Letters to the editor
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Citizens are tired of government mismanagement
Regarding the Nov. 24 letter "Stop Moaning," I think letter writer Rita Gibson has missed the point with regard to the proposed gasoline tax. Citizens are complaining to our government about mismanaging our tax dollars.
Pennsylvania residents are tired of being "nickeled and dimed" to make up for our leaders' mistakes. The question of why this was not a bigger issue in the recent election is a good one. The fact that certain candidates evaded the issue might have something to do with it. For two candidates in particular, the whole campaign strategy was to stay away from the issues and run on their name or popularity.
Citizens are upset at our government's unwillingness to be a government for the people. The great Pennsylvania pay-raise debacle is a prime example of that. Unfortunately, legislative reluctance isn't restricted to Pennsylvania's borders. For more cases of citizen malcontent, try reading Lou Dobbs' "War on the Middle Class."
I support Mr. Dobbs' advice of registering as an Independent, because if you are just pointing fingers at the other party, then you are part of the problem. Wake up, America! It is the power and rivalry of our two-party system that is hurting America.
DOUG SICCHITANO
Glassport
Gas-guzzling tie-ups
Letter writer Michael Semcheski gleefully tells us that he buys gasoline only once a month ("Use It? Pay for It," Nov. 29). What a pleasure it must be to have a quick and reliable means of transportation that doesn't involve a car.
I, however, am not so lucky. My commute takes me from Penn Hills to Robinson every day. Would I pay 12.5 cents a gallon more for gas? Sure, if the following could be assured:
1) I could actually use the Parkway East in the morning and be sure that I'd get to work on time. Right now I have to commute through Wilkinsburg, Point Breeze and Squirrel Hill to get to the Parkway East.
2) Afternoon drive time would be free of construction on the Parkway West inbound. Interstate 79 South work hadn't been completed for more than 45 days before the Jersey barriers went up again between Settler's Cabin and the 79 interchange. Then there's Green Tree Hill, which is always backed up.
Finally, the worst of the lot, the outbound Parkway East approach to the Squirrel Hill tunnels is torture. I can't determine a way to calculate how much gas is used in that traffic jam every day.
Now Mr. Semcheski thinks I should add 12.5 cents a gallon to that. Sorry, but until the state and the city come up with viable, alternate routes for those who work every day, Gov. Ed Rendell can keep his gas tax.
NANCY WOOD
Penn Hills
Inescapable increase
Letter writer Michael Semcheski apparently forgot that walkers and cyclists use the roads and bridges, too. I propose a shoe and bike tax increase so they pay their fair share.
By the way, Mr. Semcheski, everything we buy that is moved by trucks (including gasoline) will pass on the price increase to you ... or do you eat only once a month, too?
BART ARLET
Crafton Heights
Yes to fresh air
I read John Messner's comments criticizing the smoking ban at the airport ("People Find Ways Around 'Do-Gooder' Measures," Nov. 30 letters). I couldn't disagree more.
For anyone who has walked within 100 feet of the bars at the airport, it is impossible to avoid the smoke. I have to hold my breath when I use the moving walkway because the smoke is so bad passing TGI Friday's.
I will be glad to see smokers huddle "underground," as Mr. Messner predicts. At least they won't be polluting the air for those of us who live above ground.
R. PATTERSON
Indiana Township
Repulsive hunting
Your Nov. 28 front-page story "A Day in the Life of a Deer Hunter" heated me up enough to write this letter. I find deer hunting to be an uncivilized subject, sport and activity.
I would think that there are many more than I who would object to the romanticizing of killing deer. That's why I find it to be so surprising that the Post-Gazette would feature it as a lead story.
How much longer must we wait until someone proposes a more humane way of controlling the deer population? Thanks for listening to the opposing point of view.
DIANE McMAHON
North Side
Her inspiring story
I read with huge pleasure the article by Michael Fuoco about Kakenya Ntaiya and about her journey both in miles and spirit ("Born to a Better Day," Nov. 26).
About two years ago she and I spoke together at Scripps College in Claremont, Calif., about 34 Million Friends of the United Nations Population Fund, a grass-roots effort asking 34 million Americans to contribute at least $1 to UNFPA because the Bush administration refuses to release $34 million every year.
UNFPA is a leader in the worldwide campaign to end female genital mutilation and forced early marriage for girls and is a champion of girls' education.
Kakenya told her story in the first chapter of my book "34 Million Friends of the Women of the World," which recounts my own journey as co-founder of 34 Million Friends. I am so happy for her. And I am filled with admiration for her spirit and goodness.
JANE ROBERTS
Redlands, Calif.
Health department budget problems put us all at risk
Anita Srikameswaran reported that 70 department managers at the Allegheny County Health Department have signed a petition that suggests that, when it comes to public health, we are all uninsured ("Allegheny County Health Staff Speaks Up About Budget Problems," Nov. 15).
Among other things, the petitioners claim that due to budget shortfalls: 1) community air monitoring has been cut back; 2) sexually transmitted disease prevention programs have been eliminated; 3) follow-up on animal bites with potential for spreading rabies has decreased; and 4) restaurant inspections have been sharply reduced.
Watch what you breathe, who you spend time with, what animals you pet and what you eat. It's not just spinach we have to worry about.
If basic public health programs are suffering, how will the health department take on emerging critical issues? How can it help eliminate the health inequities between rich and poor, black and white? How can it help lessen the epidemic of chronic illness plaguing our aging population? Without adequate funds for the health department, we are all at risk.
Our region's "Next Renaissance" must be a healthy one. The health department requires enough resources to protect and promote the health of our entire county. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could all give thanks during this holiday season for a healthy, vibrant and wellness-focused community?
KENNETH THOMPSON, M.D.
Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Public Health
University of Pittsburgh
Oakland
FATHER REGIS RYAN
Chair
Consumer Health Coalition
Executive Director
Sto-Rox Family Health Center
McKees Rocks
Essential services
It has recently come to my attention that the Allegheny County Health Department is in a financial crisis. This has been ongoing for the last several years resulting in a decrease in essential staffing and services.
As I understand it, the reason for the problem is the health department's responsibility to provide services to the inmates of the Allegheny County Jail. When this responsibility was assigned to the health department in 2000, it was with the understanding that the state would match the funds to cover the inmate health expenses. The state has never provided the promised funding, apparently because the expenses do not qualify for the matching funds. The Allegheny County Health Department has had to pour precious funds into inmate health at the expense of public health.
At stake is the health of the community. The transfer of health department funds to inmate health has left community health very vulnerable at a time when we could be facing a worldwide pandemic of avian flu. But more immediate problems are ongoing as I write this. Disease surveillance, food safety inspections, housing and school inspections have been cut. The clinics are in need of renovation. The salaries of the professional employees of the health department are also as much as 50 percent below salaries of public health managers elsewhere.
As a certified school nurse in Allegheny County, I frequently call upon the health department for advice and consider it an essential community resource.
We need to call upon Allegheny County government to provide the essential funding to the health department before we face a more costly problem of treating rather than preventing disease in our community.
MARY BETH CHIPS
Butler
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First Published December 3, 2006 12:00 am
