LETTERS - Feb. 1

ISSUE | DRONES

End deadly strikes

The media have done little to inform the public about the targeted killings the Bush and Obama administrations have orchestrated via lethal drones, especially in countries with which we're not at war, so it was commendable to report on the interfaith conference on drone warfare ("A conference considers the morality of drones," Jan. 25).

The conference was attended by people of many faiths who called on the White House "to immediately halt targeted, lethal drone strikes," account for victims, disclose standards for compensating victims, and more.

|Barbara Cicalese, Granny Peace Brigade, Philadelphia, baecicalese47@gmail.com

ISSUE | ENERGY

Air the full case

A power source is viable when it is available, reliable, plentiful, and cheap. Wind has none of these aspects ("Go with the wind," Jan. 26). The Inquirer editorial advocating offshore wind farms ignores extensive operating experience showing that wind is randomly available only 10 to 35 percent of the time and requires replacement power.

The actual cost per kilowatt-hour is not provided to support Fishermen's Energy's assertions. Instead, Fishermen's Energy assumes sufficient federal government subsidies will make this possible. The actual subsidies, generation, and replacement power costs must be publicly known before this project is built.

|Frederick Willis, Haddonfield

ISSUE | NFL

Skewed priorities

The National Football League is more concerned about how much air is in a football than about violence against women, as was shown by NFL executives who supported an initial two-month suspension of Ray Rice for pummeling his then-girlfriend.

|Corry Stevens, Drums, courtjes@yahoo.com

ISSUE | PARKS

Swords into playgrounds

I have been following the development ideas for the Willow Grove Naval Air Station with interest, having grown up in Pittsburgh, where two great parks were created as a result of forward-thinking officials who acquired rural land and held it against the pressures of development. Thanks to their efforts, the area boasts wonderful facilities available for all sorts of activities, from picnics to hiking to fishing to ball games to tennis. What a shame that local community leaders can't see past the short-term gain of additional tax revenues while on their way to creating another Montgomeryville-style traffic disaster, and instead consider an approach like Pittsburgh's.

The Pittsburgh communities surrounding their north and south parks are well-to-do and have few revenue problems because foresight created a desirable place to live near. Surely by now, planners must understand that development comes at the cost of shuttering older stores. It moves the commerce centers without creating anything new and consumes land and resources.

Maybe it's time for a different approach: Build a park on the air base property. Our grandkids will be grateful.

|Douglas K. Smithman, Engineering Services Inc., Dresher, dougsmithman@gmail.com

Lady Liberty's neighborhood jewel

Ed Colimore's reporting clearly exposed the commercialization dangers to Liberty State Park, a setting enjoyed by people of all backgrounds, right behind Lady Liberty and Ellis Island ("Groups wanting to protect Liberty Park seek change in bill," Jan. 19).

Legislation sent to Gov. Christie gives blank-check power to a Meadowlands development commission, whose members include the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority, "to evaluate, approve and implement any plan for Liberty State Park." This could facilitate the ramrodding of unpopular and wrongheaded development plans into this priceless American public space.

|Sam Pesin, president, Friends of Liberty State Park, Jersey City, www.folsp.org

ISSUE | STORM DAMAGE

Damage is done before a single flake falls

As the owner of a small gift shop, I have seen that most damage to my business results from the weather reporting, not the weather itself ("Small businesses take big hit from the no-storm day," Jan. 28). The fear and panic reports cause not only keep people home, but encourage them to do more shopping online. So the damage done is not just the short-term loss of income, but the long-term impact of less shopping in the neighborhood.

We often hear the hollow argument that it's difficult to predict weather; that's not the issue. The issue is that broadcasters are using weather hype as a marketing tool. The more agitation caused by the "storm of the century" reporting, the greater the listening and viewing audience, and that translates into increased income for the media.

It seems that the loss of income to the small-business community caused by these marketing tactics is of no concern to broadcasters.

|Elayne Aion, Glenside, elayne@thedovetailartisans.com