Mon Valley citizens deserve an impact assessment

For more than 10 years the entire first-year class of the University of Pittsburgh's Medical School has gone to the Mon Valley -- to Braddock and McKeesport -- as part of a course I lead on public health and medicine. Before they go I ask them, what makes a community healthy? The Mon Valley, with its storied past and its challenging present and future, has been a great learning environment. More important, the people of the valley have been extraordinary, informative hosts to the students.

Now, with the announced plans to close UPMC Braddock hospital ("UPMC to Close Braddock Hospital," Oct. 17), the entire region is taking a crash course in community health that asks similar questions. What will make the Mon Valley a healthier place? Specifically, what might be the health impacts of the proposed closure? Should they be tolerated or mitigated?

Sadly, UPMC chose not to lead with these questions. But that should not deter the rest of us. We must ask them, if only to ensure community accountability from our largest industry. Fortunately there is a new technology -- Health Impact Assessment -- that can help ensure that whatever decisions are taken are done so with the health of the community in mind (see www.healthimpactproject.org). Perhaps the Allegheny County Health Department, working with all stakeholders and concerned citizens might consider pursuing an HIA of the closure. I am sure some of my students and their Mon Valley hosts will be willing to help out. As will I.

KENNETH S. THOMPSON, M.D.
Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Public Health
University of Pittsburgh
Oakland

Exploitation factor

It's great that Jonathan Zimmerman ("Why America Needs Foreign Teachers," Oct. 18 Forum) appreciates the good work that teachers from the Philippines are doing in some of our classrooms. As a teachers union, we also are appreciative of good teaching. But Mr. Zimmerman is way too quick to brush aside the potential for exploitation described in the American Federation of Teachers' report, "Importing Educators."

In fact, that potential for exploitation is a reality in Louisiana. We recently filed complaints with state agencies that included hair-raising reports from Filipino teachers who were cheated out of thousands of dollars and held in virtual servitude. The AFT's report brought much-needed attention to the practice of recruiting teachers from overseas and helped lay the groundwork for our effort to help Filipino teachers in Louisiana escape the clutches of an unethical recruiter.

STEVE MONAGHAN
President
Louisiana Federation of Teachers
Baton Rouge, La.

Get the vaccine

Recently I found myself in a local convenience store. Although it was an unseasonably cold fall day, I was dressed for winter. Multiple layers, a coat with a hood. I was sick, and, unable to eat or drink much, my goal was to get a sports drink without passing out in the store. After having only a quarter of the drink, I settled in to endure 20 minutes of chills. At that point, I realized I was sick ... really sick. Physicians, such as myself, have a high threshold for visiting a doctor, but I met it.

The doctor at the urgent care diagnosed me with probable flu, which was upgraded to definite H1N1 after laboratory testing. Although my symptoms could be classified as only mild to moderate by medical standards, to me my wheezing, coughing, malaise, dizziness, unmentionable GI symptoms, chills, muscle pains and general uncalled-for grumpiness toward my wife and children were severe. Although I was vaccinated for seasonal flu, H1N1 vaccine wasn't widely enough available to save me from these symptoms.

As a medical professional, an H1N1 flu sufferer and a parent to young children, I am appalled by the anti-vaccine lobby using this preventable but deadly disease as a springboard to further their goals. Putting aside time-worn and thoroughly discredited arguments about adjuvants, Guillain-Barre and autism, it is the H1N1 flu that kills, not the vaccine.

At this point in the epidemic, almost the same number of children have died from H1N1 as usually die during the entire flu season, and it is only October. Please vaccinate your children for H1N1. As children tend to pass along the disease to other children and adults, you will be saving yourself and those you love from misery and, perhaps, even death.

ERIC RICKIN, M.D.
Aspinwall

Library imbalance

Brian O'Neill's Oct. 18 column jarred me out of my early morning lethargy ("City's Pittance Unbalances Library's Books"). If the facts on funding for neighboring community libraries and Regional Asset District distributions of taxpayer dollars are accurate, the officials of the city of Pittsburgh and RAD have to be concerned (Pittsburgh contributes $40,000 vs. Wilkinsburg's $176,000 and Shaler's $530,000; RAD allocates $17.6 million to the Carnegie Library and $14.4 million to our sports venues and convention center).

Mr. O'Neill implies that the proposed audit of the library system may not be as critical as the contextual assessment of the library in this sports-crazed city; this is an issue that should worry all of us. Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh has been an exceptional resource for the community, and our sports teams have added greatly to the city's image; hopefully, a way will be found to provide a proper balance in funding. Mr. O'Neill's suggestion to shift some of the amusement tax to the libraries should be considered.

SYLVESTER DAMIANOS
Edgewood

City, step up

Despite cuts in hours, I breathed a sigh of relief when I read that "my" library, Woods Run, was not one of the branches slated to close. The library is a place of inestimable value to me personally and to our community as a whole.

We receive excellent services, which range from the mere loaning of books to community outreach in our schools promoting literacy to helping members of the community become computer literate, from a well-educated, well-trained staff -- and all free. I can thus sympathize with and understand the anger, shock and outrage of those who are losing their libraries.

What I cannot understand, however, is Mayor Luke Ravenstahl's intimation that if the Carnegie Library had only spent its money more wisely, it would not now be in this situation. Rather than an audit of the library, I propose instead an audit of the city's budget to see from where the city will be able to provide long-term, sustainable financial support.

I propose that the city demonstrate its commitment to the well-being of its citizens by auctioning off the four LRAD devices used during the G-20 summit. This money could seed a fund that could directly support our libraries. Furthermore, by ridding themselves of these devices, the use of which horrified and outraged many, the city could hope to draw matching funds from various community groups.

REBECCA CEPEK
Woods Run

Well-done report

Very good article on Paul Martha, former Pittsburgh athlete and former Penguins CEO ("Fame's Aftershock: The Rise, Fall and Rise Again of Concussion Victim Paul Martha," Oct. 18). Those types of articles make your paper worthwhile. There is no other media that does that type of reporting. Thanks, again.

FRANCIS ZALEWSKI
Murrysville

Farewell to my fellow reporter and friend

When the late Al Rosensweet came to the Post-Gazette as a reporter in 1949, I was already there as a reporter. We instantly became friends. That friendship lasted for 60 years, ended only by Al's passing on Tuesday ("Alvin Rosensweet: Reliable and Respected Post-Gazette Newspaperman," Oct. 21 news obituary).

Before he died, he was one of three of the old PG still living -- Al, Ed Brennan and myself. When Al came, the PG was at the corner of Grant Street and the Boulevard of the Allies, in a building now razed. We three and our wives got together often, exploring the gastronomic and entertainment scene of Pittsburgh.

Over the years the PG has honored me by publishing my occasional op-ed pieces. As each appeared, Al would call me and compliment me. The last was on Aug. 29. Although he was blind and in a wheelchair, Al called as usual. I could hardly hear him when he said, "Good piece," but it came to me loud and clear, the highest of accolades. I said, "I'll keep in touch." He said, "Do." And I will, in memory.

GENE JANNUZI
Beaver Falls

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