Opinion category, Page 299
Jim Warren: Putin disinformation machine is unrelenting toward Ukraine a year after invasion
No sooner had President Joe Biden arrived in Ukraine on Monday than the Russian state news agency Tass berated the surprise visit to “his ward Zelenskyy” and warned that Ukraine leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy will meet the same fate as others “who have sold their souls to the Americans.” “Damned by...
Letter to the editor: Advice for our justice system
I just came upon some “advice,” in Exodus 23, that would be helpful for our justice system to follow: Do not spread false reports. Do not help a guilty person by being a malicious witness. Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong. When you give testimony in a lawsuit,...
Sounding off: Division, Ziccarelli, guns, Bushy Run, medical marijuana among week’s topics
‘Tale of Two Americas’ “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times … .” So begins Charles Dickens’ novel, “A Tale of Two Cities.” As I write, I’m saddened knowing a former president is near death. Acknowledged by friend and foe as being kind and decent,...
Letter to the editor: Commissioners must do better on ARPA funds
Voice of Westmoreland has asked for transparency and a comprehensive plan from the Westmoreland County commissioners for use of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds since 2021. In a recent visit to Virginia, I reviewed the ARPA plan for the City of Richmond (see rva.gov/arp). The Virginia plan calls for...
Editorial: Rozzi scores with sex abuse bill passage
Pennsylvania Speaker Mark Rozzi has finally accomplished what he promised would be the state House of Representatives’ first action under his leadership. On Friday, the House passed the legislation that will give a window of opportunity for victims to sue over child sexual abuse claims that otherwise would be outside...
Letter to the editor: ‘Tale of Two Americas’
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times … .” So begins Charles Dickens’ novel “A Tale of Two Cities.” As I write, I’m saddened knowing a former president is near death. Acknowledged by friend and foe as being kind and decent, he became a role...
Gary Franks: George H.W. Bush and Rep. Adam Clayton Powell on civil rights
I will always fondly remember from my political career two individuals. They were different as night and day. One was a Republican president who became my friend and the other a Democrat born in Connecticut who would become my congressional role model — even though I never met him, as...
Michael W. Carroll: Supreme Court unlikely to ‘break internet’ over Google, Twitter cases — rather, it is approaching with caution
“These are not, like, the nine greatest experts on the internet,” noted Justice Elena Kagan — a reference to herself and fellow colleagues on the Supreme Court. Depsite this, the justices are being asked to negotiate complex arguments that could have wide implications for online providers and ultimately everyone who...
Colin McNickle: Covid bailout dollars enabled transit inefficiencies
Mass transit use in Pittsburgh in 2022 continued to lag far behind the pre-pandemic levels of 2019, concludes a new analysis by the Allegheny Institute for Public Policy. And, despite the large shortfalls in recovery for Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT) and many other systems, “there is apparently no urgency to...
Letter to the editor: After Tyre Nichols, now is time to push for justice, change
Enough is enough. It should have been, when it first happened, one time. But here we are again. Another innocent Black man, Tyre Nichols, brutally and viciously beaten to death, seemingly just because the police officers wanted to. “Just talking” has to end now. Black people have not gotten their...
Letter to the editor: Weeding out the ‘crazy’ gun owners
“A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” All gun owners should know and protect this amendment. Please note the term “well regulated.” Unfortunately, a lot of people forget the regulation...
Letter to the editor: No comparison between Trump, Reagan
The letter “Trump, like Reagan, was a great president” (Jan. 23, TribLIVE) made me laugh. I wasn’t a fan of Ronald Reagan’s presidency, mainly because I felt he hurt working men and women, as well as the labor unions, when he fired the air traffic controllers in 1981. But there...
Lori Falce: Next train disaster is inevitable
The terrifying thing about East Palestine’s train derailment and the spill of chemicals into land and water and air isn’t just the twisted wreckage or the flames or the absolute pillar of black smoke that rose from it all. It isn’t the social media videos speculating about dangerous residue in...
