Opinion category, Page 300
Letter to the editor: Biden won’t be intimidated
On Feb. 7, I was fortunate to witness one of the most impressive State of the Union addresses I have ever experienced. If any Republican fascists are reading this, keep in mind that, even though you may be a lot younger than our president, your wild-eyed craziness will never intimidate...
Letter to the editor: What’s the plan for blight in Westmoreland?
Westmoreland County has $10.4 million available to remove blighted homes and businesses (“Addressing blight requires planning and action,” Feb. 7, TribLIVE). I wonder if the county or cities of Greensburg and Jeannette have an overall plan/strategy to replace these buildings and homes with other businesses or housing. It won’t just...
Letter to the editor: Condescending attitude toward communities of color
In her letter “We must address our gun violence problem” (Feb. 8, TribLIVE), Edgewood Council member Bhavini Patel stated, “We must recognize the historical disinvestment in communities of color and low-income neighborhoods. We must respond with investments to support after-school programs, job training, educational opportunities, homeownership programs and more.” During...
Editorial: Why does Pa. Department of Health want to keep marijuana data secret?
Privacy and transparency can be natural enemies. People have an assumption of privacy when it comes to their information — financial, legal, business and especially medical. However, the public has a right to transparency regarding the decisions that are made in their name and the expenses that are charged to...
Letter to the editor: Ted Kopas deserves vote as next Westmoreland County commissioner
I want to encourage the citizens of Westmoreland County to vote for Ted Kopas to be our next county commissioner. He absolutely will get the vote from my family and myself because he is the most deserving candidate. I say that for these reasons: • He served our county as...
Letter to the editor: Pa. needs cleaner energy
In his commentary “In Pa., will Shapiro unlock decades of affordable energy?” (Jan. 24, TribLIVE), Gordon Tomb of the Commonwealth Foundation presents a biased picture, ignores basic physics and, for good measure, contradicts himself. Tomb doesn’t seem interested in energy production unless that production comes from burning fossil fuels. He...
Letter to the editor: Pipelines safer than rail cars
After the train derailment in Ohio, now is the time for the conservatives to push for more pipelines, as transporting dangerous materials by pipelines seems safer than by rail cars. Clem Zahrobsky Delmont...
Letter to the editor: Shell must do better for Monaca community
In the article “Activists: Shell cracker plant not living up to ‘good neighbor’ promises” (Feb. 2, TribLIVE), spokesperson Curtis Thomas claims Shell alerts the community about flaring events. This flaring, seen miles away, is apparently just a part of the plant operating, but Thomas’ statement is inaccurate. Shell Monaca has...
Editorial: In wake of train crash, Norfolk Southern reps must be seen to be believed
East Palestine, Ohio, is not the only place where Norfolk Southern has tracks and runs trains. The Georgia-based railroad company is the fifth-largest railway in the country. It operates about 19,500 miles of track crisscrossing the eastern United States. It pulled in $11.14 billion in revenue in 2021. The company...
Letter to the editor: State of the Union rudeness uncalled for
To write or not to write, that was the question. The reprehensible display during the president’s State of the Union address is what necessitates this letter. Like Joe Biden or not, I expected silence from the audience, not crude outbursts. The office of the presidency deserves courtesy even if you...
Letter to the editor: Ziccarelli should pay for repair costs
Westmoreland County District Attorney Nicole Ziccarelli claims her accident was “minor” — $33,000 in damages to a $33,000 vehicle (“Westmoreland DA crash racks up nearly $33,000 in SUV repairs,” Feb. 16, TribLIVE). Boy, I would hate to see her idea of a major accident. I am a former county employee...
Tom Purcell: We’re rooting for you, Senator Fetterman
The day started at 7 a.m. with a breakfast meeting and ended after 11 p.m. — and I was exhausted. It was 1996. I had spent 16 straight hours with Pennsylvania’s freshman senator, Rick Santorum, to report on “A day in the life of a senator.” I realized that same...
Jonathan Bernstein: Republicans aren’t just thinking about Trump and DeSantis
The Republican presidential nomination is up for grabs. Given his enduring popularity with GOP voters, former President Donald Trump remains the front-runner. While he has yet to formally join the race, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has been cast as his principal opponent for the Republican nomination. In past elections, the...
Pete Shelly: So-called ‘skill games’ drain millions from senior programs
We all know the phrase from Pennsylvania Lottery commercials: “… benefits older Pennsylvanians.” But many people don’t realize just how important lottery proceeds are to charities and nonprofits across the commonwealth, and how many seniors rely on the services those organizations provide. Our lottery remains the only state lottery that...
Letter to the editor: Pity the fools who support Biden
After watching the State of the Union address, I just couldn’t get an image out of my head. It was Mr. T from “The A-Team” saying, “I pity the fool!” I pity the fool or fools who think we can stand back and let President Biden “finish the job,” as...
Letter to the editor: Reduce drugs, reduce gun violence
If you want to reduce gun violence in America, you have to first reduce the amount of drugs coming over our borders, especially fentanyl. The drugs fuel erratic behavior which leads to the gun violence. Regis Kruth Shaler...
Editorial: Is Pennsylvania a death penalty state or not?
Gov. Josh Shapiro is continuing the pattern Pennsylvania’s executives have perfected over the last 24 years. On Thursday, Shapiro said he will continue following in his predecessors’ footsteps by not permitting executions to move forward. Pennsylvania will continue being a death penalty state that does not put people to death....
Letter to the editor: Has China won already?
With the recent news that our administration allowed a known spy balloon to traverse the United States, allowing it to surveil and gather intelligence on our missile sites and our B-2 bomber airfields, I need to restate the obvious: If President Trump and his supporters lose, China wins. That is,...
Letter to the editor: ‘Sunsetting’ a frightening euphemism
Words can be a cheeky little monkey. During the war in Bosnia, taking place between 1992 and 1995, the term “ethnic cleansing” became a euphemism for racist genocide. At that time our president, politicians and newscasters spoke of it, glibly, using the term with the same normalcy as “cleaning house,”...
Mallard Fillmore cartoons for the week of Feb. 20
Mallard Fillmore cartoons for the week of Feb. 20....
Editorial cartoons for the week of Feb. 20
Editorial cartoons for the week of Feb. 20....
Salewa Ogunmefun: It’s time to fix Pa.’s laws to make voting easier
In Pennsylvania’s first general election held using new legislative maps that are the most fair and inclusive in the history of the commonwealth, we saw historic gains in BIPOC communities statewide having the opportunity to elect the candidates of their choosing. Now this new crop of legislators has the opportunity...
Letter to the editor: Thanks to those revitalizing New Kensington
I would like to thank Michael Malcanas, director of Olde Towne Overhaul, for coming to New Kensington and revitalizing the town. I watched the PBS episode featuring Malcanas and was amazed by his generosity and how he has put his time, energy and money into the town. I have so...
Letter to the editor: Strangers, first responders save another life
Reading the story “Greensburg 1st responders lauded for saving victims of heart attack, house fire” (Feb. 16, TribLIVE), I feel compelled to add my story. I suffered cardiac arrest at Planet Fitness on Sept. 23. I, too, owe my life to the quick response of strangers — the gym’s personnel,...
Letter to the editor: Saving Social Security
If President Biden is serious about preserving Social Security, as he demonstrated with great theatrics at his State of the Union address, he should work with Congress to eliminate the salary cap on the payroll tax. The Social Security payroll tax salary cap is set at $147,000, which means that...
