These are the people who staff the call centers, fix power lines, operate power plants, run our energy supply companies, leave their families during snow and other emergencies to work relief efforts and donate their time and money to numerous charities in our communities. These are the employees whose dedication and hard work stabilized the company over the past several months while waiting for the EDF deal to be consummated.
These are also the employees who in the middle of this historic economic downturn have their professional and financial futures resting in the hands of the PSC and the governor. The administration needs to remember that it doesn't make decisions about companies; it makes decisions about people. If we do not get this decision correct, the hardworking employees, their families and their communities who will suffer.
Unfortunately, there is no long term vision in Annapolis. Through their determination to extract money from the company, they leave in doubt the futures of the very employees they claim to represent as public officials. Their short-sightedness can again derail a good transaction for Constellation employees, shareholders, ratepayers and Maryland citizens. This time, however, due to the current economic climate, the consequences could be far worse for the company and its employees.
I call on the PSC and governor to act in the best interests of the employees and the people of Maryland by stepping out of the middle of this transaction and allowing the EDF joint venture to close.
Stuart Rubenstein, Reisterstown
The writer is a Constellation Energy employee.
Digital TV will save a bundle
I wish to thank the FCC for saving me a lot of money. I used to reliably receive 14 over the air channels via a rooftop antenna here in Northeast Baltimore city (channels 2, 4, 5, 7, 11, 13, 20, 22, 24, 26, 32, 45, 50, 54). Since the switch to digital with a converter box, I'm down to just 4 channels (2, 13, 45, 54). The PBS stations can stop sending me the renewal notices; I'm no longer going to support stations I cannot receive. And look at the electric I will save since I am watching far, far less TV now!
Surely the cable and satellite TV companies must be doing a landslide business - not my business, but I will miss the channel 11 news and the BBC on PBS.
Bob Reuter, Baltimore
Netanyahu's forward thinking
The core of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech was to affirm that a two state solution is the most likely and viable scenario ("A step toward Palestine," June 16). Netanyahu's expressed willingness to sit down and negotiate a Palestinian state is, in itself, progress and reflects forward thinking. Netanyahu is doing what is in the best interests of Israel, and that includes engaging the president of the United States in a new dialogue about seeking a comprehensive peace plan for the Middle East. Now, on to the real problem: Iran and its dialogue of terror.
Rafi Rone, Baltimore
The writer is deputy director of the Baltimore Jewish Council.
