Mr. Green I figured you might be able to give some perspective on my issue with the PG as well as the city and corporate and foundation communities. I will start off with the PG. Please take into account this is a sore spot recently a young man was murdered in Garfield two sundays ago and in reading the article the PG described this man as and I quote " Killer is gundown in Garfiels neighborhood" it happen to be my cousin with whom I was close to and was attempting to help him get his life back on track. I thought the PG was very insensitive to this man's family and friends. Although he was convicted of 3rd degree murder he served his time came home and began to put his life together. Furthermore the PG and general public should know that in reality the man my cousin killed had shot my cousin on two seperate occassions I understand that is not justification for murder however I think had the PG written more on the entire incident or possibly the history behind the incident I think the PG truly owes the family an apology. Secondly I have been reading the paper on-line a lot lately and have been some what surprised at how the corporate community and foundation community will ralley around a mural for veterans but will not ralley around the youth of this city to provide opportunity for kids to have summer employment. I applaud the city for its efforts yet I also am appauled by the lack of effort on the part of the city to encourage our corporations and foundations to do more for the high school youth in providing more employment opportunity. Yes its ok to have kids cleaning parks and doing conservation efforts But how much more meaning full would it be for Highmark to accept high school students for the summer and teach them to process a claim or work in the mail room or PNC Bank to take kids over the summmer and teach them to process a check or answer a telephone call I have found many of our corparation just unwilling to accept our kids especially the at-risk population and I think we as a community need to stand-up and tell the corporations if you dont invest in our cities future we wont invest in theirs. Well thanks for listening maybe you can come up with some good ideas for us to pursue for the high school youth.

-- Jeffrey N., Manchester

I would just like to say I really really hope that the 25 businesses side by side project is a success. I read the entry and although I am not from homewood ( Larimer Ave resident) I would love to see this develope. It seems to be a well thought out plan and everyone contributes and supplies each other with each others services. It gives black owned businesses not only a home but an opportunity to give back to its people and for the people to help promote black owned businesses. It will help to eliminate the violence, supply jobs, and create a well rounded community in a dominate black area. I know it can happen, I know that the people out there are tired of all the negative things happening. It will also encourage surrounding communities (Lincoln and Larimer) to thrive and do better. I am writing to promote, celebrate, and encourage Mr.Alexander as well as the protential businesses (that may want to help_) and the residents of homewood to jump up, press hard, walk in faith and believe that this is a positive yet benefical plan to build a better homewood. Good Luck, and God Bless!

-- Daron J., East Liberty