What's wrong with retail? A shopper's perspective
The retail slump -- why I've been spending less:
It's January, 10 degrees. I can't find warm gloves, and I'm not ready to buy a swimming suit this week. Nor Easter items. I want to be able to buy things in season.
As a baby boomer, I don't want cutesy gathered tops that make me look pregnant or are so low-cut they're X-rated. I don't want lean, skin-tight jeans or 5-inch heels, or clothes so big, baggy and long they add 30 pounds. Years ago I had trouble choosing among the many things I liked in a department store; now I can go shopping with a gift card and buy nothing.
If an item is on sale until 1 p.m. for $19.99, I'm not going to pay $39.99 at 3 p.m. I won't buy a purse or shoes that cost more than a car -- or more than my rent.
I won't shop where the music is so loud I can't hear myself think, or where it's so warm I have to carry my coat and take off my sweater.
I don't want to buy a gas-guzzling monster-of-a-vehicle with dark windows and a threatening appearance.
I don't want to buy 2-pounder hamburgers or gigunda-sized fries drowned in cheese. And I don't want to be served a meal big enough for three. I want foods to be fresh even at the bottom of the package.
I want pleasant, helpful service.
But maybe it's just me.
KAY CHRISTY
Mount Washington
City animal efforts
Regarding R. Picardi's letter ("In Lily's Name," Jan. 22), as a city councilwoman I am spearheading the reworking of animal services provided by the city of Pittsburgh.
We have had Animal Control moved from the Refuse Department to the Public Safety Department. Gerald Akrie is now supervisor of the bureau that will be called Animal Care and Control, and it is our intention to develop a full-service no-kill shelter within the city.
We have begun work in my district, the northern neighborhoods of the city, by implementing a trap-neuter-return program using my district's "neighborhood needs" money and volunteers. TNR helps control the populations of feral cats in our neighborhoods. We will institute it citywide this year.
You see, if we simply remove the cats, new cats will move in; when cats are neutered and returned to the colony, natural attrition will slowly reduce the numbers while we gain control of the rest of the colonies in the area. Meanwhile, those cats also provide us some amount of pest control.
My office has been working with volunteer organizations, universities, scientists, veterinarians, psychologists, attorneys, professors, neighborhoods and Mr. Akrie and his officers toward implementing a full-service, self-supporting Bureau of Animal Care and Control. We are educating ourselves about the best facilities elsewhere and how we could make them better.
We do care about our animals and all the love and service they can bring to us individually and as a society.
We are working toward making every day Spay Day. Responsible pet ownership is important to us all.
COUNCILWOMAN DARLENE M. HARRIS
District 1
North Side
Dignified care
I would like to comment regarding the letter sent by R. Picardi ("In Lily's Name," Jan. 22). I also am the guardian of a cat that was adopted from the Western Pennsylvania Humane Society, and I feel that the characterization of the WPHS as a "killing mill" does a disservice to the staff and volunteers of this organization.
These men and women do a tremendous job of dealing with an exploding animal population using largely donated funds and materials and a large pool of volunteers who love and care about animals. To imply that WPHS destroys animals indiscriminately is simply unfair.
The "open door" policy of WPHS guarantees that each and every animal brought to its doors will be admitted, regardless of health, age or personality issues. This is a policy that ensures that WPHS will see animals that have been refused admittance by shelters that loudly proclaim themselves to be "no kill." It is a policy that also ensures that WPHS will find itself in the position of being the bad guys who are periodically forced to euthanize animals.
I have volunteered at the shelter, and I have seen firsthand that each animal that enters the shelter is treated with dignity. Each animal is screened carefully to determine its suitability for adoption. Unfortunately, there are times when an animal will be euthanized. This is not a decision made lightly, but this, when it must be done, is done in a dignified manner. And rest assured, every one of these animals is mourned by the staff and volunteers of the Humane Society.
Supporting the Humane Society ensures that unwanted animals will be able to avoid the real killing mills of abuse, neglect and indifference.
BRUCE MOUNTJOY
Ingram
Start recovery here
An economic recovery program is a great opportunity to start with. However, there is a question of how to get people back to work and get our economy working again.
Let us start by cutting all telephone poles and burying all electricity lines, all cable lines and all telephones lines underground everywhere. It would take years to complete the process of burying lines. Manufacturers will start to open more jobs by making products for the burying of lines.
I hope Allegheny County would be the first one to start, as a role model for our whole country.
JAMES C. NOSCHESE
Forest Hills
Let's invest in courts that save money and make us safer
As chairman of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, I could not agree more with your Dec. 22 editorial "Courting Dollars: A State Judicial System Deserves State Funding." The commonwealth must comply with the 1987 state Supreme Court ruling that the Legislature should fund the unified state courts system, rather than passing the burden on to counties and their largely property tax-funded budgets.
In the meantime, the commonwealth should provide additional funding to counties for use in establishing and maintaining problem-solving courts. I intend to introduce legislation that would establish a grant program with up to $3 million per year from the Department of Corrections administrative budget.
Problem-solving courts use a collaborative, multidisciplinary approach to address the underlying issues that help lead to criminal behavior. Mental health and drug treatment courts are two examples of effective problem-solving courts.
Drug treatment courts quickly identify substance-abusing offenders and place them under strict court monitoring and community supervision that is coupled with effective, long-term treatment services. The National Association of Drug Court Professionals reports that 18 studies have found average cost savings -- through reduced prison costs in particular -- of $4,000 to $12,000 per drug treatment court participant.
