H.B. 159 targets voter fraud

H.B. 159 targets voter fraud

Being proactive in thwart- ing the flaunting of any law should be seen as admirable. The goal of Ohio House Bill 159 is to prevent voter fraud, nothing more.

Some argue there is no evidence of voter impersonation. This assertion assumes all voters are honest law-abiding persons. No reasonable person believes this to be true.

Others somehow see a nefarious motive behind this proposed legislation and assert that it is designed to prevent the impoverished or persons of certain racial make-up from voting. This assertion must be intended to evoke emotional opposition rather than the intellectual scrutiny every piece of legislation deserves.

Currently, utility bills or a government check are accepted in lieu of a state issued ID. Landlords or utility companies many times do not require proof of residency or immigration status to provide service. Many renters are transient and could have utility bills from more than one city or township in their possession, tempting some to vote multiple times.

House Bill 159 removes any issue of cost. The Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) is required to provide a photo ID at no cost to anyone who cannot afford its nominal fee. If providing a photo to the BMV is opposed on religious grounds the BMV must issue a signed letter of affirmation. If a voter loses the ID on the way to vote, House Bill 159 allows the individual to vote a provisional ballot and return within ten days with a new ID and have the ballot validated.

Seniors and persons with mobility issues who may have difficulty traveling to the BMV may continue to use an absentee ballot.

Discouraging voter fraud should be viewed positively, not with disdain.

Atty. Carl Rafoth, Youngstown

Sentiment loses to efficiency

In today’s internet world, speed is often related to efficiency, and a Youngstown cemetery has become a master of efficiency. Saturday, July 9, was the fifth anniversary of my mother’s passing. To withstand the heat of summer, I ordered a large silk arrangement, which was delivered to her grave-site in Calvary Cemetery on Friday. By this past Tuesday, the arrangement was gone — apparently disposed of to allow for more efficient mowing. This simple tribute was not allowed to remain on her gravesite through the anniversary of the day she was buried, which was also her own mother’s birthday. In the name of efficiency, our family never even saw the arrangement.

I believe in running businesses efficiently. But a cemetery should guard against being too efficient. I am sure that there are signs about arrangement removal posted at the entrance to the cemetery. I probably was handed a brochure that outlined this procedure when I came up from Kentucky to bury my parents. All very proper and legal. But there is something exceeding cold and heartless about removing arrangements within days of special anniversaries honoring the dead. Even if it improves efficiency, there are still the feelings of the living to consider.

Henceforth, I will skip the flowers and do something in my own community to honor my deceased family members.

Joan L. Simunic, Crestwood, Ky.

Badgers, squirrels and wombats

A letter last Sunday sug- gested that Canfield schools somehow mismanage tax dollars or spend money inappropriately. The exact claim was that “there is a general mistrust of how funds are spent in the system.” This assertion, is, at the least, just plain silly, and, at the worst, mean-spirited propaganda. Please be reminded that in Canfield’s peer group of 20 schools with similar socio-economic composition, Canfield, proportionally, has the least number of teachers, the least number of administrators, and the least number of support staff. Most importantly, Canfield spends the least amount per student per year. Canfield offers the lowest cost in its peer group and has a great product; sounds like a good deal.

The writer also called for the system to “prove to the voting public the absolute real need for a tax increase.” Please consider how infrequently Canfield schools ask for additional money and please consider the cuts that have taken place in staffing, course offerings, busing and extracurriculars.

Lastly, the letter writer proposes that the Badger would be even a better mascot [than my suggestion of] the Black Squirrel for such a changed school system. I would suggest to the writer and to those who hold the same misconceptions about Canfield schools that they would probably be best served if they adopted the Wombat as their own group mascot. Why the Wombat? Well, it seems that through some evolutionary oversight, the Wombat’s anus is too small for its body. As a result, the Wombat sadly goes through life perpetually constipated. There could be no more suitable mascot for those who seem unable or unwilling to rid themselves of a load of crap.

Go Black Squirrels.

Stacy S. Madison, Canfield

Paying his own way, and others’

As an investor who has spent time and money in Youngstown, the first thing that is realized is the need this city has for outside investment for renovation of derelict houses.

Unfortunately the city chooses to pass all of their debts they cannot collect to investors and landlords. I will give one example of many I have experienced.

I had a tenant who had accumulated a large water bill. The bill eventually was put to collection at the water department and consequently the water service was discontinued. Then, thanks to “friendly neighbors,” the city was called to the property where it was discovered the water had been tampered with. The city ordered the tenant and children, including special needs children, out of the house. The tenant was able to raise the money for the past bills, but now the charity won’t release the check because they are of the opinion, even though they’ve never visited the property, that the home has too many problems.

So the charity will probably give the tenant money to move somewhere else leaving me with about a $1,000 dollars owed to the water department.

So everyone will get their money — from me. As for me, I will go somewhere other than Youngstown to invest money to clean up the streets.

Thomas Beaumont, Bluffton, S.C.

Paying for days that buses don’t run

This letter is written be- cause of the unfairness I have found with the WRTA’s 31-day bus pass.

When I put my 31-day pass in the computer machine the first day I use it, it was correctly stamped July 5, 2011. It said it would expires on Aug. 4. The date did not look right to me. I only counted 27 days. Then I counted Sundays, a day that WRTA does not offer service, and that is when I realized that Sunday was being used to make me have 31 days.

I am being charged for service when the bus company is closed. I do not mind buying the bus pass because I needed it, however, being dishonest is wrong.

The service is needed, and I voted for the levy. But to be charged for a day on which service isn’t offered is very wrong.

Ada Hill, Youngstown