Laurels & lances: Supporting and sneezing
Laurel: To coping with problems. Westmoreland County District Attorney Nicole Ziccarelli wants to expand efforts to help kids deal with trauma. The Handle with Care Program is a collaboration with New Kensington-Arnold School District, Allegheny Intermediate Unit, Highlands Family Center and police in Arnold and New Kensington using a $250,000...
Letter to the editor: Bushy Run and government’s hypocritical stand on violence
So the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission has come up with a new “no force on force” policy for demonstrations at historical reenactments of famous battles. This forces the Bushy Run Historical Society to cancel its annual reenactment of the Battle of Bushy Run, its sole source of revenue to...
Letter to the editor: Campaign, other signs are litter
I concur with the editorial “PennDOT should enforce right-of-way sign rules” (Jan. 21, TribLIVE). But the responsibility is not PennDOT alone, rather for municipalities to also keep their right-of-ways clear of litter and illegal signage that become an eyesore and a hazardous distraction for motorists. I take exception to the...
David Kennedy: Pa. has a growing crisis in recruitment, retention of police officers
As Pennsylvania families gather around their dinner tables, I hope they’ll say a small prayer for the three Pennsylvania police officers we’ve already lost this year: Brackenridge Police Chief Justin McIntire, McKeesport Police Officer Sean Sluganski and Temple University Officer Christopher Fitzgerald. McIntire, Sluganski and Fitzgerald made the ultimate sacrifice....
Peter Morici: What America needs to hear from Ron DeSantis
American presidential politics needs a shake-up. Enter Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. Democrats are nervous about President Biden’s age, but judging by the State of the Union address, he’s running for a second term. Former President Donald Trump remains viable among Republican voters, partly because DeSantis is not well known enough...
Letter to the editor: Let’s cut Congress’ expenses instead
Just saw a news clip of President Joe Biden talking about raising the debt ceiling. He was asking where cuts to the new budget would come from if we don’t raise it. He went on using his usual scare tactics: “Do we cut Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, veterans’ programs?” I...
Letter to the editor: Ziccarelli should use her own vehicle
My compliments to Rich Cholodofsky for his well-written article “Westmoreland DA crash racks up nearly $33,000 in SUV repairs” (Feb. 16, TribLIVE). This is what investigative journalism should be — unbiased reportage, allowing readers to form their own opinions. With that said, why is county District Attorney Nicole Ziccarelli “claiming...
Editorial: Adult crimes and juvenile defendants pose unique challenges
In Allegheny and Westmoreland counties, significant charges have been pressed against kids who can’t even drive yet. A 14-year-old already on probation is charged in a fatal shooting in Carrick. A 16-year-old is charged with providing the gun to a 15-year-old for a planned robbery; the 15-year-old was subsequently shot...
Letter to the editor: Science or not, medical marijuana can help
Regarding the letter “Anxiety and medical marijuana” (Feb. 13, TribLIVE): Much like this paper’s cartoons Marmaduke and The Lockhorns, this made me laugh. I found myself questioning the motives of the letter-writer, a psychiatrist. I have never sought a medical marijuana card, and I have no reason to think he...
Eugene DePasquale and Kate Harper: Common-sense energy policy bridges political divide
“The people chose divided government” is a common refrain in Harrisburg and Washington that too often misses the mark. In truth, the people chose their leaders — from both major parties — to govern Pennsylvania and the United States because they believe they can get things done. They weren’t choosing...
Maggie Rose Macar: Layoff, and off, and off — major tech job cuts and the ‘recession’
There’s no way to say it nicely, so I’ll rip it off like a proverbial Band-Aid — layoffs, especially in the tech sector, are rampant. Hundreds of companies, many of whom originated in Silicon Valley, are cutting jobs at an alarming clip. Strangely, these layoffs happen at a time when...
Timothy J. Kunselman: Wanted — serious people for leadership positions
As we contemplate the end of a glorious life on earth for former President Jimmy Carter, whose greatest achievements perhap came after his presidency, a stark contrast is obvious between past leaders of character and present leaders who are characters. It’s painfully obvious who they are, and the danger to...
