People will lose their jobs if the drink tax passes

The proposed Allegheny County drink tax, if passed, is going to hurt the entire hospitality industry in the area ("Drink, Car Rental Taxes No Sure Bet With Council," Oct. 11).

I am a local bar owner, have grown my business every year and have offered my employees better benefits packages as business has increased. Faced with a 10 percent drink tax, the first recourse to recoup this lost revenue -- and there will be lost revenue -- is going to be to eliminate benefits or jobs.

Most bars and restaurants rely on a limited number of regulars to generate most of the revenue. This relatively small number of people will not be able to spend enough to offset the 10 percent tax, and the "fringe" customers may stop coming out altogether.

I do not know what the solution is to mass transit funding, but I do know that taxing a separate industry to fully fund mass transit and effectively eliminating hospitality jobs is not the answer.

ROBERT MILLER
Millvale

The writer is the owner of Sidelines Bar & Grill.

---

Worker preservation

In response to the Oct. 11 front-page article "Transit Union Hits Onorato on Budget": As an employee of the Port Authority and a proud member of Local 85, I totally back my president. We, as a union, are only trying to preserve what is left of the middle class.

All of these so-called "outrageous" benefits have been negotiated for over the past decades. Why shouldn't we be the example of what the middle class should strive for? I myself am an educated individual. Many of my union brothers and sisters are very talented people.

Mr. and Mrs. Public, what would you do if someone came into your workplace, better yet your home, and demanded that you give up things you have worked hard to accomplish? Again, all we are attempting to do, as a union, is protect our future and that of the working middle class.

If anyone is interested in working for the Port Authority, apply for a position as all of us have done. Then one can place the shoe on the other foot. Until then, be glad that unions are here to fight for the working men and women of this region and country.

BOB MICHAK
Baldwin Borough

---

Butt out, noncity folk

I find it humorous that every time I read the letters to the editor in the Post-Gazette I find all kinds of people outside of the city clamoring for a change in mayor.

I have read opinions from people in Dormont, Washington, D.C., and most recently Marshall all pressuring the residents of the city to oust Mayor Luke Ravenstahl in the upcoming election.

I got a word of advice for these people: Keep your opinions of city matters to yourself and let the residents of the city of Pittsburgh decide who they will vote for. Although you may not think it, city residents are able to process information and come up with our own decisions. Until these people are living within the city's boundaries and are paying city taxes, they should bug off.

I am a 25-year-old who has decided to stay in Pittsburgh after graduating college, and I think Mayor Ravenstahl is helping to get rid of the city's old, gray image. I for one support my mayor.

Sure he has made mistakes, but what young person hasn't made mistakes in the jobs that they have had?

People are so fast to nitpick the tiny details that they forget what the big picture is. I like the direction he is taking the city, and I think he generally tries to do what is best for the city.

People who live in these other areas should butt out of Pittsburgh's business.

MATTHEW R. KNUPP
South Side

---

Wellness dividend

In his Oct. 14 Forum article " 'BODIES': Don't Go," Rabbi Danny Schiff argues that the controversial "BODIES" exhibit is backed by promoters who have "a strong profit motive and considerable self-interest." He also contends that this particular display of deceased humans is disrespectful and dishonoring to the dead. However, he looks at the "profit" that people obtain from this exhibit only in a monetary sense, when in reality, many spectators who see this art will "profit" in another way.

Today, many health-care practitioners and organizations are zealous advocates of preventative health-care measures. Unfortunately, not all people have access to these measures, depending on their accessibility to health care. However, preventative measures do not always have to take place in a doctor's office. The "BODIES" exhibit is a perfect example of preventative health care in a nontraditional setting.

What Rabbi Schiff fails to mention is that the "BODIES" exhibit has many displays that show the effects of diseases on the human body. For example, one exhibit displays the effects that smoking has on a human's lungs. Although this might not have an effect on all smokers, it will help to send a message to some.

The profit isn't just a monetary one, as Rabbi Schiff so vehemently suggests. The "profit" gained from the display of this exhibit is one that might result in a healthier audience overall. Perhaps we should consider going, Rabbi Schiff.

KELIE CUMMINS
Friendship

---

'BODIES' sideshow

My compliments to Rabbi Danny Schiff for his commentary on the "BODIES" exhibit (" 'BODIES': Don't Go," Oct. 14 Forum). I have not seen it nor do I intend to. The photos in the medium were sufficient for me to decide that this is an exploitation of the human body rather than a celebration.

The human body is a beautiful creation. This exhibit(ion) is ugly. If one is inclined to discover more about how the body is structured, there are many other means that do not display corpses like a sideshow. I was disappointed that the Diocese of Pittsburgh did not take a more critical stance on this traveling circus ("Diocese OKs Cadaver Exhibit," Sept. 15) since the Catholic Church is pretty conservative when it involves the corporeal being.

DENIS BEDEL
Ross

---

Unwillingly subjected

Thank you for the commentary by Rabbi Danny Schiff, who eloquently expressed the travesty of the "BODIES" exhibit at Carnegie Science Center.

I am mortified that my dear city would host this horror and I have lost all respect for the Carnegie Science Center. I am also deeply dismayed that those of us who choose of our own free will not to expose ourselves to this depravity are involuntarily exposed. For instance, I pass a billboard showing some of these bodies each day on my way home from work. Each and every day I must turn my head. At least take it down and respect my decision not to expose myself to this.

KATHY IREY
White Oak

---

Let's do away with primaries

Regarding "Back Load the Primaries" (Oct. 14 Forum), the authors' proposal to have smaller states hold their primaries first and larger states last during a four-month period, etc., sounds like a wonderful plan, which likely would work. I propose an entirely different tack.

Let's not hold primaries at all. Primaries began as a way to put the popular selection of candidates back into the hands of the public rather than influence hawkers. It worked somewhat, until recently.

Now it remains as an antiquated process accomplishing more negative than positive: (a) perpetuating two parties holding superior positions over any other parties, including independents; (b) costing taxpayers millions of dollars every year, as a sort of donation to those two already wealthy parties; (c) eliminating perfectly viable and potentially popular (and maybe even good) candidates based upon a skewed vote.

Let's introduce ranked voting, nationally and locally. We could vote for favorite, second choice, third, etc., assign point values to each ranking, then give the candidate with the highest point score the office. According to Scientific American a few years ago, this is most democratic and also fair. Enacted locally, we wouldn't be first.

It also would be a start to dismantling the system of favors and corruption, which begin with "endorsement votes" by committees, through party favoritism, on through collusion and back-room deals. Candidates would win on their own merit, not on some party members washing their backs.

We could take the whole field of presidential candidates now, and all vote on all of them. The true popular favorite would then be president. And about our mayoral race ...

AUDREY N. GLICKMAN
Greenfield

---

We welcome your letters. Please include your name, address and phone number, and send to Letters to the Editor, 34 Blvd. of the Allies, Pittsburgh 15222. E-mail letters to letters@post-gazette.com or fax to 412-263-2014. Letters should be 250 words or less, original and exclusive to the Post-Gazette. All letters are subject to editing for length, clarity and accuracy and will be verified before being published.