Piles of tires effort to stop mosquito breeding , West Nile virus, not a dump

Piles of tires effort to stop mosquito breeding , West Nile virus, not a dump
EDITOR:
A DUMP? That was the headline over a picture of the tires we worked so hard to collect from the backyards and off the abandoned lots in our neighborhood. The implication of your article was that we had "dumped" tires and not that we, the neighbors, had done a tire clean-up to deliberately try to prevent the possible spread of the West Nile virus.
After having pre-arranged pick-up with the recycling agent at the street department, we made three piles of tires. The street department and, I am sure we, ourselves, had no idea just how many tires we were going to find and how much cooperation we were going to get from the residents of two blocks of Wick, two blocks of Broadway, two blocks of Kensington and two blocks of Hanley avenues. We knew going in that we had many vacant lots where tires had been left over many years. We knew that since McKinley School had been abandoned that it had become a dumping ground for many undesirable objects.
Lest The Vindicator further misrepresent this matter, let me say that we have been in dialogue with the street department and that they have been most cooperative even while they were overwhelmed and frustrated by the task of dealing with this many old tires. We, in precinct 1 E, are not going to go on collecting tires until we can engage the entire community to take on the underlying issue. How can we as a group of citizens afford to dispose of the many, many used tires that are sitting all around us and contributing to the risk of the spread of West Niles virus?
There is no question that the city has worked to get money to hire more litter-control monitors to prevent criminal behavior related to dumping on vacant lots, but we haven't reached the public with meaningful suggestions of ways to get rid of the used tires that are already in our neighborhoods and on the vacant lots.
I, for one, object to massive and excessive spraying of pesticides over a city once a health alert is sounded. I do not think spraying the land of the city and its people to prevent the spread of insects is a very sound or safe policy. To not act to prevent the spread of West Nile virus is to invite this undesirable spraying.
Removing used tires and getting rid of containers that collect rain water can have a significant effect on curbing some of the breeding opportunities for mosquitoes that may be carrying the West Nile virus. I suggest that the mayor, city council and the street and health departments work more aggressively to help find ways to fund the recycling of used tires and general neighborhood clean-up.
Meanwhile, at the very least, I suggest that we find an affordable way for individuals and neighborhood groups to pay a small fee for disposal of the tires in their own yards. I encourage all citizens of Youngstown and the surrounding area to become proactive in paying to have tires removed from their own neighborhoods and in reporting illegal dumping that will contribute to our risk of mosquito-related viral disease.
GLORIANNE LECK
Youngstown
Dissension within local GOP can be rectified
EDITOR:
There is a major problem which exists within the local GOP, but it can easily be corrected. The ever growing sense of dissension coming from inside the local Republican Party began with the creation of an executive director position.
Tom McCabe, first vice chair and deputy director of the board of elections, is correct in his assessment that there is no need to replace David Myhal.
David Myhal, while serving as the executive director, acted as the spokesman and sometimes CEO of the local party. Even though Myhal was personally successful with his job, much hostility and resentment grew from within the party membership.
Neither David Myhal nor his predecessor, Mary Ann Bryan, were elected to the post by the Republican precinct committee people or by the GOP's executive board. Instead they were hand selected by the party's chairmen, the much beloved Clarence Smith.
Although many party members agree that Clarence Smith is a good chairmen, there still exists a sense of injustice regarding the executive director's power that is being granted by Smith. Mrs. Bryan told The Vindicator that Smith is too busy to deal with the day to day operation of the party, and that is true. But why not hire a secretary?
If Smith decides to hire Mrs. Bryan as a part-time secretary for the party headquarters and allows the vice chairs to act as spokespersons during his absences, this will do a lot to help unify the party.
HOLLY HANNI
Boardman
Animals more than material possessions
EDITOR:
I was outraged when I read the report in Friday's Vindicator about the starvation death of a dog. What a horrible life this poor animal had, being chained to her doghouse without food and water. It also made me wonder if nobody ever noticed her? What about the mail carrier or the utility companies' employees who read the meters, any neighbors, visitors?
We need people to get involved when they suspect animal abuse or neglect.
If you don't want to confront the owner, report it to your local police department and they can take it from there. Don't say it's not our job. Animals depend on kind people to help them. That poor dog was helpless; she couldn't even get away. I hope the judge will give this man the maximum jail sentence and fine and never let him own another animal.
We need to stop thinking of animals as material possessions. They are living creatures that need to be treated with kindness.
DAGMAR LUBONOVICH
Youngstown
For a sense of Idora, visit Conneaut Lake Park
EDITOR:
For the people who remember Idora Park, I say take a ride this summer -- 55 miles from Youngstown -- and enjoy what is the best little park to remind you of Idora.
Free admission, free parking, wooden roller coaster, carousel, kiddy land, boardwalk, water park, old hotel, beaches, french fries and much more.
No long lines to get on the rides. My wife and I just enjoy walking around at Conneaut Lake Park. See you there.
ED SCHANZ
Austintown