Closing Mayview will tax the mental health system

As concerned psychiatrists, we see the planned closing of Mayview State Hospital ("State to Close Mayview Hospital," Aug. 16) as a threat to our entire regional community. If this involved only the paring down of excessive bricks-and-mortar hospital buildings, and the discharging of chronic patients who could live with support in the community, then there would be no threat. But unfortunately, many patients who have mental illnesses -- just like some medical patients -- do require months of hospital and medication treatment to respond.

The real threat is that as psychiatric and forensic treatment beds at Mayview are eliminated, those patients who need extended treatment will now have to be housed for long periods in Pittsburgh's acute psychiatric hospital beds. Based upon our own work in outpatient, inpatient and jail settings, we have already seen that even the downsizing of Mayview -- let alone its actual closing -- has resulted in reduced availability of acute inpatient beds for the entire community and in longer waits for transfer to the state hospital. If our community is like others, we can also expect to see an increase in arrests and incarcerations, as some men and women who needed extended psychiatric care end up on the street. Likewise, if our community is like others nationwide, we can expect that the promised windfall of state savings from the hospital closing will be transferred only very partially to the community.

The state has announced a public hearing for Sept. 10 on this issue -- but only now after the plans for closing Mayview have apparently been finalized. We hope that the public will urge reconsideration of this hospital closing.

DAVID E. NESS, M.D.
Ross
CHRISTINE MARTONE, M.D.
Aspinwall

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Absurd notion

Once again columnist Jack Kelly shows he's delusional ("GOP Scandals Get More Press," Sept. 2). Normally, I read his anecdotal rants and just chuckle. However, when he tells me that since I am a Democrat I tolerate government corruption, he has crossed the line.

I do not tolerate corruption in any public official, regardless of party affiliation. I may need to remind him about Randy "Duke" Cunningham, Ted Stevens, Jack Abramoff and this list could go on for a long time when we talk about Republican financial shenanigans. I can't help it if several "family values" Republicans get caught performing acts that don't adhere to any family value that I have.

Next he trots out the old "liberal media" canard. I'll remind him that the "coverage" of the 2000 presidential campaign and election, as well as the runup to the Iraq fiasco, was as Republican-friendly as could be imagined. If the media are so liberal, how does one explain the existence of "Fox Noise" and Mr. Kelly's column?

I know it is incumbent for a quality newspaper to present a variety of viewpoints on its editorial pages, but as for Mr. Kelly, I'm sure the PG could do better.

MICHAEL G. McGEE
Crescent

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Our high standards

Rob Rogers' sneering cartoon about the Sen. Larry Craig scandal in the Aug. 31 PG referring to "lying, hypocritical, 'family values' Republicans" was grossly misleading.

First, there are more ethically challenged Democrats in Washington than Republicans. And you don't even have to go to D.C. to find wayward Democrats -- we have a truckload of them in Western Pennsylvania such as former Sheriff Pete DeFazio, former state Rep. Mike Veon, former coroner and medical examiner Dr. Cyril Wecht and even Mayor "Charity Golf Tournament" Luke Ravenstahl, to name just a few.

Second, unlike Democrats, Republicans don't defend their wrongdoers and usually ask them to resign. But what seems to really irk liberals is that the Republican Party stands for higher moral standards. Democrats seem to believe that being in favor of high standards is "holier than thou," and therefore get great joy when a few Republicans fail to live up to those standards.

But nothing could be further from the truth. Republicans know that human beings are imperfect. Because we believe in higher standards does not mean that we think that we are superior to others. Republicans just believe that higher standards ensure better results. Ask any good athletic coach if this is true. If high standards work so well in sports, why can't they also work in government?

Republicans believe that, despite our frailties, we have the power to be noble and brilliant when we are challenged by higher standards because freedom works only within a framework of morality, and moral choices are only possible when we are free.

Rob Rogers' perverted delight in someone's tragic fall is the real hypocrisy.

DAVE MAJERNIK
Plum

The writer is vice chairman of the Allegheny County Republican Committee.

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GOP freshness

Pittsburgh is truly at a crossroads in this 21st century with the upcoming mayoral race. We have been doing things way too long in a 19th- and 20th-century mind-set. In these days of the Internet, mobile phones, 24-hour news and information sources plus a global economy, dire change is needed and now! Otherwise our city cannot ever hope to utilize its awesome potential.

The best way to describe this is by using the dictionary. "Democrat" is found in your dictionary between "deceased" and "dinosaur," while "Republican" is located between "renaissance" and "resurrection." In other words, the difference is between old and new.

Therefore, to make sure Pittsburgh becomes new again, we must not continue being ruled by the old. I urge all my fellow Pittsburghers to make everything new again by selecting Mark DeSantis as our next mayor. On Nov. 6, we can bring Pittsburgh instantly into the 21st century. Join me at your polling place and vote for Mr. DeSantis. You'll be glad you did!

