DEAR EDITOR:
In an article in the Tribune a few weeks ago, I was very much surprised when I read that all of the Warren city marked police cars were all Ford vehicles. Why are they not GM vehicles?
This area is dominated by GM employees, not only directly in the plant, but other suppliers in the area that supply items to build the GM vehicles. We have many local people working at the Lordstown GM plant, paying their taxes locally and the police vehicles are all Ford. This makes no sense at all.
Even if the GM vehicle is not made in Lordstown, buy GM and support the GM industry. I read all the time, "Support your local businesses." Why is the city not supporting the GM industry? We are all lucky that GM is here in Lordstown. If it were not, Warren would not survive. What is the excuse? That Ford is a better vehicle or cheaper than GM is no excuse at all. "Support your local businesses." Some will say "it's only a few vehicles," but a few make a whole lot when numbers are combined. I have nothing against Ford vehicles. I have always owned a GM car (I support my local businesses) and I am very much satisfied with their performance and have driven my GM vehicles well more than 100,000 miles.
When it comes to buying new vehicles for the police department, I hope consideration is given to buying GM and supporting the local GM facility, the people who work there and the people locally who supply GM with their products. Why not set an example of supporting our GM industry? This not only applies to the city of Warren but all local cities, townships, villages, etc., whose vehicles are other than GM.
When the city buys new police vehicles, I will be awaiting news of which brand of vehicle they will be buying. Will they support their local industry, or will they turn their backs on GM and the employees who work in the plant and other suppliers in the area who make items to be used in GM vehicles (seats, etc.)?
Should I keep on supporting my local businesses and help keep them in business or should I support an out-of-area business? No doubt, I will keep supporting my local businesses.
Marie Mintus
Howland