Opinion category, Page 264
Letter to the editor: Ramifications of DEP name change
Our state senator, Kim Ward, announced on June 10 that the Senate had passed Senate Bill 691 to rename the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection to the Department of Environmental Services. Sounds innocuous, and they basically say it’s just a name. However, there may be sinister plans with the department...
Matthew J. Brouillette: No one — including unions — should be above the law
On June 1, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling in Glacier Northwest v. International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local Union No. 174. The case in question concerned whether Glacier, a concrete company, could sue the Teamsters due to striking employees’ intentionally destroying Glacier’s property by leaving concrete running in trucks...
Susan Spicka: School property taxes fund cyber charter excess
More than $3.4 million spent on advertising over a three-month period. Over $75,000 spent on tickets, parking and concessions for Major League baseball games — including $50 per person for rooftop catering. Tens of thousands of dollars spent sponsoring minor league baseball and hockey teams. Over $100,000 spent on branded...
Letter to the editor: Robert F. Kennedy’s voice disorder
The writer of the letter “Biden and Kennedy are the best Democrats have?” (June 7, TribLIVE) comments that “this guy” Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is seeking the Democratic nomination for president, has a “terrible speaking voice.” The fact is that Kennedy suffers from a rare voice disorder, spasmodic dysphonia,...
Letter to the editor: Inflation information
John Tamny was wrong on a couple things in his op-ed “There’s no such thing as ‘government stimulus’ ” (June 10, TribLIVE). Inflation (increasing the money supply) does lead to more investment but it goes into many things that would not be successful in the absence of inflation. When the...
Editorial: We won’t see another Stan Savran
With the passing of Pittsburgh broadcasting icon Stan Savran, the spotlight has turned on his place in the pantheon of talent that called or commented on Steel City sports teams over the years. More than one person — including Savran’s former “SportsBeat” co-host Guy Junker — has called to mind...
Letter to the editor: Where’s defense of Trump?
When the details of the 37-count indictment against former President Trump were unsealed last week, I eagerly awaited the response from both Trump supporters and non-supporters. I watched several different Fox News and CNN shows to hear what the “experts” had to say. I expected the approach of the two...
Letter to the editor: We need tax reform, not new housing
The main interview in the article “Senior housing project in Irwin draws large response from prospective tenants” (May 17, TribLIVE) was from a woman from Wilkinsburg (Allegheny County), not Westmoreland County. All of the hoopla over this housing project seems to come down to someone from out of the county...
Jonah Goldberg: Republicans wanted Clinton prosecuted for her emails. And now they defend Trump?
In the wake of Donald Trump’s latest indictment, two basic defenses have been offered: He did nothing wrong, and it doesn’t matter that he did anything wrong. So far, most of his defenders are more comfortable making the latter argument. Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, is one of the few exceptions....
Chris Sandvig: To win federal infrastructure funding, Southwestern Pa. can’t afford to wait
The bipartisan infrastructure law is a once-in-a-generation investment, offering a remarkable — and time-sensitive — opportunity for Western Pennsylvania’s public transit systems. With billions of new dollars ready to be invested by the federal government, there is an urgent need to act swiftly to secure these funds before the window...
Sen. Gene Yaw: In Homer City, another step in killing the grid
April 3 was a significant day for Pennsylvanians who use electricity. The Homer City coal-fired power plant in Indiana County announced it would cease operations in 90 days. The news was a crippling blow to Pennsylvania’s status in the electric generation market. For almost six decades, the Homer City power...
Letter to the editor: Lauding New Kensington council members, reporter
I chose at the last minute to go down to the recent New Kensington Council meeting. I’m always more impressed by Tony Males than anyone else. Now, my second favorite is Tim Dimaio. I really think this term for him is going to define the nuts and bolts of what...