RICHARD M. HAYS JR.
Mount Washington

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Rules to bike by

Larry Walsh's article about the cyclist being hit by a motorist is an excellent reminder of the dangers we all face while out there on our bikes ("Cyclist No Match for Angry Motorist," Aug. 24). The young man made several mistakes, and as a result he now has three pins in his hand.

In a battle between a car and a bicycle, the latter will always lose. To all cyclists out there, never allow yourself to be drawn into a confrontation with a driver. Some people simply want to intimidate. Stay within yourself, do not try to teach others a lesson and do not get into a verbal, physical or gestural fight.

Your eyes, ears, cell phone and brain are your best friends, and you lose that advantage once you become engaged by an irate driver. Get a license plate number, call the police if you must and keep your distance. You'll be glad you did.

MARC KAPLAN
North Fayette

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Unkind response

An act of kindness ... where did it go? An elderly man with a cane struggled to catch the bus last Wednesday afternoon. The bus driver saw the man frantically signaling with his cane, but it was apparently more important to the driver to make the left turn on a green light than to wait 15 seconds for this gentleman to board.

Reporting this to the Port Authority brought the response that the rules are that if you are not at the bus stop, you lose, and the bus driver doesn't get reprimanded for being late on his route. Something is wrong here. This is Pittsburgh, for heaven's sake. We shouldn't lose common courtesy.

BOB DICKMAN
Oakland

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Pirates fans are an impressive and loyal bunch

As a former Pittsburgher living in Southern California for more than 30 years, I would like to comment on a couple of things related to my visit there in late July when I was in town for my nephew's wedding. After the festivities were over, my sister and I went to a Pirates game. Unfortunately the Cardinals beat the Pirates that night, but we had a great time anyway (in the left-field bleachers), trying to cheer the Pirates into rallies.

I was very impressed with PNC Park and the cheerfulness of the fans. Although frustrated, everyone really wants this team to do well. The Pirates fans are a loyal bunch, and since I go way back with this team (think Forbes Field and Bob Prince), I know this has been the case for many years. It was gratifying to observe the loyalty and affection for the Buccos. Brought back nice memories.

Thanks, Pittsburgh! All I ask is that on my next visit I get to witness a Pirates win.

ANNE WILSON
Paramount, Calif.

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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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The John Edwards dichotomy

This Labor Day, as I marched with many of my fellow union members, I must admit I was impressed by the rousing rhetoric and eloquence of John Edwards.

Cynically, I might wonder, how does a presidential candidate who openly promotes government control of combustion through carbon credits, get mine workers and steel workers to endorse him ("Steelworkers, Miners Endorse Edwards," Sept. 4)? It would seem their views and needs are diametrically opposed. It seemed ironic that a politician from a right-to-work state should be so warmly welcomed and supported at a convocation of union members.

Yet, he stole the heart and won support of the area's labor movement, even of those locals whose existence requires the mining of carbon and its large-scale combustion. How did Mr. Edwards reconcile those environmentalists who demand government control and rationing of carbon and combustion with the blue-collar unions whose very existence requires large-scale extraction and utilization of cheap, abundant and accessible carbon?

This must be a measure of his ability to blend pragmatism and compromise into his agenda. Jokingly I would say he either has the charm and charisma to be the greatest used-car salesman, or a masterful politician who can forge unlikely alliances and consensus among many groups.

MICHAEL GUY
Coraopolis

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Why are police staking out restrooms?

Even more disturbing and surprising than the continuing homophobic right-wing hypocrisy exemplified by the Sen. Larry Craig story ("Idaho Senator Stepping Aside," Sept. 2) is that police departments continue to waste their time and our money patrolling public restrooms for gay sex.

How much money and time do Pittsburgh's finest waste on this ? If any, I'd demand they stop and reallocate their resources.

BRADLEY S. GELDER
Point Breeze

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Unabashed conservative hypocrisy

I was astounded to turn on the television the other day only to see Brian Williams interviewing former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay for his reaction to yet another scandal involving Republicans and homosexuality. Just how discredited must a conservative be for the mainstream media to stop using that person as their go-to guy for commenting on politics?

Did NBC think it was going to get objectivity from Tom DeLay?

Leaving aside his abject venality, what has characterized Mr. DeLay's punditry in the past has been his seething, pathological hatred for liberals. Thus it was predictable when he spouted the nonsensical line that Republicans are largely characterized by virtuous behavior while Democrats are all Godless amoral pagans. This, of course, ignores the reality that these sordid tales of closeted acts of homosexuality are limited almost exclusively to Republicans.

It also ignores the main point of these episodes of immoral behavior: running the gamut from philandering to homosexual solicitations in bathrooms, practically every conservative caught in said compromising position has made much political hay pretending to be a morally upstanding individual.

Again and again, in practically every circumstance the sheer, raw hypocrisy of conservatives is nothing short of breathtaking.

ALAN GLASSER
Oakland

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