An apology to YPD

An apology to YPD

EDITOR:

In a letter published last Sunday I wrote about the church ladies who called 911 and didn’t get a response from the Youngstown Police Department.

Well, I need to apologize to the YPD. After the story was read, I was told that the police did respond, though after the person in question had left. They (YPD) had followed this man down the street and apparently took him in. The YPD then did come back to the church to let the ladies know what was going on.

I was so upset when I heard the story the first time that I didn’t get all the facts, and all of the facts were relayed to me afterward.

BUFFY BALOGH

Austintown

Say ‘yes’ to Ohio veterans

EDITOR:

A proposed Ohio constitutional amendment from Ohio Attorney Richard Cordray was introduced to provide compensation to Ohio veterans of the conflicts in the Persian Gulf, Afghanistan and Iraq. The Ohio House and Senate voted to place the amendment on the Nov. 3 ballot. You as a voter will have the final say.

In the past, Ohio has issued bonds through four separate voter-approved amendments to the Ohio state constitution to provide monetary compensation to its veterans of World Wars I and II, Korea, and Vietnam. Now is the time to provide the same consideration for our veterans who have served or are serving in the Persian Gulf, Afghanistan or Iraq. Through the sale of bonds we can offer a “bonus” for the great sacrifice of their service during a time of war. Please vote yes on Issue 1.

JOHN P. BROWN III

AMVETS, Past National Commander

Boardman

Valley would get a piece of the pie under Issue 3

EDITOR:

As the debate over Issue 3 continues in Youngstown, I think it’s important to take a step back and look at the big picture. Youngstown, along with cities like Dayton, Canton and Akron, can and will reap certain benefits of the passage of Issue 3, without risking a dime.

We deserve a piece of the pie, and there’s no reason we should object to receiving $6.9 million every year split equally between Mahoning County and Youngstown. Additionally, our schools would receive over $4 million annually. Neighboring Trumbull County will benefit from $6.1 million overall and $4.1 million for its schools, and Columbiana County another $3.1 million and $2.1 million for its schools.

The numbers don’t lie. That’s a whopping $27 million annually for the Mahoning Valley. I think we need to embrace the positive prospects of what this additional revenue would do for our communities. Youngstown continues to lay off public servants and continues to cut services. Meanwhile, our schools continue to make curriculum cuts as a result of less money received both from local levies and from the state. How can we refuse this money that would help retain municipal services and bring about or enhance educational advancements?

We should not draw a line in the sand and be opposed to the casinos for merely philosophical reasons. Rather we need to welcome the practical opportunity to add thousands of new jobs to Ohio’s payroll and spark economic development throughout our great state, including the Valley.

In short, Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley need jobs and the tax revenues for our local governments and schools. Let’s look at the bigger picture, and vote yes on Issue 3.

HERB WASHINGTON, president

H.L.W. Fast Track

Youngstown

That’s some business model

EDITOR,

I have read Issue 3, and I am at a loss to explain who benefits from Issue 3 except for those who get 67 percent of the profits. When you monopolize benefits in favor of the few to such a degree some protections should be given. In this case, those who created the issue were so blatant in their greed they did not even pretend to care about some very large groups of people.

Issue 3 does not care about the environmentalist. If you are creating new buildings there should be guarantees of a clean building built with the energy- conscious in mind.

Issue 3 does not care about minorities and the poor. There are no guidelines to see that people who need the jobs the most will get them. By building just a few casinos, it will be a hardship for some to get there.

Issue 3 does not care about the taxpayers. Ohio will only get 33 percent of the profits to divide among many groups. That profit margin and what is included should be clearly stated. Why do Ohio residents get stuck with 33 percent tax rates when neighboring states get over 50 percent from their casinos? Why are the licensing fees a fraction of other states’ fees when the monopoly can limit only four casinos?

Issue 3 does not care about charity groups. Charity nights for schools, churches, children’s groups and benefits for those with sickness and injury will be illegal as interpreted by the attorney general. The ability to give 100 percent of money raised to good causes will be eliminated by this bill.

