It's time for Pa. leaders to share in pay-cut pain

I have been reading in the Post-Gazette about Gov. Ed Rendell and the Pennsylvania budget crisis and shortfall of anywhere from $2 billion to $3 billion. Now, Gov. Rendell says he might have to raise taxes to close the monetary gap ("Rendell: Raise Income Tax," June 17).

I have a suggestion: Why doesn't Gov. Rendell and the state legislators and all the Pennsylvania elected officials do the right thing: Set an example by taking a 25 percent pay cut?

Companies are making the blue-collar working men and women, the middle class, take pay cuts and do more work with less pay. Why can't our state government do the same thing, be more efficient, do more work with less pay, and set the example and not raise our taxes?

After all, Pennsylvania taxpayers are Pennsylvania voters! If the governor and state legislators -- both the senators and state House members -- will not set the example and take a pay cut, we Pennsylvania voters voted them in and we can vote them out!

And why doesn't Gov. Rendell make a deal with the state government employees' unions and reopen their contracts with the commonwealth -- the employees take a 25 percent pay cut and the governor will promise no layoffs of state government employees.

ROBERT P. VOLK
Brentwood

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He's sad, I'm mad

Our dear Gov. Ed Rendell said it made him "sad" to propose a 16 percent boost in the state personal income tax for the next three years (believe that last part?). Well, it makes me mad to have to think about paying it! We the taxpayers are having to tighten our belts and live within our means while our governor and our president want to steal more of what little is left. Why not do some belt tightening in the operation of government?

Let's hope our state legislators will exercise some common sense and overrule this onerous tax hike proposal.

TOM ECKLE
Monroeville

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Multimodal transit

I'm writing in response to the Port Authority's Transit Development Plan. I'm impressed with the amount of effort and thought that has been given to this desperately needed overhaul of our transit system. That said, there are opportunities for the Port Authority to participate in a truly multimodal system above and beyond what is in the current plan.

I often hear from frustrated bicyclists that they would happily use the Port Authority's services if only their bus had a rack, if the T accommodated bikes at peak hours like the trains in Portland and Minneapolis, or if there were safe and secure bike parking at major transit centers. Not only are these amenities relatively inexpensive ways to increase ridership and boost revenues, but up to 80 percent of the funding for these enhancements is attainable from the federal government.

Let's add these amenities to the Transit Development Plan and work together to build the multimodal system that Pittsburgh needs.

SCOTT BRICKER
Executive Director
Bike Pittsburgh
South Side

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The end for us

The decision to give the Fort Pitt Museum to the Heinz History Center ("Heinz History Center to Operate Fort Pitt Museum," June 18) may be a welcome one to the Post-Gazette and others who supported the Heinz History Center, but for the staff who actually works at Fort Pitt Museum, it means the end of our careers. People who have dedicated their lives to the preservation and promotion of the region's early history will have to find a new line of work while our museum is run by "pros" (as the Post-Gazette describes them in "Fort Pitt's Rescuer," June 15 editorial) who may have walked through our doors only once or twice in their lives.

There is so much more to this story than what the media has chosen to report. In any case, our staff will soon be unemployed and the Fort Pitt Museum just a shell of what it used to be with a corporate logo on it.

Before I leave, I would like to say thank you to the tens of thousands of children and countless visitors who experienced Capt. Fred's fur trading house, Sgt. Williams' army drill and Miss Jessica's stories of young George Washington and who walked the historic earth of Fort Duquesne with me. Thank you and goodbye.

DOUG MacGREGOR
Penn Hills

The writer is the museum educator at Fort Pitt Museum.

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Shuman and rights

As noted in your June 17 article regarding Shuman Juvenile Detention Center staff misconduct ("Shuman Officials Checking to See How Widespread Is Staff Misconduct"), the Shuman administration is checking for misconduct of its own staff. I can't help but think of the fox guarding the henhouse. Of course it should be done -- a thorough investigation is required, but it is not enough. How will those in charge prevent future misconduct and change the facility culture to one that protects the rights and safety of the youth housed in its facility?

At the state level that concern is understood and as a result independent advocates have daily access to the state-operated juvenile justice facilities where the advocates' core function is to protect the rights of youth. Shuman clearly needs someone from outside its walls, and those in charge need to make that happen!

SUE WALTHER
Executive Director
Mental Health Association in Pennsylvania
Harrisburg

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'Champions' change

I was struck by the Post-Gazette's June 16 headline "Boulevard of Champions," describing the parade of the Stanley Cup-winning Pittsburgh Penguins.

We ought to change the name of the Boulevard of the Allies to Boulevard of Champions. The Penguins and Steelers -- in the same year -- won all the money, marbles and chalk.

Let's start to change the name by writing letters to Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl.

DAVID PALMER
Upper St. Clair

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Tainted edition

I am very disappointed that the June 16 Post-Gazette would have an article about and the face of Richard Poplawski on the front page of the Souvenir Edition. This article ("Poplawski Complains of His Treatment in Jail") did not warrant the front page of the paper, nor did it deserve to be placed on the page that was to honor our Penguins hockey team.

Nothing in that article was deserving of being placed with the greatness of Sidney Crosby or Marc-Andre Fleury. They stand for all good things -- team work and good morals -- while Poplawski is just the opposite: He is evil and toxic.

If people are reading your paper for the information and the articles, they would have read the article on a different page. The front page should have been dedicated to the "boys of winter" and their well-deserved praise.

MICHELLE L. TANNEY
Monroeville

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The Pittsburgh school board was there for our son

We love living in the city of Pittsburgh. Our six children graduated from the city public schools. Our children are on exciting paths of success as they are training for professional careers. We'd like to tell you about our youngest son, Randy. Here is the story.

At the beginning of our son's sophomore year at Brashear High School, Randy Gestrich was diagnosed with a rare saliva gland cancer. He went through an aggressive cancer treatment in which he received 100 times stronger radiation than a normal patient.

Randy went though unimaginable illness, feeding tubes, wheelchairs and seizures. It damaged every bone in his body, but at this moment he is cancer-free.

In high school, while other students were dealing with peer pressure and relationships, Randy was literally fighting for his life.

It seemed hopeless to get Randy back into high school. So we turned to the Board of Education for help. It provided the Homebound Program, which bent over backward to accommodate Randy's education.

Sometimes there is a gap between the life you planned and the life you have, but hope can get you around that hard bend.

We are proud to live in the city of Pittsburgh. We are thankful that our son had the privilege to be a part of the Pittsburgh Public Schools. When Randy walked up to the platform for his diploma, we were thankful that when he could not walk, the Pittsburgh school district carried him.

PASTOR MIKE and CAROL GESTRICH
Banksville

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