Create and protect jobs in Pa.

As we slowly pick up the pieces from the COVID-19 pandemic, our elected officials must target their efforts on getting unemployed Americans back to work. Those efforts should center on creating and protecting jobs that are reliable and pay well.

I work in an industry that offers both: the oil and natural gas industry. Pennsylvanians are aware of the critical role the industry plays in our economy given that the state is the second-largest natural gas producer in the nation, generating roughly $44 billion in economic impact.

More than 339,000 jobs are tied to Pennsylvania’s energy development industry with those workers earning significantly more than the state’s typical salary earner. The higher compensation, along with better benefits and career opportunities, attracted skilled tradespeople like myself and allowed us to thrive in this important industry.

Along with the thousands of oil and natural gas workers in Pennsylvania, I take pride in providing inexpensive and reliable energy, especially in these hard economic times. Rather than attack a pivotal industry as some have, let’s work together on smart economic policies that will get the nation back on its feet.

WILLIAM BROOKS

President Pittsburgh Building and Construction Trades Council

Beechview

Thanking workers

We have thanked the frontline health care workers and the essential workers, and they deserve our thanks. Now it is time to thank the “nonessential” workers who are the patriots helping our country to recover.

Have you ever thought about the contributions of the person who takes your takeout order or loads the mulch in the back of your car? Almost any worker in retail now is making a great sacrifice for our country. The easiest and selfish course of action would be to collect unemployment as long as possible. The extra $600 a week in unemployment benefits has made it difficult for people to want to return to work. We need to recognize those people who are making sacrifices by refusing higher benefits for themselves, while helping restart our economy and adding to the tax base instead of depleting our resources.

Hopefully, our elected leaders in the federal government will not be tempted to buy votes by extending the $600 a week incentive not to work or contribute. Extending the regular unemployment for those who really need it and maybe finding a way to help with rent, mortgage or utility payments for those who need it are options to explore. But the worst thing our leaders could do right now would be to add to the federal deficit burdening our future generations by incentivizing people not to work.

When you see the opportunity to thank these “nonessential” workers, either verbally or financially, don’t pass it up. As our economy begins to open up and better-paying jobs become available again, I hope employers will first look to reward those who sacrificed for our country and filled the “nonessential” jobs that others refused.

JIM LUDWIG West View

Bad decision

What kind of idiots do we have running Pennsylvania who would deny the Toronto Blue Jays the use of PNC Park (July 24, “Pa. Denies Blue Jays’ Pitch to Play at PNC Park”)?

Allowing them to play here would help to improve U.S./Canada relations and give a shot in the arm to Pittsburgh’s economy. Do Gov. Tom Wolf and friends believe that professional ball team managers and owners have no clue on how to protect their players from the virus? JAY R. WELLS III

Bethel Park

Ending waste

I am writing in response to the July 16 letter “Being Realistic About Renewables.”

Harrisburg gave hundreds of millions to the swamp.

At a time when our elected leaders should think about the future — clean air and water — they prioritized our past brimming with oil, fracking and chemicals waste.

With H.B. 732, Pennsylvania senators and representatives gifted nearly $700 million for “new projects” to fracking and petrochemicals.

This battle is not about local jobs. Building thousands of

windmills and solar arrays with this kind of investment is about great union jobs here in Pennsylvania. However, the truth is, when the construction of windmills and solar arrays or dirty holes and pumps is over, there are fewer great jobs.

But what’s also true is that there is no waste with wind and solar, so we don’t pay for the cleanup. With fracking, dumping and lasting pollution, our tax money will flow with the filthy water.

In November, I’ll be thanking Rep. Dan Miller, D-Mt. Lebanon, and thinking about the rest.

TOM O’BRIEN Mt. Lebanon