Choosing 'Pittsburgh first' will help our region

During this unprecedented economic time we have found that Pittsburgh is far less negatively impacted than our peer cities.

Why? My thoughts are formulated based on several factors. Pittsburgh has rebuilt itself in post-steel industry times via a slow and conservative manner; we rebuilt a foundation of diverse business markets that are stable and of "real" assets and services. The national/global market crashes are primarily due to business models that hedged their success via nontangible assets and inflated growth projections.

Pittsburgh has built its economy on the opposite. Thus we enjoy the hard-earned reward of a more stable local economy. Our local businesses stayed fixed on hard products and services, which kept to our history of hard work and hands-on business management.

We have some amazing small businesses that are undervalued gems in their industry. They are our neighbors, the entrepreneurs who have put it all on the line and are growing their businesses via rolled-up sleeves and dedication.

I have seen firsthand national or global businesses being picked over local businesses providing the same products and services right here in our own back yard. This is not just a shame but a huge negative impact to our local economy. We all need to look at home first when looking for new vendors, products and services.

"Pittsburgh first" needs to be how we think, as by helping each other succeed we will continue to grow as a local economy and compound our continued success!

DENNIS K. GEARY
CEO
Pittsburgh Business Center
Robinson

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G-20 punishment?

Is being given the opportunity to host the G-20 summit a reward or a punishment?

Who "awarded" the opportunity and who accepted it? Did anyone think beyond fuller hotel rooms and restaurants and some souvenir shopping? This is not a friendly event like a Super Bowl parade, a Stanley Cup parade, a Major League Baseball All-Star Game or a U.S. Open golf tournament. There will be major expenditures.

The demonstrators are already organizing. Let's all hope that those who wanted this event made a good decision.

JIM WELCH
Upper St. Clair

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We've changed

Regarding G-20 summit brainstorming ("More Ideas Offered for G-20 Summit," June 24): Here's my idea for a slogan the city should use during the G-20 summit. "Pittsburgh. We're not the city we used to be."

MILLICENT A. SMITH
Downtown

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Cuts opportunity

We are very troubled that one of Pennsylvania's most successful programs, which last year provided educational support for 44,000 students in grades K-12 and 6,000 pre-kindergarten aged children, is in jeopardy of being significantly cut as a result of the state's budget shortfall.

Since 2001 the Pennsylvania Educational Improvement Tax Credit program has provided thousands of students from low-income families with an opportunity to attend schools and pre-kindergarten programs of their choice. It also has provided funding to support innovative educational programs in public schools.

The Pennsylvania Senate passed a budget bill, SB 850, last month that called for the significant reduction or elimination of many programs, in an attempt to bring the upcoming 2009-2010 state budget into line with projected revenue. This bill calls for the reduction of the EITC program by $35 million. Of this $35 million reduction, $22.3 million will come from the elimination of the innovative educational programs for public schools. The remaining $12.7 million will come from some combination of the K-12 scholarships and pre-K scholarships funds.

We believe cutting the EITC program would be shortsighted, as it could deprive hundreds of children of a high-quality education and supportive enrichment programs. Therefore, we urge the Pennsylvania General Assembly to keep the EITC program at its current level of funding, $75 million.

DANIEL H. SHAPIRA
Chair, Pittsburgh Jewish Educational Improvement Foundation
Oakland
REV. KRIS D. STUBNA
Secretary for Catholic Education, Diocese of Pittsburgh
Downtown

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No excuses

Several members of Parents of Murdered Children, Pittsburgh Chapter, attended the recent trial of John Mullarkey Jr. ("Cheerleader Murder Jury Rejects Acne Drug Defense," June 30). He was tried and convicted of the first-degree murder of 16-year-old Demi Cuccia, stabbing her 16 times!

POMC commends the detectives, Deputy District Attorney Mark V. Tranquilli, Judge Jeffrey Manning and the men and women of the jury. This jury denied the defense claim that it was the use of medication that made Mullarkey stab Ms. Cuccia to death.

POMC believes that, throughout our lifetimes, we all have problems or some sort of setback. These must not be excuses for ending another person's life. Such acts must receive a penalty denying the right to ever live in a free society.

Six years ago, the life of my daughter, Dana Pliakas, was ended by violence. I can tell you the murder of Demi Cuccia has forever changed the lives of many people, as we POMC members know all too well.

Information about our organization is available at pomc.org.

CINDY LANG
Chapter Leader
POMC Pittsburgh Chapter
Turtle Creek

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Many thanks

I would like to offer my profound thanks to the city of Pittsburgh Department of Public Works for hauling all the debris from the flood from my street -- they were friendly, organized and efficient.

Also, my thanks to the borough of Wilkinsburg Fire Department for the time and effort it took on my street to check the gas and help my elderly neighbors during the recent flooding.

I love Pittsburgh.

MARLEY WOLFF
Wilkinsburg

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Stepping in it

A frequent rider of city bike trails, I was inspired to write to you about the seemingly endless stretches of our waterfront trails from the new casino, past Heinz Field and over to PNC Park that are so covered with goose poop that it is difficult to walk or ride without keeping your eyes squarely on the concrete in front of you.

One cannot see the sights at the same time. It is truly offal. With thousands of visitors coming this weekend for the Three Rivers Regatta, is it too much or too expensive to hope for a little pressure-washing? Who could take on this task to put a cleaner face on our city?

DAVID ORBISON
Lawrenceville

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Columnist is far off base on health care

Regarding George F. Will's June 29 column ("Fiscal Train Wreck: Obama's Health-Care 'Fix' Is One We Would Likely Regret"): There is a flashing warning sign along the highway saying the bridge is down ahead. The back-seat driver, Mr. Will, says "we should leave bad enough alone," keep on going.

We turn on the radio and there is a traffic alert warning us that the bridge is out. George "We should leave bad enough alone" Will should stick to baseball ...

How soon will it be before 100 million people have no insurance? The health-care costs go up 7 percent a year and show no signs of abating. Now there's a trillion-dollar drain, or is it two? Republicans say government can't do anything well. Leave it to private enterprise. Oh, and having a public option, which 70 percent of the American people want, would not be fair. Private enterprise would not be able to compete. Which is it?

Why is it that those who make this argument never say anything about Medicare? Why is it that so many people who rail against a government option can't wait to get into Medicare? Most governors, mayors, many physicians and many many others want a choice that really would save money and provide insurance to all Americans. This approach also would make our industries much more competitive with those of other countries.

Even though it would be the wisest and most cost-effective option, we probably won't have the single-payer option, but we should at least have the choice of a public option.

JOHN GIDDINGS
McCandless

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