If they’re against it, we should be for it

If they’re against it,
we should be for it

EDITOR:

So five of the six county commissioners think that a “home rule regionalization” is not a good idea. This alone is probably the highest recommendation that they could make for the project. These are the county commissioners, present and past, who have put the screws to their public. They have acted with poor judgment, wasted public money by the handful, hired their relatives and friends to public positions, raised their own salaries, created unneeded new governmental positions, and raised taxes when the ballot issue for increased taxation failed. These are the commissioners that we are talking about.

If regionalization didn’t sound good in the past, these men make it sound good by their actions. Personally, I intend to keep an open mind on this proposal. Too often regionalization has meant the extension of Youngstown and Warren politics into the regions surrounding those two cities. Considering the poor record of the governments in those cities and their excessive tax base, an extension of them would also be unhealthy for the Mahoning Valley. It would be best to look at the few thriving areas in the Mahoning Valley, and to pattern a regional government based on those operating examples.

Whatever the proposed regional government turns out to be I hope that it incorporates:

1. Leadership that is elected and not appointed as administrators or managers.

2. Leadership that is not excessive in numbers of involved people.

3. Some sort of check and balance system so that we do not end up with a dictatorship.

4. A consolidation of primary services so as to avoid unnecessary duplication.

5. A reduction in the tax base for both businesses and citizens.

It is good that someone is talking about change. Change is certainly needed. The present political structure has sent as many people and jobs out of the Mahoning Valley as have the various plant closings and union strikes. Let’s see what these people propose.

DONALD BUTLER

Warren

Remember and say thanks

EDITOR:

On this Nov. 11, remember the significance of this day and please remember how lucky we are to live in a country where we can say, do, feel and think practically anything we want without concerns.

We should feel extremely fortunate to live in the greatest nation on earth and one that is generous and giving beyond comprehension to the rest of the world. We must never take for granted our freedoms because if we do they will disappear by the hands of our enemies and America will cease to exist.

We must observe Nov. 11 as more than a solemn remembrance for those who died in war, so please take the time to thank and honor each and every veteran who served in our armed forces during times of peace and times of war. Happy Veteran’s Day, God bless you and God bless America.  

BRIAN C. CHADWICK, USMC Retired

Canfield

More urgency; less overtime

EDITOR:

As a life long resident of Youngstown, I am writing to disagree with Patricia Meade’s Oct. 14 article about the overtime paid during to enforce zero tolerance. It was said 99 percent agreed it was successful. It seems to many that certain lawbreakers were given carte blanche during these phases. How can you gush over success when the same drug houses, bike mules and thugs still patrol the streets?

This city is far smaller than New Orleans, but as of this writing there have been 28 murders. And all this lawlessness is allowed to fester here.

Its been reported that 99 percent of the kids are learning. Learning what? Basic Thuganomics 101? What next? Advanced Thuganomics? Drug sales not only in the streets but in the schools too? What are we training? Future pharmacists?

If you continue to put lipstick on a pig, it’s still a pig. These so-called leaders cannot continue to ignore the decent people that live here in this city. I believe someone from downtown ought to get mad and put their foot down and say enough is enough. These leaders should’ve been mad as hell when that lady got shot and her unborn baby died at the scene.

Where was the urgency when that shooting took place in PlazaView this summer? Or how about the 14 year-old girl? Why so silent, city leaders? Mayor? Chief? Where is the sense of normalcy here? We deserve better than the silent treatment.

ABDUL HARRIS

Youngstown

A charter is right for Warren

EDITOR:

The benefits of a city charter are many and varied, however one of the most pressing reasons is the tax and spend policies of the current administration, previous administrations and the city council.

Our tax base has shrunk over the past three decades, our jobs are moving overseas and the mayor’s and council’s solution for the fiscal woes of Warren is to tax the homeowner again and again.

To help frame the argument for a city charter, consider this: Warren has a population of fewer than 46,000 residents. The city of Columbus (the state capital) has a population of more than 733,000. Yet Warren has 10 council persons, while Columbus has only seven. Warren has one council person for every 4,600 residents, while Columbus has one for every 104,000 residents. Just eliminating the at-large council posts would save Warren $30,000.

Under a city charter the citizens can press the mayor and council to increase the health care premiums of city workers. Private sector employees have seen their health care premiums skyrocket. Has the city kept pace with these increases? No, they have been passed on to the taxpayer and homeowner.

Another pressing reason for a charter government in Warren is the lack of ethics in our current system of government, as seen in police misconduct, the purchasing scandal and the theft at the water department.

Under a charter, the citizens can insist that our police and fire chiefs are elected, ensuring they must perform professionally and be accountable to the people they are sworn to protect and serve. An elected police chief would go a long way to improving the image of the Warren Police Department, which recently took another black eye.

Also under a charter, citizens could provide for the recall of any elected official. This oversight will help ensure that our elected officials put the needs and desires of citizens first.

JAMES E. WALKER

Warren

FDR said it best

EDITOR:

President Franklin Delano Roosevelt observed that “freedom is not free.” History demonstrates the wisdom of Roosevelt’s observation. Our freedom has been earned and preserved by the service and sacrifice of the men and women who have served and continue to serve in defense of our great nation. It has also been earned through the hardships borne by their families.

Just as our veterans answered our Nation’s call to duty, we have a duty to remember and thank all of our veterans — as well as today’s active-duty heroes — for their service. Veteran’s Day provides the perfect opportunity to do this.

State Sen. TIMOTHY GRENDELL, R-18th Chesterland

A short-sighted rejection

EDITOR:

As a long time resident of Boardman Township, I find it hard to believe that the residents were so narrow minded as to turn down a levy for our safety forces.

Maybe if you ate at home twice a month you would find you could have afforded to pass the levy. I am on a fixed income, disabled and depend on these fine people. I have had need of police officials and found them to be extremely courteous. I have used 911 and fire, police and ambulance services arrived promptly.

After all, they have a job to do and do not know what they may be summoned to. But they are there when you need them any and all safety services are now in jeopardy. Cuts will have to be made because some people don’t think.

I, for one, thank these fine ladies and gentlemen.

JIM BALASSONE

Boardman