I believe Patrick McMahon, president-business agent of Local 85, needs a firm wake-up call from the dreamland he is living in ("2 Sides in Transit Talks Drive Opposite Directions," May 23). Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato should take this opportunity to repeal the drink and car rental taxes he imposed to support the Port Authority. This would make the dining and rental businesses happy and give Mr. McMahon the firm wake-up call he needs.

And if the Port Authority goes bankrupt, then so be it. It might be time to bury the old transit agency along with those overly generous pensions, benefits and wages and think of a way to replace the Port Authority, rather than rescuing it.

FRANCIS SOEN
Green Tree

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I read with interest the May 23 article on the Port Authority contract proposals. In my opinion, both management and union members who work in the public sector should expect more modest salaries and benefits than people in other sectors. After all, this is money derived from taxpayers, many of whom are struggling.

Port Authority wages, when adjusted for inflation, are the highest of any transit system in the nation, according to the Pennsylvania Economy League. In addition, the benefits are outrageous. Local 85 needs to be far more realistic about its demands. Let's get real!

By the way, the PG should publish the names of the people on the board of the Port Authority who awarded these outlandish contracts.

MARTHA RAAK
Squirrel Hill

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I am writing regarding the May 27 column "Hope in the Unseen" by Thomas L. Friedman. The column described a lottery to determine students' entrance into a new boarding school in Baltimore -- a school that would offer new life opportunities to children living in distressed urban neighborhoods.

I hope those who read the column can begin to realize how desperately our public school system needs help. Unfortunately, I am sure that it would take more than a newspaper article to wake some people up. There are programs out there recruiting people dedicated to eliminating inequity in America's schools, and I think these programs deserve more attention.

While we can find hope in the building of a boarding school, this school will help only 80 students. Programs like Teach for America hire highly motivated people (myself included) to teach in low-income schools. Since the program began, 17,000 have participated, impacting more than 2.5 million students.

Changing our attitudes about these kids is the most important step. All parents care about their child's education. All students can learn. I mean all. Poor communication leads many people to assume otherwise.

Building a fancy new boarding school (which requires millions of dollars) is not the only way to help urban children realize their potential. Although funding is certainly an issue at schools serving low-income populations, I believe that highly motivated teachers have the power to truly make a difference.

MICHELLE KOCIS
Oakland

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I urge the Post-Gazette not to be part of the proselytizing actions of Christians who want to distribute the New Testament to all your subscribers ("Plan to Hand Out 250,000 Bibles," May 11).

What arrogance on the part of people who think they are the best and only ones with true beliefs! Are you planning on having your carriers distribute the Quran the next month and the Old Testament the month after and on and on?

I subscribe to the PG for the news; I take the advertising in stride, because it covers much of the cost of running a paper, though an awful lot of trees are sacrificed for advertising. The religious institutions can advertise like everybody else. Don't burden the carriers with Bibles.

EDITH BELL
Highland Park

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I am amazed by the arrogance of Charles Utts in his May 26 letter ("Save More Souls"). He states, "So what if it angers some or annoys others" in reference to Bibles being home-delivered by the Post-Gazette. There are a multitude of faiths represented in Western Pennsylvania and not all of them want to receive someone else's holy book.

The money would be better spent on setting up a Web site where those of the same faith could request a free copy of the Bible. My wife and I will cancel our subscription if any Bibles are delivered to our home.

C. MATTHEW ROSLECK
Crafton

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When opposition to a man marrying a man and a woman marrying a woman is called (by a representative of the commonwealth of Pennsylvania) "disgraceful, morally wrong," you see morality standing on its head ("Same-Sex Marriage Ban Likely Dead in Pa. Senate," May 7). That such a revolting arrangement can be regarded as a good thing, one has to realize how decadent we have become. When something so vile is praised as something commendable, you know we have entered the last stages of a corrupted society.

Only a perverted mind could regard the defending of man-woman marriage as "an attempt to enshrine bigotry." When, in the history of the human race, or of any nation or tribe, has it been "the basic right" of men to marry men or women to marry women? Also, sexual relations are a privilege, not a right. And, furthermore, no one has either privilege or right to incest or sex with a minor or an animal, regardless of one's so-called "sexual orientation." (There are all kinds of "sexual orientation." Does that allow anyone to do any kind of sex as one chooses?)

While sinking more and more into the muck on immorality, we dupe ourselves into thinking we have, in this phony "new age," become more enlightened and "caring" while, in fact, we have become gulls and unwary fools in a fadist and jaded culture.

DAVID DAVIS
Ellwood City

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How apropos that the Clintons want the rules retroactively changed to suit their ambitions ("Clinton's Future Lies in the Rules," May 27). Let's hope the American voters will realize Bill and Hillary are a "win at all cost" team and will cast their votes for anyone with more integrity.

This change of attitude to self-serve is merely a glimpse of her future decision making -- or is that winner making?

ROBIN CHIOCCHI
McCandless

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I am opposed to the Lamar digital billboard on the new Grant Street Transportation Center. My wife and I are residents of The Pennsylvanian apartments. My office is around the corner in the Gulf Tower. I pass the partially constructed billboard at least twice a day and wince each time.

I was one of the developers and architects of Liberty Center, which opened in 1986. Our development team worked collaboratively with the Department of City Planning and the Urban Redevelopment Authority to design a new civic space at the intersection of Liberty Avenue and Grant Street.

We oriented the Federated Investors Tower to be parallel to Grant Street and set back from Liberty Avenue to create an outdoor urban room framed by Liberty Center, the Greyhound station, The Pennsylvanian apartments, the Federal Building and the landmark Federal Courthouse and Post Office. The proportions, materials and colors of Liberty Center took their cues from the buildings facing Grant Street and Liberty Avenue. It is a harmonious composition.

One of the key vistas in Pittsburgh is the view down Grant Street to the Greyhound station site. We protected that vista in our plan. We never imagined that it ultimately would focus on a billboard, digital or otherwise. Compare this billboard view to the vista down Liberty Avenue that focuses on the historic Pennsylvanian Apartments designed by master architect Daniel Burnham. The Lamar billboard will not only spoil and dominate an important vista but it will also be a rude intrusion into a grand urban space that was never intended to be the Times Square of Pittsburgh.

No hearings were conducted by the city planning commission or the Zoning Board of Adjustment to gather public input regarding the digital billboard even though the zoning ordinance prohibits new billboards in the Downtown district. Nor were the owners and tenants of Liberty Center and The Pennsylvanian apartments contacted privately by the city, the parking authority or Lamar for our review and input prior to city approval and the onset of construction. The first any of us knew of the billboard was in a Post-Gazette article.

If allowed to be built, the Lamar billboard will be an aesthetic, historic and regulatory black mark on the revitalization of Downtown Pittsburgh.

DONALD K. CARTER
Downtown