There's no bright side, so let's reverse the trend

Disappointing population data from the U.S. Census Bureau has become an annual tradition in this city. This year the PG points out that the population of our great city has been surpassed by suburbs of both Los Angeles and Denver ("Pittsburgh Population Drops, But It's Still in Top 25 Percent," July 10). This broken record has been playing for decades.

Reversing this trend and increasing the population of our entire region will do much to solve our fiscal crisis. An increase in population will boost the demand for both residential and commercial real estate. Adding new taxable real estate to the region's inventory will increase the revenue of local governments.

Before we know it, the unpopular drink tax will be a distant memory and the increased population should have a positive effect on the Port Authority's ridership -- two birds with one stone. Best of all, it does not involve raising or creating new taxes. Let's work to solve this problem and not just spin bad news!

RYAN STOKES
Lawrenceville

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Outlandish theory

Your editorial conclusion in "Drilling Fever" (July 16) was childish and naive. I quote, "What will have to be watched now is the temptation on the part of Mr. Bush to start another Middle East war to push up the gas price to the point that Congress will cave in on the subject." What abject nonsense and drivel!

The American public is disgusted with $4 gas and overwhelmingly in favor of expanding domestic drilling to increase supplies, and it will not take a war with Iran to persuade Congress to this point of view. The Democrats are already feeling the heat, as well they should be since it is they who have perennially been the roadblock to the common-sense solution of opening up our enormous domestic supplies to the oil companies.

Newt Gingrich is correct when he says, "Drill here. Drill now. Pay less." Your heads are in the clouds, and your whining is that of a child. You should be ashamed to publish such pretentious twaddle.

JAY GRIFFIN
Murrysville

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Why fear fairness?

I can only laugh at the abject terror that strikes the conservative heart at the prospect that the Fairness Doctrine might be revived in a forthcoming Obama administration and bring an end to the 24/7 barrage of Republican Party propaganda that comprises most of talk radio today ("Will Democrats Hush Rush?" July 13).

I find it especially amusing because these are most of the same folks who insist that public schools teach the (scientifically nonexistent) controversy of evolution vs. creationism.

Is it because their ideas are so utterly bankrupt that conservatives quake fearfully at the mere possibility that radio listeners might be exposed to another point of view? Or is it that they, in true Republican fashion, believe that they have a divine right to monopolize the airwaves -- and the public, who in fact own the airwaves, be damned?

DAVID GROVER
Squirrel Hill

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Their gift to me

Pittsburgh had the honor of hosting the 2008 Transplant Games ("Starzl Gets Transplant Olympics Started," July 13). The participants in this wonderful event epitomized courage, strength, perseverance and faith like none other. The camaraderie of the athletes, their families and the families of the organ donors was simply remarkable.

I thought that I would volunteer as a good deed. It was quickly apparent that they were giving to me a gift that I will cherish forever. I wish to thank the athletes, their families and the donor families for their precious gift. They truly are the heroes worthy of high praise.

MATT ZOTTOLA
Regent Square

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Spirit and strength

Eight years ago my father was lying in bed fighting for his life against the object that was supposed to save his life. That object was a new heart, which his body was trying to reject. Thanks to miracle medicines, extraordinary UPMC cardiologist/nurses, a generous donor and his tremendous health, he flew through the first and most critical year of a transplant recipient.

Last week, I was privileged to witness this transplant recipient run 5K, 1,500 meter and 800 meter races in the 2008 U.S. Transplant Games held in Pittsburgh. As a spectator, I marveled at the determination and spirit of these athletes who have picked themselves up after tragic events nearly took their lives. As a son, I reveled in the man who can still teach his 30-year-old boy how to face life's setbacks through an example of strength, faith and perseverance.

I hope that the next time you renew your driver's license, you might remember these wonderful men and women and check the organ donor box or simply go to www.donatelife-pa.org and have your last act be that of a lifesaving hero.

MATTHEW ROSZNER
Highland Park

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Allies' imperialism

On June 29, PG Executive Editor David M. Shribman's "My Point" column asserted the importance of commemorating the American soldiers who gave their lives in the Great War, World War I ("The Boulevard of the Allies"). One very important aspect of the war curiously finds no mention in Mr. Shribman's essay. That aspect is the role of Africans, Asians and all the colonized subjects of the British and French Empires, those gloriously celebrated "Allies" for whom the boulevard in Pittsburgh is named, in World War I.

Tens of thousands of colonial subjects, whose valor and courage in war was no less than their European and American counterparts, died for their respective empires. About a million Indians contributed to the war effort and nearly 60,000 of those Indians, from all corners of the British Empire, died in the service of the Allies in Mesopotamia and various theaters in Europe. Tens of thousands of African soldiers were conscripted into the war by the French Empire, also to destroy opponents of the Allies in those same killing fields. After the war, the victors at Versailles, including the American president, Woodrow Wilson, denied self-determination for Asians and Africans while hypocritically promoting such gallant ideals for Europe.

As Mr. Shribman says, we certainly should collectively "ponder a war long forgotten, but whose impact remains with us, shaping our lives [and] our perspectives." If we omit the imperial designs of the Allies and the horrid exploitation of Africans and Asians in the execution of that war, we shall never be able to think out of imperialism and into a different, peaceful future.

NEILESH BOSE
Moon

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The best bet for the public is to back Barden's vision

Fortunately for the taxpayers, the editorial writer who urged the revocation of the gaming license issued to Don Barden's company wasn't waging their money ("Don't Bet on Him: It's Time to Get Barden Out of the Casino Game," July 16). When you go to the Camptown Races, whether you bet on the bobtailed nag or the bay, you check out the odds carefully.

Had the writer done so, a different bet would have been placed. The fact is that the license issued to PITG Gaming is specific to that site on the North Side. To revoke that license means that site would no longer be available for a casino and the state Gaming Control Board would have to open the process to other sites and other bidders -- scarcely a winner for the public.

One also would hope that fairness would be factored into the equation. When the license was originally awarded, the gaming board noted that all three applicants presented highly leveraged proposals where each of the proposed casinos would be built with borrowed funds. While Don Barden's proposal was slightly riskier in the board's eyes, his superior location and his personal commitment carried the day.

When other casinos fail, their corporate sponsors simply walk away. Here, however, Mr. Barden has personally undertaken to assure that all commitments be honored by the new investors. He has put his time, money, effort and assets behind his commitment notwithstanding the delays caused by six appeals and the attendant interference with securing financing. To suggest destroying all that Don Barden has done because the credit crisis and escalating construction costs have forced him to seek additional investors is simply unfair.

The Gaming Control Board, which knows the industry and can review financial suitability, is in a better position to evaluate whether proceeding with new investors who will fulfill the commitments and vision of Don Barden is a better bet for the taxpayers. The taxpayers' money is safer in their hands.

PAUL H. TITUS
Downtown

Mr. Titus is joined in this letter by James Eisenhower, Jeffrey Letwin and Deborah A. Rouse, all of whom are attorneys with Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis LLP, which represents Mr. Barden and his business.

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