City should know clear roads are a quality of life issue

City should know clear roads are a quality of life issue

EDITOR:

The recent small snow accumulation that our city had was unfortunately a very real reminder that Youngstown is lax, at best, in salting and plowing our city streets. While driving from the city into any surrounding community there is a stark contrast in how roads are maintained for snow/ice removal.

Last year, The Vindicator ran an article in regard to several “quality of life” issues that affect Youngstown city residents. I (and many of my friends and colleagues) believe that part of that story should have been about the issue of snow/ice removal. We live in Northeast Ohio, winter comes every year and with it lots of snow. Every year during a major snow event the street crews try to keep the main roads as clear as possible but all too often most of the city residential roads are untouched ... sometimes for several days after the event. Crews plow up and down busier roads and with each pass, snow accumulates more at the entrances to the side roads making it very hard, if at all possible, to leave your own street. Every year I worry about an emergency situation occurring and not being able to get help because we can’t get off our street which means no one would be able to get to us either. We need to be better prepared to handle this issue. But beyond that, even the most basic quality of life needs cannot be met for some (food and medicine and emergency supplies) because of being trapped on your own road. Not everyone has four-wheel drive vehicles, which living in a city you would expect not to need one.

That’s not to mention the quality of life that one expects to be able to maintain by attending social events and visiting and helping out family and friends. Last year we missed a very important annual event due to being snowed in on our own road, and later found that many other guests were able to attend because their communities take care of their residents by attending to their roadways.

Perhaps the snow removal issue is just another reason in the long list of items that people consider when deciding whether or not to live in Youngstown.

THERESA McCOY

Youngstown

The problems with busing

EDITOR:

I would like to begin by saying I am not opposed to public transportation but the way its being handled. It is true times are difficult with the loss of homes, jobs, health care, etc. The list of people seeking welfare climbs daily. Therefore I wonder how this passage for the WRTA ever came about. I live in Boardman and witness these diesel-guzzling big buses with nobody on them. I see these buses all day on South Avenue, Western Reserve Road, Glenwood and other roads with not a soul on board. With diesel fuel at $2.85 a gallon (and going up) isn’t it about time Youngstown and the WRTA move towards a more modernized era. For one we keep hearing about going “green.” In many cities their transportation runs on electric. (No noise, pollution or diesel smell.) Two, Youngstown no longer needs these “brontosaurus” buses. Mini-buses would suffice. Three, passenger type vans could also be used.

I also wonder how many of these people voted for the WRTA passage but voted down the half-percent sales tax and why? And we wonder why HUD doesn’t award the Valley any funds. It’s like the passage of the WRTA-type levies is why. Imagine the money the area would save in fuel, wages and benefits for drivers and busing that’s going nowhere but to waste.

RAY SIMPSON

Poland