Letters to the Editor category, Page 85
Letter to the editor: Improper language usage on local TV news
Most are aware that the local evening news is presented at the comprehension level of a seventh-grader. However, that should not preclude proper usage of the English language. Case in point: On April 17, two local news anchors utilized the word “busted” to relate a story of an alleged home...
Letter to the editor: Corporate greed and economic inequality
Our economic inequality is being fueled by two disastrous decisions. One is the 1982 SEC ruling to lessen Wall Street rules and regulations, including one on stock buybacks. Between 2015 and 2017 more than half of the total profits earned by PepsiCo, Kraft Heinz, Archer Daniels Midland and Tyson Foods...
Letter to the editor: Ukrainians political pawns
Ukrainian lives are being wasted every day while we use them as political pawns. Ukrainian resources are running out while we sit on stockpiles of the equipment and supplies they need to survive. We didn’t build 80,000 M113 armored personnel carriers during the Cold War to let them rot in...
Letter to the editor: Dishonest Westmoreland County leadership
A year ago, Westmoreland County Republican Committee Chair Bill Bretz held an unauthorized endorsement meeting to not allow residents to choose their commissioner in the primary. I called out county Commissioner Doug Chew four times at the meeting as dishonest. Bretz proceeded to sue me and candidate Paul Kosko three...
Letter to the editor: PBMs should be held accountable
Thank you for publishing the article “Pharmacists open up to state Senate committee about financial struggles at hearing” (April 15, TribLive), which explains how pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) are pushing small independent pharmacies out of business. PBMs claim to lower prescription drug costs for patients, but in fact they are...
Letter to the editor: Danger of being a Trump juror
I wonder how many of my fellow Americans have reflected upon the tragic fact that it is necessary for jury members in the hush money trial of a former president of the United States to remain anonymous due to his history of making inflammatory statements which have made innocent people...
Letter to the editor: Irresponsible gun owners are the guilty parties
I read with disgust the editorial “Will Mt. Pleasant boy’s death change federal law?” (April 16, TribLive). What laws did the gun shop and the gun manufacturer break? Earlier this month, a mother and father in Michigan were given 10 years in prison for leaving a gun available for a...
Letter to the editor: Why are we supporting terrorists?
People say enough is enough when they think that something, usually something bad, should stop. Between 2001 and 2021, Islamic terrorist groups funded by Iran, including Hamas, Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad and others, have launched nearly 19,000 rockets into Israel. These attacks were aimed at the civilian population and have resulted...
Letter to the editor: Republicans can restore Senate’s sanity
I’m grateful for what Sens. Bob Casey and John Fetterman have done for Pennsylvania. As a result of their votes to “dismiss” the impeachment charges brought against DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, they have thrown open the door of opportunity for Republicans to do even better in the upcoming general election....
Letter to the editor: Legislation to halt zombie mines is essential
On April 11, Pennsylvania Congressman Matt Cartwright introduced two bills in the U.S. House to assuage issues associated with “zombie mines,” coal mines that no longer produce coal but haven’t been cleaned up by the operator. If passed, these bills could better deter mine operators from leaving legacy pollution in...
Letter to the editor: Putin, Trump and Reschenthaler
Vladimir Putin and Russia think they’re omnipotent. They want to start another empire. They teach their people that they won World War II by themselves, erasing the many contributions from Western allies. Russia has to be defeated. Ukraine is in the fight of its life. Rep. Guy Reschenthaler is a...
Letter to the editor: World would be safer without Biden in charge
When Robert Hur, who was appointed by Attorney General Merrick B. Garland to serve as the special counsel, released his long-awaited report into President Joe Biden’s mishandling of classified documents, a number of things were extremely enlightening and frightening. The report said, “Our investigation uncovered evidence that President Biden willfully...
