Cracker plant won’t be the boon being touted
Regarding “Big Projects Could Energize City’s Economy” (Nov. 24): Once again the Post-Gazette shills for the fracking industry by repeating the vastly exaggerated claims of jobs in the construction and operation of the ethane cracker plant to be built in Beaver County. The claim of 6,000 jobs in construction is absurd.
The largest, most-capital-intensive construction project in U.S. history, the construction of the Hoover Dam, required only 3,600 workers at its peak. A simple search of comparable refineries such as the one proposed here will also show that the claim of 600 permanent jobs is a gross exaggeration.
The cracker plant (refinery) will make our region’s already unhealthy air quality much worse. It will promote death and sickness. A foreign company, Shell, will benefit by exposing our region to toxins so it can make and sell plastic.
Decisions by our local politicians to subsidize the pollution of our region with a $1.6 billion tax break are the kinds of policies that will make Amazon not locate 50,000 employees in our region. Amazon is not stupid enough to subject its employees to our region’s polluted water and unhealthy air quality, which will get much worse with the construction of the cracker plant. KURT LIMBACH Bolivar
Where is Mr. Toomey? He seems to be in hiding and not speaking up about a president who is “off the rails” on so many subjects. Mr. Trump is delusional about himself and his behavior, he lies daily, and he discriminates against minorities. He perpetuates erroneous conspiracy theories, criticizes our international friends, incites our international enemies and couldn’t manage an organization that he doesn’t own. He is a daily embarrassment and a “clear and present danger” to the United States and the world.
I can only believe that Mr. Toomey is accepting of Mr. Trump and his behavior, which he seems to excuse, and that his only goal is to keep his job, while in hiding. In the future, I will do my best to support monetarily and verbally any candidate who opposes Mr. Toomey. M. PATRICIA LIED
Cecil
I would like to comment on your excellent article “GOP Tax Bill Has Colleges, Universities Concerned” (Nov. 30). While the article explains how the GOP tax plan affects graduate students monetarily, I would like to point out one of the societal consequences of the proposed changes.
Graduate school is where student scientists learn to be scientists. Graduate school in the sciences is very much like an apprenticeship. Graduate students work with faculty researchers on the researchers’ projects while learning to conduct original research projects of their own. This provides the faculty researcher with educated assistants while the graduate student receives financial support and mentoring. It is very much a win-win situation.
Do we really want to make it harder to become a scientist in 21st-century America? WILLIAM PERSINGER
Brighton Heights
A big thank you to Pittsburgh’s trash collectors! My neighbor had one day left to move out of her home and she had a huge amount to put out for trash collection. We helped her haul bags, boxes, mattresses, etc., over a guardrail to the main street where our trash is collected. Not everything was bagged perfectly but it was dark and she was desperate and we did our best. I thought when I returned the next evening that I’d have to pick up plenty for next week’s collection.
I was pleasantly surprised and grateful that the trash collectors had taken the time to completely load all of it. The workers must have realized this was a one-time pickup and they went out of their way to clear it all away that morning. Thanks and happy holidays to this special crew! LISA NIEMAN-VENTO
Brighton Heights