Council should resist urge to welcome growers of pot

Opinion: May 21, 2017 at 12:00a.m.

As an elder citizen of this wonderful and most caring county in Northeast Ohio, although not a Youngstown City resident, I feel impelled to speak.

I was very interested in reading The Vindicator’s lead article Wednesday, “Five groups are interested in growing pot for medical usage.” Anyone with a semblance of intelligence can see the implied interest in being the selected provider in a “cash generator” such as medical marijuana. It will be a cash windfall to whomever is selected.

The state law permits 12 Level 1 growers with 25,000 square feet of growing space with a potential expansion to 75,000 square feet to grow. Consider the size: a football field is 57,000 square feet. Imagine your neighborhood adjacent to property dedicated to marijuana growing. Home values in the entire Youngstown metro area will certainly not be enhanced. However, loss of home value is only the “tip of the iceberg.”

Consider a more vexing problem. Has our area become a haven for such endeavors? Can we not choose to support more viable and beneficial programs such as industrial incubators, high-tech startups, or other innovative ventures? We have bountiful young talent who unfortunately now choose to leave, we have an outstanding educational foundation at YSU, we have the jewel of automotive manufacturing and assembly in Lordstown, we have world class power generation stations being installed, we sit on top of a huge gas field, we have an inspired industrial leadership, and we have a geographical bounty. We deserve better than this.

Members of Youngstown City Council have been overwhelmed by the implied benefits, such as increased employment and potential citywide income. It has been characterized as a veritable “cash cow.” The implied response: “How could we refuse?” rings in my ears. The pressure to approve undoubtedly is unprecedented.

Walk the walk, don’t be blinded by the potential income; consider the impact of these dangerous highly refined drugs on our young. The implied dollar signs are a drug themselves.

Reject the medical marijuana proposals. Keep our citizens free from the effects of this entry-level drug even as disguised as a medical necessity. Do the job you have been elected to do. Represent the parents who chose you to reflect their values. Send those suppliers elsewhere. Reject, reject, reject.

Art See, Canfield

Will medical marijuana open Pandora’s Box here?

Lately there has been much to say about the opioid addiction in the area. Deaths from heroin are on a steady climb with little relief in sight. Now, however, a new evil gets ready to rise: the commercial growing of marijuana and what it means to this area.

There are people out there who wish to come to the region and start a business growing the plant for medical purposes. Yes, I totally agree that some people would greatly benefit from the therapeutic derivatives of this plant. However, is it wise, with all the addiction and fatal overdoses that we are experiencing here in the Valley, to move forward and let the business of growing marijuana come into the area for medical purposes?

Is this a Pandora’s Box we want to open, adding insult to injury? How long will it take for the refined element to end up on the street doing more harm than good?

There are many of you who will argue in favor of this move. Yes, they have valid points, but control of the process is a major factor. There are too many gray areas that need to be closely looked at before proceeding. If you don’t want the devil in the house, don’t open the front door. Let’s look at all possibilities before we end up having far greater issues. The benefits of the decision we are about to make could be far reaching; we must get it right the first time.

Jim Eidel, Beaver Township

Probes of Trump’s ties to Russia must continue

I fear for our country. Donald Trump fired FBI Director James Comey for no reason beyond Comey’s investigation of the coordination between the Trump campaign and Russia during last fall’s campaign. Trump first claimed he fired Comey for his handling of Hillary Clinton’s email investigation, yet Trump embraced Comey for that very act during the campaign and well beyond his inauguration. The May 9 firing is a shocking reminder of Nixon’s legacy of suppressing and eliminating those who opposed him.

Let’s review. Trump fired Sally Yates ostensibly for interference with his Muslim ban. He fired U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara, who was investigating Trump’s business conflicts. Now, the same day federal prosecutors issued grand jury subpoenas in the FBI’s Russia investigation, Trump fires Comey. Yet, even after Trump was warned in January, Flynn misled the FBI and the media about his Russian connections and payments, Trump refused to fire Flynn until pressured.

Now Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina has said he wants to know more about Trump’s business dealings.

This follows recent news of Trump’s son-in-law’s family selling visas to Chinese who can afford them. Trump can’t fire Sen. Graham. It appears the Trump family is cashing in on the presidency.

I respect individuals’ decisions when making their choices between candidates. We are fortunate to live in a country that promotes free and fair elections. But many voters made a bad choice that threatens American democracy.

They must realize that this current swamp water is poisonous elixir, and they’d better not keep drinking it.

As Congressman Elijah Cummings of Maryland has said, it is time for the Republicans in this country to stop circling their wagons around their Republican president and circle them instead around the United States of America.

Do you, who are reading this letter, love your country enough to put country ahead of party? Because we are now in a dangerous place with Trump.

Let the new special counsel, the FBI and congressional legislative committees investigate any possible ties between Russia and the Trump campaign. It’s best for all of us to know the truth.

Linda Cocuzzi Richter, Niles

Trump needs all of his voters to show support now more than ever

Is there a vendetta against President Donald Trump? I truly do believe there is.

Where are all the voters who put him in as president? He needs these supporters to come forward. Without doubt, the media are definitely biased – they are crucifying him because they have been unable to accept that he did win the election. They, along with the Democrats, are all poor losers.

I have been trying to be patient hoping they will give him the chance he deserves, but the media constantly only seem to present issues to be criticized and only headline the negatives.

Get over it. This country needs to be unified.

Barbara Snider, Canfield