In response to the Jan. 20 article "Merger Answers Difficult to Find: Researchers Report Mixed Results in Other City-County Consolidations," I think a clear-cut list of significant benefits needs to be produced before there would be any real support for this measure.

Small boroughs like East Pittsburgh, Chalfant and Wilkinsburg already deal with issues of redundant spending by purchasing services from surrounding boroughs. In doing so they still maintain a sense of identity, pride and the ability to micromanage their own affairs.

Other municipalities value their so-called excellent schools and unblemished standardized test scores. If they were part of a larger school district, there is no telling how things might settle out. Jefferson Hills residents might be less than satisfied if their local high school served Clairton as well -- which it probably should anyway. And they certainly wouldn't understand why their tax dollars were paying to clean up floods and mudslides in the North Hills.

Right now I think the only thing that unites Allegheny County and the city are the Steelers and a bit of yinzer vernacular.

ANDREW W. MILLER
Forest Hills

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I recall reading in the Post-Gazette that there are about 1,700 homeless veterans in Allegheny County. With that many here, imagine how many there must be nationwide. Yet nothing is being said or done for these homeless veterans except by individual groups like the Homeless Veterans Corp. So I asked myself, why?

When some of our troops finally came home from Iraq, they encountered some problems. Because the media all over the country exposed and pursued some of the problems, something was done. For whatever the reason, the media have not done the same regarding the plight of our homeless veterans. Therefore nothing is said or done.

And to have President Bush as commander in chief and lawmakers caring more for illegal aliens and lawbreakers than for veterans who served with honor and risked their lives for their country is irresponsible and a disgrace.

To give these unfortunate veterans a second chance is only morally right and deserving. However, with this administration and this Congress there is little or no hope. And what hope is there when the candidates talk of "bringing the people out of the shadows" and they don't mean the people who are truly living in the shadows, our homeless veterans.

The only hope these veterans have is that people will wake up and see what a shame this is for our country and those who serve us.

FRANK J. MAHR
Moon

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The circumstances of Stacey Lenzo's death are not only sad, but also appalling to those of us in the homeless network who knew her and worked with her ("Homeless Woman Who Died in Cold Is Identified," Jan. 22). River rats are found dead under bridges; homeless women should not be. This is social sin.

Pointing fingers of blame will not bring Stacey back, but maybe her death will re-awaken people to the plight of the homeless in our area. Those who suffer from mental illness are the most vulnerable.

Local providers and our local Housing and Urban Development office work very hard to provide shelter and mental health treatment for the countless number of street homeless people in our area, but are we getting enough help from the federal government? We are bogged down with "accountability" paperwork, while at the same time, millions of dollars are spent and wasted with no accountability necessary in other questionable areas.

Stacey will be buried in a common grave. I pray her death will not become a common occurrence.

SHIRLEY GROSSMAN
Operations Manager
Bethlehem Haven/Miryam's
Uptown

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I am writing in response to the Jan. 13 article "Rendell Vows to Press Ahead on Health Care." I want to thank Gov. Ed Rendell for playing hardball with the Legislature to get something done on health care.

As a direct-care worker for 16-plus years, I provide the hands-on care our elder and disabled consumers need every day. I would like to continue providing the care my clients need every day, but it is hard for me, as well as others I work with, to continue this work because of the high cost of health care. I have gone without much-needed tests because of the high out-of-pocket expense I incur. For instance, my doctor would like me to have blood tests done every three months, but I cannot afford this.

This problem -- caregivers without adequate health coverage -- cannot be ignored. Too many elders and disabled depend on us to be there for them, and without affordable health care we can't come to work.

Your article stated that the governor wanted to use a surplus of funds that is designated for doctors to pay for their medical malpractice premiums. This is taxpayer money used to help wealthy doctors instead of covering those who need affordable health insurance. This seems like a no-brainer to me, and hopefully our legislators will wake up and find a way to pass legislation that will truly provide health-care coverage to those in need.

PAT DOWNING
Prospect

The writer is executive board secretary of the Pennsylvania Direct Care Workers Association.

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When I read the Jan. 20 Forum article about the Nano car in India, at first I felt a deep sense of impending doom ("India's Model T").

All this carbon dioxide added to the already onerous amounts that are being released into the atmosphere by the Western world. Then I realized something that the writer may not have thought through. As India's desire for more oil intensifies and the demand for oil increases worldwide, the price will only rise internationally. The price for petrol will go up everywhere.

As the price rises, many people will have to reduce their consumption. If the price rises here, not by pennies but by dollars, people will be forced to change their habits. No more three-car families, no more 10 mpg Hummers. People will turn down their thermostats and reduce their reliance on air conditioning. If we can't do it voluntarily, then we'll have to be forced.

Oil companies will have to search for better ways to produce fuels. It's inevitable, it's been coming for a long time, and we can't stick our heads in the oil sands any longer. Talk about a tipping point.

ROBIN McINTOSH
Mt. Lebanon

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PG travel editor David Bear is right on target with his concerns about the future of rail passenger transportation in the United States ("Revisiting the Railways: We Must Act Now to Save U.S. Train Transportation From Extinction," Jan. 20). We are faced with an ever-increasing demand on our highways, airways and airports but are not making decisions to include rail passenger service to balance out our future transportation needs.

Before this happens, the model must be changed. Amtrak is captive to a fickle Congress, which decides what the funding is going to be, and the executive branch, which is supposed to chart the future for our transportation needs. Both have failed.

With the increased price of fuel, we must look at investing and developing our nation's railroad network into a more viable passenger transportation infrastructure while not impacting the tremendous progress that our freight railroads have made since 1980 when the freight railroads were deregulated by the Staggers Act. The key is balance.

The government's ability to work hand in hand with the freight railroads through public/private partnerships is the primary issue. There are many secondary issues, such as politics that dictate where trains should go and stop versus what the marketplace demands.

If you asked me what the best solution would be, it would be to have the government promote, fund and build a dedicated passenger track on major rail transportation arteries with the assistance and support of the freight railroads, with incentives for the railroads to support such a venture.

ROB GALBRAITH
Ben Avon

The writer is director, railroad systems, Union Switch and Signal Inc.

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I agree completely with travel editor David Bear's Jan. 20 column, "Revisiting the Railways." I have never understood the federal government's attitude toward passenger rail service. For all the things the government gives money to it just hates funding rail transportation. Although, as Mr. Bear points out, that may be changing.

Four years ago I took the train to New York City, and it was one of most enjoyable trips I have ever taken. I had a business-class seat, we left on time and the food was fine and reasonably priced. At that time there were two trains to New York City, one at 7 a.m. and one at noon, which came from Chicago. Even with the increase in ridership, the government forced Amtrak to cancel the noon train.

If I had my way there would be two trains to New York every day and two to Chicago, one of which would leave at noon so that passengers wouldn't be forced to take a train that leaves at 11:59 p.m.

ROBERT P. MORRIS
Mt. Lebanon

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