Letter to the editor: Madden’s PGA take disgusting
I am almost speechless after reading Mark Madden’s column “Money always wins, and the PGA did what was best for golf” (June 7, TribLIVE). I say almost speechless, because my anger and indignation are more overwhelming right now. Madden’s disgusting show of avarice and lack of any moral or ethical...
Letter to the editor: Westmoreland unprepared for hazardous incidents
At a recent meeting addressing concerns about a possible train derailment in Westmoreland County, Chris Tantlinger, Westmoreland County deputy emergency management coordinator, assured residents of an adequate response. Actually, Westmoreland County does not have equipment to provide comprehensive monitoring during incidents that contaminate air. In 2017, Westmoreland Marcellus Citizens’ Group...
Editorial: Flag Day is a uniquely Pennsylvanian holiday
A flag is a curious thing. It is a thin, flat piece of cloth. It is distinguished only by its colors and perhaps a bit of embroidery, but at its heart, it is only threads woven back and forth, cut and stitched together with more thread. Yet it means so...
Elwood Watson: NAACP should focus less on symbolism, more on action
Last month, the NAACP made waves for issuing a travel advisory for Florida in response to Gov. Ron DeSantis’ ruthless efforts to whitewash Black history and severely curtail diversity, equity and inclusion programs. “Once again, hate-inspired state leaders have chosen to put politics over people. Gov. Ron DeSantis and the...
Gary J. English: State police should enforce illegal sign laws
According to the article “Bill to boost funding for road and bridge projects advances in Pa. House” (May 22, TribLIVE), the House Transportation Committee proposes “(reducing) the annual appropriation taken out of the Motor License Fund to support the operations of the Pennsylvania State Police by $100 million until it...
Timothy J. Kunselman: We can handle the truth
“You can’t handle the truth” is the famous line from the movie “A Few Good Men.” In real life, we can’t handle the lies anymore. We must have the truth to move forward. It strikes me that many of our representatives and those who want to be representatives really do...
Letter to the editor: Pittsburgh Mills roads are dangerous
Will somebody tell me who is responsible for the roads at the Pittsburgh Mills mall? I don’t think there is 100 feet of road in that complex that is free from potholes and patch jobs. When traveling the roads trying to get to stores to shop and spend money, all...
Letter to the editor: Action, or inaction, will determine country’s future
Martin Niemoller, a Lutheran pastor in Nazi Germany, penned these words: “First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out because I was not a socialist. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist. Then...
Editorial: If Marc Fogel is not wrongfully detained, why was Griner designated so for same crime?
Brittney Griner was harassed in an airport Saturday. The Phoenix Mercury player was in Dallas and heading to Indianapolis when she and her WNBA teammates were targeted by people filming them and shouting what one player called “wild remarks,” including that Griner hates America. For the team and the WNBA,...
Letter to the editor: Good financial stewards in Norwin
Thank you, Norwin School Board. We do have those who are good fiscal stewards of our money at Norwin, but it is not the district administration. Through job reduction via attrition and something called “unassigned fund balance,” the budget was balanced with no tax increase. At a recent meeting, school...
Tom Purcell: Lucky to be my father’s son
Modern dads are portrayed as fools in television sitcoms and commercials. Lucky for me, they are the polar opposite of the loving, strong and decisive father who raised me. Over the years, as I clogged a toilet with an apple core, shattered a picture window with a baseball and hit...
Karen I. Shragg: Environmentalist movement needs to get back to its roots
Americans celebrated the 53rd anniversary of Earth Day in April. The holiday has changed drastically over the past half century — and so has the natural environment that activists are seeking to protect. Today’s green activists tend to mark Earth Day by focusing on ways to minimize their personal impact...
Abbey Haslam: Cutting red tape on Pa.’s nurse practitioners
Expanding health care access has been a major political issue in recent decades — first, during the Clinton health care plan of the 1990s, and then through Obamacare and the subsequent rapid expansion of Medicaid. Yet, despite the major focus on expanding access to care, millions of Americans live in...
