Youngstown doesn't need occupying military force

Youngstown doesn't needoccupying military force
EDITOR:
Allowing Youngstown city employees, especially the police, to violate their contracts and live outside the city limits would result in further hardships for citizens of Youngstown. In the long run, instead of being a city policed with its residents, policed by our friends and neighbors, Youngstown would become a city controlled by an outside occupying force.
Youngstown residents, especially ethnic-minority residents, know all too well that if they were to get into a fender bender, with fault in question in an outlying township, it is very unlikely that his side of the incident would get a fair shake. If he got into the same fender bender within the city, it is more likely that the police officer being a fellow city citizen would give the city dweller a fair shake. But if the Youngstown officer was allowed to live in Canfield (or Poland, or Hubbard, or wherever) and the other party in the fender bender was also from Canfield, would the Youngstowner get a fair shake?
Although no doubt the officers do, and would, receive training in fairness, diversity, and non-discrimination, there is also no doubt that "home loyalties" do and would affect police decision making.
If allowed, as more officers leave Youngstown, because other than a pay check police would no longer be personally invested in the city, "protect and serve" would erode to an "us vs. them" job approach.
Youngstown police are hard working and do a great job in often difficult circumstances, they are part of what is making Youngstown great again. We are lucky to have them as our officers and our neighbors. Youngstown police need to remain Youngstowners, loyal to Youngstown and its citizens. I am fortunate enough to have a good neighbor on my street who is a great Youngstown police officer.
However, if I saw a "for sale" sign go up in his yard, I would have no choice but to look to move as well. This process might continue until only the most unable to leave would be left in the city and the city would rot. As the city died the suburbs that the able people fled to would also die. Mayor Williams needs to follow through on his promise to fire any city employee who moves outside the city limits.
STEPHEN RAY FLORA
Youngstown
Don't let interest groupsusurp will of the majority
EDITOR:
I applaud the letter to the editor that was in the July 12 edition. The writer expressed what I believe the majority of Americans feel toward our nation's flag: a symbol bordering on reverence. Not only do we honor those who fought and died for our flag, but we also acknowledge those men and women throughout our short history who tried to enlist in our armed forces but for various legitimate reasons were denied enlistment.
Let's not forget those men and women in uniform, other than the U.S. armed forces, that put their lives on the line every day for their country and fellow patriotic Americans, who also love and cherish our flag.
How we've allowed so-called Americans who use their positions of power in government, certain news networks and newspapers to usurp the will of the majority of Americans through smoke and mirrors is beyond me. As a Navy veteran, I, like all true patriotic Americans, am sick and tired of the empty rhetoric that certain so-called Americans spew on the American public every day, insulting our intelligence in the process.
It's time we woke up and did something about it through the electoral process, while we still have one -- through letters, tea bags, whatever. Let's not be the silent majority anymore, but let our voices be heard loud and clear. We are at war people; let's not forget 9/11 and all it stood for.
ROBERT L. DEFELICE
New Middletown