Many schools can’t afford extra security measures

Regarding Shawn Balaschak’s assertion that schools aren’t doing enough to protect students (May 21 letters): His solution is metal detectors, fewer doors and trained security personnel. Many districts don’t have money to fully staff teaching positions, pay a living wage to those they do employ or provide the necessary supplies and tools for their students, yet Mr. Balaschak believes these districts will somehow find money to pay for all his additional security requirements.

He goes on to point out that if schools had the same strict security as courthouses, shootings wouldn’t occur. A simple Google search will reveal literally dozens of courthouse shootings.

Unless Mr. Balaschak believes he can persuade the National Rifle Association to cover the cost of literally hundreds of thousands of metal detectors and an equal number of security personnel, how about we try some sensible gun legislation and fund mental health care? BOB CHERRY Leechburg there needs to be sensible gun regulations passed — you know, things like background checks for every gun purchase, maybe an assault weapons ban ... something that would cut down on the number of gun-related deaths in this country.

On the other side are those who think protecting the Second Amendment is more important than protecting our children.

Which side of this debate are you on? THOMAS KERNICK Penn Hills

The Post-Gazette published an editorial May 21 with a misleading headline. At first glance, “Clean Water Action: Alcosan Plant Expansion Is a Good First Step” might appear to be written by Clean Water Action, a nonprofit environmental organization whose views differ from the editorial board’s.

Clean Water Action is a founding member of the Clean Rivers Campaign, which advocates for green infrastructure as the primary method of solving our wet-weather problems. The Environmental Protection Agency endorses green infrastructure, and Pittsburgh’s “City-Wide Green First” plan demonstrates our ability to tackle this problem without the use of giant “gray” tunnels.

Green infrastructure is much more than “rain gardens and water barrels,” and it absolutely can solve our “water woes.” Large-scale engineered projects like the one in FourMile Run will rejuvenate Panther Hollow Lake, create community green spaces and eliminate

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millions of gallons of storm-water runoff each year. More important, properly sited green infrastructure can eliminate dangerous flooding, reduce sewage basement backups, provide clean air and improve Pittsburgh’s aesthetic value. “Gray” tunnels will not accomplish any of this.

Clean Water Action agrees that we must keep sewage out of our three rivers, that doubling Alcosan’s capacity is a good first step and that our refusal to invest in clean water and air will deter investment from companies like Amazon. But project planners who are truly “bold” will avoid limiting our solution to antiquated engineering methods and instead embrace Pittsburgh’s dedication to innovation and technology by maximizing green infrastructure that addresses multiple problems and benefits us all.

ADAM TUZNIK Program Organizer Clean Water Action

Downtown