Union-only pact delayed plan to replace bridge

It came as no surprise to those of us at Associated Builders and Contractors that a bidding system promoting free and open competition resulted in a number of competitive bids on the most recent Woodrow Wilson Bridge replacement project contract.

The Sun's article "Five bid on Wilson Bridge project" (Nov. 8) notes that Maryland officials can now breathe a sigh of relief. But we can't help but think about the delays that were a direct result of Gov. Parris N. Glendening's attempt to make a union-only project labor agreement a part of the contract.

It wasn't until the Federal Highway Administration said no to Mr. Glendening's coddling of the unions that this initiative was finally dismissed.

So before the state and the governor spend too much time patting themselves on the backs, the real thanks should go to President Bush and his administration for recognizing and understanding the basic economic principle that more competition brings about lower bids.

James Russ

Washington

The writer chairs the Associated Builders and Contractors of Metro Washington.

Limiting population is only smart choice

As explained by Gov. Parris N. Glendening, Smart Growth involves fiscal policy and incentives to steer growth into existing communities and designated growth areas ("Build on success of Smart Growth, Opinion

Commentary, Nov. 20). But without a real effort to stabilize our population, our increasing numbers of people will overwhelm any plan to limit sprawl.

What will happen when existing communities have absorbed all the numbers they can accommodate and the designated growth areas are also filled?

Our out-of-control rate of immigration, legal and illegal, accounts for about 70 percent of the nation's population growth. Until the United States secures its borders and reduces legal immigration from nearly a million every year to a reasonable number -- no more than 300,000 -- Smart Growth will be doomed.

Carleton W. Brown

Elkton

Reduce reliance on oil from abroad

One of the most critical agenda items for the president and the new Congress needs to be energy policy ("GOP is poised to set agenda on key issues," Nov. 7).

We now get a quarter of our oil from the Middle East and another quarter from other foreign countries. Energy independence has become a fantasy because of the magnitude of our appetite for energy, but we can and must do more to reduce our vulnerability to disruptions in energy supplies.

We need more emphasis on domestic oil substitutes such as natural gas. We need to commit to the development of electric and hybrid gas-electric vehicles. We need to encourage the increased use of solar energy. And we need to expand our use of safe, reliable nuclear energy, which produces virtually no pollutants or greenhouse gases and is an underutilized energy resource.

Fred T. Stetson

Bethesda

Commuters on JFX need more warning

In the 1980s, the city launched a major campaign to inform commuters that major work would soon begin on the Jones Falls Expressway. As a commuting college student, this allowed me to prepare for and cope with the inconvenience once it arrived.

Recently the city announced a new round of repairs to the JFX. But this time, thousands of commuters -- including me -- learned the hard way: through a lane closure no one expected. The city closed the right lane of the JFX at North Avenue before work began "to condition drivers to the change" ("JFX lane closing jams traffic," Nov. 20).

Rather than treat commuters like lab mice, the city should have publicized the fact that motorists' lives are going to be adversely impacted during the next 18 months.

Richard J. Cross III

Timonium

Don't sugarcoat Hamas' terrorism

How can The Sun describe Hamas as a "Palestinian militant group" in an article in which the group claims responsibility for bombing a bus full of children ("Suicide bomber kills 11 in Jerusalem," Nov. 22)?

The U.S. State Department correctly identifies Hamas as a terrorist organization. When will The Sun do the same?

Bruce Seidel

Kensington

Sometimes officers must shoot suspects

At first, the headline "2 men shot by Baltimore officers in separate incidents on east side" (Nov. 15) made me cringe, sigh, and say to myself, "Not again."

But articles such as this give readers a chance to remember that these officers are human beings just like us who, although they are trained in police tactics, in moments of fear for their lives or fear for the lives of other people simply have no other choice but to shoot suspects.

With the proliferation of guns and logic-destroying drugs, our society is becoming a more dangerous place. And we are going to see more such police shootings.

But I would challenge critics of the police to go become officers and put their lives on the line every day and see how they react. Personally, I could not do that, but I thank God that there are people who do.

Stephanie Link

Lutherville

Ireland's Catholics still face harassment

The article "A fragile peace holds in N. Ireland" (Nov. 17) was a welcome change from the tit-for-tat tripe that has been offered of late by most major newspapers. This eyewitness account of the loyalist attack on a funeral and the crucifixion of a Catholic, combined with earlier images of third-grade girls running for their lives from loyalist abuse, capture what the Catholic community is up against.

What the article did not reveal is that more often than not the forces of law and order either join in the intimidation and violence against Catholics or arrest them for defending their homes and lives.

James Gallagher

Washington

The writer is national president of the Irish-American Unity Conference.

Cable monopoly can absorb the loss

I read with interest about the Briskman family's alleged cable scam. This is illegal and I certainly do not condone it ("Family in Pikesville is charged with large-scale cable piracy," Nov. 19).

But one person quoted in the article wondered why anyone would break the law to save $30 a month. Where can you get cable service for $30 a month? And how should people feel when they are dealing with a company that has a virtual monopoly?

Comcast started out charging $25 a month. It now charges $48. I'm sorry about the thousands the company has lost, but it has also made many thousands.

Lieslye Dunie

Pikesville