Awestruck by Traficant; US steelmaking revival; Ohio income-tax cut hurts many; South Range Schools levy merits support; Trooper deserves praise

Traficant’s thundering voice left young Democrat awestruck

This letter is in response to the articles covering the death of former Congressman James A. Traficant Jr.

I became acquainted with Jim back in 1992 when he visited the University of Akron during my final year of graduate school.

He gave a presentation to the College Democrats, and I will never forget how his voice thundered when giving emphasis to something he really believed in. Frankly, I was awestruck by his persona. After the meeting, my department head and some fellow graduate students had lunch with Jim at some old pizza joint near the former Akron Central Hower High School.

Jim banged his fist on the table so much that our salad bowls emptied themselves. But it was our conversation after lunch that did so much to inspire me.

The following year, I intended on running for Cleveland City Council in Slavic Village, and Jim told me that if I made it to the general election he would endorse me. Unfortunately I failed to do so and the rest (as they say) is history.

Jim was still able to assist me with some political battles I was engaged in after the election. Your passing, Jim, comes at a time when our country is in dire need of people like yourself.

Thank you for being that “lone voice in the wilderness on numerous occasions on Capitol Hill.” Thank you, too, for being the inspiration that motivates many of us to continue to fight the good fight.

Congressman James A. Traficant, I love and salute you for all that you did for the United States of America and especially what you did for me.

Beam me up, my friend.

Joe Bialek, Cleveland

Bringing back steel production gains much momentum in the US

Regarding “Bring back steel production” from The Vindicator of Oct. 8, it is nice to know that for the last couple of years my articles to the editors of The Vindicator are now being voiced by reporters from other national newspapers. Robert W. Patterson enumerates the vital area of need for steel at this time: “U.S. transportation infrastructure — bridges, tunnels and highway overpasses — or defense needs from carriers and submarines to armored vehicles and other weaponry.” Need we add more to this array?

The shortsighted view to past steel making is in error. A giant overblown steel complex in this day and age is not what is needed. For those items that Mr. Patterson has enumerated, a niche market exists that does not require a complex industrial site, but something much smaller and dedicated to producing steel for what is needed now, and for which inferior steel from foreign companies are now selling to U.S. companies now attempting to refurbish our infrastructure.

Most steel companies use scrap metal to produce today’s products. To make the steel needed today for the products needed, scrap metal is not the way to produce the kind of steel for building bridges, tunnels, etc. Starting with the iron from the blast furnace, the steel maker knows the precise chemical content of the iron he receives from the blast furnace. He now knows what to add to this steel making furnace to produce the precise steel for the bridge, tunnel or other project to build.

A huge blast furnace exists right here in Warren. It will not take $8 billion to $10 billion to build a niche market steel- producing factory but a sum much less.

Not only that, but the property is here and the engineers needed to put the blueprints to paper are still living in the Mahoning Valley and willing to work. Where are the movers and shakers to put this Mahoning Valley back to doing what it has been doing for over a century? “Bring back steel production.”

Leonard J. Sainato, Warren

Let us count the wealth of ways income-tax cut has hurt Ohioans

The Vindicator has docu- mented that the city has not received funding for the ongoing demolition of buildings from the state government for 2014. There are rising tuition costs but decreased funding for higher education in Ohio. The city of Toledo has had to use bottled water due to an old and broken water system. Ohio has more than 300 bridges that must be repaired or replaced. Ohio leads the country in the number of rail accidents during the transport of hazardous material.

The governor returned money given to the state by the federal government to research railroad solutions. We wanted gas and oil exploration but don’t have a safe way to transport the gas and oil out of the state.

Now, I am just incredulous to read that the governor wants business in the Mahoning Valley to pick up the slack in the public schools and assume the responsibility for improving the schools.

This is the price we are paying for the reduction of the state income tax, which is principally paid by the middle class and more wealthy citizens. A pittance of income will be recovered by increasing the sales tax, which will be paid by everyone, including the severely impoverished.

Elizabeth J. Moore, Lowellville

OK’ing school levy in South Range will help protect property values

One of the most imporTant things we can do for our children is to give them a good, solid education. A good school system can do that.

An excellent school system can do even more for all students. Such is the South Range Local Schools system. As one who has grandchildren in that system and as a former teacher, I pay very close attention to what is going on there. I read the report cards and evaluations by the state, and South Range is way up there

A good school system is the heart of any community. This is what attracts people to live there. This is what keeps property values up and keeps the community from deteriorating.

This fall, the South Range School District has on the ballot a 10-year, 3.9-mill operating levy. The millage asked for has been reduced from the previous year.

Certainly these are financially straining times for everyone, especially those on fixed incomes who go to extraordinary means to make ends meet. On the other hand, residents who own their own homes should consider this as an investment to keep up the value of their property, to encourage younger couples with children to come live there.

Like it or not, too much of our tax dollars go to support the privately owned, for-profit schools that are, according to reports, mostly inferior to the public schools. And, they have very little accountability to the state board of education. Wouldn’t you rather your tax dollar go to your own school system?

Calliope Gialousis, Campbell

Stranded driver on Interstate 680 impressed with trooper’s response

I just want to acknowledge Ohio State Highway Patrol trooper Matthew Voytek who assisted me the other night. I had a back tire blow out on Interstate 680 as I was heading north toward the Midlothian/Struthers exit.

I did not have my cellphone (panic), but I realized there was an old cellphone in car still charged. I called 911 and Trooper Voytek responded.

He asked me if I was all right and told me if I had a spare tire, he would change the tire for me; I didn’t.

He called for a tow truck and stayed with me until the truck arrived. Trooper Voytek was very courteous and very polite. He seemed genuinely concerned.

I know that’s his job, but I just wanted to recognize him for a job well done.

Debra Kellam, Youngstown