Don’t dampen American spirit

Don’t dampen American spirit

The Vindicator provid- ed a credible article Jan. 2 in “Quake fallout takes many paths.” Recent events in Youngstown have indeed exposed a startling lack of awareness in the facts, terminology and processes involved in oil and gas development. Too many articles, too many blogs and now state Rep. Bob Hagan and U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown have mistakenly tried to tie an investigation of one injection well (out of about 180 statewide) to the hydraulic fracturing technique used to enhance some oil and gas wells in an attempt to demonize an industry that has been a positive force in Ohio for over a century.

There was a time in our great country, and in this Valley, when American’s did not run from problems but instead met them head-on and solved them. That is how we became great. Today, too many American’s and way too many elected officials want to stop everything and give up when anything goes wrong. Injection wells have been around since the days of Constantine, and have been the safest, most effective means of wastewater disposal in the United States since the 1930’s. If there is a problem with the well in Youngstown, then let’s fix it and move on.

The fact is that oil and gas development has played an important role in Ohio’s history and it is set to play an even bigger role today. It has done so safely, effectively and has been well regulated. The development of Ohio’s natural resources — the Utica and Marcellus shale — provides us with a historic opportunity; an economic revitalization to a region long depressed, jobs and income for Ohio families in a struggling economy with few other opportunities, and a move towards the energy security that every American has wanted for so long, so that we can stop funding countries that hate our way of life.

What are those politicians and their special interest bosses offering that will bring 200,000 jobs to Ohio? Do they think jobs grow on trees and if we pass on this opportunity another one will just come along? We are Americans and we can do anything we set our minds to do. Just get out of our way and we’ll get that oil and gas out of the ground safely and efficiently no matter what the obstacles.

Tom Zawistowski, Ravenna

The writer is president of the Ohio Liberty Council.

Beware of weaker regulation

Voters in the Mahoning and Shenango valleys need to be aware that there is a move afoot in the Congress and in Ohio an Pennsylvania as well to lessen governmental regulations in some critical areas, including manufacturing, business and finance, and the environment. They need to be enlightened because of the 11 earthquakes related to the injection well on Ohio Works Drive in Youngstown and because governmental regulations will be among the key issues in the presidential and congressional elections this year.

I am grateful that The Vindicator is beginning to delve more into the issue of governmental regulation, especially after wild animals had to be slaughtered in the Columbus area after Republican Gov. John Kasich and the Republican dominated legislature failed to protect the public from being exposed to them, and after the recent 4.0 magnitude earthquake believed to be connected with the injection well on Ohio Works Drive. Regarding the recent earthquake and the injection well, I am happy to see our new mayor and city council begin addressing this issue. State Rep. Robert Hagan should not be the lone wolf to cry out on this issue in Youngstown. The tremors and the fact that we have had 11 of them are very unsettling to residents here on the city’s North Side.

In regard to the Mahoning and Shenango valleys, Ohioans and Pennsylvanians need to know, if they don’t know already, that they elected in John Kasich and Tom Corbett very conservative, anti-governmental regulation governors in 2010. They are more likely to resist current regulations and resist enacting any new regulations unless they are prodded by public sentiment.

I read with much interest the words of caution in your Jan. 1 editorial: “Obviously, extracting minerals from the ground and disposing of hazardous by-products is not to be endorsed lightly.” On that same page a letter from several nuns of the Sisters of the Humility of Mary religious order asked: “Why is Ohio accepting toxic drilling water from Pennsylvania for disposal?” The sisters also noted that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is conducting a national study on whether or not fracking has polluted groundwater and poisoned drinking water.

Do residents of the Mahoning and Shenango valleys know that there is a move afoot among conservative Republican members of Congress to outlaw or abolish the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency? Beware of the politics of 2012.

Leon Stennis, Youngstown

Stifle the partisan nonsense

Bertram de Souza’s Sunday column, referring in part to Dave Betras and the board of elections, suggested that there is “reluctance on the part of Republicans to bring on board someone who has publicly pledged to conduct a top to bottom review of the operations of the elections office.”

While it’s not clear which Republicans de Souza was referring to, I assume he was referring to Republicans at the board, including myself. On its face, this assertion is nonsense. The board of elections may be the most public of all public agencies. This board has been investigated, scrutinized and reviewed by secretaries of state, the sheriff, the FBI, the state auditor, lawyers and the courts, not to mention just about anyone who ever lost an election or had their petitions disqualified for one reason or another.

The board of elections is the one place in Mahoning County government where by law, there is actually some balance between the political parties. The board itself is made up of two Democrats and two Republicans. The chairman of the board is a Democrat while the board director is a Republican. The deputy director is also a Democrat. The staff is split pretty evenly, 50 percent Republican, 50 percent Democrat.

Regardless of who gets appointed to the board of elections, I hope we can keep partisan politics out of the office and focus on running good elections.

Mark E. Munroe, Youngstown

The writer is chairman of the Mahoning County Republican Party and a member Mahoning County Board of Elections.

Why stop traffic for no reason?

Several months ago when Jay Williams was mayor of Youngstown, I addressed a letter to him concerning the below mentioned subject, which got neither response nor action. I hope someone in Mayor Sammarone’s administration sees this letter and responds positively.

Although I live in Boardman, I work in downtown Youngstown and travel to and from work in the early morning between 5 and 6:30 a.m., while it is still dark, on Market Street. The two traffic signals that are a concern to me, as well as I’m sure to the others who travel this same route every day, are at Princeton Avenue and Warren Avenue. At Princeton there is very little if any traffic pulling onto Market from either the west or east. Warren Avenue dead ends at old South High School.

Invariably these two lights turn red heading north on Market no matter how you try to time them. They should either be on a yellow caution light or on a signal actuator at this time of morning, for any car that may happen to pull onto Market from either Princeton or Warren avenues. The current situations is both a safety concern and a nuisance. Please help.

Cathie Yash, Boardman