It's time for a massive housecleaning in Valley

It's time for a massivehousecleaning in Valley
EDITOR:
The hiring of a former judge who has admitted to being a thief is just another example of the lack of common sense in the majority of public figures in the Mahoning Valley. With the attitude of many residents of this area seemingly in favor of forgiving elected officials for all types of criminal behavior, Mr. Kerrigan will have a vast amount of talent to assemble a truly criminal organization around him. There are prosecutors, sheriffs, and many others including other judges who have been slapped on the fingers or been released or are about to be released from "Paying Their Debt to Society."
Even a congressman who shows no remorse for his thievery may be available if some powerful figures in the Valley can convince federal courts he has been punished enough. Perhaps Mickey Mouse may be available to do the banking!
It is truly fitting that the Phar Mor Centre is the nest chosen for this gang. That taxpayer financed disaster can be added to the closing of the main business street, the air strip fiasco, turning the downtown into a combination of expensive public buildings and places to drink alcohol. And now the White Elephant Arena is already showing its potential for cost to the taxpayers. I predict attendance will not rise, but level off once the newness and curiosity wear thin.
The above stated items illustrate why on top of the political atmosphere in the Mahoning Valley, it will never be possible to attract outside investment to revitalize our area. Major changes must be made or this Valley will continue to be no more than fodder for talk show hosts and comics to use for material to be laughed at.
A complete housecleaning is needed everywhere in the Valley.
ROBERT J. HUSTED
New Springfield
Years of poor decisionsled to crisis in city schools
EDITOR:
As a Youngstown resident, taxpayer and voter, I applaud the small token cuts in the Youngstown school system by Superintendent Wendy Webb and the Youngstown school board. However, I still believe more cuts in the Youngstown school system need to be made to become fiscally sound. A tax levy on the ballot at this time is not the answer.
The Youngstown school district has long been a captive prisoner of its unions, especially the Youngstown Education Association -- in the eyes of many taxpayers.
The YEA and other unions have created a welfare system for themselves with the Youngstown school district and the Youngstown students (and taxpayers) being their captive prisoners.
I truly applaud the noble and creative work of Superintendent Webb and the school board in many ways. But the truth is the superintendent and board must do a better job of bringing the Youngstown school unions, especially the YEA, into line with city school district's honest needs.
I believe the looming collapse of the Youngstown schools financially, academically, as well as in enrollment, has been long in the making because of very poor decision making by school board members, past superintendents, and the closing of historical assets like South High School.
Before the Youngstown school district starts thinking about placing a tax levy on the ballot, it must regain its honesty, fairness, and relevancy with the taxpayers, voters, and residents left outside and forgotten (for too long) by the school district.
The Youngstown City School district also must stop willingly being held captive prisoners by its unions, especially the YEA, and Superintendent Webb and the Youngstown School Board must seriously bring the school unions apportionately into line with the district's real and honest needs.
I believe that would be a real relevant start for the Youngstown City School District, instead of placing another tax levy on the ballot to again ask the taxpayers to bail the Youngstown school system out.
I believe the city schools must let the marketplace of supply and demand correct their financial situation -- instead of Youngstown taxpayers.
WILLIE JAMES RICHARDS
Youngstown