Community should welcome Mayview residents

I've followed with interest the controversy of the Baldwin Township residents who are opposed to Mercy Behavioral Health opening a facility in their community ("Mayview's Closing Brings Fear and Hope," Dec. 29).

Perhaps those opposed should spend some time as volunteers getting to know these individuals. They have faced enormous obstacles in their lives, and for the most part, are caring, giving and amazing individuals who struggle every day with issues that are far beyond what any of us "normal" people can imagine. They ask for nothing more than kindness and acceptance.

I have a grandson diagnosed with autism who will someday be one of these individuals and can only hope that he can find a place such as this to live.

I thought we were beyond the days of hiding the mentally ill in the closet. If the people of Baldwin Township can't accept the fact that mentally ill individuals have a right to live in their community, perhaps they can look at the financial benefit of such a facility. With the opening of this facility will come jobs, and with jobs come people buying gas, coffee and paying tax revenue.

BONNIE McCONNELL
Mt. Lebanon

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A caring reporter

I was looking at an unusually insightful and thorough article on mental health system reform in the online Post-Gazette and was warmed to see that it was authored by Joe Fahy ("Mayview Closing Marks Era's End," Dec. 28).

In several phone interviews with Joe earlier this year on a related topic, I found him to be unusually probing, knowledgeable, caring and willing to share his own personal feelings about mental health care in this country. I hung up glad to find one reporter with a heart as great as his apparent intellect.

I was deeply saddened to hear of his death on Dec. 23. Here's one New Yorker who believes your loss is shared by all of us who seek the kind of reporter and person Joe Fahy apparently was.

HARVEY ROSENTHAL
Director
New York Association of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services
Albany, N.Y.

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More bite needed

Your Dec. 28 piece on Allegheny County's restaurant inspections ("Little Bite Put in Restaurant Inspections,") is well-timed and much needed.

While a medical student at the University of Pittsburgh, I had an opportunity this past year to spend a month shadowing various inspectors from the Allegheny County Heath Department on their appointed rounds. The problem is not that Dr. Bruce Dixon or his staff lack a commitment to our health; it is that generations of county leaders have failed to make the investments needed to ensure our future safety.

I hope that County Executive Dan Onorato will use this as an opportunity to make good on his rhetoric and find the funding our Health Department deserves.

ALIK WIDGE, M.D., Ph.D.
Friendship

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Our stand on graffiti

Regarding the Dec. 14 story "Art Students Charged with 'Tagging' City with Graffiti": We believe that it is time to express The Art Institute of Pittsburgh's position on graffiti.

The college does not condone the practice of property defacement and advises against the dangers of criminal graffiti. We support the needs of law enforcement officials at all times and have invited Port Authority staff to conduct awareness sessions within the college. Our administration participates in task forces as a measure of expressing responsibility for our treasured community assets.

Recently, a memo was distributed to approximately 3,000 current students communicating the implications of a felony conviction. Students were informed of the consequences and reminded of college policy.

The Art Institute of Pittsburgh is comprised of talented people who dedicate time and talent to projects on every scale. Collectively, we've spent 90 years answering the call of community organizations and, above all, preparing thousands of graduates for successful careers. We extend time, talent and financial support to a variety of public art and community projects every year -- not only because such opportunities underscore our mission for students but also because we are invested in our community and our neighbors.

Over the past decade, approximately 10,000 students graduated from The Art Institute and became responsible and productive professionals. In contrast, perhaps a dozen have been convicted of graffiti-related crimes. Further, of the many graffiti charges that occur, many perpetrators are not affiliated with the college in any way.

We believe it is important to share with residents of the region our sense of obligation toward helping the city of Pittsburgh achieve a community that rejects criminal vandalism.

GEORGE L. PRY
President
The Art Institute of Pittsburgh
Downtown

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Clinton to blame

Post-Gazette Executive Editor David Shribman attempts to paint the impeachment trial of 10 years ago as a nonpartisan stain on American history with plenty of blame to go around ("The Year the Locusts Ate," Dec. 21). This ignores the fact that there is one person to blame for the impeachment -- Bill Clinton.

If he had not engaged in behavior which was reckless and immoral and tried to cover it up by committing perjury, we would never have had to endure the trial. Do not attempt to lay blame elsewhere when it is clear who the guilty party is.

CHARLES P. LAWTON
Whitehall

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Bailout beliefs

In the Dec. 23 editorial titled "Car Rally," the author mentioned one point that left me in disbelief. In regards to President Bush's decision to grant $17.4 billion in loans to the auto industry, the author said "his decision to grant the loans went against his own beliefs, but he recognized that the economic welfare of the nation was threatened."

While there is certainly something to be said for the world economy, we should analyze the way we reward corporate America for bad business tactics because of the leverage (large number of jobs) it holds.

Bailing out any industry with government support is like appeasing a dictator -- we can throw money at them to prevent the worst but in the future nothing will change.

When we really look at it, maybe there is something to be said for following our beliefs after all.

DAVID MASTERS
Franklin Park

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Contradictory name

Regarding the Dec. 22 article "What's in a Name? Cash." In the case of the new Consol Energy Center: a contradiction. Pittsburgh's new hockey arena is to be a certified "green" building.

Such a building would seem to be the antithesis of what Consol Energy would advocate. As a large producer of bituminous coal, one must question why Consol would want its name associated with a building design that works against its interests.

Pittsburgh has a genuine opportunity to lead the country by building a "green" arena. Hopefully, the Penguins' choice of sponsor does not indicate a lack of commitment to this progressive project.

MIKE SZUSTAK
Kingston, Luzerne County

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Pittsburgh Promise is not for everyone

Last Sunday the Post-Gazette published an article regarding the Pittsburgh Public School's attempts to recruit new students ("City Public Schools Taking Steps to Stem Declining Enrollment," Dec. 28).

One of the selling points the board plans to use is the availability of Pittsburgh Promise funds to eligible seniors continuing onto college. This letter is a caution to families: The "Promise" is really a conditional "Premise."

Our son graduated last June from Schenley High School and was accepted at his college of choice, Ohio Northern University. Even though he was a 12-year, honors graduate of the Pittsburgh Public Schools, he was not eligible for Promise funds because his school of choice is not on the approved list of eligible institutions.

Many of his friends found themselves in a similar situation. Even though they are the best and brightest that the district can produce, these young scholars were denied Promise funding.

Within the body of the Promise document, it "vows to help all students in Pittsburgh Public Schools plan, prepare, and pay for education beyond high school at an accredited post-secondary institution within the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. "

Is the Pittsburgh Promise really designed to assist students with college expenses, or is it designed more to direct students and their funds to specified Pennsylvania colleges, regardless of the student's and family's needs and choices?

Families considering relocating should carefully evaluate The Promise of post-secondary funding to eligible students during these challenging economic times.

TERESA ANKNEY
Squirrel Hill

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