Mental health courts focus on offenders who need treatment for mental illness. They link people convicted of nonviolent crimes to community-based treatment for mental illness, alcoholism and drug addiction. A Rand Corp. study found that the cost of mental health treatment is offset in the first year by the savings in the cost of incarceration, and that by the second year, Allegheny County saved more than $9,500 per mental health court participant.
These programs substantially reduce crime by lowering re-arrest and conviction rates among drug treatment and mental health court graduates. Investments in problem-solving courts will help us save scarce tax dollars at the same time making communities safer.
STATE REP. DON WALKO
North Side
It's time to lay down the law with our state officials
Our governor wants us all to tighten our belts. Great idea.
We start with him, his lieutenant and the secretaries of the Cabinet, then go to those in the top three of the wage scale and through the Legislature. Let us not forget state judges. Every one of these take an immediate 10 percent salary reduction and a 15 percent reduction in expense allowances.
Let us not talk about "changing the rules in the middle of the game." Working folks who are laid off suffer those "rule changes" every day. They, too, thought they had an "agreement."
The outrageous car allowances should be cut in half starting now. Cars can be leased for under $150 a month. If they feel the need for a "more comfortable" car or a "safer" car, pay the difference.
Also, no more junkets -- unless approved by an independent nonpartisan commission. And no family members on the approved junkets. If a participant feels his or her significant other should see Warsaw in the spring, he or she pay for it -- and in advance of the trip.
Living allowances in Harrisburg will be under close scrutiny as we build barracks-style housing for officials. We will provide common office space, Internet phones and the other approved necessities. You are, after all, a public servant and servants do not usually live better than the master, i.e., the taxpayer.
You will have breakfast in the mess hall and travel by bus to your office and you will be in your office at 9 a.m. The first bus back will be at 5:30 p.m.
No family members on the payroll in your local office.
Walking around money ... frozen.
You will be in your Harrisburg office by 9 a.m. Tuesday morning. Forget those coffee meetings at the eastbound Midway plaza and other choice spots around the state. And you will not be at the westbound Midway plaza at 1 p.m. Thursday, as you will be in your office.
You will work a full day. Let's not talk about evening sessions, etc., that make your job so difficult. You knew this when you ran for office.
We will reduce the size of the Legislature. It costs almost a half-billion dollars per year. Pennsylvania has the highest representation per 100,000 residents than any other state. Our costs are higher than any other state by 22 percent. We are not getting 22 percent better government.
We will review pension programs. The idea that anyone would make more retired than while working is ludicrous.
Tough? You bet. If I have to tighten my belt, why shouldn't you?
Next stop ... Corporate welfare ... Stay tuned.
RICHARD P. IEZZI
Greensburg
Turnpike, help motorists donate change
I was on the turnpike last week, and as fares recently increased and I waited for that nickel change, I wondered: With food banks having low supplies, why can't the turnpike commission chip in to help the situation? It should have boxes outside the windows for motorists to throw in that nickel change or more if one chooses.
With all the people who use the turnpike for local trips, it would add up to a nice sum for the food bank. Even when people make deposits on their fare access cards, they could be asked whether they want to make a monthly contribution of 50 cents or a dollar to our food banks.
All I come home with is a dime in change and would not mind dropping it in for a charity that is really having difficulties feeding the people in our state.
CAROL BADGLEY
Bovard
Reassign manpower to clear walks and streets
As I drove around the streets of the hilltops of south Pittsburgh over the past week, what struck me was the health and safety issue of all the uncleared sidewalks in front of many city residences and empty lots. I then remembered the useless street cleaning by the big machines driven around during the months between April and November. They really do nothing except move the dirt around and provide some income to the city by the enforcement vehicle that drives around behind the street cleaner, issuing tickets to vehicles that are in the way of the cleaner.
Wouldn't it be a much more effective use of manpower to hire people to clean the streets manually? Trash might actually be removed! In the inclement weather, the enforcement vehicle could issue citations to those who do not clean their walks, and charge them a fee for snow removal, providing the city with income much the way the street cleaning does. Then utilize the manpower to clean the walks of the city-owned properties.
Unshoveled walks are much more of a health hazard (than streets that are cleaned twice a month) to those who have to walk to the store, the bus, etc. In addition they are a detriment to receiving emergency medical care if, God forbid, it needs to be summoned. With the many elderly in Allegheny County, I would think that we would be more conscientious about keeping the walks cleared.
DEBBIE KOCH
Carrick
Dan Rooney is tampering with karma
The worst picture of 2008 was taken when Dan Rooney handed Barack Obama a sacred Steelers jersey. Anyone who thought John McCain would win Pennsylvania and surrounding states immediately knew it was over. That is how much influence the Rooney family has in the area.
Now Mr. Rooney has given Mr. Obama the game ball from the AFC Championship game ("Two Rooneys Deliver Game Ball to Obama," Jan. 21 Sports). Another disgrace! That belongs at Heinz Field in the Great Hall where all of the true fans can enjoy it.
Mr. Rooney is entitled to his own political opinions, but since he is such a public figure I feel he needs to keep those opinions to himself. He is making a great portion of this proud Steelers Nation upset. Many fans hold strong to rituals during the playoffs. This year, I say wear anything, eat anything, go anywhere and sit in any chair available ... if the Steelers don't bring home the six-pack there will be one and only one person to blame -- Dan Rooney. Karma. It's gonna bite you sooner or later.
SUSAN EBY
Holly Springs, N.C.
The writer is a native of Bellevue.
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.
First Published: January 29, 2009, 5:00 a.m.
