Judge Lisotto handled notice of his illness thoughtfully

Judge Lisotto handled noticeof his illness thoughtfully
EDITOR:
Your insensitive editorial of July 1 should not go unanswered.
You state that Judge Robert Lisotto's revelation that he is suffering from Alzheimer's disease & quot;raises the question of whether the public should have been informed as soon as the illness was diagnosed & quot; and that the public has a right to know when an official is unable to continue his duties.
Judge Lisotto did exactly what anyone would have done under similar circumstances. Once diagnosed, he took the time to consult with doctors and undergo tests to determine what his options were and what his course of action should be.
It should be noted that Alzheimer's affects different people differently and that the rate of progression isn't the same in every case. Researchers are studying new drugs, at least one of which is purported to reduce the rate of progression by more that 50 percent over four years of therapy. More than 12 percent of the subjects treated with galantamine, didn't deteriorate at all during the four-year study!
No one wants to learn that he has an incurable disease. The natural reaction is to not believe it, or that perhaps there are treatments that will cure it or at least slow it down.
Judge Lisotto surely thought this through very carefully. Should he just give up the seat he won in a hard-fought campaign, or is there a chance he could finish his term successfully before the disease makes it more difficult to function? As soon as he decided that he was unable to continue in office, he did the right thing and resigned.
Your editorial was mean, misguided and unnecessary, coming at a time when the judge, his family and friends are devastated. You should be ashamed of yourselves for denigrating a man who has served the public so well for so many years.
GEOFFREY JONES
Boardman
Youngstown needs to setan example for cleaning up
EDITOR:
A few city residents are not the only ones responsible for Youngstown's image as a dirty city.
Recently I read an article in this newspaper about the city's enforcing stricter housing codes and cracking down on residents who do not maintain their properties. Personally I think that this is a great idea, but why did it take so many years before the city took action? Also, is the city doing anything about the many businesses whose properties are eyesores as well? In addition, is the city taking action against itself for not doing its part in keeping Youngstown clean?
No matter where you go in the city, you can find its street signs, roads, bridges and parks in disrepair and in desperate need of work. Not to mention the devil strips and grass areas near and around the roads. For example, McCartney Road on the city's East Side has been neglected for years, leaving travelers to dodge its giant potholes. As a major artery into downtown and the YSU campus, the condition of this road and its appearance should be of high priority to the city.
In a later article, The Vindicator expressed its desire to see the owners of poorly kept properties punished to the fullest extent of the law. If this is the case, then city officials should face jail time as well. How can Youngstown and The Vindicator expect residents to maintain their properties when the city in which they live does not maintain its?
Everyone knows of Youngstown's financial hardships, which is the reason the city gives for its inability to maintain all of its property. As a result, it is given a pass. Maybe some residents also have financial difficulties and should be given a pass, too.
City officials should take a look in the mirror and clean up their act before they ask others to clean up theirs. Shame on The Vindicator, and shame on Youngstown!
MARK C. MATASIC
Campbell