Should foreign companies control our water?

Given the recent water problems in the West Mifflin area, why has so little conversation focused on the Pennsylvania American Water Co.?

Recently, I learned that Pennsylvania American Water has been owned since 2003 by the for-profit, German-based RWE (www.RWE.com). It owns American Water companies in 29 states.

Last winter, we had ice on our street coming from a broken, underground pipe. Pennsylvania American Water was notified and waited weeks to repair it. My neighbor fell on the ice and required major surgery.

Recently, Pennsylvania American Water tried unsuccessfully to service a fire hydrant by my house. They covered it with a burlap coffee sack and left, allowing the open hydrant to drain onto my property for two days. By calling the 800 emergency number, I reached Pensacola, Fla., where I got no help. What if there was a fire? I called the New Jersey headquarters and said if the hydrant wasn't fixed by the third day, I would call the German headquarters. It was fixed.

Why do we let others have control and profit by supplying a basic commodity that affects our lives, public safety and infrastructure?

RWE is talking about selling American Water through an initial public offering (IPO) in 2007. With that transaction, anyone from around the world could buy shares. They would own our local American Water companies.

Other U.S. cities and states know about this situation and are working to regain control of their own local water companies.

Who is studying the issue in Pennsylvania and providing information and leadership on this critical subject?

LAURA MAGONE
Dormont

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Police coverup

Regarding the Jan. 5 article "3 Police Officers in DUI Dustup: Probe Focuses on Offer of Special Treatment, Threats": First, the word "dustup" should be "coverup." The blue code of covering up police crimes should be fought the same as drug laws.

When an officer is accused of protecting another from prosecution, he or she should be turned over to the district attorney. The officer who was cited for DUI should not have been protected.

Where is this protection going to stop and eventually how many traffic deaths might these people cause? They probably protect friends, too. Police officers drive to work with blacked out windows, then give tickets to citizens for doing the same.

RONALD HAMER
N. Versailles

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Accept the decision

The Jan. 9 letter "Step Up, Mr. Barden" was in my view heavily laden with specious reasoning.

First, elected officials, including county Chief Executive Dan Onorato, had little or no impact on the decisions of the state Gaming Control Board, and rightly so.

Second, the writer's speculation that 70 to 80 percent of the populace feels bitter about the Isle of Capri's loss is indeed a stretch. To suggest that Don Barden or his group won the slots license by means unavailable to the others involved is ludicrous. Furthermore, it could be reasonably opined that 70 to 80 percent of the regional population couldn't care less about hockey but at the same time would perhaps support a new arena.

The largess offered by the Isle of Capri for the Penguins unfortunately could not outweigh the many factors that comprised the mission of the gaming board. Let's hope that the gaming board's decision is the right one for the area as a whole and that it appeases the animus of its detractors.

Lest we forget, the object of the gaming board was basically gaming, with the residuals to aid us all. Let's all be good sports about this decision. All is not lost, Pens fans.

M.S. WASHINGTON
Penn Hills

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Faux hunter

Pennsylvania has a proud tradition as a hunting state. The programmed massacre of scores of tame pen-raised birds released at the feet of Vice President Dick Cheney so he can blast away is not hunting. It would require a psychiatrist to accurately describe the activity that the vice president indulges in despite all the negative publicity it has generated for him.

But what can anyone expect from someone who also is seemingly oblivious to, and unrepentant about, the carnage he was instrumental in creating by the absolutely unnecessary invasion of Iraq?

GERALD S. SCHILLER
Tarentum

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No decency

I am a regular reader of Tony Norman. I believe his Jan. 12 column, "Have You No Decency, Mr. President?" may have been his best work. Mr. Norman's insight into the Lincoln presidency reinforced my disdain for President Bush and his mishandling of the war in Iraq.

I am a Vietnam-era veteran who believes this administration is wrong for sacrificing our troops and tax dollars for yet another puppet government. I have read how LBJ may have driven himself to an early grave over the remorse pertinent to his mishandling of the war in Southeast Asia. In contrast, the incumbent war criminal most likely will strut up the steps of his soon-to-be-built presidential library and blabber about his legacy as a "wartime president."

I hope the picture of him on board the deck of an aircraft carrier in front of the sign "Mission Accomplished" is not memorialized in the archives of his library. The image would be a slap in the face to the brave men and women serving in the quagmire the Bush administration has misled our country to in Iraq. It makes me sick to see him, listen to his lies and read about his foolish ways. I will never forgive him and his lackeys for what they are doing to our country.

DONN NEMCHICK
Munhall

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Little-known tunnel

Two issues came to mind when I read the PG article about the little-used Wabash Tunnel. The first is the HOV restriction placed on this route. Opening the tunnel to all drivers would surely increase its use.

Second, the Port Authority and the city of Pittsburgh have done a terrible job of raising awareness about this gateway through Mount Washington. I live in the southwestern part of the city and find over and over again that among the people who live in the neighborhoods surrounding the McArdle Roadway end of the tunnel, few even know it exists.

Most people believe the Wabash Tunnel is open only to bus traffic and have no idea that, if they are fortunate enough to be driving by the entrance ramp when it is open, this brand new access road can save significant time traveling from Carson Street to Route 51, or vice versa.

GREG REMPEL
Crafton

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Dirty politics

Mayor Ravenstahl: A person always breaks a rule when they expose dirty politics. That's why the Constitution and the "Whistleblower Law" protects them. You are just upset because your administration got caught ("Ex-chief's Statement Differs From City View That Official Didn't Interfere With Police," Jan. 12).

Don't despair, you'll get better -- like the rest of the politicians in this area. Hats off to Commander McNeilly.

ANTON UHL
Cheswick

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Learn the facts about stem cells

Susan Rauscher's Jan. 12 letter "About Stem Cells," shows the continued ignorance of people who are blinded by things like faith or political affiliation. I cannot tell you how many conversations I have had with those who oppose embryonic stem-cell research and yet they don't even have the most basic knowledge about its history.

Ms. Rauscher states: "Even after more than 20 years and many millions of dollars spent, embryonic stem cells remain extremely difficult, if not impossible, to designate into the cell type needed and have not yielded even one therapy or treatment to benefit patients."

She could not be more wrong with this statement. This irritates me beyond belief. She is head of the Secretariat for Pastoral and Social Concerns for the Pittsburgh Catholic Diocese and she doesn't know the facts. She is driven by her religious beliefs.

The fact is, embryonic stem cells were only discovered in 1998. That is eight years, not 20. Adult stem cells have been studied for more than 20 years, not embryonic cells.

For all those people who think that destroying embryos for stem-cell research is so horrible, what do you think happens to these embryos if they are not used? They are destroyed anyway. Why not put them to use for the good of mankind?

Try caring as much about people who are already living as you do about the ones that haven't even drawn their first breath.

JULIE RHINE
Zelienople

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Correction/Clarification: (Published Jan. 18, 2007) The letter by Julie Rhine ("Learn the Facts About Stem Cells") as originally published Jan. 16, 2007 omitted her residence. She lives in Zelienople.