Everybody will lose if there's a transit strike

The prospect of a transit disruption at the Port Authority of Allegheny County is a sorry situation ("Union Says 'Work Stoppage' Likely If Port Authority Imposes Contract," Nov. 5). This is the last thing our region needs, particularly in this economy. It is not just the people who account for the 230,000 rides a day who would be hurt. All of us, whether we ride public transportation or not, whether we work for the Port Authority or not, will be devastated.

Clearly both the authority and union are committed to the fact that transit is a public necessity that links us all and is the lubrication of our economy. Likely there is ample blame to go around on how we got here, but the present impasse in labor negotiations is an unacceptable road to ruin.

We urge the Port Authority and Local 85 to revisit the compromise that was afforded months ago -- by the state-appointed fact-finder. When the union leadership convenes rank-and-file members in a special meeting around Thanksgiving to call for a walkout or strike vote, why not also put to a vote the option of accepting the previously rejected fact-finder's recommendations? We urge Local 85's executive board to extend this choice -- a democratic gesture that hits square with this nation's labor tradition of empowering workers to control their destiny. Given an option, union employees may well open a new door through this muddied impasse and bring both sides together in step with the fact-finder.

Prior to the union's convening of its membership, we urge the Port Authority to signal an opening by announcing that if the union accepts the fact-finder's recommendations, the authority would be willing to compromise on its "final best offer" and once again agree to accept the terms and conditions contained in the report.

Both sides gain ground in this scenario, but more important, everybody wins.

COURT GOULD
Executive Director
Sustainable Pittsburgh
Downtown

---

Airport missteps

Congratulations to the Allegheny County Airport Authority once again for driving airline service out of Pittsburgh. First, it was US Airways. Now, it seems to be Southwest and Airtran objecting to the high cost of operating out of Pittsburgh International Airport ("Southwest Objecting to Higher Landing Fees," Oct. 25; "Air Tran Expresses Concern Over Proposed Fee Increases at Airport," Oct. 29).

I cannot understand why the airport authority doesn't try to help its customers (airlines) keep hold of their costs so they can afford to expand flights to and from Pittsburgh. This will help all travelers who are customers of the airlines and the airport who use and fly out of Pittsburgh International.

Try closing at least two of the concourses entirely and consolidate all airline and vending operations out of just one or two of the other concourses -- thereby saving thousands of dollars in electricity, plumbing, cleaning, etc. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see how empty our airport is on all concourses and in general areas. Contracts are made to be broken or altered for the needs and necessity of the general public, if there should happen to be contracts with the airlines and airport vendors.

I want to congratulate our airport authority on doing a fine job for the traveling public using what little air service we have these days! The airport authority failed to persuade Southwest Airlines to expand here when it went to Dallas for talks several months ago. The airport authority is doing a wonderful job, and I have every faith in it for keeping airline service here to a minimum.

DAN MATHEWS
Vandergrift

---

Up Airmall traffic

It is very disappointing that US Airways has cut back so many flights from this area. A busy airport helps a region out tremendously, providing jobs and economic benefits that a city like Pittsburgh desperately needs. However, with a struggling economy and all airlines making cutbacks, a busy airport won't exactly happen anytime soon.

Pittsburgh does have an advantage: the Airmall, which guarantees regular mall prices while travelers find their planes. Because of the lack of flights at Pittsburgh International, why not close an entire concourse and convert it into a mall-type area? The airport authority could charge the stores and restaurants to cancel out the new fees to airlines that may prevent more airlines from coming here.

It is vital, however, that locals be allowed to shop at the airport. I know that because of 9/11, people without boarding passes cannot pass through security. Why not subject travelers and shoppers to the same type of security? Pittsburgh International is already set up for two different security checkpoints since it closed the E concourse. It could have travelers enter through the already existing, main security checkpoint and have the shoppers pass through the alternate one. From that point on shoppers could roam freely within security, shopping and eating anywhere in the airport. This would boost the local economy as more jobs would be created and more money would be given to the airport.

This could also make the airport more attractive for airlines to connect through as passengers would have an entire mall that they could shop at while they wait for their flights.

RYAN GURRENTZ
Murrysville

---

People in this region deserve kudos on their finances

In response to Brian O'Neill's column "Why Ohio, Not Pa., Is a Subprime Mess" (Nov. 2): I feel he is giving too much credit to our lenders and laws, or someone is boasting too much. While I think our lenders are good and the laws up until recently reasonable, the far and away reason for the reduced foreclosure climate in southwest and Central Pennsylvania is our neighbors.

I sold loans during these years and my clients by a very wide margin asked for fixed-rate mortgages. While lenders such as National City promoted subprime and adjustable rate loans, my customers asked for a fixed rate. When I told our customers they could save money on interest by using an adjustable rate they still wanted fixed.

It is my opinion that the people in our community are simply more financially conservative. It is this mind-set that has saved our region. I think Mr. O'Neill should give credit in a future column to the real reason our community is better off: our neighbors.

GLENN E. MARTINSON
Collier

The writer is a mortgage broker.

---

Much kindness here is helping us through this tragedy

My dear friends, colleagues and neighbors in Pittsburgh: Six weeks ago, in Squirrel Hill, my beloved wife, Eva, was hit by a school bus and killed. We arrived in Pittsburgh at the end of July and had spent two wonderful, happy months here. We were looking forward to living here for the next five years.

The house we rented on Ebdy Street had a beautiful garden with raspberries and many animals and was a place where our young daughter, Ene, Eva and I enjoyed sunny days. I was very lucky with my new position at the University of Pittsburgh, and Eva expected to find a job where she could help other people by making use of her extraordinary work experiences in Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan in the field of international development.

But the most important thing of all, the reason for our happiness, was you: the people we met in Pittsburgh, in our neighborhood, at the Department of History at the university, at the EU Centre for European Studies and in the shops and streets of this town, where so many friendly, open-minded, interesting people live.

After Eva's death, after this incredible shock and the loss that I still do not really understand, I first thought that I would have to leave Pittsburgh and return to Germany. The incredible amount of compassion, help, friendship and encouragement that you provided to my daughter and me, and continue to provide each day, convinced me to remain in Pittsburgh. I know that Eva would have approved of this decision, which was not easy for me to make.

I want to thank you all and to let you know how much your support has meant to me and to my family. I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the Pittsburgh Police Department; to Father Bryce, who met me on the evening of Sept. 19 and told me the words I needed to hear; to the parish of St. Bede; to all the neighbors and friends; to the wonderful staff and faculty of the Department of History and to the many people I have never met who have moved me with their condolences and expressions of support.

ARPAD von KLIMO
Point Breeze

---

We welcome your letters. Please include your name, address and phone number, and send to Letters to the Editor, 34 Blvd. of the Allies, Pittsburgh 15222. E-mail letters to letters@post-gazette.com or fax to 412-263-2014. Letters should be 250 words or less, original and exclusive to the Post-Gazette. All letters are subject to editing for length, clarity and accuracy and will be verified before being published.