To the voters of Struthers, thanks for nothing

To the voters of Struthers, thanks for nothing
EDITOR:
I would like to say thank you to the citizens of Struthers who voted no on the school levy on Nov. 8.
UThanks -- for busing to be cut to state minimums
UFor increased student-per-teacher class ratios
UFor the possibility of honors classes being terminated
UFor the possibility of most elective classes being terminated
UFor the possibility of sports being terminated
UFor three beautiful school buildings not to be used to their fullest potential
UFor home values to decrease
UBut most of all, thanks for making every student in the school system the victim of your vote
I am a working parent who depends on the schools for a lot of reasons, educating my daughter and offering her the best education possible. I depend on the buses to get my daughter to and from school.
I am a third generation citizen of Struthers. My son graduated from Struthers in 2000, and I remember so well when the levy failed in 1996. The state did cut busing, classes and sports.
When my husband and I were looking for a house, I wouldn't look anywhere but Struthers, because I felt it was a wonderful city to live and raise a family in, and that the people of Struthers were wonderful too. Thanks for deflating my home value but mostly thanks for deflating my respect for the city. I truly felt in my heart that the voters of Struthers would support our children. I was wrong.
For the citizens who have threatened to sell their house if the levy failed, well good luck. For those citizens who have threatened to send their child to a different school system if the levy failed, good luck to them too. Lowellville will be full and private school tuition will be a lot more than the amount your property taxes would have gone up. For the elected city officials of Struthers who would not openly support the levy, good luck balancing your budget with the loss of income tax from the teachers and employees who will be laid off at the schools. Please do not ask for an increase on the current income tax. If the citizens won't support the schools why should they support the city?
As for the voters who voted no because they are on a fixed income, well most of us are. I get the same pay to the penny week to week. I have no say when my health insurance coverage is increased. For the retirees in Struthers, I say, there was a school for your children and don't the children of today deserve the same?
My heart broke on the morning after the election, when I woke my daughter for school. The first thing she said was "Mom, did the levy pass?" When I told her no, I thought she was going to cry. It is a shame when a 13-year-old goes to sleep worried about her school and the first thing she thinks about in the morning is whether or not she will have the classes and extra curriculum options she so counted on in high school next year.
We now have three new board of education members. I wish them good luck. They will need it to try to balance a budget without the necessary funding.
MARY DANIEL
Struthers
Weak link? Not Rev. Alford
EDITOR:
In a Nov. 9 Vindicator article, state Sen. Robert Hagan was quoted as describing Rev. Jay Alford as "one of the weakest links in the religious world."
Pastor Alford's life shows that he has lived out Genesis 12:3, "Thou shalt be a blessing." In the inner city of Youngstown, through organizations such as Jubilee and The Hope For Youngstown, millions of dollars have been spent on building new homes for the benefit of Youngstown residents. Pastor Alford started 18 new churches in the Youngstown-Warren area, started Heartreach (a ministry to the inner city children), and also started the Youngstown Christian School and Eagle Heights Academy.
As a pastor, he has blessed the congregations through his sermons and service since 1973. Pastor Alford has spent his time and his personal financial resources in these endeavors.
JAMES O. LEWIS
Youngstown