Landlords must be made to care for properties

Landlords must be made to care for properties
EDITOR:
As the president of the Judson Citizen's Watch I'm very interested in the Weed and Seed program. It's very easy to be apathetic and indifferent about the problems facing our city. As we look around at the blight and criminal activities in our neighborhoods, we could easily throw up our hands in despair and run. But as the events in New York City and Washington, D.C., show us, evil is everywhere. Instead of running and hiding our heads in the sand, all of us can work to make our city a safe, prosperous and beautiful place.
I admit there was a time when I had little faith in my city, but moving to the South Side changed my perspective. Since moving from Austintown I've discovered some wonderful people who truly care about their neighbors and neighborhood. In response I started our Block Watch to help promote the beauty and safety of our neighborhood.
We applaud the Weed and Seed programs which are working to rid our neighborhoods of blight and crime. We're working diligently to ensure that absentee landlords don't destroy our neighborhood by allowing their property to decay and their tenants to disrupt the peace of our neighborhoods.
To accomplish this goal of making landlords take responsibility for their property, it's crucial that the city moves forward with its plan to register all landlords. I call on the mayor to hire someone who'll work to ensure these absentee landlords are responsible for their property and their tenants. This is another way we can ensure the beauty and safety of our neighborhoods.
I'm asking everyone to work together to rid our neighborhoods of blight and crime. This is how we show those cowardly terrorists that Americans work together to bring peace and beauty to our country
MARIAE BROOKS
Youngstown
Educational help is there for adults who want it
EDITOR:
As an ABLE instructor (Adult Basic Literacy Education) I really appreciated the Sept. 24 article by Amy Lindgren, which gave very good and compelling reasons for taking the GED before January 2002.
But I really wanted to see more information about ABLE/GED classes, which are available at no cost to people in the Mahoning Valley. These classes aid people in preparing for the GED test. ABLE/GED classes also offer practice GED tests. In Ohio, if a person passes the practice GED test, then the real GED test is free.
I must also add the information that ABLE/GED classes are there for any adult wanting to improve his/her skills. A person may be tutored in reading, writing, mathematics, basic science and many other areas. Many people with high school diplomas have times when they need or want to brush up on skills and ABLE/GED classes provide that service.
It is well worth a person's time to find out about ABLE/GED classes. I am -- and other instructors are -- just waiting for students to walk in the door, just waiting to help students learn, just waiting to see the light go on in a student's eyes and just waiting to celebrate a student's success.
CHRISTINE M. ROSEBAUGH
Boardman
X The writer is a Mahoning County Career and Technical Center ABLE/GED instructor.
Theft isn't patriotism
EDITOR:
In light of the recent national tragedy and subsequent flourish of patriotism, Wal-Mart recorded a record sale of 116,000 American flags on September 11. I was one of those patrons and chose to demonstrate my support by attaching a small flag to my mailbox post. This show lasted a mere two days before someone absconded with the flag
I hope it is now proudly displayed on your mailbox post, backpack, car antenna, etc. Especially now, it is our privilege and our duty to show our colors -- but please, not at my expense. United we shall stand -- except when we cross the line and take something that belongs to someone else. I thought we were all together in this situation. May God bless America, but shame on you!
If you had anything to do with the small hanging basket of flowers taken from the same spot this past summer, I'd like to have that back too.
LORI BRODERICK
Canfield