Brian O'Neill asks in his June 5 column "Gas Prices May Fuel Growth in Cities" whether families will choose to live in cities over the suburbs now that gasoline prices are so high.

The answer is they will not unless and until the city schools improve and the city neighborhoods are safer. It is true that gas prices take a bite out of a budget. Living in a city might result in a lower gas bill. However, the major reasons families choose to live in the suburbs -- good schools and safe neighborhoods -- trump the desire for lower gasoline bills every time.

Student achievement results for the various school districts show that families more than make up for what they pay in using more gas by the opportunities their children have when they reside in safe communities with high-performing, focused school districts.

Until that equation changes, the suburbs will continue to be the answer for most families.

ALAN T. SHUCKROW
McCandless
The writer is a member of the North Allegheny School Board.

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As the Bush administration and the Israeli government ratchet up their bellicose rhetoric against Iran over its supposed nuclear weapons development and ties to Iraqi insurgents (does this sound familiar?), it is not surprising that oil speculators ratchet up the world market price for a barrel of crude to record levels approaching $150.

Oil was approximately $25 to $28 per barrel before President Bush unnecessarily invaded Iraq, which was then the second- or third-largest oil-producing country in the world. If U.S. consumers are shocked at $4-per-gallon gasoline, wait until they see pump prices after Iran (currently the second-largest oil-producing country) is attacked.

GERALD SCHILLER
Verona

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You want the oil-producing countries to think about their pricing polices? Keep Congress in session and approve legislation to open up drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, open up offshore drilling and eliminate the tariff on imported ethanol made from sugar cane.

We all need to deliver this message to our representatives and senators. We need to let John McCain and Barack Obama know how we feel. We've waited too long already.

JIM WELCH
Upper St. Clair

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Gov. Ed Rendell should veto the proposed smoking bill.

I am disappointed in the number of exemptions and dismayed that it would prevent other cities from enacting their own laws but allows Philadelphia's laws to remain. Why should one city in this state allow its citizens better protection from the dangers of secondhand smoke? Are we not as worthy as Philly residents?

One of the issues facing the ban was to have a fair and equal application across the commonwealth -- so how is it fair that Philadelphia can do more to protect its citizens and Pittsburghers and others are left to suffer?

BILL MARX
Shaler

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Being the class clown in high school helped me immensely as I suffered through the tortures of weekly art appreciation classes. So I can't begin to grasp how someone (unless it was Christo?) could assign a value of $1.2 million to Vija Celmins' "Night Sky #2" ("Guard Charged With Ruining Museum Piece," June 6).

Correct me if I'm wrong here, but it looks like a black canvas speckled with white paint, kind of like my old Steelers cap except without the hypercycloids. If I were Vija, I'd tape the pieces back together, paint the tape black and then sprinkle some more white paint on it.

Voila! She could retitle it "Some Asteroid Ruined My Night Sky #3." Better yet, she should try connecting all the little dots and actually make a picture of something.

TIMOTHY BRIDGEMAN
Carnegie

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I sit here and read the letters from citizens who question and sometimes criticize the Pittsburgh police shooting of a man in Oakland and I'm frustrated that people still don't get it.

I'm responding to the June 5 letter "Why Kill Him?" written by Linda L. Smith. Ms. Smith asks if there is a gray area. No, not when a police officer is facing a deadly-force encounter.

She then asks what about shooting to wound? Sorry, but this is real life, this is not TV or a movie where Arnold or Bruce Willis can shoot the gun out of a bad guy's hand.

The law allows us police officers to meet deadly force with deadly force. And understand one thing: No police officer in this country -- and there are about 800,000 of us -- plans to kill a person in the line of duty. It is something no one wants to live with, but we are aware from day one that it might happen. There is no such thing as warning shots, there is no such thing as do-overs, there are no restarts.

The officer involved did his job and did it properly. He survived a deadly encounter with a man with a meat cleaver. I know, I was in a similar situation years ago at work. I was lucky enough that the male dropped his weapon as I have no doubt I would have responded accordingly, as this officer did.

As far as Ms. Smith wanting to understand, I say contact the Pittsburgh Police Bureau and ask to do a ride-along. That surely would be an eye-opening event. Life is not pretty sometimes and I'm glad there are good police officers out there standing tall.

ERIC TODD MARGOLIN
Richland
The writer, who still works as a police officer in the area, was formerly a city of Pittsburgh officer.

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As a member and sometimes representative of the deaf-blind community, I want to remind you that June celebrates the life of Helen Keller and encourages awareness of the deaf-blind.

If you are fortunate to encounter the deaf-blind, please be open and kind to them. That blind person may not be ignoring you, that person may not be able to hear you. They may need your assistance but not even be aware that you are present.

It is a difficult road to travel but we can handle it. We do not need pity, just recognition that we cannot do things you take for granted. Please reach out a hand to us, as we have much to offer. We are good friends, good workers (I have worked my job for more than 30 years), good family members. We communicate through touch -- it is our most important sense and helps make up for what we have lost. Do not be afraid when I touch you.

Robert J. Smithdas, a Pittsburgh native, is deaf-blind and he is one of the founders of the Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Adults and Youths in Sands Point, N.Y. He is the one who established Helen Keller National Deaf-Blindness Awareness Week, which occurs during the last week of June annually, and he uses the quote: "Blindness separates us from things and deafness separates us from people."

Remember that Helen Keller said that deaf-blind people are the loneliest people in the world.

RICHARD McGANN
Brookline

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I, like the rest of Pittsburgh, was saddened to read about the sudden death of Steelers great Dwight White. I was glad to read in the cover story in Saturday's Post-Gazette ("Steel Curtain's 'Mad Dog' Dies") highlights of Dwight's accomplishments both on and off the field.

I remember the excitement of the days of the Steel Curtain and Super Bowl victories, but I got to know Dwight personally through his involvement in more recent years at Pace School. Dwight was the honorary chair of our annual fundraising event, the Race for Pace.

In that role he contributed much more than his name and his fame. Each year Dwight made a point to visit the children at Pace School who are struggling with emotional challenges or autism. He shook their hands with his powerful grip, let them try on his Super Bowl ring, posed for pictures, signed autographs and, perhaps most important, he listened to them. He was an inspiration to our students, who celebrated with him earlier this year when he was recognized as a member of the Steelers all-time team.

Through his extensive involvement in the community, Dwight leaves behind an important legacy in his adopted home of Pittsburgh that is much bigger than football. Hopefully, some of Pittsburgh's new generation of superstar athletes will learn something from him about the important responsibility they have as role models to our children.

MAUREEN MAHONEY HILL
Fox Chapel
The writer is board chair of the Pace School in Churchill.

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