Police officers wonder when city will add to the ranks

Police officers wonder whencity will add to the ranks
EDITOR:
We would like to take this opportunity to enlighten the public about certain statements made by Mayor McKelvey. First of all, Mr. Mayor, the reason for negotiating with the unions is because it is the law. State statute says that the city must bargain collectively.
Secondly, Mr. Mayor, if "the cupboard is bare," how could the city afford to give 20 "management employees" a 4 percent plus $.30 an hour raise (more than 7 percent) starting Jan. 1, 2004? We didn't hear you refusing this raise from a city in such dire straits as Youngstown. This raise brought your annual salary to $99,399, plus your benefit package, including full pension pickup. There is also a clause in the pay ordinance giving you the same pay raise as that received by the police union in 2005. That seems very convenient. In 2001 the mayor's annual salary was $80,137. In a three-year-period that salary was increased by 25 percent.
The members of the Youngstown Police Department have never forgotten that we work for the citizens of Youngstown. In November 2002, the voters approved a 0.5 percent income tax increase that was supposed to be used for manpower. Mayor McKelvey has not hired a single police officer since January 2002. The mayor didn't even replace the tragic loss of one of our fallen officers.
After the passage of the income tax, the city recalled the laid-off police officers but didn't recall the clerks. Work that was not done by the civilian employees then turned our sworn officers into clerks. The work doesn't go away because the city won't call back employees.
In closing, we would like to reassure the citizens of Youngstown that no matter how long the mayor goes without hiring police officers, when you call for our help we will send you every officer, down to the last one.
KENNETH CENTORAME, president
Youngstown Police Ranking Officers KEVIN BOKESH, president
Youngstown Police Association and six other members of the union executive boards
Taxpayers and students are crushed by union demands
EDITOR:
In the 20th century the labor unions have done much good for working people in the Mahoning Valley. In today's climate, however, in this the 21st century, the labor unions in the Mahoning Valley have selfishly been breaking the economic backs of the taxpayers, our school districts, our university, our businesses, our city and county governments, as well as our college students.
I believe as a Mahoning Valley resident, taxpayer, and voter, it is high time that our elected officials, school district officials, university officials, public administrators, business leaders, and community and religious leaders stop selling out at any cost or price to the labor unions.
I believe that our Mahoning Valley elected officials, administrators and labor unions must be sensitive to the Valley taxpayers. They must start to address the problem and relieve the taxpayers, school districts, YSU, Valley businesses and governments of such heavy financial burdens through sacrifice from the unions.
For the Mahoning Valley's future health and viability in the 21st century, I urge action now.
WILLIE JAMES RICHARDS
Youngstown
I'm being vigilant, alert; who's going to respond?
EDITOR:
Since the first week in July 2003, a 5-gallon can of something has been sitting about 6 feet off the road on the east side of Lockwood Boulevard (near 6675) in Boardman.
I have called several local government agencies, only to be told it was either not in their jurisdiction, not their maintenance problem or not their responsibility.
I did have one department supervisor tell me he would send a man out to pick it up -- that was Dec. 22.
I thought that the pleas of Tom Ridge's Department of Homeland Security, plus our need to be more vigilant and alert would have made one of those government agencies respond.
KEN BRAYER
Boardman