Police chiefs back sales-tax levy; vote yes to reduce city wards; Betras on justice tax; say no to double taxation in Springfield; fracking disclaimer raises doubts; Bill of Rights is wrong

Chiefs of Police in Valley endorse Mahoning County sales-tax issue

As a group, the Mahoning Valley Chiefs of Police Association has been an active partner with the Mahoning County Sheriff’s Department in promoting the passage of Issue 1, the Mahoning County Sales and Use Tax Renewal and Additional. The issue is commonly called the Mahoning County Justice Tax.

The chiefs association consists of police chiefs as well as the heads of state and federal agencies in Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties.

The Mahoning County Sheriff’s Department, the Mahoning County Prosecutor’s Office, Mahoning County Emergency 911 and the Mahoning County Coroner’s Office all work hand-in-hand with local, state and federal agencies to combat crime, protect citizens and convict criminals. If any of these agencies has a cutback in services, it adversely affects local departments and communities throughout the county.

Law enforcement agencies rely on one another for assistance and information sharing. Each agency relies on the services of the sheriff’s department, the prosecutor’s office, Emergency 911 and the coroner’s office on a daily basis. It’s imperative that the services that these county agencies remain intact. Please vote for Issue 1 Tuesday.

Tim Roddy, Chairman, Mahoning Valley Chiefs of Police Association

Vote ‘yes’ on ward-reduction issue to increase efficiency and equality

In a couple days, Youngstown voters can make a truly exciting landmark decision. By saying SDLqyes” to Issue 7, they will rewrite a portion of the city charter that will allow the number of wards to be based on population while ensuring equal representation through mandatory redistricting by city council.

This issue came into being through council’s repeated negligence to follow through on its lawful duty to redistrict the wards. The language in this amendment will stop that nonsense and make certain every citizen’s voice is heard equally.

Issue 7 also provides an opportunity to match the number of wards — and therefore council representatives — to the city’s population. Interestingly, when the charter was adopted Youngstown was rapidly growing to 170,000 residents yet reduced council from 12 members to seven. Today’s population of 65,000 is all the justification one needs to make our city’s legislative branch more efficient by reducing it to five. When the city grows again to 80,000 or more, however, council will grow with it back to seven members.

Read “Five Good Reasons to Vote YES on Issue 7” online at DrawTheLine Youngstown.blogspot.com and you will be convinced that “yes” on 7 is the only meaningful vote. You can also read the full text of the amendment there.

Equality, efficiency, and adherence to laws is what “yes” on 7 will achieve. It might be the most important vote ever cast in this great community called Youngstown.

Chris Travers Treasurer, Committee for Responsible Redistricting

Betras gets first-hand knowledge of importance of justice-tax issue

I’m writing for two reasons: first, to thank Chief Jack Nichols of Boardman Police Department, Sheriff Jerry Greene and his deputies, firefighters, and EMS personnel who responded when a suspected bomb was placed at my office, protected me and my family while the incident was investigated, and then apprehended a suspect who is now in custody and can no longer threaten me or anyone else. The dedication and professionalism demonstrated by our community’s first responders is both awe-inspiring and comforting.

Which leads me to the second reason I’m submitting this letter: Issue 1, the small sales tax that will fund justice and safety services in Mahoning County. Like someone who doesn’t think about how important a life preserver is until he’s drowning and needs one, I took the protection our safety forces and judicial system provide for granted — until I and my family were in danger.

Nothing drives home the importance of 911, Sheriff Greene’s department, and the courts like an apparently life-threatening situation. Issue 1 will generate the revenue needed to ensure that 911 answers when we call, enable Sheriff Greene to patrol our roads and keep dangerous criminals behind bars, provide the resources Paul Gains needs to prosecute and convict offenders, and guarantee that our coroner has the high-tech tools to help identify and convict killers.

Issue 1 does all this for mere pennies, and, because it’s a sales tax paid by everyone who shops in Mahoning County people from all over our region will be paying to keep our families and neighborhoods safe. Let’s make sure the “life preserver” provided by Sheriff Greene, Prosecutor Gains, Coroner Kennedy, the courts and 911 will always be there when we need it: join me in voting “yes” for Issue 1.

Atty. David J. Betras, Canfield

Betras is chairman of the Mahoning County Democratic Party

Fracking disclaimer raises doubts

Every issue has two effects, good and bad. The oil industry seems to be touting only the best effects of fracking: jobs, strong economy, good for our state. All of its ads are geared toward these points. On the other hand, no ads raise the bad effects: health issues, damages to property, contaminated air, ground and water. Ever wonder why?

The reason is that oil-lease contracts have a disclaimer clause in them that prohibits people from discussing any ill effects they may suffer from health issues or contaminants in their water or soil.

If fracking is such a good safe thing for us, why would the disclaimer clause need to be used? Vote wisely.

Sister Midge DiMatteo, HM, Youngstown

Property and income taxes to aid schools amount to unfair taxation

I am an 85-year-old, widowed, property owner who has paid property taxes for 62 years, and I resent being penalized by having to pay an income tax also. This is unfair double taxation. I pay $1,127.94 in property taxes for one year just for the schools. That is more than half of my total property tax for the year. Then I have to pay $180 in income tax on top of that.

It is about time that Ohio legislates a more equitable method of paying for schools. Our illustrious state Supreme Court chose not to declare the property tax illegal — it only said it was “unfair.” Well, if it’s “unfair,” it should also be “illegal.”

If an income tax is so great, then legislators need to do what has to be done. A flat income tax on all of those eligible would get all those that do not pay property tax and would probably significantly increase the amount paid to the state for schools.

I urge all Ohioans to refuse to authorize any levy or income tax for schools. This might force our legislators to do something to change this unfair method of school support.

Vote “no” on the Springfield schools income tax. I agree it is not new but just renew, and that says it all. Just renew an inequity that our state must and should change.

Dorothy Balluck, New Springfield

Bill of Rights is a waste of time

Susie and Ray Beiersdorfer and others need to quit wasting local tax dollars by continuously pushing their Community Bill of Rights on the ballot. Their issue has become as incredibly wasteful as it is disrespectful to their neighbors.

We all know Youngstown does not need job loss. This radical anti-fracking agenda is dangerous and could have very real implications on our local economy. That’s why it continues to fail by large margins.

George Popovich, Youngstown