Letters to the Editor category, Page 244
Letter to the editor: Learning from Tulsa massacre, Capitol riots
In the news recently was the 100th anniversary of the Tulsa Massacre. I had never heard of it until now. I am concerned with what happened afterward, which was nothing. Hundreds of lives lost, hundreds of homes and businesses lost, and nothing was done. No one was ever imprisoned or...
Letter to the editor: Why spend $30 million for turnpike widening?
The Harvison Road bridge in Penn Township will be demolished to accommodate a $30 million project to widen the Pennsylvania Turnpike between Irwin and Monroeville from four to six lanes. According to the article “Penn Township negotiating with turnpike commission in advance of bridge removal” (June 14, TribLIVE), it is...
Letter to the editor: Freedoms, masks and election laws
In her letter “GOP’s election plans will take away voters’ rights” (May 30, TribLIVE), Frances Weiss misquoted me when she stated: “George Silowash said he believed state mask mandates have taken our rights away.” My words in my letter “How about we all make our own mask decisions?” (May 23,...
Letter to the editor: Dairy farmers protect health of their cows
As a member of a fourth-generation dairy farm, I was frustrated to read allegations from a vegan organization in the letter “Plant-based dairy a viable option” (June 13, TribLIVE). Here’s the real story of what happens on a dairy farm, where my most important priority is the health and well-being...
Letter to the editor: Which lives matter?
Regarding the article “Wolf again vows to veto any bills that limit abortion access in Pa.” (June 11, TribLIVE): Guess Gov. Tom Wolf doesn’t believe Black Lives Matter. In 2019, Black people made up just 12% of the U.S. population but accounted for 38% of the reported 889,000 abortions that...
Letter to the editor: No dignity from Biden, either
Letter-writer Ed Svitek states that it’s “Biden’s job to restore our dignity” (June 10, TribLIVE) and writes about lies by President Trump and Republicans. When a person makes a false statement, it could be because he or she does not have all the facts; when a person lies, he or...
Letter to the editor: Thanks for helping Alle-Kiski kids
As the co-founder of Project SEED, I would like to extend a sincere thank-you for the tremendous support and generosity we have received from so many individuals, businesses, clubs and organizations in the Alle-Kiski Valley and beyond. We just completed our eighth year of providing food to hungry children in...
Letter to the editor: Yielding our rights to government
Did Joe Biden leave out the word “don’t” before “yield”? This is from an official transcript of his remarks after meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on June 16: “I told him that, unlike other countries, including Russia, we’re uniquely a product of an idea. You’ve heard me say this...
Letter to the editor: Politicizing the Eucharist
How dare the bishops politicize the Eucharist (“U.S. Catholic bishops OK steps toward possible rebuke of Biden,” June 18, TribLIVE). Their proposed “teaching document” is aimed directly at Joe Biden. What about politicians who support the death penalty? What about divorced Catholic politicians, such as twice-divorced Newt Gingrich? What about...
Letter to the editor: More reasons for high turnpike tolls
Professor Paul Kengor’s column “Highway robbery on the Pa. Turnpike” (June 10, TribLIVE) criticizes the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission for raising toll fees despite the cost savings resulting from eliminating over 500 tollbooth workers and substituting E-ZPass and Toll by Plate. Kengor fails to mention that the turnpike has been required...
Letter to the editor: Climate change and cold weather
It’s supposed to get (relatively) cold the evening of June 22. Low in the 40s. Probably not as cold as the all-time cold for the date, 42, set in … 1988. The reason that’s interesting is that later in the summer of 1988, Pixburg had its longest and hottest stretch...
Letter to the editor: Can Harris stop the scabs in Pittsburgh?
Isn’t it great that Madam Vice President visited our fair city? I was hoping she would be able to stem the influx of undocumented non-union scab workers who are swimming across the Mon! Andy Shubik Stoystown...
Letter to the editor: Not all charter schools are high quality
There were some assertions and questions in the letter “Wolf cutting charter school lifeline” (June 11, TribLIVE) that warrant a response. Public schools have greater costs per student than charters, and during covid, there were zero days to prepare. Existing deficits already had tightened budgets, and unlike charters, huge cash...
