Tax breaks for gas kill coal jobs; Lepore-Hagan challenged on abortion; cheers for new city court; marry Handel’s and White House; use free speech civilly

Tax breaks for new energy plants are unfair to coal industry in US

I am saddened to see the recent layoffs by Murray Energy and other coal companies in our region. For far too long, coal jobs have been under attack in our country. These attacks have come from burdensome regulations put into place by the EPA, increased focus on renewable and alternative sources of energy and most recently by outrageous tax advantages given to gas plants.

It seems unfair to me that our government would offer tax breaks and land deals to a company to build a plant that will likely put many coal miners out of work. Why should our government take our hard-earned tax dollars and use them to sweeten a deal for a giant corporation that will hurt our economy and job market?

We aren’t talking just a few workers who could lose their jobs; we are talking about potentially thousands of workers in addition to the recent round of layoffs. That doesn’t add up. It seems like poor economics and even worse government.

I understand that we need to have a comprehensive energy plan; however, the government should not be giving tax breaks to one segment of our energy portfolio while increasing regulations on the other. This just does not make sense.

John Morrow, Wellsville

Morrow is a member of Wellsville Village Council.

Down-syndrome babies do not deserve to be targeted for abortion

We take issue with state Rep. Michele Lepore-Hagan’s comment on House Bill 135 that would impose fines and or medical- license revocation to doctors that performed abortions on babies that may have a prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome. Recent statistics reveal as high as 80 to 90 percent of these children are aborted (let’s call it what it is: murder) just because of a disability. How heartless and cruel that is.

To infer that most of these children will need to spend their lives institutionalized is unrealistic. That may have been true 50 years ago, but these babies’ lives – as well as typical babies whose lives are cut short due mostly to inconvenience – have value and are created in God’s image. There will always be a need for long-term placement due to various medical conditions or parents who are unable to care for them any longer.

But it is not the norm in our experience. The parents we have known over the years have kept their kids home to raise are loving, nurturing, strong advocates for their care, safety and being productive members of the community. We can all learn so much from the unconditional love that they freely give to others.

Why does it seem the thing to do automatically if a child has been diagnosed with a disability or is unwanted is to sentence the child to death?

Many loving caring families yearn to adopt children with Down syndrome through the DSAV (Down Syndrome Association of the Valley) and many others for those families that have been blessed with a baby who has Ds.

The reasoning that there will be so many children with Ds being born that there won’t be sufficient facilities to hold them is quite a reach.

May our hearts be softened and changed by God’s love to protect the most vulnerable among us.

William and Sandee Timmerman Jr., Austintown

New home for municipal court represents a giant step forward

As trustees of the Mahon- ing County Bar Association, we would like to thank and congratulate Youngstown Mayor John McNally, the judges and the Youngstown city government for working toward completion of an agreement on a new Youngstown Municipal Court facility.

On behalf of the attorneys of the Mahoning County Bar Association, we recommend that the agreement be approved by Youngstown city council and receive the support of this newspaper.

The existing Youngstown Municipal Court facility is inadequate. It is unsafe for the judges, for court staff, for law enforcement and for the public. Previous city administrations were willing to recognize that a problem existed, but the city seemed content to ignore the issue. In the meantime, the existing facility is a disaster waiting to happen, as the judges have repeatedly reminded the city government.

To propose the renovation of the City Hall annex is an act of great political courage – and it is also the only real solution.

Mayor McNally has stated that an agreement on a new facility will be placed before city council in the near future. Council members should recognize that the existing facility cannot be salvaged, that it has taken years of effort to reach this agreement, and that this is a major step forward for the court and the city.

J. Michael Thompson, PolandSFlbThompson is Mahoning County Bar Association president. The content of his letter was approved unanimously by the bar association board.

Join sweet movement to marry Valley’s doughnuts and ice cream

The Mahoning Valley haS a lot to offer but two culinary confections stand out above all – White House Fruit Farm’s blueberry doughnuts and Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream.

These two delicacies can soften the heart of even the grittiest Lordstown plant employee. They’re what makes Youngstown, as vexing as it is, a place we’re proud to call home.

We proselytize to outsiders and look on in amusement when they even dare suggest that their hometown doughnut or ice cream shops even come close to ours.

Did the 2012 Super Bowl champs eat your doughnuts before the game? And does the star of “The Cosby Show” ... wait, never mind on that one.

As great as it is, something’s missing. A void needs filled, and there’s only one solution: combine them.

Yes, White House Fruit Farm blueberry doughnut ice cream at Handel’s!

It’s the flavor Youngstown needs and the flavor Youngstown deserves – if even for a limited time.

Even though we don’t live in the area anymore we’d make a special trip home for it. Sure, we could make it ourselves, but as strong advocates for the Valley we want to support local businesses. That’s why we’re giving you this license to print money free of charge. Although, if you wanted to give us compensatory pints of the new flavor, we certainly wouldn’t object.

Ice cream and doughnut lovers, there’s never been a more important opportunity for civic engagement than at this moment. If you want this flavor, tell Handel’s next time you’re there. Also please overnight us some doughnuts.

Chloe Toman and Jordan Uhl, Washington, D.C.

Toman and Uhl are former Canfield residents.

Use free speech responsibly, civilly

Do we or do we not live in a civil society? Have we become so individualistic that me, me, me is our only concern? With individualism, are we carrying our idea of “rights” too far? Have we become so degraded, so inhumane a society that we have no sympathy, empathy, tolerance or sensitivity for the feelings and beliefs of others?

Some of us think that the right to free speech gives us the freedom to say anything we want to about another or express ridicule toward the belief of certain groups, without any sense of responsibility for those actions. Somewhere along the way, responsibility seems to have been severed from our right to free expression.

Freedom of expression does not carry the right to insult or incite others. With our responsible use of our rights, let’s nudge the pendulum toward the center of civility.

Sister Midge DiMatteo HM, Youngstown