Mikulski's vote shows she cares about workers

The May 22 editorial "Bad bargain" was way off base in its attack on Sen. Barbara Mikulski for her recent vote on fuel economy standards for vehicles during the Senate debate on energy legislation.

I believe that the senator was correct in casting her vote in a way that demonstrates her ongoing support for the workers and families of Maryland.

Although the demand for our vehicle has diminished, there is still a market for our product. We also continue to be the largest manufacturing employer in Baltimore.

Ms. Mikulski has been a great champion for the Broening Highway facility during her years in Congress and helped Maryland get another GM facility (the Allison transmission plant in White Marsh) a few years ago.

She has tirelessly worked with the local General Motors management and United Auto Workers officials and the GM executives in Detroit to promote the continued presence of GM in Maryland.

The vote Ms. Mikulski cast on the fuel economy issue was a further indication of her concern for the workers in the two GM facilities in Maryland. And, far from being out of line with her vote, she was one of 62 senators who voted against legislatively mandating higher fuel economy standards.

Ms. Mikulski's legislative record demonstrates that she supports efforts to protect the environment. She also knows how to promote a healthy business climate for the state and works hard to defend the great work force of Maryland.

The management and workers at GM's Broening Highway facility prefer to salute Ms. Mikulski for what she is trying to do, rather than disparage what was clearly a good decision for her constituents and the state she represents.

Timothy E. Stansbury

Baltimore

The writer is plant manager for GM Baltimore Assembly.

Criminals don't fear state's justice system

The death of Rio-Jarell Tatum is a terrible tragedy on more than one level ("Sports and poetry: Promising life cut short in $10 holdup," May 29).

The odds are Mr. Tatum will also prove to be the victim of our failed judicial system.

The chances are very good his assailant will prove to have an extensive criminal history.

Someone sentenced to life in prison in Maryland spends, on average, just 7 1/2 years in prison. In many cases, judges grant probation to violent criminals again and again. Parole boards release felons who repeat their crimes.

It is not unusual for a person with six or seven convictions to be on our state's streets to commit additional crimes.

Criminals have no fear of our system of justice, as they know how to take advantage of it. When will our government put the brakes on the revolving-door justice system that refuses to remove these people from society?

How many more victims will die before the state acts? Abolish parole and plea bargaining now.

Sanford Abrams

Baltimore

The writer is vice president of the Maryland Licensed Firearms Dealers Association Inc.

City got message out at event in Las Vegas

The letter "Development jackpot isn't in Las Vegas" (May 24) mischaracterizes the International Council of Shopping Centers convention.

The writer argues that it is the developers who are important to the city, not the retailers. This is correct, but the ICSC meeting is a gathering of the largest developers in the country.

The heart of the convention is the "leasing mall," in which developers vie with each other for the most attractive and elaborate displays.

This is the audience the mayor was addressing in Las Vegas, and it is an audience he reached. It was an important first step for our city.

David H. Fishman

Baltimore

High default rate isn't acceptable

I am outraged.

The Sun reported that a National Training and Information Center survey showed astronomically high default rates on Federal Housing Administration (FHA) mortgages in Baltimore ("FHA loan default rate found to be high in city," May 22).

John Weicher, the federal housing commissioner, not only disputed the default rate, but he had the audacity to quote low national default rates in FHA's defense. That defense has been thoroughly discredited in the years since the flipping and mortgage fraud scandals broke.

And to rely on national figures to minimize a massive local problem is, in effect, to say, "The rest of the country is fine, so we really don't care about our nation's cities."

Sadly, the FHA and the Department of Housing and Urban Development have been saying that in various ways for years.

Ed Rutkowski

Baltimore

The writer is executive director of the Patterson Park Community Development Corp.

Suicidal terrorists threaten us all

Regardless how much the United States, Israel and others want a peaceful resolution in the Middle East, it will never happen until the suicidal, militant terrorists, their Palestinian supporters and the countries that support them are muzzled permanently.

If we allow these religious fanatics to be successful, no country in the world (including the United States) will be immune from having these suicidal tactics turned against it.

Terrorists bent on our destruction, whether within our borders or not, should not be given the benefit of our treasured freedoms.

Fred Tepper

Baltimore

Church, hierarchy should be tried, too

Every day a new and ugly revelation involving a priest molesting a child surfaces. I am amazed and sickened to find that this has gone on for so long and has been covered up by the church hierarchy.

It appears the church has became judge and jury, handing out secular absolution to these criminals. In many cases, its officials abetted the criminals by moving them to other churches, which ultimately provided them with new victims and new opportunities for deception.

The church hierarchy has harbored these criminals for too long, and should be deemed guilty as well. The church and the responsible clergy should stand trial as accomplices to those guilty of criminal molestation.

Susan Garde

Marriottsville

Casting credit for a literary gem

It is a truly enjoyable intellectual experience to read an editorial in a major U.S. daily that provokes thought and laughter and has true philosophical value ("Cast stones here," editorial, May 25).

The Sun has a writer with the insight and linguistic ability to create literary gems. Keep up the wit and wisdom, and let readers really enjoy the written word. A tip of the hat is due for this fine article, and fine author.

Lawrence J. Simpson

Baltimore