Letters to the Editor category, Page 233

I write to strongly disagree with Westmoreland Commissioner Doug Chew’s comments regarding mail-in voting (“Westmoreland commissioner says county voters want end to no-excuse mail-in ballots, another disputes that”). Chew does not speak for all his constituency. I wager to guess he speaks for only a select few of his followers...

In response to letter-writer John L. Petrancosta Sr. (“Smoking marijuana detrimental to health,” March 14, TribLIVE): I have no idea where you people get this, that research shows marijuana is a gateway drug and affects your health. I’m 70 years old. I’ve been smoking weed since I was 16, and I...

In regard to teachers being moved to the front of the line for receiving covid-19 vaccines regardless of age: Others in Phase 1A still are trying to get vaccinated, often driving many miles, or being put on a waiting list. Teachers may be considered essential workers, but so are grocery...

Mossimo Giannulli, convicted with wife, Lori Loughlin, in the college admissions scandal, has a lot of nerve to ask to leave prison early. His term is short, and he was protected from covid for a short time in a solitary atmosphere for his own good. I have an idea for...

Please pay attention to the votes for and against legislation by our Pennsylvania representatives before you vote in 2022. For instance, the same eight GOP representatives — John Joyce, Mike Kelly, Dan Meuser, Lloyd Schmucker, Scott Perry, Guy Reschenthaler and Glenn Thompson — voted “no” on the Violence Against Women...

State Rep. Michael J. Puskaric, R-Washington/Allegheny, has introduced House Bill 25, “Abolishing the No Excuse Mail in Vote former HB 2971.” This appears to be the same modus operandi used by the Republican party — create confusion regarding no-excuse absentee ballots, followed by legislation to repeal no-excuse absentee ballots as...

There were two items in the March 13 Trib that caught my attention. First was the front-page story about our illustrious governor saying that he wants to further increase our taxes (”Gov. Wolf seeks to phase out Pennsylvania’s gas tax,” March 12, TribLIVE). No news here, folks — that is...

Regarding the editorial “A smart, phased-in return to more restaurant and bar service” (March 17, TribLIVE): Cautious optimism? Enough mumbo jumbo! It’s been over a year. We’ve got covid protocols, testing, vaccines, quarantine and Dr. Fauci rules … and so many hard-working, law- abiding small business owner remain financially wounded or...

They are up in my yard, and I hope the crocuses and daffodils are up in yours, too. Unfortunately, I’ve seen a few “Peduto for Mayor” signs. Imagine if flowers had a school board and union. Would they lock down kids and parents or open the schools? Heck, even the...

I am proud to report VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System is the provider of choice for more than 63,000 veterans in our region. Our providers and staff work hard to maintain veterans’ trust, using advanced technology to deliver the best care, often with shorter wait times than veterans see in the...

Question for letter-writer Cheryl Rossetti (“Disagree with election results? Return stimulus checks,” March 24, TribLIVE): We the disgruntled deplorables want to know, did you keep the $600 check President Trump approved? Being a morally superior Democrat, you gave it back right? If you didn’t, step away from your pedestal please....

The American people always have looked to their presidents to offer comfort and solace when the nation has suffered a grievous loss. We saw it in President Reagan in the aftermath of the Challenger disaster; we saw it in President Obama after churchgoers were slaughtered by a white supremacist in...

What are the metrics indicating a safe end to the covid-19 guidelines? Deaths, hospitalizations and case numbers are down. Natural immunity and immunizations are up. When is it safe to stop wearing masks, social distancing, limiting health care facility visits, etc.? The public health experts have been and are in...

Californians have gathered more than the 1½ million signatures needed to recall Gov. Gavin Newsome from office. Isn’t it interesting that the Democrats all of a sudden want to scrutinize these signatures for discrepancies of any kind? Similar handwriting, color of pens used, proper addresses and other details. What hypocrisy!...

Letter-writer Matt Smith (“Immigration reform will rebuild our economy,” March 26, TribLIVE), can you tell me if the 70,000 undocumented immigrants working in essential roles in the state pay taxes to the IRS/U.S. government/Pennsylvania? Can you tell any unemployed American citizen where he or she can obtain an essential-role job?...

Kudos to the Tribune-Review for publishing Mona Charen’s column “Covid-19’s large non-surprise” (March 12, TribLIVE). In case you missed it, there is a well-known correlation between obesity and covid-19 mortality. It also is well documented that obesity is more prevalent among Blacks than whites. Charen presented the novel theory that...

Regarding Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto’s support for the American Dream and Promise Act (“Peduto endorses bill to provide pathway to citizenship for ‘dreamers’,” March 15, TribLIVE): He’s conveniently confused on his facts. Peduto compares the deferred action for childhood arrivals (DACAs) to Pittsburgh’s immigrants who “settled here seeking to build...

I’ve read a lot of misleading letters recently trying to pin blame on Republicans for a lack of vaccines getting to Westmoreland County. It smells like an organized effort from Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf’s Harrisburg propaganda machine to deflect blame for his fumbling of the vaccine distribution in the commonwealth....

Homebound, nursing home or military should be the only reason to vote by mail. If voting absentee, a request and reason should be necessary. If you can go to Walmart, Home Depot or the grocery store, or play the lottery, then you can vote in person. All absentee ballots are...

Which happens first? The covid-19 pandemic ends and life returns to “normal,” or tear-stained letters from pouty President Trump fans disappear from the pages of this newspaper. My money is on the virus. Dan Skantar North Fayette...

In response to Cheryl Rossetti’s letter “Disagree with election results? Return stimulus checks”): This is a great idea to try to “pour money back into the Treasury.” I’m ready to lick the stamp to send it back. Before doing that, however, I propose the following caveats: In return for my...

Given the rise over the past year in anti-Asian racism and racial incidents, here are just a few resources for learning and action. If you experience bullying, intimidation or violence related to being Asian and/or Pacific Islander (API), go to stopaapihate.org and standagainsthatred.org/ report to report the incident so that there...

As people are tiring of covid, the mass gatherings are resuming, and so are the mass shootings. No other country has this problem, and no other country is so saturated with guns. Coincidence? I hear all the gun advocates’ arguments and scoff, like guns don’t kill, people do. It’s as...

In the 1800s the Republican Party championed the democratic principles of freedom, liberty, justice and equality for all. The Democratic Party stood for the wealthy and powerful, the plantation owners, the captains of industry. It was a tug of war between democracy and oligarchy. Today we are in that same...

Have you seen and heard enough yet? I certainly have. I never thought that we would witness big tech silencing free speech or de-listing books whose subject they disagree with. A “woke” administration and Congress that appear more intent on advancing socialism and rewarding their friends than helping to make...