Councilwoman Danko deserves another term
I was very surprised to see the endorsement of Caroline Mitchell over incumbent Barbara Daly Danko for Allegheny County Council District 11 (“Mitchell for District 11,” April 20).
Barbara Daly Danko has been a dedicated public servant and has the experience and education to understand public policy issues. She makes a sincere and thorough effort to read and understand all legislation, including the lengthy leases for fracking at the airport and the public parks. She makes her decisions and votes according to what is best for the future of Allegheny County and its residents.
As president of the 14th Ward Independent Democratic Club, I am happy that the club has overwhelmingly endorsed her for a second term. KATHIE SMITH
Squirrel Hill
Citizen advocate
The PG’s misplaced endorsement editorial for county council District 11 (“Mitchell for District 11,” April 20) overlooks Barbara Daly Danko’s lifelong focus on fiscal management, government service and community advocacy. A balanced editorial should include Ms. Danko’s credentials. She holds a master’s degree from the prestigious Lyndon Baines Johnson School of Public Affairs (University of Texas), a bachelor’s degree in economics and an accounting certificate.
Ms. Danko serves on the Allegheny County Human Relations Commission and the Local Government Academy board of directors. As a member of the State Democratic Committee, she understands our Allegheny County needs within a Pennsylvania perspective. She has taught political science at Community College of Allegheny County and the University of Pittsburgh.
Ms. Danko recently overwhelmingly won the endorsement of the 14th Ward Independent Democratic Club, primarily for her thoughtful and knowledgeable stand on the issues.
The PG’s editorial reminds us that “council members serve their constituents best when they think independently.” Ms. Danko’s strong advocacy for our environment has trumped blind loyalty to the county executive. Rich Fitzgerald has harshly punished her questioning his views on fracking by recruiting and supporting a challenger.
I will vote to re-elect Barbara Daly Danko because Allegheny County needs an independent Democratic advocate. A vote for Ms. Danko also sends a strong message to Mr. Fitzgerald: Ms. Danko’s call for a twoyear moratorium on fracking in our county parks in order to study environmental disruptions is supported by his constituents. LESA E. ROSAMOND
Regent Square
Mall security
Yet another incident at Monroeville Mall seems to have caught everyone flat-footed (“Monroeville Mall Seeks More Ways to Boost Security,” April 21). Despite several recent incidents that have led to much discussion about how to handle the problems, here we are on a Friday evening trying to figure out how this could happen again.
Weren’t there supposed to be extra Monroeville police on hand on the weekends? Wasn’t mall management going to beef up security? Could no one notice a crowd forming outside Winghart’s and that there may be trouble ahead?
If you had watched the February mall shooting video on the news recently, did you notice that the camera followed the shooter out of the store? That wasn’t by accident — someone was manning a camera to record the event. In a February article (“DA Says Officials Were Slow to React to Warnings at Monroeville Mall,” Feb. 9), the first sentence stated: “A Macy’s security worker noted a crowd gathering and turned a store surveillance camera toward the Polo section of the Monroeville Mall store Saturday evening.” Wouldn’t it have been better to alert security or call the police right away, maybe preventing the incident in the first place?
So here we are again with this answer: “There are ongoing discussions with different government agencies about ways to deter crime,” said Sean Logan, who heads tourism group Visit Monroeville. Officials may be talking, but customers are walking ... out. JERRY FITZGIBBON
North Versailles
Worker fairness
The Fairness Center finds fault with Gov. Tom Wolf’s executive order concerning representation of home-care workers. It suggests that the primary purpose of the executive order is to fund union dues and the implied fat-cat union leaders (“Wolf’s Executive Order Serves to Strengthen Unions,” April 20). This group of fat-cat lawyers funded by the right-towork advocates and probably other right-wing groups hides behind the name The Fairness Center.
I would ask, what is wrong with a group of low-paid health care workers uniting to hire an advocate?
The No. 1 issue in the world is income disparity. I would suggest that you read “The Bottom Billion” and the Islamic State group manifesto. Check out the plight of Turks in Germany, Chinese factory workers or the wage of nonprofessional UPMC employees.
Yet every time someone suggests helping working people, a right-wing-funded group with an innocent-sounding name is ready to jump in and explain the evils of “We the People” having a voice.
The Club for Billionaires Who Don’t Have Enough, in all fairness, seems more suitable. TOM HUTCHISON
Braddock Hills