Letters to the Editor category, Page 4
Letter to the editor: Freeport students go above and beyond to honor veterans
Freeport High School recently hosted a moving tribute to veterans who are family members of current students. The event began with a stirring rendition of the national anthem by the school chorus, directed by Tom Koharchik — himself an Iraq combat veteran, adding depth to the moment. Elizabeth Smetak and...
Letter to the editor: Trump continues assault
President Trump continues his assault on Americans using intimidation, humiliation, name-calling and lies. It’s easy to fact-check Trump. He says prices are down, tariffs are not taxes, he has no knowledge of who the DOJ is indicting, the 2020 election was fraudulent, the only solution to illegal immigration is the...
Letter to the editor: Rather have Pelosi than Trump
To the writer of the letter “Good riddance to Pelosi” (Nov. 14, TribLive): I am a Democrat, and I never liked her either. But I would rather have Pelosi on my side fighting against a so-called president who has been convicted of 34 felonies and who would rather send $20...
Letter to the editor: County’s paper ballot move political theater
This summer, 5,000 Westmoreland County residents, or 1.4% of the county population, signed a petition asking for paper ballots after GOP officials questioned electronic voting. In September, the county approved the change and spent over $40,000 to implement it. In November, of over 106,000 ballots cast, only 3,996 were on...
Letter to the editor: County council’s leg shackles decision risks public’s safety
Recently Allegheny County Council voted to continue the ban on Allegheny County Jail correctional officers’ use of leg shackles on hospital runs by voting 12-2. One of the council members is in denial and continually cites state escape statistics showing no escapes when she knows there have been three incidents...
Letter to the editor: Do the right thing and help those who need it
We all have a choice to do the right thing or not. All the millionaires, billionaires, trillionaires and zillionaires are very fortunate. Helping those who need help might not get you to heaven, but it’s a good start. Let me end with this: Way to go! Kudos! Don’t let me...
Letter to the editor: Free the Pittsburgh elephants
In April, I visited the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium and recorded hours of footage of the elephant paddock. With a mission for detecting abnormal signs and symptoms, what I found was deeply disturbing. In my opinion, these five intelligent creatures (Angeline, Savannah, Tasha, Victoria and Zuri) are suffering tremendously, driven...
Letter to the editor: Unfair license suspensions
A decade-long breakdown in Allegheny County’s Department of Court Records happened. Over 1,000 local residents are now receiving notices that their licenses will be suspended years after their court cases ended — in some cases, as long as 12 years ago. Here’s why this is a big deal, and what...
Letter to the editor: Tracking property in Murrysville
What is going on in Murrysville? The chief administrator, Mchael Nestico, just offered an ordinance proposal to create a “registry for vacant property.” What? He wants to “track” people’s private properties? He states that if a property owner lives more than 25 miles away, they must hire a property manager....
Letter to the editor: Trump’s business instincts not so great
The writer of the letter “A businessman in the White House” (Nov. 4, TribLive) extols President Trump’s business instincts, but apparently is ignorant of the real effects of tariffs. It’s a hidden tax on Americans, nothing more, nothing less. Why would our president want to raise prices for Americans? Remember...
Letter to the editor: NY’s future dire with Mamdani
New York City just elected Zohran Mamdani, a 34-year-old, inexperienced socialist/communist with radical Islamist sympathies as its mayor. This will not turn out well. I predict New York police officers will leave the force in large numbers due to past statements by Mamdani denigrating and calling for the defunding of...
Letter to the editor: Epstein victims deserve justice, no matter who is involved
When we see grown women talking about having been sexually abused by Jeffrey Epstein, it’s easy to forget that they were children when trafficked and abused. Think of girls 14 to 17 years old that you know. How would you feel seeing them treated like sexual objects? There are also...
Letter to the editor: We have too much ‘representation’
If the president, the most important position in the country, can only serve two four-year terms, why should senators, representatives and judges be allowed to serve more? A rogue judge who gets elected to a 10-year term can cause a lot of damage in his decade in office. I believe...
Letter to the editor: Westmoreland elections are secure
If Westmoreland County Commissions Sean Kertes and Doug Chew want to switch to paper ballots to conform to neighboring counties (“Westmoreland voters opt for computers over paper ballots,” Nov. 6, TribLive), why not wait until the 900 touch-screen machines purchased in 2019 for $7 million are no longer operational? It...
Letter to the editor: Applebee’s makes veterans feel appreciated
Thank you, Applebee’s, for making Veterans Day special. Treating veterans to a meal is nice, but even better is the wholehearted thank-you from everyone at Applebee’s. The manager, the reception desk, the wait staff — all worked to make each veteran (and family) feel appreciated. Sandy Finley Greensburg...
Letter to the editor: Easy ways to reduce our consumption and waste
Today marks America Recycles Day, dedicated to promoting recycling and waste reduction across the country. Yet, as we celebrate, it’s worth asking: How effective is recycling, really? Despite decades of campaigns urging Americans to “reduce, reuse, recycle,” the results remain underwhelming. Only about 13% of plastic packaging in the U.S....
Letter to the editor: Reasons to vote them out
The latest government shutdown proves that figures can lie, liars can figure and facts are stubborn things. Congressional leaders shut down the government over $1 trillion in subsidies for the health insurance industry, which has no incentive to cut costs under the “Affordable Care Act.” Meanwhile, millions of Americans are...
Letter to the editor: Good riddance to Pelosi
Good riddance to Nancy Pelosi. She should’ve left 40 years ago. When she goes she should take Hakeem Jeffries with her. Tom Forsythe Ruffs Dale...
Letter to the editor: Money for Argentina, but not for SNAP
It is shameful that “businessman” Donald Trump was able to quickly provide $40 billion of financial support to Argentina, but finds that his country can’t promptly fund a far lesser amount of SNAP food benefits for our own needy citizens, cynically stating that it will take “ a few weeks...
Letter to the editor: Two-party system doesn’t work
It occurs to me that the two-party system does not work anymore. The Republicans voice an idea and the Democrats say no way. And the same is true the other way around. What happens? Not a thing. There is so much hate and mistrust, the framers must be rolling in...
Letter to the editor: Authoritarian takeover
The New Republic has published an excellent article on 10 rules for authoritarian takeover of a country. I strongly encourage everyone who thinks to find and read this piece. Rule 1: Fire government referees. President Donald Trump has fired 17 inspectors general and members of the federal oversight commission. Rule...
Letter to the editor: Gun loopholes put communities at risk
This fall, Pennsylvania passed a bill for universal background checks, but several other crucial gun safety measures failed, including extreme risk protection orders and restrictions on untraceable firearms and machine gun conversion devices. Our own Rep. Valerie Gaydos voted no on these bills. Her votes leave loopholes open, putting families,...
Letter to the editor: Tariffs are indeed a tax on the consumer
Are tariffs a tax on consumer? Well, my brother got a bill from FedEx for $8 for a product he bought from Amazon, listed as a tariff from Department of Homeland Security for product from overseas. We have been told over and over again that tariffs are not a tax...
Letter to the editor: Trump administration withholding food from citizens
Last week, I met one of the 42 million low-income Americans for whom SNAP benefits ceased during the government shutdown. He was using the last of his benefits at the grocery store but remained short of funds. Because of the kindness of strangers, he left with all of his items...
Letter to the editor: Filibusters and shutdowns
In 2013, the then-majority Democrats in the Senate, under the leadership of Sen. Harry Reid, changed U.S. Senate rules regarding the filibuster to eliminate it, but only for approving presidential appointees. This was done in deference to then-President Obama, because Republicans refused to approve his appointments. That change allowed Obama’s...
