Buses provide efficient, safe transportation

As a bus operator, I took great offense at Raymond Daniel Burke's column "Derelict and dangerous" (Opinion Commentary, June 18).

The writer slams buses as exhaust-spewing behemoths that displace fuel-efficient, environmentally friendly cars.

But in fact, buses and motor coaches are very environmentally friendly. According to the White House Conference on Global Climate Change, buses are twice as fuel-efficient as Amtrak and other train services, three times more efficient than automobiles and four times more efficient than commercial aviation.

As a contractor for the Maryland Transit Administration, my company carries more than 55,000 passengers a month from Harford County to Baltimore, Annapolis to Washington and Prince George's County to Washington. Imagine the additional cars needed to satisfy commuters if this service was not available.

Although the MTA is having some safety issues with wheels on buses, the fact remains that the bus industry offers one of the safest modes of transportation. U.S. Department of Transportation statistics indicate that buses have a better safety record than any other vehicle on the roads.

This fact is more amazing considering that buses carried more passengers than any other mode of mass transportation. In 1999, 774 million passengers traveled by bus, 568 million on commercial airliners and 377 million by commuter rail and Amtrak.

Buses are the chosen form of mass transportation because they are safe, environmentally friendly and economical.

Ronald C. Dillon Jr.

Pasadena

The writer is treasurer of the Maryland Motorcoach Association.

Criticism of Ehrlich was unwarranted

As a constituent and former press secretary of Rep. Robert L. Ehrlich, I take issue with Michael Olesker's criticisms of his record on education ("For Grasmick, decision boiled down to kids," June 20).

On two occasions, Mr. Olesker stated that Mr. Ehrlich "voted to eliminate" the U.S. Department of Education.

But Mr. Ehrlich's stance was not a vote against federal education funding, as Mr. Olesker implies, but a vote of no-confidence in those who spent the money ineffectively. In fact, the legislation in question would have replaced the department as a bureaucratic entity with direct funding to localities via block grants.

Mr. Olesker also stated that Mr. Ehrlich "blocked education funding." In fact, Congress passed - and Mr. Ehrlich supported - increased appropriations for federal education programs during the fiscal years 1996-2002.

People who have questions about Mr. Ehrlich's record should study it and judge for themselves, and eschew such half-baked criticisms.

Richard J. Cross III

Timonium

Council members belonged on the floor

Having had the privilege of voting for 30 years, and being a voter in the 3rd District, I wonder why City Council members Robert W. Curran and Lisa Joi Stancil were out of the room when the City Council approved the mayor's $2.1 billion budget ("City Council approves $2.1 billion plan," June 18).

I feel these council members did not take the responsibility they were given by the people of the 3rd District.

Michele Bradin

Baltimore

U.S. shouldn't fund the fence for Israel

I am saddened, but not surprised, that Congress has quietly given Israel $200 million in addition to the more than $3 billion we give it annually. This money will pay for the 225-mile fence Israel is erecting along the "Green Line."

This comes at a time when we can't pay our bills unless we increase the federal debt limit, we have a $100 billion deficit and we can't afford to pay for prescription drugs for the elderly poor.

Doesn't make sense to me.

Albert L. Cummings

Owings Mills

The rich can afford to pay the estate tax

I have grown so tired listening to middle-class, right-wing Republicans whining about the so-called "death tax."

But the answer to a recent letter-writer's question - "Why is it OK to penalize the rich in a way that, if the same sanctions were placed on the middle class, would cause out-and-out bedlam?" ("Repealing estate tax would right a wrong," letters, June 19) - is simple: They can more than afford it.

If the ultra-rich want to make their fortunes by the grace of living in this country and then don't want to pay their fair share for that privilege, I suggest they leave.

William Smith

Baltimore

Limitations on guns won't stop criminals

The writer of the letter "Exile isn't enough to stop gun violence" (June 9) suggests that if we are required to license handguns, crime will drop significantly, and her group, Marylanders Against Handgun Abuse, is always espousing "common-sense" gun laws such as licensing.

But does anyone really think a punk willing to walk up to a Baltimore police car and shoot the officer is going to license his handgun? Common sense says no. Will people willing to break all laws suddenly become law abiding and register and license their guns? Common sense says no.

All the firearm laws passed in this state for the past 15 years have done nothing to slow or reduce the criminal activity of that small number of people who will continue to commit crimes until they are locked away for good.

The gun laws passed by this state adversely affect the law-abiding citizens far more than the criminals.

Fred Cascio

Catonsville

How fields of dreams really became reality

The Sun's article "Only the players are minor-league" (June 16) needs a few clarifications.

I was responsible for the bidding, negotiations and the administration of the construction at Ripken Stadium for the past two years.

However, the original project manager was Bill Netta. Mr. Netta was responsible for the design and documentation of Ripken Stadium.

Also, Perdue Stadium was actually designed by Design Exchange, which was purchased by Tetra Tech Inc. in June 2001.

Michael Berninger

Christiana, Del.

The writer is an architect with Tetra Tech Inc.

Let Hippodrome have a fresh start

The building at 12 North Eutaw Street ceased being the Hippodrome many, many years ago. It will never be the "Hipp" again ("Theater is forever 'the Hippodrome,'" letters, June 16).

The people now renovating the theater and planning to operate it should seek their own public identity and personality. If they feel that acknowledging a major financial contributor with naming rights for the theater is appropriate to their goals, so be it.

William E. Hewitt

Baltimore