Cut wages, benefits in half before cutting safety service

Cut wages, benefits in half before cutting safety service
EDITOR:
The writer of a letter last Monday stated, "I resent the fact that the safety of my family is put at risk because these cowardly politicians are more concerned with their own political futures than the safety of their constituents." He should have said the county employees are more concerned with their own welfare and financial gain than the taxpayer's safety. The employees have caused the Trumbull County sheriff to stop road patrols in the northern county communities because of greed.
Trumbull County is paying $7 million each year for health care for the workers. That is close to $20,000 per employee per year. Some employees contribute as little as $5 a week toward the cost. The impotent commissioners refuse to demand that the workers pay for half of their health care. The annual premium should be reduced to $10,000 a year with the employee paying half. That is asking the employee to pay approximately $100 a week for health care. If that is too much, we can reduce the premium to $5,000 and have them pay half. That is a savings of over $4.5 million a year right off the bat. If that is unacceptable to the employees, let them get a job in the real world and find out $100 a week out of pocket for health care is cheap for the employers that can afford to offer it. Then we can move on to wages and pensions.
The commissioners have allowed the sheriff to pull road patrols off the streets. The deputies and employees defy the commissioners to slash wages in two. The cause of the patrols being stopped is the county union employees are hogs. They arrogantly refuse to accept wage and benefit concessions as in the real world.
The county functioned very well before the 911 center came into existence, it can function after it is gone. The long run fix is to combine Mahoning and Trumbull centers into one.
If the Trumbull County commissioners choose to impose the sales tax, the voters will place a referendum on the ballot to have it removed. If they are dumb enough to place the tax on the ballot, we will vote it down. If the Trumbull County commissioners refuse to cut county employees wages in two, ask them to pay for half of their health, and pay pensions by IRA, we'll vote them out of office and get someone in there that will.
When we finish with the county, it is on to the city and town halls and then the school houses. This must stop if we are going to attract new jobs to Trumbull County and the Mahoning Valley.
THADDEUS PRICE
Warren
Is this writer trying to get in touch with his sarcastic side?
EDITOR:
Many thanks to The Vindicator for its enlightening March 3 tribute to those many men desirous of expressing the full bloom of their feminine side. It certainly is comforting to know that at last there is a local establishment committed to celebrating and supporting the diversity and apparent artistry that these impersonators bring to our community. One must have a newfound sense of appreciation for such enlightened endeavors because, as artfully noted by the manager of the Bull & amp; Bear, "it adds to the area culturally."
Your article surely enlightened many readers regarding the numerous associated problems reporters face when covering such extraordinary entertainment stories. One must empathize with the reporter and perhaps sense his/her confusion stemming from the lack of gender specific terms to describe exactly who it is they are interviewing. And, as you so aptly point out, use of politically correct terminology and deferential speech are a must in these matters.
After reading "A life of performance" one must wonder where such avant-garde diversity initiatives might lead us. Perhaps if a few such well run, and no doubt profitable, alternative-lifestyle establishments would locate in the downtown area, the cultural and economic revitalization of the city would finally take off.
J.R. REPUCCI
Austintown