Warren school situation has turned into a political fiasco

Warren school situation hasturned into a political fiasco
EDITOR:
I have lived in Warren most of my life. I grew up on the lower west side in ethnic and racially integrated neighborhoods. I, of course, went to the only high school we had at that time, Warren G. Harding. When my sons grew up on the northwest side, the powers that be decided to build another high school, Warren Western Reserve.
Not too many people were in favor of that decision. We felt the division would create such a rivalry to cause injury and vandalism. However, for the most part, this proved to be wrong. It was interesting for one side of town and the other to root at football games for their schools. Traveling from our home across town to see the colors of banners and crepe paper change from black and gold to red and white made you think that you had entered a whole different town. In my case, I sat on the Reserve side with my sons and rooted for Harding. I got a lot of mean looks from other spectators. After all, I was from Harding, and my sons from Reserve.
Then it was decided by the powers that be, to merge the schools once again. Harding Panthers became Reserve Raiders and kept the black and gold and their mascot. At that time, I felt that my Panthers and the red and white were lost. People from Reserve also lost since they were going to Harding.
Reserve obviously was the newer school and would have been a better choice to keep for the needs of the students. Harding is the older school and should not have been considered for merging just because it has the football field and is on the east side of town.
I feel that everything done in this town is political and the powers that be who were backing keeping Harding open were on the east side of town. Now, there are plans to demolish Harding and rebuild a high school and five new grade schools. I think that a sanity hearing should be held for people who consider such a project.
My sons are grown, and it doesn't matter to me one way or another what they do in the school system, EXCEPT, I pay taxes and I vote as well as most of the west side of Warren. I am going on record to say I will NEVER vote for a levy for the schools. I don't think that the city government has proven in any way that it can handle money from all the people who have either misappropriated or stolen money. We were duped into passing the levy for the policemen and firemen. How has that helped getting more officers since I don't see any improvement?
If this town has so much money to build a new high school at the cost of $170 million, why don't they use some of that to get jobs for the people who grow up and graduate and move away for better income? Why are our roads in such bad shape that your car feels like it is riding on railroad tracks?
I am sorry that the powers that be will just do what they want. That's the American way.
PAT ZOCCALI
Warren
A tip for stingy diners:Serve yourself at home
EDITOR:
I am sounding off to the middle-aged couple my daughter waited on at the new Ruby Tuesday on Mahoning Avenue on Wednesday around dinnertime.
She provided you with very good service and was very kind and attentive.
You paid your food bill at the end without leaving a tip. Why? These food servers make only a couple of dollars an hour, making a bi-weekly paycheck hardly worth making a special trip to pick up.
They depend on tips from customers in exchange for a service they provide. They must put gas in their used cars, pay car insurance, rent, utilities, etc.
The minimum tipping rule has long always been 15 percent, but if you are pleased with the food and service, which is hard to come by, then by all means, leave your server more.
If you can't afford to leave a tip, then please do food servers a favor and stay home and cook.
GAIL HASSLER
Girard