Letter to the editor: ‘Uncommitted’ sends message to Democratic Party
On April 17, Pittsburghers showed up to President Biden’s visit to let him know Pittsburgh stands with Palestine, and, on April 23, we’ll be sending a message to Biden at the polls: no votes for genocide. Over 30,000 Palestinians have been martyred and more than 1.7 million people have been...
Letter to the editor: We need fighters for the middle class
A TV newscaster’s frequent line is, “Watch what they do, not what they say.” Let’s look at what they do. One hundred percent of House Republicans voted against the Inflation Reduction Act. This act reduced the deficit, decreases energy costs and carbon emissions, reduces drug costs and ensured mega corporations...
Letter to the editor: Remembering ‘Super Steelers’ of ’74
While I’m not from the Pittsburgh area, as we near the 2024 draft I’d like to recognize the 50th anniversary of the incredible Steelers draft class of 1974. Growing up in the 1970s in New Jersey, those players and teams got me and many kids I knew hooked on football....
Letter to the editor: Kiski Valley community center needs support
Regarding the article “Senior citizen forms nonprofit to help generations come together in Vandergrift” (April 3, TribLive) concerning a proposed community center for the Kiski Valley: A community center would give our many young people and seniors an educational and recreational facility that’s not currently available in our area. A...
Letter to the editor: Which generation started our disrespect for family, country?
It’s called, “The Silent Generation,” my generation, born between 1928 and 1945. We rode our bicycles to each other’s houses, used our 50 cents to buy ice cream at Dairy Queen and played outside all day and came back home “before dark,” like my Mom and Dad said to be...
Letter to the editor: Westmoreland County tax hike could have been raised gradually
I recently wrote to Westmoreland County Commissioners Doug Chew, Sean Kertes and Ted Kopas asking why our property taxes soared by 32.5%. Chew and Kopas responded to my query. Kertes did not. Kopas provided this answer as part of his response: “unfortunately, after 20 years of flat property tax revenue,...
Letter to the editor: Celebrating volunteers
The last week of April heralds the anticipation of spring planting, warmer weather, longer hours of sunlight and a celebration: National Volunteer Week, April 21-27, a time to acknowledge and thank those who give of their time and talents to meet community needs. This year’s theme, “Something for Everyone,” expresses...
Letter to the editor: Reschenthaler’s devotion to Trump
He’s at it again: Guy Reschenthaler, our U.S. House of Representatives representative. Instead of looking after his constituents, Reschenthaler’s currying favor with his boss, Donald J. Trump. Reschenthaler has proposed House Bill 7845 to rename Dulles International Airport as Trump International Airport. Of course it has no chance of passing...
Sounding off: Politicians, guns, abortions among week’s topics
‘Promise season’ Sometimes it’s duck season. Other times it’s rabbit season. Recently, we have begun the first of two periods of “promise season.” This season pops up twice a year around March and April, then later in September and October. This is the time of the year when it’s legal...
Letter to the editor: Write in ‘uncommitted’ for president to end violence in Gaza
I am one of the many Pennsylvanians who are deeply troubled by the situation in Gaza where 2 million people face starvation and displacement amidst attacks on humanitarian aid workers. Billions of U.S. dollars are sent as military aid to Israel, including over $10 billion in arms supplied to in...
Letter to the editor: Unfair pension system at county jail
The recent Allegheny County controller’s audit report found that we need 100 more correctional officers at the Allegheny County Jail, and the permanent staff of health care providers at our jail has decreased from 129 in May 2015 to 41 currently. The jail is forced to use temporary health care...
Letter to the editor: ‘Promise season’
Sometimes it’s duck season. Other times it’s rabbit season. Recently, we have begun the first of two periods of “promise season.” This season pops up twice a year around March and April, then later in September and October. This is the time of the year when it’s legal for candidates...
Letter to the editor: Easy Earth Day actions
Earth Day serves as our yearly reminder that we need to take steps to protect our planet. Though it’s not anyone’s sole responsibility to save the planet, many people doing a little bit can make a big difference. So here are three small and manageable things that you can do:...
