We need development planning to stop flooding

We're doomed! That is, we the people of the lower vicinities of Millvale, Carnegie, Aliquippa, etc.

A few years back, we'd all shudder when we heard of a hurricane coming up from Florida or points southeast. Now we shudder when it just starts raining.

And nothing is done about it.

The building of shopping centers and housing plans uphill from us keeps going on. The cutting down of trees and the laying down of asphalt and cement continue. And the developers don't do enough to allow for water drainage from these plans. Most states have laws governing these developments in their areas. And the developers have to abide by them or no developing goes on.

When we bought our properties years ago, we worried only about the rivers backing up. And the dams that were built stopped most of this.

Now it is just one flood after another with only a small downpour of rain.

Millvale has a Girty's Run charge on our water bill every quarter. I don't have any idea where that money goes or what it does.

What course of action can we take to have someone at least try to do something? Stop paying our real estate taxes and wage taxes? I don't know.

Won't somebody help us?

FRITZ GREGO
Millvale

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Darfur action

Following Dan Simpson's column "Dealing With Darfur" (July 25) very encouraging news was announced by the United Nations on July 31. The council agreed to deploy a new hybrid U.N.-African Union force of 26,000 peacekeepers/police, which will be allowed to "defend civilians and aid workers from any attack" and "use necessary action" in an effort to maintain stability.

I believe grass-roots organizations have made a difference in initiating political action. As the genocide in Darfur begins to eclipse a number that equals the entire population of Pittsburgh, we must now see the U.N. resolution through to fruition. It is critical that full deployment be kept on pace, hence the Bush administration must support adequate funding for the hybrid force. We must encourage a nonmilitary settlement by facilitating an effective united Darfurian negotiating front. And China needs to be continuously engaged.

Mr. Simpson is skeptical that the Chinese can be embarrassed into action by leveraging the 2008 Olympic Games, but one must use all possible pressure, so as to eventually be "the straw that breaks the camel's back."

Finally, encouraging U.S. support for holding the Sudanese internationally accountable by the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity and genocide could yield strong internal pressure and deterrence within Sudan. Wouldn't you want those responsible for the killing of all our city residents to be held responsible?

The current U.N. resolution demonstrates that the voices of many common citizens of the Earth joined together can make a difference; please continue to add your voices to that chorus.

TONY BAUER
McCandless

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Unsavory meals

In regard to "Be Glad You're Not Feeding Otters: Zoo's Bill Is $40,000" (Aug. 2): I was outraged to read that it costs more than $40,000 to feed these animals for a year, yet our government assists single mothers and low-income families with as little as a hundred dollars in food stamps to help with food costs for an entire month. The first place the government looks to cut costs is with the free lunch program afforded to low-income families' school-age children.

What angered me more is that these animals eat only top-shelf seafood and fish. Do you honestly think they know the difference? They are wild animals. What did they eat in their natural habitat that would constitute such an outrageous and senseless cost to the zoo?

My family have been zoo members for many years, and I realize that much of this cost is absorbed by our membership fees and private donations, but when I read about such unbelievable nonsense, it makes me say "no more" to zoo contributions from this family.

And if our government is in any way funding such costs to feed these otters, we all have a giant problem to deal with here. There are people, human beings, in this country starving, but the otters are well fed, thanks to the efforts of our top-shelf seafood suppliers ... and our dollars!

JOE MARTIN
Shaler

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City diversity

I waited with bated breath to see how long it would take someone to respond to Matt Khoury's Portfolio item on Aug. 2 ("Excuse Me For Living [In Your Uptight, Pretentious, Neighborhood]"), concerning life on Beechwood Boulevard. I didn't have to wait too long for Michael Plittman's response ("Some Neighbor," Aug. 6).

I think Mr. Khoury did himself a disservice by mentioning his age. I wonder what Mr. Plittman's response would have been if Mr. Khoury had not mentioned that he was 25 years old. Perhaps Mr. Plittman would have paid attention to Mr. Khoury's point ... uptight, pretentious neighborhoods (and I would say arrogant neighbors).

My philosophy is that if you live in the city, you have to deal with the city issues, like having neighbors who don't have the same opinions as you. The city is about diversity, and Mr. Khoury was not breaking any laws, just having fun making music. The idea that there are doctors and lawyers on Beechwood Boulevard implies that those individuals should have rights and courtesies extended to them because of their economic power. After all, they own the homes and don't rent, thus their opinions have more weight.

What I would suggest to Mr. Khoury's neighbors is that they move to O'Hara, where nothing ever happens, and they can still be proud of the expensive homes that their money can buy. As for Mr. Khoury, move to Shadyside; we need a little more life and diversity in this neighborhood.

RICH CUMMINGS
Shadyside

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Switching for Paul

Thank you for your article on Green Tree native Dr. Ron Paul last Friday ("Texas Congressman Brings Presidential Campaign to Hometown," Aug. 3). It is truly refreshing to know that there is a candidate for president who actually believes in following the Constitution when casting votes in Washington, rather than following the desires of special-interest groups with deep pockets.

I feel he is someone whom George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison would be proud to have follow in their footsteps as chief executive of our great nation. His message of freedom does indeed reach across generational and party lines, so much so that I shall change my party affiliation from Democrat to Republican so that I can vote for him in next year's Pennsylvania primary.

JAY WALTERS
Belle Vernon

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State of haze

Regarding Pennsylvania smoking bans: Nero fiddled while Rome burned. Our legislators fiddle (with smoking bans) while Pennsylvania burns!

RANDY DUCH
Monroeville

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These statements about Muslims and nukes are neither factual nor logical

I am writing in response to the paid advertisement from the group Fact and Logic About the Middle East (FLAME), which ran Aug. 6 on the Perspectives page. How can any group claiming to employ facts and logic make a broad generalization like "the Iranians and other Muslims are crazies"? Some Muslims do advocate violence against America and Israel, but the majority, in this country and abroad, wish only to live in peace as the tenets of their faith instruct.

FLAME then says Muslims "take instructions directly from Allah." They seem to forget that the president of this country has claimed repeatedly to do what God asks him.

The group makes the argument that nuclear weapons in the hands of Saddam Hussein, Iran or any other Muslims would lead to domination of the Middle East and then the world. The Cold War taught that nuclear weapons are effective only as a deterrent, not as an offensive weapon. By insinuating that a nuclear Islamic state would use its nukes offensively, FLAME ignores the poignant example of Pakistan. Pakistan is an Islamic country, with nuclear weapons and an unresolved border dispute with a non-Muslim state. Pakistan has never used its nuclear weapons against India, Israel or anyone else.

I, or any rational person would never argue for a nuclear Iran. I am merely stating that FLAME should use facts and logic, as its name suggests, not xenophobic intolerance and half-baked conjecture.

PHILIP J. STICHA
Murrysville

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