Misplaced priorities cost the city

Misplaced priorities cost the city

The West side Sparkle Mar- ket will close Monday, and that really saddens me.

That store has been there for years. Many people walked with carts to shop there. We bought all our meat from Sparkle.

This is a huge loss for the West Side. What else is new? Hungtingon Bank closed three banking locations on the West Side, but managed to open in Austintown. The suburbs are experiencing the same economic climate as Youngstown. So why do they get all the banks, grocery stores and department stores? Youngstown gets convenience stores, drug stores and gas stations.

The main focus for Youngstown was on the Covelli Centre and restructuring the downtown. The officials ignored the residential areas, bringing about rapid deterioration.

This is a good reason for business to relocate and take their services elsewhere. When areas are rundown and crime is rampant, people don’t want any part of it. The hold ups and shoplifting run business out along with everything else that is good for commerce.

I just wonder how long the new Bottom Dollar will stick around if Youngstown continues to decline.

Brenda Kenjevari, Youngstown

Yes, Catholics use birth control

I am a Catholic. I also have used birth control. That’s hardly a shocking confession; despite our church’s position, Catholics use birth control in roughly the same percentage as do non-Catholics and have for years.

Today, however, the extreme right is trying to make a political issue out of the requirement that Catholic hospitals and employers offer health insurance plans that include birth control as a paid option. I can’t see too many of my fellow Catholics being outraged by this alleged assault on our religious freedom. Nor should they.

Years ago, Catholic hospitals were created and run by religious orders for charitable reasons and because most private and public hospitals refused to offer operating privileges to doctors who were Catholic — like my grandfather. (Jewish doctors suffered the same discrimination, which is why generous Jewish philanthropists and congregations created so many fine Jewish hospitals.)

Now, such discrimination is not only illegal, but non-existent. Consequently, our Catholic hospitals have become Catholic in little more than name. They are largely owned and run by corporations, primarily according to secular business principles. They are staffed not by nuns, but by lay people — most of whom are not Catholics. Why then is it an attack on religious freedom to require them to follow the same rules as other employers? Why shouldn’t they offer insurance plans that let their employees decide for themselves whether their conscience permits them to use birth control?

I respect my bishops’ right and obligation to teach what they believe is morally correct even when they appear out of step with most of their congregation. I hope, though, that they will not allow themselves to be hijacked by right wing ideologues who have seized this issue only to undermine the president with false charges of religious discrimination.

Jack Filak, Poland

Bishops fight edict, show courage

Two weeks ago, in an unprec- edented legislative move, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced that all employers, including Catholic institutions, will be mandated to offer their employees health coverage that includes sterilization, abortion-inducing drugs and contraception. I salute the Catholic bishops of America in general and our revered Bishop George Murry in particular for the courage to stand up against this edict to uphold our Christian moral convictions.

This kind of courage reminds me of the time when Cardinal Jaime Sin, the archbishop of Manila, Philippines, called to action the Filipino citizens to take to the streets in defense of our freedom that President Marcos took away during his oppressive dictatorial regime.

Sadly, I cannot say that the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation’s president took the courage to stand up for what is “morally” right by their donors by buckling down to the intense political backlash it got from withdrawing funding to Planned Parenthood. How ironic it is that the foundation that was established to promote advancement of the treatment and cure for women afflicted with breast cancer has become the political conduit of a pro-choice, feminist movement that hides under the cloak of protecting women’s rights.

Well, courage is defined as the mental or moral strength to venture, persevere and withstand danger, fear or difficulty. I believe the Catholic bishops have that down pat.

Marisha G. Agana, MD, Warren

Youngstowners help Farrell

Recently the people of Far- rell have begun organizing and uniting to help make our city a better place. We are trying to deal with things like crime, housing, commerce and recreation. This can be such an arduous task. Where do we start? What do we do? How do we do it? Community members and leaders are motivated and have come to the table with great ideas. Still we could always use some strong outside help.

We have been fortunate enough to have strong help from Youngstown. Victoria Allen of the ICU Blockwatch and Father Maturi of St. Dominic’s Church have been gracious enough to attend recent community meetings in Farrell and share their knowledge and experiences. It is wonderful that not only have they made a positive impact in their community but have also taken the time to support us. We, as a community, are grateful.

Dan Dragicevic, Farrell, Pa.

The writer is attendance officer for the Farrell Area School District.

Ohio Turnpike gets it done right

Generally, I think the quick- est way to mess up a good thing is to let a faceless, unaccountable state bureaucracy run it. My experience with the Ohio Turnpike tells me it is the exception to that notion.

During nine years of daily commuting from Canfield to Cleveland, I never found the Pike impassable, never felt that an always professional State Trooper would not be close at hand if needed, never was tied up in a jam for more than 15 minutes. If that has been the general experience of others, we should let the Gov. Kasich know that the purpose of the Turnpike is to allow safe, fast transit of and access to the northern most populous and industrial tier of Ohio. Not to be a profit center for Columbus vote chasers.

I don’t know how the governor plans to handle it, but I imagine privatization would include separate contractors for snow removal and associated sand and salt stores, private bids and supervision of repairs, nephews of every major shareholder driving the vehicles etc and attendant opportunities for finger pointing when things, inevitably, go wrong. And how about those Hoopies? While no one wants to see their flashing lights behind them, imagine if the guy walking up to your car with his hand on a loaded gun has all the judgment of Mayberry’s Barney Fife.

Governor, it ain’t broke, don’t try to fix it. If you really need to build a profit center, try revamping the way the Statehouse (sorta) works.

Jim Cartwright, Canfield