Some 'retirees' contribute to 'brain-drain' in Valley

Some 'retirees' contributeto 'brain-drain' in Valley
EDITOR:
The Mahoning Valley is slowly contributing to its own demise by the prevalent practice of allowing public employees in government and education to retire, collect a publicly funded pension, then be rehired back in the same or a similar position. This practice is common and contributing to the "brain-drain" in this area as bright young people (and recent college graduates) must move away to find meaningful employment.
If your son or daughter has to move away, it's because retirees in local government and school districts are devouring job opportunities. The taxpayers and citizens have a right to know how widespread this problem has become in recent years, and the media (radio, TV and newspapers) have an obligation to report the effect this practice has had on our local economy.
When I hear community leaders, government officials and politicians complain about the defeat of levies and government initiatives, I wonder if they understand the dynamics of this area. The population of this Valley is aging, and with no job opportunities for young families, voters are refusing to support additional taxes and school levies.
Our young people are leaving because jobs and a future here are denied to them by retirees who feed at the public trough -- not once, but twice. When will the community leaders wake up and recognize this is a problem?
THOMAS KEMPE
Youngstown
More time is needed to healwounds left by murderer
EDITOR:
A real travesty of justice has occurred in the Mahoning Valley -- six members of the Ohio Parole Board visited their tragic decision upon not only the family of Jodi Thomas Masters, but on all who have cause to be grossly offended by it!
Oct. 11, the scheduled release date of Jodi's killer, will become a day of infamy -- a day of shame, public reproach or disgrace.
There appears to be a growing propensity in our state and in others to release the murderers of our children long before their dues are paid in full -- if ever they can be.
In its decision for parole of inmate #157973 (Steven Masters -- Ed.), the board said the deciding factor was a letter of recommendation from the sentencing judge (Forrest Cavalier) to "release at the nearest possible legal opportunity."
We could not learn the context of the judge's letter, but we know the board was aware of the strongest letters of opposition from the prosecuting attorney, Vince Gilmartin; his assistants, Paul Gambrel and Pat Pachero; Atty. Paul Dutton; Boardman police investigator Robert Rupp; and many others whose intimacy with this case put them in the strongest position for recommending denial.
I am plumb out of noble statements when asked by the press how I feel. However, our family is grateful for the many letters of protest to the parole board, signed petitions, phone calls of support and genuine concern expressed by members of this community. They have kept us hopeful these last 25 years.
It is our hope that those who are as shocked and disgusted as we are will register their strongest feelings to the Ohio Supreme Court, under whose guidelines the parole board operates. It appears punishment has a very low priority in their increasingly more liberal philosophy, and that expediency for release holds a higher priority. My letter to the court is in the works.
Killer, arsonist and corpse abuser are titles this double-felon will carry to his grave. And, in a bullet's flash, we became parents of a murdered child. He earned his titles; he imposed ours on us. We will carry ours more nobly than he!
JOY and BILL THOMAS and family
Canfield
'Years Ago' wrong; Japan's surrender had conditions
EDITOR:
In the Aug. 15 Years Ago column, your paper perpetrated a myth that has been fed to the American people for 59 years. You wrote that on Aug. 15, 1945 Japan surrendered unconditionally. There were actually several conditions! Two were a huge blow to our service people who suffered and died at the hands of the enemy.
First of these two conditions was a deal to a "hands off" policy toward the emperor of Japan. This man was the leader of the worst war criminals in history (including Hitler and his cronies) and he was not even allowed to be questioned or mentioned in the investigation of the atrocities inflicted on civilians and prisoners of war.
The second condition was that no U.S. citizen or military POW could sue or seek any compensation or even apology from the Japanese government or the corporations who used them for medical experiments and slave labor. These people were horribly tortured and killed and have never received any kind of reimbursement or one word of apology from anyone.
Historical revisionists have rewritten many events since Columbus invaded the Indian land in 1492. Most of this has been done in the interest of political correctness.
For several years the History Cable Channel has shown a documentary around the time of this anniversary of the "conditional surrender." It is time to demand an official apology and some form of compensation from the Japanese government and the huge corporations doing business with Americans today who survived the war and grew after their use of slave labor.
To this day the Japanese people, government, and business community deny that any apology or monetary compensation is due!
Before there is no one left to remember lets set right this historical mistake!
ROBERT J. HUSTED
New Springfield
Yes, Girard needs money; it also needs new priorities
EDITOR:
I am writing with regard to the safety forces levies in Girard. It is common knowledge the city is in dire need of money. Being a laid-off city employer, I've felt the budget crunch too. As a citizen there are a few red flags these levies raise and questions I feel need answered.
The fire chief and firefighters union made numerous attempts to save the city-run ambulance. Numerous ideas were given to city leaders to save the service at a caucus at the first council meeting in February. At the same council meeting, the mayor stated he signed a six month contract with Rural/Metro Ambulance.
Now, six months later, complaints about their service have fallen on deaf ears. Six months later it seems the city has dug a deeper hole and city leaders want to ask the taxpayers to help out.
Separating the levies into 3 mills for police and 3 mills for fire was a great idea. It was discussed at a recent special council meeting, and in the newspaper, the police levy will help with staffing and replace old cruisers. My question is, does every patrolman really need his own take-home cruiser? The mayor had previously stated we were the only municipality which runs its own ambulance service. Not a true statement. If we were doing what other municipalities were doing, our officers would be sharing cruisers.
On the fire levy side, I agree staffing should stay at current levels. When councilman Moliterno stated in a newspaper article Aug. 12 that this levy would not bring the ambulance service back, it was only to keep staffing at current levels, I was dumfounded. He may as well had shot himself, and this levy, in the foot. Why would our city leaders not try every possible idea to bring a revenue generating service back? Our elected officials are basically asking for something for nothing.
This seems to me like another half-hearted attempt by our leaders, so they can say they've tried, before making more unnecessary cuts. I find it frustrating we keep losing services, with more jobs being threatened, yet our city still employs separate safety and service directors, when Warren, a city three times our size, has one safety/service director. All this leads me to wonder who doesn't want the ambulance service, and for what reasons?
BRYAN ICEMAN
Girard
X The writer is a laid-off Girard firefighter.