I am a resident of West Mifflin and live across the street from Century III Mall. I have witnessed the decline of this mall from when it first opened in 1976. Now the owner has closed one-half of the parking lot and you cannot enter Macy's furniture store or the third level from the parking lot.

When I e-mailed the owner, I was told that they have no intention of fixing the parking lot and that I could enter from another point.

My thoughts are that if/when the Expo Mart closes in Monroeville, Century III Mall could be purchased and turned into the New Expo Mart. The infrastructure in West Mifflin is ready for this type of business. With the growth of the Allegheny County airport and multiple hotels, this would be a great place to have groups attend conventions and shows. This would bring more people to restaurants and other stores in the borough.

Perhaps the mayor and borough planners should give some thought to my idea. It would definitely improve the borough of West Mifflin.

MARK WALGORA

West Mifflin

I'm responding to Ruth Ann Dailey's column ("Let property owners decide fate of deer," Nov. 6). I agree with one thing that Ms. Dailey said: "Some things never change." Every year, Ms. Dailey writes a deer-demonizing article encouraging hunting and the use of lethal weapons in our suburban neighborhoods, which threatens the safety of our families, children and companion animals. I wanted to respond to some uninformed points that Ms. Dailey makes:

• If the deer killing programs in Upper St. Clair or Mt. Lebanon were successful, they wouldn't have to be implemented on an annual basis. Hunting actually increases reproductive growth.

• The U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services is trying to increase revenues and has an inherent conflict of interest when doing surveys and giving recommendations.

• I don't believe deer meat is safe to give to food banks. It's not inspected, and recent studies have found lead contamination from bullets.

• Ms. Dailey thinks it's a good thing that Mt. Lebanon residents aren't notified when shooting will take place in their parks and their neighbor's back yards. This is a serious accident waiting to happen.

• The Pennsylvania Game Commission spends millions each year to increase the deer population for their hunter constituents. This is why more deer are migrating into the suburban communities and why more deer/auto collisions are occurring.

The most effective way for homeowners to protect their gardens is to make them less attractive to deer. Killing some deer doesn't stop the remaining deer from eating the same flowers. Killing deer is not a solution.

Property owners should not have the right to override established safety buffer zones and use lethal weapons on their property because it threatens the safety and welfare of their neighbors and community.

GEORGE NAGLE

Green Tree

As a resident of Castle Shannon living within close walking distance to the proposed mental health facility, I would like to express my support ("Mental health facility protested," Oct. 30, South).

As a professional with a nonprofit, I have had close contact with folks who have serious mental health issues. My experience has been that the vast majority of these individuals, when under quality care, range from withdrawn and timid to friendly and engaging. What I have not ever experienced or even heard of is the deranged escapee who runs through the night seeking an unsuspecting victim.

I have worked next door to a facility very similar to what has been proposed at Rolling Hills for the past two years. The residents who sit outside have been wonderful neighbors. At times when I have walked to my car late in the evening, it has been those residents who have kept an eye out to ensure I got there safely.

Those who oppose this facility should think hard and figure out where their irrational fears are coming from. I suspect it has more to do with Hollywood than reality.

JESSI MARSH

Castle Shannon