to contribute more money. The result can be a tax increase. RAD funds are a return of taxes already paid by our citizens. Libraries are a public resource for the education and enrichment of all citizens. We are very fortunate to have RAD resources to help support local libraries and their interest in leveling the playing field.

JUDY GIFFORD
Hampton

The writer is one of the founders of the Hampton Community Library.

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War long from over

I cannot disagree more with letter writer Jerry Fink ("We Won," Dec. 11), who claims that the war in Iraq is over and that we won. Where exactly is he getting his information? In any case, he is misinformed.

First, from the start the president has stated that we are not in a war with Iraq but instead in a "war on terror." Sure, our military defeated Saddam Hussein and is now occupying the country. But the war on terror is far from over and is really just beginning. How anyone can say the war is over just because we defeated Saddam is beyond comprehension and lacks logic.

Mr. Fink claims that the losers are the Iraqis, and with that I agree. Although our government insists that it does not keep track of Iraqi civilian casualties, it would seem that this occupation is competing with Saddam as to the number of Iraqi citizens terminated. For that, I blame the Iraqi people for allowing the insurgency and/or taking part in it. I certainly do not blame our soldiers for protecting themselves.

To compare Iraq with Mexico, Britain, Germany and Japan also lacks logic. Those wars were all very conventional. This one is as unconventional as it gets. Why did he not compare it to Vietnam?

This war, Mr. Fink, is a long, long way from over. Bury your head in the sand, if you'd like, but you will be ignoring the obvious.

PATRICK MYNAHAN
Turtle Creek

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Kofi Annan has hardly been a model leader at the U.N.

While many of us are not in agreement with the president's strategy in Iraq, he is our president and deserves the respect of the office.

Reading outgoing U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan's remarks at the Harry Truman library regarding the United States made me really mad ("U.N. Chief Urges Administration to Shun Go-It-Alone Diplomacy," Dec. 12). This is a man who has presided for 10 years over a corrupt and incompetent organization.

Peacekeeping is a joke -- Israel agreed to a cease-fire in Lebanon and now Hamas has rearmed and taken over. Where are the U.N. and French peacekeepers? In Africa thousands are dying under the nose of the United Nations. U.N. peacekeepers run brothels and are accused of rape. When a U.S. soldier is similarly accused, our press goes wild. Where is this same sense of anger when crimes are committed by the United Nations?

ROBERT J. NISS
Sewickley

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