Letters to the Editor category, Page 304

Since Gov. Tom Wolf has made the decision to close all schools for the remaining school year and with school taxes coming due, we taxpayers should be contacting the governor and our school districts asking for a reduction in our school taxes. Understanding that the teachers are still working and...

I saw on the news that they want to build a new Commercial Street Bridge, which is part of Parkway East just before the Squirrel Hill Tunnel. What will that accomplish? It will just give you a nicer road to get stuck on before you get into the tunnel. This...

The government stimulus checks are out. This raises the question, “How many of us really need the money?” Western Pennsylvania is basically a working-class community both historically and currently. Most of us know what it means to live from paycheck to paycheck and feel nobody really cares. With so many...

I have 11 brothers and sisters. All of them except one have moved out of Pennsylvania. Four of my children have moved out of state. Many people I know have moved away. A family I have known for 40 years said they are moving out as soon as their house...

In Michael DiVittorio’s article “6 employees at Smithfield Foods plant in Arnold test positive for coronavirus” (April 13, TribLIVE), union president Wendell Young was quoted as saying, “We wish we had better guidance out of the federal government.” Where have you been, Wendell? The federal government created the Coronavirus Task...

I read letters stating how President Trump restricted travel in January. It was Jan. 31, and he never stopped flights. He stopped people in China from flying here, but Americans, dual citizens and permanent residents still could fly here. Travel from Europe was not restricted until mid-March, even though Italy...

The editorial page often includes opposing “pro Trump” letters that approve the president’s policies and results and “blame Trump” letters that attack him but offer few solutions. Many hate what he says, not what he has done. Some letter-writers twist the president’s words out of context and echo the Democratic...

As if we don’t have enough laws and regulations limiting our freedom and open-ended society, along come some politicians seeking to further erode the precious constitutional right to a free press. Although its premise describes a change in the manner in which we receive our news, the change is no...

A framework for reopening was offered by the federal government to the states based on a decreasing number of new coronavirus cases over a 14-day period. I haven’t seen a trigger number for this process to begin. There should be a certain number of cases that allow health officials to...

Letter-writer Dave Majernik (“Hysteria shouldn’t kill our economy”) asked why we lock down for coronavirus when we don’t lock down for other fatal diseases. It’s not rocket science. Think contagion. If we all go back to work with some of us infected, 10,000 sick turn into 100,000 sick, and then...

The decision to allow some Fine Wine & Good Spirits stores to reopen (“Pennsylvania to reopen some liquor stores for curbside sales”) is good news. Common sense is prevailing when it comes to this shutdown. Yes, many businesses can open with enhanced procedures in place. But after it sank in,...

Earlier this year, Ligonier Township manager and zoning administrator Terry Carcella said township officials are making plans for the Ligonier Beach property (“Ligonier Township committee to consider plan for reopening Ligonier Beach,” Jan. 7, TribLIVE). One possibility mentioned was a master comprehensive parks, recreational and open space plan that could...

Coronavirus has caused huge numbers of small businesses here in Pittsburgh to close. Inventories are spoiling, families are being torn apart and countless other disruptions have overwhelmed our society. We cannot shut down our country every time there is a virus outbreak. We have thousands of interlocking parts that must...

I could only laugh at how some “environmental warriors” can’t let a good crisis go to waste, especially letter-writer Hana Koob (“We need candidates who respect science,” April 16, TribLIVE). Funny how some have to proclaim their view of science (without providing any firm basis or reference) is the only...

With the 50th anniversary of Earth Day on April 22, we are already reducing our carbon footprint during the pandemic by curtailing travel. But we can do so much more by cutting our consumption of animal meat and milk products. Yes, that. A recent article in the respected journal Nature...

A message to Rep. Guy Reschenthaler: Your initiative to block funding to the World Health Organization via U.S. House Resolution 917 has alerted many of us in Westmoreland County. Last week, President Trump “officially” defunded the USA’s long-standing contribution to WHO, once its largest contributor. You’ve now actively participated in...

Some countries are responding to covid-19 with competent leadership. Germany and New Zealand took action with early, aggressive testing and quarantining. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern communicate with consistency and honesty, explaining to the public the magnitude of the threat, and, like Winston Churchill...

I am weary of reading posts on social media about opening up businesses now because Pennsylvania is losing tax revenue and those who are unemployed due to the covid-19 virus are anxious to return to work. Also, stimulus checks are burning holes in many pockets. Hateful things are being said...

It was very nice to see Comcast offer some free “extras” during this pandemic. Another suggestion would be to bump customers in the “smallest” package up to the next package at no cost. If that sounds like too much, how about offering them EWTN? It could be quite some time...

Regarding Mary Kay Nafaa’s letter “Health care, socialism & capitalism” (April 6, TribLIVE): I can’t address all of her confusions, but we can start with this thought experiment. Suppose you or your family or friends or political party wanted or needed something your neighbor had. You have three choices: 1....

I got quite irritated as I watched a person who owns multiple nursing homes doing a TV news interview from behind a fancy desk with a backdrop decorated with what looked like high-end paintings and decorations. This person wants funding from the government to help with the covid-19 outbreak in...

It’s encouraging to see our region’s largest grant-making foundations joining forces and shifting funding priorities to address the catastrophic issues being faced by hundreds of thousands of people in the wake of the covid-19 pandemic. It’s our hope as we recover and revive our economy and workforce that our foundations...

The Centers for Disease Control admits tests for covid-19 sent to states are flawed. The CDC also said the cause of death of those who tested positive for covid-19 is from covid-19 no matter the real cause of death. And that is with a flawed test! Hospitals are being reimbursed...

Earlier this month, my church, Otterbein United Methodist Church of Greensburg, contacted me about picking up some things to donate to my work family —% treats for all the nursing units at Excela Health Westmoreland Hospital. Their generosity filled the back of a minivan. Wow! From a group of about...

I really appreciate how hard everyone is working toward the goal of fighting covid-19. I appreciate that the Trib published Douglas Morris’ op-ed “All American workers deserve military benefits” (April 4, TribLIVE), and it clearly illustrates that if you look long and hard enough, you can find the stupidest thing...