The region must recognize what the city provides

June 15 was a glorious day for Pittsburgh. The city hosted its second world championship parade in less than six months. The streets were lined with men, women and particularly children, forming a community celebration.

I advisedly use the word "community" because our city is the center of a much larger comunity, and we proudly hosted this championship parade for that community. As a city resident and taxpayer, I hope the occasion will allow our good brothers and sisters from the outlying municipalities to reflect on the positive value that the city of Pittsburgh has for our "community" and to recognize and share the economic responsibility for that vibrant community. The city and its public safety department provide security for the premises of the sports teams, universities, hospitals, concert halls, museums and most other cultural and civic events.

Soon we will be hosting the G-20 summit, recognition of the impact that our small city has on the rest of the world. So, as we enjoy this championship celebration, I hope that all residents of Western Pennsylvania will recognize the need to keep the core of the community fiscally healthy, so that it can continue to provide the support and services it does to all the citizens of our "community."

I urge them to embrace, rather than reject, and support, rather than dismiss, local efforts to provide economic and tax support to the city of Pittsburgh. It is impossible for an elected official to send out a message such as this because of political realities. However, if our community were operated by business, rather than politics, successful leadership would direct resources to the core, thereby benefiting the entirety.

P.S. to the Pirates -- Stop trading our stars and you, too, can have a parade.

WILLIAM PIETRAGALLO II
Shadyside

Let's work together

Each day our family is grateful for being able to live the American Dream. My children are now reaping the benefits of high-quality preschool programs and child care, well-funded schools and the opportunity to attend college. A kitchen full of food and a home with paid utility bills is pretty much taken for granted. However, the ongoing state budget crisis is a grim reminder that while my family is doing well, many of my fellow citizens are increasingly vulnerable.

Families are facing unemployment, homelessness, long child-care waiting lists and unfairly funded schools. State lawmakers who claim we can simply cut services, roll back investments in education and refuse to raise revenues, i.e., increase taxes, are making an argument that flies in the face of every fiscal analysis.

It is always hard to think that I may have to pay more, but we need to maintain important programs and services -- even if it means a tax increase. We are the city of champions -- let's step up and let our state lawmakers know that we will work together and pay the price so that less-fortunate children and families can weather these tough economic times.

RUTH KOLB
Highland Park

Hardly our hero

Rob Rogers never ceases to amaze. His June 19 editorial cartoon is another example.

Absent any opportunity to blame George W. Bush for recent events, he takes the opportunity to deflect public attention from our current president's impotent response to recent events in North Korea and Iran with quite a unique presentation. In case you missed the cartoon, Mr. Rogers has elevated Barack the Chosen One to super-hero status!

His cartoon suggests that President Obama has rescued us (like a socialist) from all issues related to health care and the economy. I have not seen it, have you?

Come on, Mr. Rogers, let's focus on results. This president has not shown any leadership. No action.

Let's judge this president on the merits of his actions, not by opinions held by Rob Rogers and PG columnist Tony Norman.

D.C. ADAMONIS
Plum

Our mission

We at the Pittsburgh Area Jewish Committee mourn the death of a security guard shot down in a midday assault at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington by an alleged white supremacist. This barbaric attack at a museum that bears witness to the evils of the Nazi Holocaust and the inhumanity of man during those dark days is a stark reminder of the need to both remain vigilant and teach the value of tolerance.

Events such as this one and the recent, tragic murder of three Pittsburgh police officers highlight the importance of organizations such as PAJC, which work to support democracy and pluralism, promote intergroup relations to achieve social harmony and cohesion, and build coalitions to advance shared interests.

Through interfaith dialogues and programs, such as the Caplan-Lieber Human Relations Award for high school seniors and the Catholic Jewish Educational Enrichment Program, run with the support and cooperation of the Diocese of Pittsburgh, we are breaking down barriers between peoples and reducing stereotypes.

We reject the killer's message of hatred and bigotry and pledge ourselves anew to work as American citizens and as Jews to assure that this nation continues to embrace and draw vitality from her diversity.

DEBORAH FIDEL
Executive Director
Pittsburgh Area Jewish Committee
Squirrel Hill

I read all about it

I awoke last Thursday, as did thousands of others in Allegheny County, to a power outage from the previous night's rainstorm. With no available Internet, I sat down with the morning PG (which was dry, thanks to the recyclable plastic delivery wrap) and read about the damage caused by the storm, as well as other important news.

Despite new technology -- and the incessant talk about newspapers being obsolete -- it affirmed the importance of the printed word.

MANLEY WITTEN
Squirrel Hill

Let's not take a step backward from progress on city parks

A great park system is a key element of Pittsburgh's value proposition. The 1998 Master Plan for the city's four largest parks -- Frick, Highland, Riverview and Schenley -- analyzed conditions and compiled a $118 million list of needed repairs and improvements caused by 50 years of under-investment. These capital reinvestments require resources additional to daily park maintenance.

The Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy has been working with the city for 12 years to restore the park system to excellence, faithfully following the master plan's recommendations. Thanks to nearly 10,000 citizen donors and volunteers, foundations and corporations, government and the Allegheny Regional Asset District, more than $40 million has been raised and many major repairs accomplished, such as the Riverview Chapel Shelter, Schenley Plaza and the Highland Park Entry Garden. Yet, half of the necessary work remains undone, such as replacing the ruined Frick Environmental Center and restoration of Panther Hollow Lake.

The suggestion that the city could "save" $1.5 million by letting the county maintain the city parks for $3 million is counterproductive ("Former Allegheny County Head Urges Merger with City Departments," June 17). Reducing spending on city parks to $3 million would mean that Pittsburgh's great parks would be maintained at about $9.37 per resident. To put that in perspective, cities known for great parks are spending at a much higher level (according to the Center for City Park Excellence, Trust for Public Land, Chicago spends $133 per resident and Cincinnati spends $140 per resident).

With resources scarce, there is obvious need for continuous improvement and efficiency in parks management and maintenance. But to slash funding when we are beginning to see genuine improvements could reverse a positive trend and doom our city parks to another 50-year cycle of neglect and decay.

MEG CHEEVER
President and CEO
Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy
Hazelwood

Cut state salaries across the board

Gov. Ed Rendell wants to raise our income tax for the next three years to 3.57 percent ("Rendell: Raise Income Tax," June 17). Add that to the 1 percent wage tax to pay for schools, including teachers' salaries, and we are nearing a 5 percent income tax for Pennsylvanians.

Here's a better idea. Cut the salaries of all Pennsylvania government workers by 10 percent for the next three years. By cutting across the board from the $20-an-hour toll taker on the Pennsylvania Turnpike to the $70,000-a-year schoolteacher, we should be able to balance the budget.

If not, then let's follow the example of Chrysler and General Motors and enter into a government-sponsored bankruptcy and cut all government spending by 10 percent. If it's good enough for the car dealers, it should be good enough for Pennsylvania politicians.

TONY PITTORE
Harrison City

More valuable than money

Contrary to the opinions of Craig B. Clemmens ("Obama's Ban on Forest Roads Is a Mistake," June 19 letters) and Adam Smith (to which they are -- or in Smith's case, were -- entitled), some things are more valuable than money, even in times like the present when money is of more than usual concern.

We need to keep things in perspective, however, and remember there are some things money can't buy. One of these is wilderness.

Once roads are cleared and vehicles permitted, wilderness is no longer wilderness and pristine areas are no longer pristine. The natural balance in wildlife populations is distorted. If commercial interests prevail, trees can be cut down, subjecting streams and lakes to siltation. Mining wastes can poison the soil. Machinery can shatter the peace and contribute instant erosion. The mountaintop removal in Pennsylvania is an extreme example of the disastrous outcomes that can result from allowing commercial interests to invade new territories.

Much of our country has been degraded by commercial interests and will take a long time, if ever, to recover. It seems only fair to preserve what wilderness is left for the benefit of future generations and the preservation of the Earth itself. I think President Barack Obama could have appointed better custodians, but on the whole is doing a really good job for a city boy.

BINA ROBINSON
Swain, N.Y.

A railway west to the airport

Dan Onorato has the right idea ("Onorato Eyes Rail Links to Airport," April 29). There's a better way to get to the airport via rail, but it has to originate at Station Square using the former Pittsburgh & Lake Erie right of way going west to the former Montour Railroad right of way that leads to the Montour interchange of the Parkway West.

New rail and roadbed would have to be constructed from the parkway interchange west to the airport. I think it would be more economical to use existing roadbed where available. But then, if federal funding is involved economics is not an issue.

CHARLES ROSS
Cranberry

Does he think we care?

Regarding "Accused Cop Killer Complains About Jail" (June 15): "Seriously? Really? Richard Poplawski wants us to know what individuals may be faced with if they land in jail? And he "wants to improve" his "condition"? Does he really believe that any of us even care?

With all of his reported denials of access while in jail to social services, religious services, visitors, the commissary, gym equipment and the library, does he ever once stop and think of what he denied to three men permanently?

Perhaps Paul Sciullo would have been Downtown at the Penguins parade, perhaps Eric Kelly would have gone to church with his family, and perhaps Stephen Mayhle would have taken his girls to Kennywood this past weekend. Richard Poplawski also wants to remind us that he is "presumed innocent."

I wonder just who or what he is planning to blame for the all-out assault on the police at his house. He doesn't even have the basic human dignity to keep his mouth shut. Save his family and some defense attorneys, none of us cares.

KATE CARRIGAN
Highland Park

Can't wait to respond to our letter writers? Go to community.post-gazette.com/blogs.

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.