Look at hidden costs of gambling

Look at hidden costs of gambling

Casinos and lotteries and the politicians who support them promise lots of income and good clean fun. But what money is made is more than offset by the losses they cause, according to Get Government Out of Gambling. But the profits are obvious and the losses hidden, so politicians have no reason to get the government out of gambling. A few facts you may not know. (I didn’t).

1. Gamblers with household income of less than $10,000 bet nearly three times as much on lotteries as those with incomes above $100,000.

2. Each year Americans spend more on slot machines than on movies, baseball and theme parks combined.

3. Americans lost $91 billion on all forms of gambling in 2006, the most recent figure available.

4. Personal bankruptcies increase wherever governments legalize gambling, and by more than 100 percent in counties that have legalized casinos.

For more information, see www.GetGovernmentOutofGambling.org

Gambling and pornography are the biggest money-making businesses in our country today. A sad commentary on our society.

Rev. Edward J. Neroda, Youngstown

The writer is pastor of St. Stanislaus Parish.

Liberty is better than story implies

Liberty Township has been my home most of my life, so you can understand my dismay and disgust at the tabloid style used in the front-page article in last Sunday’s Vindicator. This was one of the worst exhibits of sensationalist journalism I have seen in recent months. If the purpose of the article was to encourage passage of the police levy on the ballot, there were far better ways to achieve that goal.

One blogger’s response was typical of the reaction to this article: “That is a shame. Glad I didn’t buy that lovely home in Liberty.”

The staged police raid made it appear that this was an active crime scene with all the implications, not an empty dwelling with signs of former illegal usage. Were the statistics, such as the reduction in the size of the police force, given to encourage more criminal activity? The overall presentation made it appear that Liberty is a crime ridden community where law enforcement is challenged instead of a strong, established area with lovely neighborhoods, active citizens, well maintained homes and law abiding residents.

A story like this raises fear and hurts our communities that are working hard to engage their residents. It reduces pride and leads to complacency, apathy and a lack of interest in investing in the area.

Joy Cushwa, Liberty

Counting reasons we need SB5

For a glaring example of why Senate Bill 5 is needed in Ohio, one need only read the Sept. 30 front page reporting that retired Youngstown Police Chief Jimmy Hughes received $65,540 in unused sick time, vacation time, and accumulated compensation, as well as longevity and hazardous duty pay. He’ll also receive more than $500,000 extra toward retirement, in addition to his regular pension. Unbelievable. Also, Frank Rosa of the fire department was granted $62,138, mostly for unused sick and vacation time.

If these men had worked in the private sector they would have no paid sick days, which are unheard of in the “real economy.” Furthermore, in private employment you cannot accumulate vacation time from one year to the next; it’s “use it or lose it” each year.

The DROP pay program, where police and firemen can double-dip collecting retirement checks while still working and accumulate huge sums to be cashed in in addition to their regular pension, is a slap in the face to all those citizens who work in the private sector whose taxes pay for these unbelievably generous “golden parachutes.” The severance package former Youngstown Schools Superintendent Wendy Webb received as well as the generous package the new Niles superintendent got are two more examples of the taxpayers’ money being lavished on government employees.

To those letter writers and other local citizens who actually feel sorry for government employees, believing them to be put upon by SB 5, get your heads out of the sand.

If you vote no on Issue 2 you are saying you believe government employees are better than the rest of us and deserve to be spoiled at our expense.

James A. Dunlap, Mineral Ridge

SB5 seeks to divide and conquer

For the last 30 to 40 years, the middle class has worked hard to earn a worthy wage to raise our children and create a better community for our families. At times we’ve seen pay raises and at others we’ve taken pay cuts and pension reductions. All the while, we have never asked for exorbitant pay raises. We’ve paid our mortgages, supported our local businesses and educated our children. Through it all, we have come to know how important it is to have a union because together we create a stronger voice for the middle class.

The Kasich administration is now using its political and corporate donors to stifle the voice of the middle class. The same people who run Wall Street and created the largest divide between the super-rich and the poor are now pouring millions into state government Republican politicians in order to break the backs of the middle class and our communities. These are the same people who have tried to stop Social Security, Medicare, and privatize any American resource that benefits middle class America.

Senate Bill 5 was initiated in order to divide the middle class so they can conquer the entire middle class.

Vote no on Issue 2 to ensure the fat cats don’t have it all. They’ll sell America to the highest bidder.

Jean Lanam, Niles

Give Devonshire some attention

I live on Devonshire Drive in Boardman. The street was designed to use the curbing as a drain for the water from the rain and melting snow. Over time (approximately 25 years) and the lack of maintenance, the curbs have been allowed to grow vegetation and become congested with weeds, leaves and dirt. This causes the water to flow down the asphalt and causes the street to be used as a storm drain rather than a road. The water’s expansion and contraction has kept the street in a sorry condition.

The paving is beyond patching, but the street department continues to patch over patch, and as a result of this neglect, we have speed bumps and negative property values. The curbing must be kept clean and the township makes one visit a year with the street sweeper that does very little except to pick up leaves and dirt. The vegetation continues to grow and the problem is getting worse.

The sidewalk on part of the street is overgrown and the property owners who are responsible are not being held accountable to keep it maintained. A home that is bank owned has a lot that is overgrown and an eyesore. I have talked to a township trustee and he has talked to the township street superintendent and the can continues to be kicked down a very neglected street.

Where is the government officials’ pride in our community and the preservation of our property values? I have lived here for over four years, and if the road and street were in their present condition when I bought my condo, I would have not even slowed down to look for fear I was in a very bad neighborhood.

These conditions are very hard to accept because of the taxes we pay for the services we do not get. I think the time for excuses has past as a section of Shields Road was recently paved that was not half as bad as ours, but it certainly has higher a higher profile than Devonshire. Why is our street being ignored?

Dick Moore, Boardman