May I give my take on the decline of Century III Mall? ("Empty stores may be on rise at Century III Mall,'' Feb. 7.)

First reason: Since the late 1980s to early 1990s, when my daughter was a "mall rat" and also worked at a couple different places there, the problem was (and remains) roving groups of "gangsta-wannabees."

The first reason: Security is afraid of them and if it's a choice between throwing them out after an altercation -- of which there were many -- or throwing out the kids who are being threatened, guess which ones are picked?

Second reason: Groups of people waiting at the entrances for buses. Who wants to walk through smoke, cat-calls, filthy language, threatening body language? Can you imagine how elderly people would feel?

Third reason: High rent. Stores left because of high rent, but no consideration was given to those trying to stay.

Fourth reason: Theft, which is one of the top concerns of shop owners. There are bands of kids running wild in that mall, not spending money because they know they can steal what they want and secur-ity/management won't do a thing because they are afraid.

Fifth reason: Have you seen the merchandise shown in windows of the stores?! At first I thought it was a joke, maybe doing a "Saturday Night Live" takeoff on what hookers and pimps wear. Then I realized it is serious. No one shops there anymore, not teenagers, not adults. In their push not to offend certain segments of the population, [the mall] has pushed people with money away. It's a joke -- on them.

Sixth reason: Location. Century III is easy access by bus from almost any area in Pittsburgh. South Hills Village has none of these problems. Enough said.

To blame this mall's problems on surrounding businesses shows, once again, how management won't face the real problems. As long as they point their fingers at everyone but themselves, it will continue the inevitable spiral to oblivion.

BONITA VERALDI
Pleasant Hills

The state of affairs at Century III Mall is a disgrace.

A few months ago, I had the rare privilege of seeing road workers finally fixing some of the potholes. The mall roads were in such disrepair, and one entrance off of Route 885 is still closed. Driving the mall roads is similar to four wheeling on a dirt road, only I am not 17 and driving my dad's car anymore.

Those of us who still go to the mall find very few people working or shopping there. The place is a ghost town. If the mall continues on its current path, it will turn into another Eastland Mall. Property values will go down and boarded up homes will be the norm. If the bused-in crime was not enough to keep people away, the ghost town will surely seal the mall's fate.

Christine Jamison's "Business as usual" and "lively and well" comments (Letters to the Editor, Jan. 24) are unacceptable. It is time for the community to demand answers and action from Century III Mall.

CHRISTINE CUNNINGHAM
Whitehall