Make magic by reaching out to kids in need

Every day brings a new headline about youth violence, shootings, murders, gangs, drug activity and low test scores in our neighborhoods. The unrelenting frequency of these news stories can make us indifferent to what is happening to many of our area's children.

How about reading a story about something positive happening in a local neighborhood with its share of challenges?

On July 25, Beginning with Books Center for Early Literacy partnered with volunteer lawyers and summer interns from the law firm of Jones Day to create a very special Harry Potter party for children in the Northview Heights housing community.

The most magical part of the day was that dozens of bright, enthusiastic children had young adult volunteers focusing on them, reading to them, playing with them and engaging them in creative activities. The Jones Day volunteers were wonderful role models and terrific playmates. Their enthusiasm made the event a very memorable occasion for the children who attended.

So, why does this matter? Because this is how we stop the violence, the hopelessness and the school failure. By reaching out, reading to a child, stepping out of our comfort zones, volunteering, mentoring, nurturing, sharing and believing that every single one of us can -- and must -- play a role in saving our children.

This is where it starts and stops. With me, with you, with all of us.

These volunteers did it and so can you. No Harry Potter magic is required.

LINDA ACHESON POOL
Beginning with Books Center for Early Literacy
East Liberty

Al-Qaida in Iraq

Regarding your July 26 editorial "Fact and Fiction: Mr. Bush Tries Again to Explain Iraq": You stated that al-Qaida in Mesopotamia did not exist prior to 9/11. In fact, it does not matter that al-Qaida did not exist in Iraq prior to 9/11, but rather whether or not al-Qaida was there prior to the U.S. invasion -- which it was. Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, a Jordanian with close ties to Osama bin Laden, had operations in Iraq after fleeing Afghanistan -- well before the U.S. invasion of Iraq.

Secondly, you claim that the link between al-Qaida central and al-Qaida Iraq is tenuous. In fact, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi pledged allegiance to bin Laden in 2004. After his death, Abu Ayub al-Masri, an Egyptian with long- standing ties to senior al-Qaida leadership, assumed command. Mr. al-Masri was actually in Afghanistan prior to 9/11, indoctrinating recruits for al-Qaida.

Although al-Qaida in Iraq is mostly comprised of Iraqis, clearly their leadership is foreign-derived and has long-standing links to the greater al-Qaida. To suggest that their missions are at least not similar in nature is deliberately misleading.

PATRICK KELLY
Franklin Park

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Fed up

I'm fed up with this secretive, belligerent presidential administration. They break laws they expect us to obey. I'm finished with waiting for them to "go away." We have no more friends in the world thanks to these wise guys.

The American people deserved better than this. Our poor troops are fighting a corporate war. I suspect Dick Cheney's corporations are pulling all the strings.

DIANNE BURNHAM
Churchill

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About time

So, the Bush administration is getting a panel together to improve the treatment of our wounded veterans ("Better Care for Vets Urged," July 26). Great. But, is this the only war we've had in the last 50 years? Why aren't these ideas already in place to help our brave men and women?

And then there are the state legislators basically begging for another $250 million to complete our local VA funding which, ironically, is about what we blow daily in Iraq. I hope this isn't as big a mistake as the Vietnam War was, only with consequences that we will be dealing with for years if not decades.

The arrogance, incompetence, ignorance, deception and lack of planning, along with blatant cronyism of the Bush reign, is enough to make this veteran of Vietnam (19 months in-country, 1968-69, Army) sick with anger. And according to the latest polls, I'm hardly alone.

Please, let's not betray yet another generation of veterans; they deserve the very best that there is to offer and price should never be an obstacle.

Some advice for present and future administrations: If you are not willing to provide the ways and means to care for our veterans, do not create new ones.

DANIEL R. PAGATH
Oakland

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No surprise

I am writing regarding football player Michael Vick and the dogfighting charges brought against him. First, it is disturbing that he was involved in gruesome activities promoting recreational cruelty to animals. Even a not-guilty plea cannot conceal the fact that a major dogfighting ring was sponsored out of a home in his "good" name.

However, I considered whether anyone should be surprised, since many professional athletes are placed in positions of high admiration and esteem with little confirmation of their integrity. Many still play despite guilt of criminal activity and are even praised for their excellence in sport.

It is hard to write this letter because I am an avid Steelers fan. I respect players enough to understand the difficulty of being in constant celebrity. But do players respect us enough to uphold their potential as role models and representatives of the teams and fans by which they are employed?

I think it is both our over-glorifying of professional athletes and their abuse of everything that accompanies it. We should expect players to not act like criminals; the leagues, team owners and fans should also expect more out of players other than statistics. Maybe the Rooneys could be the example to follow.

BARBARA WALLY
McCandless

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Murphy be gone

WANTED: Person to fill position of representative for the 18th Congressional District. Why? U.S. Rep Tim Murphy's lack of support for citizens and unethical behavior.

Last year Rep. Murphy, a Republican from Upper St. Clair, was said by his own staff to be engaging in the same activities that cost Jeff Habay his state legislative seat (using taxpayer-funded staff to do campaign work). So far there are no clear signs of any investigation. Has U.S. Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan been so busy prosecuting diabolical criminal kingpins (sheriff's deputies, coroners, etc.) that she hasn't had time to investigate Rep. Murphy? Or is this his reward for unwavering support of the "W" administration's policies, no matter how illegal, immoral or unconstitutional?

Eighteen months from now or sooner, someone else should hold that office. Interested, interesting and civic- minded people please apply; I'm fairly certain I will.

ERIN L. VECCHIO
Penn Hills
The writer is Democratic Party chair in Penn Hills.

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A more sensible construction law would reduce need for property taxes

The Post-Gazette reported that state House Democratic leaders are committed to making property tax reform their chief concern after the Legislature's summer recess ("Pa. House Dems Put Property Tax Atop Agenda," July 23).

I respectfully suggest that state legislators examine the relevancy of mandates that add tax dollars to the overall operating costs of government, instead of devising plans to raise certain taxes to lower property taxes. One mandate that needlessly adds cost to public construction is the PA Separations Act. This act requires public entities to hire four prime contractors on a project -- for general construction, electrical, plumbing and HVAC work -- instead of retaining a single general contractor who assumes all risk and responsibility.

The cumbersome requirement of using multiple prime contractors places the public owner squarely in the middle of daily construction administration. Separate primes set the stage for adversarial relationships among the various contractors, as each prime shares risk and responsibility, which often ends in litigation to determine who's at risk for what and who's responsible for what. Unfortunately, the taxpayers foot the bill for inefficiencies.

Enacted in 1913 to protect subcontractors from unscrupulous general contractors, the PA Separations Act became unnecessary in 1994 when state legislators enacted the PA Contractor & Subcontractor Prompt Payment Act. Yet the inept business practice survives, despite payment protection laws in place. Eliminating the PA Separations Act is not outlandish: 46 state governments, the federal government and nearly the entire private sector use some sort of single prime construction contracting.

By no means would repealing the PA Separations Act be the end-all solution to property taxes. But less spent on construction means more tax revenue available for lowering property taxes.

JON O'BRIEN
Director of Communications
Master Builders' Association of Western Pennsylvania
McCandless

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