Oakhill reference in story on Cafaro inappropriate

Oakhill reference in story on Cafaro inappropriate

This letter addresses the April 28 Vindicator article titled “Cafaro can’t wait until dreams become reality” based on Anthony M. Cafaro Sr.’s presentation of the vast accomplishments of the Cafaro Co. and his tribute to his father.

During my conversation with reporter David Skolnick after Anthony’s excellent presentation, we discussed the balance in reporting and allowing unrelated negative comments to distract from the many accomplishments of the Cafaro Co.

I was impressed with the article that followed until, out of nowhere, the article suddenly became tainted with comments again about the Oakhill Renaissance Place matter, which had nothing to do with the extraordinary presentation and accomplishments of the company by a proud son of its founder.

These repeated and worn out messages in The Vindicator are particularly inappropriate by constant suggestions of the prosecutor’s “suspicions of Mr. Cafaro’s connections” with the Oakhill matter.

Merriam-Webster’s definition of the word “suspicion” is the act or an instance of suspecting something wrong without proof or on slight evidence: a state of mental uneasiness and uncertainty.”

From a reader’s perspective, the constant and repeated references in The Vindicator to “suspicion” suggests “guilt,” which in this case has not been proven but is only one man’s (prosecutor) mental state of uneasiness and uncertainty.

So one might ask 1) why the repeated references to “suspicion” based upon one person’s uneasiness and uncertainty; and 2) why was it so important that this repetitive reference to “suspicion” be injected into your otherwise well written article of outstanding accomplishments of an officer and its company.

One would “suspect” that the repeated references to “suspicion” by The Vindicator are designed to lead the reader to assume The Vindicator’s motive is to brand Mr. Cafaro with “guilt.”

I believe I share this perception with other Rotarians who attended the meeting.

Atty. Frank R. Bodor, Warren

Never play poker with master bluffer Trump

As always on Sunday morning, I look forward to Bertram de Souza’s column to read avidly. I was a bit disappointed by his writing about Donald Trump, although much of it was spot on.

During my days of living in New Jersey when that guy was as yet “getting started” and expanding too rapidly, I remember the day when he had one day before having to declare his first bankruptcy. He could not begin to pay the interest on his loans much less any principal payments. He did make financial institutions back down; how could New York state stand the drain on its treasury by all of the unemployment compensation that would have to be paid by Trump overextending his fiscal responsibilities? Of course, I understand the financial institutions’ responsibilities letting him get in such a jackpot by extending credit that was not justified. Shame on them also.

Trump blew through the funds left him by his father as Mr. de Souza pointed out in his column. How many bankruptcies since? Four?

How does Trump plan to make companies bring back industries that have fled to not pay a decent wage to employees? Is he going to take on General Motors to bring back Packard Electric in Warren from Mexico?

When will he start buying goods made in America? What is his plan to make Mexico build and pay for the wall he has said needs to be built between our borders with Mexico?

Understandably he does not want anyone to see his tax returns. That would include disclosure of how many countries and where he has investments. Does he pay any foreign tax to these countries?

I don’t play and never will play poker as I don’t understand that game. This means that I will never play against him were it possible, as he seems to the world’s greatest bluffer!

Shirley Bartlett, Austintown

Parent should be held culpable in gorilla killing

A human life is more important than an animal’s. The Cincinnati Zoo did the right thing in killing the gorilla Harambe. The director, Mr. Maynard, an expert in his field, knew the boy’s life was in severe danger.

But, where was the parent? A 4-year old is like a “whirling dervish.” His mother should have been holding his hand the whole time. There were other young children with her. Where’s her common sense, taking a group of young children to see gorillas?

The boy climbed over a 3-foot tall railing, walked and crawled through an area of bushes about 4 feet deep, then plunged 15 feet into the moat. He told his mother he wanted to get into the water with the gorilla, and she said no.

What a good mother, she actually said no, so she did her part (but how many kids listen to the first no). She ignored him for many minutes for him to have scaled a fence, crawled through bushes and plunged into the water.

She should be charged with child endangerment. Too bad there’s no law for lack of common sense or stupidity. I’m an animal lover. The whole incident was an avoidable tragedy. I ask again, where was the parent and why isn’t she culpable in this senseless tragedy?

Terry Gallagher, Youngstown

In praise of roundabouts

The roundabout on Matthews Road at Sheridan Road in Boardman has made negotiating that intersection a pleasant experience. It is a meaningful improvement, and it’s beautiful.

It moves me to note for others that the April 2016 Harper’s Index reports that such traffic circles decrease injurious car accidents by 75 percent.

The current U.S. percentage of such circle intersections is currently .09 percent. May that number grow, rapidly.

Kudos to the engineering department that introduced it at Sheridan and Matthews.

Rev. Bob Bonnot, Struthers