If the people of Ohio let Issue 3 pass, I am thinking I need some investors to help me with a constitutional amendment for my business. I am a real estate broker. I will be glad to let the state get 33 percent of the profits provided I get 67 percent of the profits guaranteed. You will not have the big real estate companies clutter up a business model. No need to clutter up the media with useless advertising. To make sure there are no mistakes in any transaction, there will be no For Sale by Owners. And I do not even have to let you know my commission until the amendment is approved. This new business model could be used for many new businesses. Sound crazy? It is as crazy as voting for Issue 3.

DAVID SOKOL

Youngstown

Constitutional monopoly to a few gamblers is wrong

EDITOR:

The Columbus-based organization, TruthPAC, has been hammering Issue 3 for not obligating Ohio casinos to hire Ohioans as well as for identifying the negative impact casinos have on other nearby businesses. Great. Anything to persuade voters to reject Issue 3 is all right by me.

Nevertheless, voters also need to consider the serious problem of vested interests frivolously using the Ohio Constitution’s amendment process in order to give exclusive rights to a select group of insiders located in only four Ohio cities. A similar gambit was tried last year, as “fat cats” are relentless in locking into law their own monopolies.

In my opinion, if Ohio residents want casinos to replace wealth-generating heavy industry and manufacturing, any constitutional amendment should be worded to allow each county to regulate gambling within its own borders, or it might have the state Legislature address the matter by auctioning off a half dozen or so gambling licenses to interested parties.

In any case, come Election Day, when the wheel stops, hopefully, Issue 3 and the people of Ohio win.

JIM KELLEY

Lake Milton

Issue 2 protects Ohio farmers from outside activists

EDITOR:

Like thousands of other American farmers, I take great pride in being a part of a family-operated farm, and that is why I strongly support passage of Issue 2.

Our nation has never had a food shortage and for that, we can thank the American farmer who produces a quality, affordable and nutritious food supply to consumers. Agriculture is the number one industry in Ohio and helps maintain a viable economy by creating jobs, supporting local business and contributing to the tax base.

An out-of-state activist group has indicated it would like to bring an initiative to Ohio that would set strict, rigid and impractical rules for how livestock and poultry are housed. This would lead to higher costs for consumers, put food safety at risk, increase the amount of food imported to Ohio and cause thousands of farmers to go out of business.

Farmers must own the animal-care issue, and Ohio farms are not the place for out-of-state activists. Decisions about animal care should be made by Ohioans for Ohioans and in the best interest of the consumers, animals and farmers.

Issue 2 was created by a joint resolution in the Ohio House and Ohio Senate with bipartisan support and is endorsed by more than 500 state, local and community leaders. The passage of Issue 2 would create the Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board, which will assure Ohio families have a safe, reasonably priced and locally grown food supply.

A yes vote for Issue 2 will bring together Ohio’s animal-care experts to ensure excellent care of the state’s flocks and herds; maintain the viability of Ohio agriculture and, most importantly, assure the continuation of Ohio families having the superior food supply that they are accustomed to.

DIANA MARCHESE

Trumbull County recorder

Farmdale

Try putting a face on those losing jobs at Forum Health

EDITOR:

I would like take the time to personally thank everyone in Forum Health management who was involved in the elimination of my job and my termination. I am a 53-year-old widow who has worked at Forum Health since December 1990. During my time there, I have held various positions. When first hired, I worked in the lab. I then took a position at Beeghly Medical Park. We all know what happened there. I then came back to North and took a position in radiology. I was notified by my supervisor on Oct. 19 that Nov. 20 will be my last work day. I have no recourse. I am simply out the door.

Over the last 19 years of my employment I have seen CEOs come and go, always with their pockets full of money when they left. What makes management and their outrageous salaries any more important than my job? For a while, Buzz Pishkur was to get $9,000 a week to consult. Charles Neumann will get $75,000 a month as an interim CEO. That is outrageous. How is any one person worth that kind of money?

All I ever wanted to do was come to work every day and do my job to the best of my ability. I no longer have that option. Since the untimely death of my husband five years ago, I need to work. I’m quite sure that no one involved in my termination even knows who I am or really cares about what happens to me. They will be all comfy in their nice houses with their big salaries to keep them warm this winter.

So to everyone in management involved in this turn of events, if you see me and my 78-year-old mother, who now lives with me, standing on the street corner, please throw us a couple of bucks to help out. I know you can afford it. Oh, and Happy Holidays to you and yours.

KATHLEEN COSTELLO

Boardman