Letters to the Editor category, Page 136
Letter to the editor: Poverty no excuse for crime
Gary Franks made many erroneous statements in his column “The root causes of mass shootings and inner-city homicides” (April 21, TribLIVE). The worst was saying slavery would not have existed if men didn’t use guns to capture Blacks in Africa. That is a joke. Those Blacks were already captured and...
Letter to the editor: Yakopec a tireless advocate
As we approach this next election , I can’t help but submit a letter supporting our current local district magistrate, Cheryl Peck Yakopec. Her opponent is campaigning on the motto “Choice for change” and “Justice you deserve.” I respectfully disagree with the idea we need change. One of the positive...
Letter to the editor: We must turn back to God
Much history has been written about the infiltration of Catholic seminaries by communists in the 1930s and their infiltration of our universities in the ’50s and ’60s. Their purpose was to sabotage and destroy our American way of life. The process would be slow, one drip at a time. Indoctrination...
Letter to the editor: Graphic books should not be in our schools
Removing books that have graphic scenes of rape and explicit sexual violence from our school libraries and keeping them out of the curriculum should not be controversial or partisan. In the Hempfield Area School District, a few educators, one school board member (former counselor) and a few candidates running for...
Letter to the editor: Foreign languages useful to students
Outstanding article about French classes returning to Penn-Trafford (“No ‘au revoir’ just yet: Penn-Trafford to keep French program, for now,” April 23, TribLIVE), c’est bon! And good job including the chart about which languages are taught at other are schools. Very sad to see Latin posted only once. Medical terminology,...
Letter to the editor: Guardianship protection
The editorial “Revamp laws for legal guardians” (April 24, TribLIVE) supporting Pennsylvania Senate Bill 506 inaccurately states that the bill requires steps to preclude guardians’ conflicts of interest like those highlighted by Spotlight PA. In fact, nothing in the bill prevents nursing homes from nominating specific professional guardians. The bill...
Letter to the editor: Change needed to end cycle of failing banks
When it comes to banks, it appears we are in a vicious cycle (“Army of lobbyists helped water down banking regulations,” March 21, TribLIVE). Due to mismanagement, banks fail, the taxpaying middle class bails them out, Congress enacts regulations, over time the regulations get watered down, banks fail and the...
Letter to the editor: Deadly combo of xylazine, fentanyl fuels opioid crisis
Pittsburgh is grappling with a surge in overdoses related to the misuse of xylazine, a veterinary sedative. The drug is often mixed with fentanyl, amplifying its potency and contributing to the ongoing opioid crisis in the region. While Pennsylvania has taken steps to address the issue by up-scheduling xylazine to...
Letter to the editor: Government should default on national debt
The national debt is rapidly approaching $32 trillion. This number was inconceivable a decade prior, and even today we still have trouble picturing what it looks like. For the individual, the issue appears insoluble. What must be done? We must unconditionally default on the national debt. In other words, the...
Letter to the editor: Yakopec generous with her help
I support reelecting Judge Cheryl Yakopec. For over 20 years, Yakopec has generously helped me in my work to beautify Memorial Park. She assigns her students to help with planting, weeding, raking, building birdhouses and more. I supervise them, and she comes to check on them. It is beneficial because...
Sounding off: Politics, books, guns, Fox News on readers’ minds
We’re not ‘good or evil’ based on our political views A recent letter to the editor claims that America has devolved into a battleground of good vs. evil (“Pick a side, good or evil,” April 10, TribLIVE). The view(s) of the author insinuate that conservatives (Republicans) are good, God-fearing Christian...
Letter to the editor: Leuba for Allegheny County controller
As a local parent and resident of Allegheny County for 17 years, I’m excited to vote for Darwin Leuba for county controller in the Democratic primary election May 16. This office carries crucial responsibilities long neglected by our electeds. The county controller serves as auditor for Allegheny County, which controls...
