Make plowers do their jobs

Make plowers do their jobs

I have a winter time gripe. I wish the local authorities would enforce the law in regards to people putting snow in the streets, especially those plowing drives.

I realize there are more serious issues to deal with, but this is a safety issue. There is nothing worse than driving down a plowed street to only find part of your lane blocked by a pile of snow that was obviously plowed out from someone’s drive and not entirely pushed over the curb.

Most guys are conscientious and do their best, but a few are only out to do as many drives as they can. If they have to get out and actually shovel their mess off the street, they should have to do that or be fined.

I recently was traveling up the hill on New Road and found such a situation where the lane was partially blocked. There is no curb in this area, so there was no excuse except laziness. These piles of packed snow also have to be hard on the actual street plows.

David Markovitch, Canfield

Give city schools their due

The Vindicator seems to high- light only the negative happenings in Youngstown City Schools. I think it is time that the community is made aware of the many positive things children and families are experiencing in the Youngstown City School District.

Case in point, on Feb. 5, Robert Jackson, a nationally known motivational speaker and author of the book, “No More Excuses! Black Men Stand Up”, addressed 25 to 30 male parents of students that attend Williamson Elementary. Concurrently, the Youngstown Symphony String Quartet was performing in the library to a group of very attentive third and fourth graders, while fifth and six grade students were in the gymnasium participating in the Jump Rope for Heart program sponsored by the American Heart Association.

On Feb. 23, Williamson students celebrated culture and diversity by presenting a Black history program. Our children are being taught to live in a diverse society with an emphasis on building respect and understanding.

These are just some of the many positive activities that are happening in schools throughout our district. It is unfortunate that the media is not present to report on the positive events, seeming to only be present for the negative occurrences.

It is time for the community to know that there are parents and teachers who are doing an exemplary job of providing quality education and it is time to affirm their efforts.

Ralph Goldston Jr., Austintown

Reasons to reject tax renewal

Why I will not vote for the half-percent sales tax:

1. The Mahoning County commissioners will not show accountability as long as we give them this tax.

2. The sheriff is housing Youngstown prisoners without being paid for them. He must have plenty of money.

3. The court system has too many magistrates doing the judges’ work. The judges should spend at least 40 hours per week hearing cases. The county courts should be merged into one court and have one judge as we have been promised for many years.

4. The prosecutor should bring all cases to trial in a timely manner, not a year or longer.

5. I live in Austintown and we do not get a fair deal from the commissioners. The WRTA board has four members for Youngstown none for Austintown; now the commissioners gave Youngstown 6 acres of our land.

6. Until the county officials become accountable and fair to all of Mahoning County, vote no on the sales tax.

Gary Brant, Austintown