Arch competition: Design deja vu

The newly proposed designs for the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial Park or Gateway Arch grounds were almost identical copies of so many past design plans for the riverfront and the connectivity enhancements to the downtown area of St. Louis that it speaks loudly to the similarities of ideas that were first proposed by local St. Louis planners and designers almost 20 years ago ("Visions of Arch's future," Aug. 17).

Yes, a link across Interstate 70 connecting downtown with the Arch grounds is the most "No duh" idea ever conjured up by us local hayseed professionals.

The recent design exercise was more about how we think alike than about enhancing the Arch grounds. Missouri backwater designers and planners should be prideful that our counterparts in more sophisticated areas of the world agree with our findings from 20 years ago.

Because it was necessary for St. Louis to import creative planners and designers to force St. Louis to believe what we local professionals have been saying for the past two decades, I think the solution to making this become a reality is to import politicians, a mayor, a downtown director, highway officials and local leadership from places like New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Germany.

Ralph Tharp • Ballwin

All together for clean air

The editorial "Playing for time" (Aug. 16) was wrong in several respects. It implied that AmerenUE's Labadie Plant does not comply with clean air rules. Not true. Since 1990, the Labadie Plant has reduced its sulfur dioxide emission rate by 84 percent and its nitrogen oxide rate by 76 percent.

The editorial also implied that if the plant's proposed coal waste landfill is approved soon, it would not be subject to proposed federal hazardous waste rules. Not true.  In fact, AmerenUE plans to build a facility that would comply with any new environmental regulation regardless of when it's built.  

The editorial claimed that the landfill's construction in a flood plain could threaten drinking water. We disagree. We propose a fully lined, dry-storage facility. It would have a perimeter berm designed and built to protect it from even record floods, and the landfill would not endanger private wells.  

UE recycles about 60 percent of its combustion byproducts. For instance, a concrete plant at the Labadie site uses such waste to make 2 million bags of high-quality concrete annually. If federal regulators classify these wastes as hazardous, we no longer would be allowed this beneficial reuse.  

Storage of byproducts is essential for the continued operation of power plants. We store them safely now and welcome the opportunity to have open public  discussions on this issue along with other important energy issues as we all work together to transition to a cleaner environment.  

Michael L. Menne • St. Louis Vice President, Environmental Services, Ameren Corp.

Out of the water

Regarding the editorial "Playing for time" (Aug. 16): Coal was the fuel that powered the Industrial Revolution, and it now benefits everyone as the primary fuel for industry and electric power production. There has been a recent change in the strategy of diluting coal combustion gases (sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, mercury and carbon dioxide) by dumping them into the atmosphere. Capturing and permanently storing them is becoming a global priority for the future of coal as fuel.

Coal ash historically has been assumed to be "nontoxic" because it has been 'sterilized" by fire. But the heavy metals in coal ash cited in the editorial— antimony, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, mercury, selenium, etc. — survive fire and can form soluble compounds in water. The editorial rightly pointed out that when they are introduced into the fresh water supply, such as a river, heavy metals can become a health problem.

It is a good strategy to keep them out of the river.

Truman Storvick • Columbia, Mo.

The real shame

If I were to go to Jefferson Barracks Cemetery and read the article "Gay VP fights Catholic stance on nonprofit" (Aug. 14) over my father's grave, he would turn over. Nick Moramarco served the St. Vincent de Paul Society for more than 50 years as a member and a leader. He was directing society calls on poor households from his sickbed two weeks before he died. My father never turned down a person who needed service or wanted to serve because of race, gender, faith or lifestyle. He understood Christ's call to serve the poor, a call made to everyone.

But Zip Rzeppa, regional director of the St. Vincent de Paul Society, and Archbishop Robert Carlson say that having Jeffrey Goldone, a gay man in a committed relationship for more than 20 years, serve as president of the society would bring 'shame and embarrassment." They didn't seem to experience any embarrassment when he was helping to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars. But if he became president, people might start believing that the Catholic Church respects gay people.

I am thankful that my father cannot witness this scandal within his beloved society. The only shame and embarrassment in this situation has been caused by Mr. Rzeppa and Archbishop Carlson. May Christ be merciful to them.

Joe Moramarco • St. Louis

Living the mission

There is another side to the story of "Gay VP fights Catholic stance on nonprofit" (Aug. 14). As a Vincentian and member of Jeffrey Goldone's conference, I am continually enriched thoughtfully and spiritually by the man who inspires me to live the mission of St. Vincent dePaul "... to grow spiritually by serving the needy and suffering in a spirit of justice and charity." This is the creed by which Mr. Goldone lives all aspects of his life.

As president of our conference for eight years, he has inspired us to raise more than $122,000 last year to support our families in need. His commitment to service (and often his own wallet) have contributed to the success of our mission.

As members, we did not have to ask about his way of living a life according to church teaching because he exemplifies the Christian concern and love for others that we all strive to achieve.

I am appalled that 'shame and embarrassment" would be associated with this man. Leaders in the organization have praised and honored him for his dedication and achievements.

Any Catholic organization would be proud and blessed to have as its spiritual guide and mentor a man who motivates and lives the mission of justice and charity for all.

Judie Tucci • St. Louis

Asked to be removed

"St. Stanislaus vote raises questions of who is and who isn't church member" (Aug. 14) implied that church membership should be defined by the church chosen by one's parents rather than the church "that best fits a personalized concept of spirituality" when a person reaches the age of reason. That implication was used to frame the notion that membership in St. Stanislaus parish should be defined more by past history with a church than by more recent history with a church. As a parishioner of St. Stanislaus, I know that the majority of the Rev. Marek Bozek's opponents have not participated in St. Stanislaus for several years. Focusing membership on ancient history would favor those opponents.

Barriers did not exist only for Mr. Bozek's opponents. In any election, processes and requirements exist for determination of voter identity and for absentee voting. These processes and requirements were the same for everyone wishing to vote. The processes for voting and proof of identity were the same for opponents and for supporters of Mr. Bozek. The reason the names of many of the opponents no longer were on the membership list was because they had asked to have their names removed from the membership list.

Anthony Kveton • Fenton