Letters to the Editor category, Page 87

When someone chooses to step out of the shadows of depression and ask for help, it is a profound demonstration of strength. When someone like Sen. John Fetterman shares this information publicly, it shows countless others who are working on their mental wellness they are not alone. According to the...

The writer of the letter “Let’s cut Congress’ expenses instead” (Feb. 23, TribLIVE) states President Biden used “his usual scare tactics: ‘Do we cut Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, veterans’ programs?’ ” Biden has always stood for protecting these programs. Check his record, and you will see. The source of this...

Let’s talk elephant in the room: Sen. John Fetterman. I would guess that Fetterman’s mental disorder/clinical depression has been known to his wife, handlers and Democrats close to him for a long time. Those who pushed him should be ashamed, including the media. People suffering from this disorder have difficulty...

Regarding the article “DA: Police justified in killing man who ambushed Brackenridge Chief Justin McIntire” (Feb. 24, TribLIVE): When District Attorney Steven Zappala said “there’s too much violence in the community and they are directing it toward the police,” his words were the truth for the dangers a police officer...

As a former social worker and public interest lawyer, I worked on issues related to access to medical care by the disenfranchised. In the 1970s, I co-wrote a 100-page report about inhumane conditions at Kane Hospital. It resulted in two Senate Committee on Aging hearings. I helped form a citizens...

There are several misconceptions about Social Security. It was never meant to be the sole income of retired workers. It was intended as a supplement to workers’ savings. In most cases, Social Security benefits come not from what the worker paid into the system. Everything they paid in Social Security...

What to believe … President Biden’s recent State of the Union speech, or Arkansas Gov. Sarah Sanders’ rebuttal speech? Is our country doing amazingly well, as Biden kept repeating, or is the economy hanging by a thread with raging inflation, record debt, an unprecedented crisis on the Mexican border, out-of-control...

Regarding the article “Don Lemon to return to ‘CNN This Morning’ after training” (Feb. 21, TribLIVE), about Lemon’s unfortunate comments about former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and women in general: As a woman in her 70s, I was particularly interested in his statement that “A woman is considered to...

The State System of Higher Education’s plan to provide up to $6,500 to students studying education at its 10 universities (“State System universities propose $56.5M in scholarships to ease Pa. teacher shortage,” Feb. 28, TribLIVE) is only a starting point to try to fill the teacher shortage in Pennsylvania. In...

I was excited to see Mayor Ed Gainey’s announcement that the city will be conducting a review of its tax-exempt properties (“Gainey orders review of Pittsburgh’s ‘purely public charities’ to see if they meet tax-exempt requirements” (Jan. 24, TribLIVE). As an employee of our region’s largest nonprofit, I hope the...

The Railway Safety Act of 2023 will be introduced in the Senate. It has a provision requiring two “well-trained, two-person crews aboard every train.” The “hot box technology” used every 20 miles on a railroad track is insufficient because it cannot distinguish whether the temperature of a wheel bearing is...

The National Commission on Correctional Health Care’s recent report on suicide prevention at Allegheny County Jail stated the following: “Staff shortages are a major challenge at the Allegheny County Jail. The jail has 148 health care positions budgeted, 43% of these positions were vacant as of Sept. 19, 2022, 69.5...

Regarding the article “Shapiro calls for ban of death penalty in Pennsylvania” (Feb. 16, TribLIVE): Gov. Josh Shapiro must never have lost someone to gun violence. Every life has meaning; when you take a life, your life should not be spared. Why should taxpayers pay for someone who will never...

Why can’t we stop the mass shootings? I always read the editorials and letters on the opinion page. The column by Jason Park, “A 3-part strategy to reduce mass shootings” (Feb. 14, TribLIVE), was wonderful. It is indeed a clear and knowledgeable read on the subject and was quite apropos...

The recent train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, has illuminated the health risks associated with burning polyvinyl chloride. Polyvinyl chloride is a component of plastics manufacturing and an extremely common part of our household waste. According to data from stopburning.org, Pennsylvania is one of 26 states that do not have...

Our food system is broken. Giant corporations continue to rake in astronomical profits from industrial livestock, poultry and feed production at the expense of our communities, animals, farmers, workers and the environment. Fortunately, there is a growing movement to steer our food system away from the production of grains to...

Regarding the article “$11.5M preservation of Heinz Memorial Chapel’s spire planned” (Feb. 23, TribLIVE): I think your readers will be interested to learn that the Heinz Chapel spire was built, and possibly designed, by Greensburg’s Overly Manufacturing Co. My recollection is that it was the first of many architectural metal...

I found it interesting that all letters in the Trib on Jan. 31 dealt with the lack of logic and common sense in our government. One letter showed how Westmoreland County plans to spend $3.6 million to build a 12-bed homeless shelter. As the author notes, that’s $300,000 per bed....

Over the past 50 years, oil and gas companies have spent a small fortune spreading misinformation to the public about climate change. Not surprisingly, the Republican Party seems to be the only political organization to swallow their lies. In fact, they might be the only governing body in the world...

Jesus was a refugee. Jesus welcomed the stranger. Jesus cared for the poor. Jesus healed the sick. Jesus fed the hungry. Jesus stood for the oppressed. Jesus forgave his debtors. Jesus blessed the meek. Jesus opposed the proud. Jesus loved his enemies. Jesus was anti-racist. Jesus didn’t carry a weapon....

Thank goodness we have F-22 fighter jets using $400,000 Sidewinder missiles to shoot down a cheap, innocuous hobby balloon. Our circus sideshows have now taken to the skies. But no matter what the distraction, the inevitable collapse of the big-top tent can’t be stopped. No need to worry about China...

I am a past president of the Bushy Run Battlefield Heritage Society and have been a volunteer at Bushy Run for many years. During my term as president, the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission tried to close Bushy Run. Thanks to the society members, friends and Sen. Kim Ward, we...

One hundred percent of Republicans in Congress voted against prosecuting rich tax cheats, cheaper insulin and cheaper prescription drug prices. They voted against cheaper gas, voting rights bills, ending gerrymandering, fighting climate change, the stimulus checks, Roe v. Wade and the child tax credits. How will you vote the next...

Regarding the article “Pa. Department of Health sues to keep medical marijuana program data secret” (Feb. 20, TribLIVE), on Spotlight PA’s open records request about how often physicians approve patients for medical marijuana use: Privacy and transparency often are at odds but don’t have to be. Pittsburgh’s Management Science Associates...

John Fetterman should be expelled from the Senate. Just look at a short timeline. In October, he tells the audience at the debate with Dr. Mehmet Oz to have a “good night” before it even started. Then we find out he needed a teleprompter. He wins in November and is...