Sunday, February 29, 2004
Allowing nudity at clubignores wishes of residents
EDITOR:
Regarding The Vindicator's Feb. 23 story, "District court's order bars enforcement of law against total nudity." Judge Ann Aldrich does not live in North Lima, she's in Cleveland. The owner of the club Joe Stazzanti does not live here either. The man who sold him the property doesn't live here either. As a resident for more than 30 years, our tax dollars have always supported our schools, and we have all benefited from a great community of people who really care about our children and give back in all areas for the good of everyone here.
I am amazed that everyone's rights are considered except the residents of this community. What good can come to anyone from a place that encourages nudity, selling of alcohol and drugs and a lifestyle that is never an asset to any place? That encourages broken homes, divorce and addiction to pornography?
What does it take to keep a place safe, clean and respectable for those who live here and for families that might want to relocate here? Yes, I am angry, disappointed and ashamed of this blight in our town. I wish I could do something to close the doors to this so-called gentleman's club. A real gentleman wouldn't be caught anywhere near that place.
ERMA NIEMI
North Lima
Latest action at Werner Co.is sign of a wider problem
EDITOR:
In the business section of The Vindicator on Feb. 19, there was an article in reference to the Werner Co., which is eliminating more than 1,000 jobs here in the Valley and in Alabama.
Home Depot has decided to buy its ladders from China and Mexico, and its spokeswoman said it "was strictly a business decision on our part. It was in the best interest of our customers." When will the Home Depots, Wal-Marts and Sam's Clubs in this country realize that when every person in the country is living on welfare or substandard wages, they will not need to worry about the "best interest of our customers?" There will not be any customers.
We are under attack from both the foreign markets and our internal desire for the cheapest products at all costs. As long as the retailers produce record profits at our economy's long-term expense, we will slowly destroy the basic fibers of our economy. It is a lot easier to say "buy American" than to do it when the consumer has fewer choices every day. The large retailers in America have pressured domestic companies to reduce their costs to the extent that the only choice that many of these family owned, community oriented companies has is to close. What will the Valley have to offer when the second- and third-generation companies that were the building blocks of our community are forced to close because profit margins have been eliminated "in the best interest of our customers?" This is not a Republican or Democratic issue. It is an American issue.
DOUGLAS HAGY
Canfield