WRTA station downtown needs a serious cleanup

WRTA station downtown needs a serious cleanup

Speaking of unsanitary eye- sores, let me refer you to the appalling state of the Youngstown WRTA bus terminal. It is an utter disgrace, and that is a modest understatement. It is a serious health hazard, with spit on the wait-station walls, the ground, the benches, and you cannot even print the condition of the bathrooms.

Animals have cleaner accommodations. I’ve seen drug deals to go down with security standing close by; they’re busy talking and not watching.

Youngstown boasts of a great community that wants to attract new businesses. Are they kidding?

Say a potential business owner wants to tour Youngstown by bus. One visit to the downtown bus terminal and they will be looking elsewhere. The WRTA should be ashamed of the way it represents the community.

Clean up the terminal. Give out tickets for those who spit and litter. Be serious about it. It’s time for a serious change.

Christina Foltz, Youngstown

Apathy ruins city neighborhoods

I was appalled when I was watching the evening news and saw where a local man was throwing tires and garbage in his swimming pool.

What is wrong with people? Not only is behavior like this unsightly, but I’m sure the odor was nauseating.

It’s about time ordinances are enforced and attitudes adjusted before there is nothing left to salvage in the residential areas.

Did the neighbors complain? If so, were their complaints ignored until this man had garbage piled up to the rim of the pool?

If the apathy continues, so does the carnage of Youngstown.

It is so unfair and insulting to allow the ignorance of society to destroy the hard work and sacrifice of other people who cared about something.

Brenda Kenjevari, Youngstown

Take a risk on fracking to advance our local economy

The letters I have READ about fracking remind me of Youngstown 25 years or so ago when environmental extremists protested against the steel industry.

Their rhetoric and ideology are the same as today. They protested for clean air and water, claiming we were contaminating our resources. Well, they got what they wanted, and the steel industry crumbled; now a large potion of steel used in this country comes from China.

As we look to new horizons, as we take the next step for new ideas, there will be risks, but taking risks is who we are, to venture out to unknown territory. If we are not willing to take the risks, we might as well go back to hunting with stone spears and living in caves.

Jim Eidel, Beaver Township

Help Hotline adds new ‘warm line’ Tuesday

Help Hotline CONTINUES TO add value to the community. At its 40th anniversary celebration last year, I commended the staff and partners of Help Hotline Crisis Center, Inc. for functioning as the glue that ties together the social-service array in the Mahoning Valley. On behalf of the Ohio Department of Mental Health, I now continue my praise for Help Hotline as it establishes an additional service for individuals with mental illness.

Effective Tuesday, Help Hotline will offer a special “warm line” staffed by members of the community who are recovering from episodes of personal crisis and who want to offer inspiration and support for others experiencing similar life challenges. Information, referral and assistance to citizens in times of crisis are very significant assets.

The new telephone support service for individuals with mental illness is further evidence of the value added to the community by Mahoning Valley Help Hotline Crisis Center.

Tracy J. Plouck, director of the Ohio Department of Mental Health

Credible sources in the US call hydraulic fracturing safe

I have recently READ SEVERAL several articles discussing hydraulic fracturing on Vindy.com and applaud the unbiased reporting.

I was specifically impressed with the reporting in “Drilling in Shale Regions: How Safe is The Air?” (April 10). It is essential that everyone has the facts about hydraulic fracturing as we move forward in Ohio.

Let me provide a few facts.

More than 1 million wells have been safely drilled in the U.S. using hydraulic fracturing. The EPA, the Ground Water Protection Council and the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission have all examined the process and found it to be safe.

Your article even points out that the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has found no adverse results with air quality due to hydraulic fracturing.

The natural gas industry has demonstrated a commitment to be good stewards of our environment by employing advanced technologies to ensure smaller surface impact, fewer wells, less waste and fewer air emissions during development.

In addition, natural-gas production is already subject to federal, state and local regulations that govern every aspect of development from initial permits to worker safety and wastewater disposal.

The commitment to safe and responsible development means we do not need to choose between protecting the environment and reaping the benefits of natural-gas development in Ohio.

I encourage all Ohioans to read your series on hydraulic fracturing. Reporting like this will continue to drive fact-based discussions about natural-gas development and help Ohioans and the citizens of the Mahoning Valley realize the very real benefits it provides for our communities.

Paul A. Lyden, Vice president of Lyden Oil Co.

Women are winning the war

The recent Sunday POLITICAL “yak” shows and both political parties are again abuzz about the dreaded “War On Women.”

Well, I’ll tell you what: After three costly and brutal divorces and a multitude of dysfunctional relationships with the so- called “weaker sex,” I have officially lost the war.

Just as Adam fell prey to Eve, I have taken many bites of the serpent’s forbidden fruit and I have lost paradise for all eternity. So ladies, I surrender. I am waving the white flag. You win.

Frank Santolla, North Lima

A beer lover’s lament

Sadly, like many OTHER REAL beer lovers in the Youngstown area who appreciates craft beer as opposed to the watered-down swill pandered upon us by the mega brewers, I was not able to attend the recent beer fest at the Covelli Centre because it had sold out.

I strongly urge the organizers of the Tap-In to make next year’s event two days, instead of just one. Cheers!

Plato Kalfas, Youngstown