17th District voters have opportunity for change
17th District voters have opportunity for change
EDITOR:
The 17th Congressional District has a great chance to make huge gains this election. For many years it has had very poor representation in Congress. Now it has none. All that is left is a crooked poli tician and his staff of money-grubbers trying to get all they can before they're all put out in the disgrace they deserve.
Many voters in this area think Traficant has done nothing wrong. Others will vote for anyone with a D after his name, no matter his record. These voters are too dumb to be swayed by common sense. Then you have the no-morals-or-ethics type who says, "They're all crooks, so vote for the crook anyway."
It is possible that Traficant, a convicted thief, and Ryan, who lacks any meaningful experience, doesn't exhibit much ethical fortitude and is also a graduate of the Traficant School of Morals, could split the aforementioned voters. Then the bitter auto union employee could siphon off a few of their supporters.
This leaves the real possibility that com mon sense may prevail and decency triumph. The Republican candidate could profit from the votes split among the three who have no real business being on the ballot. A breath of fresh air could blow through the Valley, and the nearly impossible task of revitalizing our area could have a chance of success.
If any of the other three are elected, I would advise anyone with a desire to build a future to look for greener pastures because their area will continue to be a big brownfield with a few barrels of pork scattered around for the well connected.
I can only hope that all voters, no matter what party they belong to, would use their heads and their hearts to do the right thing in November and vote to make the Mahoning Valley a decent place to live again. I'm tired of being 199th out of 200.
ROBERT J. HUSTED
New Springfield
Noise offender should have been sent to jail
EDITOR:
I read your editorial about the noise offender Jamar Jones with interest. Am I the only reader who wants to know why he is not in jail right now?
You listed the times he was arrested and what the outcomes were. They were always the same. He was free to commit his crime again.
Don't you think this is defeating to the good people of Youngstown who take the time to call the police when their quality of life is infringed upon? Why should they bother? Why should the police bother? What is the matter with our town?
Why wasn't the editorial about the bad decisions made by our courts? There was just a weak plea that Judge Douglas sentence him to jail. Are we that afraid to speak out about our city and its leaders? Why? They will never improve if they don't know we are unhappy. It is an injustice to everybody when we just bury our heads in the sand.
DONNA ZARLENGO
Youngstown
Sports heroes can berole models for children
EDITOR:
In case you are wondering, heroes still exist in pro sports. At least on the Senior PGA tour they do. They are true champions in the game of life. Competitors whom our kids can proudly look up to and hope to emulate one day.
I took my three boys to the Senior PGA Championship at Firestone Country Club in Akron. My 10-year old, Phillip, loves the game of golf. He began to offer encouragement to the golfers as they walked from green to tee between holes. I didn't know if any of the men would acknowledge the youngster, being that $2 million in prize money was at stake.
Acknowledge him? No. Treat him like their own grandson, yes. He talked with at least six different golfers, including the eventual champion, Fuzzy Zoeller. These sportsmen displayed character seldom seen today. One gave him a golf ball from his bag. Another asked his opinion on the slope of the green. One asked how the 10-year-old thought he was playing. It made a lasting impression on him. He'll remember it always.
My hope is that all competitors, regardless of their sport, will try a little harder to provide a great example for our young people. After all, our youngsters will quickly grow up to become exactly what we are today.
PATRICK WHITE
Columbiana