Letter to the editor: Vote for new Westmoreland County commissioners
In the article “Westmoreland DA says forensics lab will speed investigations” (April 14, TribLIVE), the Tribune-Review reported that District Attorney Nicole Ziccarelli and county commissioners plan to spend: $497,000 for lab equipment; a new salary of $84,000; and $250,000 for training and accreditation. The goal is to have it “be...
Letter to the editor: Election wishes
Before I die, I have two wishes regarding elections: 1. I’d like to vote for someone rather than against someone, and 2. I can be confident that the political candidate I vote for has the people’s interest at heart rather than their own. Richard Herd Hempfield...
Letter to the editor: How about a book burning?
To expand on Tara Gandy’s comments in the article “Greensburg Salem parent calls for change after teacher caught reading racial slur aloud in classroom,” regarding John Steinbeck’s “Of Mice and Men” (April 13, TribLIVE): Perhaps we ought to have a good old-fashioned book burning — maybe this week, during National...
Letter to the editor: Young people should change the name of ‘Assassins’ game
Dear Assassins game players: Do you really mean to play a game called “Assassins?” Please, change the name that has brought our country so much pain and shame. Give the game a new name, like “Tag,” and don’t dishonor our flag. Do you wonder why schools won’t affiliate with a...
Letter to the editor: Can we handle another Trump presidency?
An indictment is simply the bringing of charges against a defendant. It does not determine innocence or guilt. Its validity is decided by an impartial grand jury of 20-25 people chosen through a rigorous jury selection process. They (not the district attorney, in this case, Alvin Bragg) determine, by majority...
Letter to the editor: Bengel best choice for judge
Regarding the mismatched race for district judge in East Deer, Tarentum, Brackenridge, Fawn and Harrison, there is only one legitimate choice: Judge Carolyn Bengel. Bengel has 30 years of proven and practiced experience as an impressive district judge, as well as continually engaging in beneficial off-duty service in our communities....
Letter to the editor: Doven for Allegheny County council
I would like to respond to the letter “Reelect Bethany Hallam” (April 17, TribLIVE): I will proudly be voting for Joanna Doven for Allegheny County Council. She stands strong as a single mother of three young children, a small-business owner and a voice of reason focused on delivering results that...
Letter to the editor: Solving energy problems
Peoples Gas and West Penn (First Energy) are believed by the writer of the letter “Who’s profiting from our high utility bills?” (April 16, TribLIVE) to be resonsible for “price hikes and profiteering” identified in his letter. He asks why prices have “risen so dramatically in past two years, and...
Letter to the editor: Fetterman should have talked about his depression during campaign
John Fetterman, at best, looked dazed, confused and lost during the debate. He also never made one public mention of having depression. He withheld this important information from voters until it was convenient for him after the election. Now, allies have somehow turned this whole debacle into him being praised...
Letter to the editor: Klingensmith for magistrate
I am writing to endorse my friend and neighbor, Bob Klingensmith, for the office of district magistrate. I have lived five houses away from Bob and his wife, Suzy, and their three children since he built his house. I also live 10 houses from the house he was born and...
Letter to the editor: No one better than Yakopec for judge
I support the reelection of Judge Cheryl Peck Yakopec. I think everybody knows how well qualified, experienced and evenly tempered Yakopec has been for the last 29 years. Clearly that is why no one has run against her in so long. Those of us who see her out in the...
Letter to the editor: We should keep Carolyn Bengel as judge
With recognition that any eligible candidate can run against another, I question the insincere mantra of “time for a change” — when it is not broken, you do not attempt to fix it just for change’s sake. I allude to the race for district judge in our area where incumbent...
Letter to the editor: Does age still bring wisdom?
I used to believe that with age comes wisdom. Can’t hold that to be true anymore. I have age, but wisdom? I only have questions. How can everyone wear a mask to prevent disease but so many people don’t want to wear a condom for the same purpose plus preventing...