Letter to the editor: Gerrymandering needs to end
The fight to end gerrymandering in Pennsylvania is in trouble. This legislative session’s anti-gerrymandering bill has been stalled in committee after being introduced more than 100 days ago, then considered at one initial hearing. This bill responds to the 70% of Pennsylvanians who want gerrymandering to end. Months of citizen...
Letter to the editor: Why the hatred for Republicans?
Letter-writer Edward Svitek (“Biden’s job to restore our dignity” (June 10, TribLIVE) reminds me of my departed grandmother (RIP, Grandma): They both hate/hated Republicans with a passion, but can’t/couldn’t present a valid true reason why. That’s why many years ago I registered as an independent, considering both sides of a...
Letter to the editor: Pa. Republicans aiming to suppress votes
During the four years of the Trump administration, the general public was subject to claims that the Democrats could not let go of the fact that they lost the election. In hypocritical fashion, we are now being inundated with equally false claims that the election was rigged, stolen or otherwise...
Letter to the editor: No politics in sports
Who would ever have thought they would see the day the MLB, NFL, NBA and NHL would move from being politically neutral to the progressive left? They must now bear the descriptive title of “professional sports and social justice organizations.” We are not privy to the reasoning behind Major League...
Letter to the editor: Responsible gun owners don’t ‘forget’
For the 12th time this year, a loaded handgun was confiscated by TSA at Pittsburgh International Airport from a passenger’s carry-on bag (“Man faces charges after being stopped for gun at Pittsburgh International Airport,” June 7, TribLIVE). He used the same excuse as the others: “ I forgot it was...
Letter to the editor: Time for Pa. to raise minimum wage
Gov. Tom Wolf’s budget contains a golden nugget: a raise in the minimum wage. This would improve the lives of 1.6 million Pennsylvania workers. It would be a shot in the arm for 27.5% of our workforce. With our ridiculous wage inequality, this increase is essential for the well-being of...
Letter to the editor: ‘Real dairy’ important for health
As an expert in food, diet, nutrition and health issues, I’m compelled to respond to the letter “Plant-based dairy a viable option” (June 13, TribLIVE). Dairy foods are safe, natural, available, accessible and affordable. The 2020-25 U.S Dietary Guidelines for Americans point to “real dairy” as an important component of...
Letter to the editor: Turnpike tolls are a bargain
Columnist Paul Kengor takes an odd turn down the road of turnpike bashing; Did he type “Easy Street” into a GPS for his editorial destination (“Highway robbery on the Pa. Turnpike,” June 10, TribLIVE)? He criticizes costly tolls, and boasts stubborn refusal to use E-ZPass like a child demanding ice...
Letter to the editor: Critical funding needed to keep canines, communities safe
As an animal welfare advocate, dog mom and native Pittsburgher, for me, it is paramount that we always support the health and well-being of dogs in our communities. The primary institution responsible for this protection, the Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement, relies primarily on fees from dog licenses to conduct...
Sounding off: You’ll need a loan for that cone
In his column “Klavon’s wage hike great for business and workers,” reliably liberal Joseph Mistick lauds the owner of Klavon’s Ice Cream Parlor in the Strip for increasing his starting wage to $15 an hour, in line with the current push for a similar nationwide minimum. The owner claimed he...
Letter to the editor: Obscene displays desecrate our treasured flag
The article “Leechburg man defends obscene anti-Biden flag visible from preschool, daycare, church” missed the heart of the matter. I saw the same flag on Constitution Boulevard in Arnold. Both homeowners should be ashamed of themselves, but not for expressing a political view. I couldn’t stand President Trump. They can’t...
Letter to the editor: Strategies to get back to work
In the editorial “More than one reason for unfilled job openings” (May 18, TribLIVE), you conclude that the additional pandemic unemployment benefits are not the only reason there are hundreds of unfilled jobs in the Pittsburgh area. The association I lead includes the 22 local workforce development boards that operate...
