Letters to the editor
Thanks to newspaper carriers
DEAR EDITOR:
Recently I had an interruption in my daily delivery of the Tribune Chronicle, which was quickly taken care of. This made me realize something. I worked in manufacturing for 46 years, and I cannot think of one time anyone was upset because the CEO of the corporation did not come in to work or was late.
But if the newspaper does not show up, your whole day is ruined. Thank you, carriers, for your dedication.
David F. Brazofsky
Mesopotamia
TNP deserves Orchid
DEAR EDITOR:
I wanted to thank the Tribune for awarding me an Orchid for the donation of a truck to Trumbull Neighborhood Partnership, commonly referred to as TNP. However, I would like to pass the Orchid on to those who truly deserve it: Matt Martin, Lisa Ramsey, Shawn Carvin, Sheila Calko, Nick Bellas, Mikenna McClurg, Denise Rising, Jarrod McCartney and Ronnique Bishop. These fine people are the backbone of TNP and do great work for Warren.
TNP has done a fantastic job for the city of Warren and yet so many don’t know of this organization or the great people behind it. TNP was launched with the assistance of the Wean Foundation, another wonderful group of people working hard for Warren. In the past few years, TNP has been involved in neighborhood planning, management of the Trumbull County Land Bank, the demolition of more than 300 derelict properties, sale of more than 300 vacant lots to resident for side yards and the sale of more than 100 houses for rehabilitation. All of this work has been accomplished not with local tax payer dollars but with grants from the state and federal governments.
More noticeably, TNP is known for the various murals around town and many community gardens they aided in establishing with various neighborhood associations, who themselves are another unsung group of heroes in Warren. I could go on and on, but I simply do not have enough space to list all TNP’s accomplishments.
All this great work is their day job. After hours, you will see these same individuals donating much of the their free time to various charitable groups such as Trumbull Art Gallery, Greg’s Gardens, neighborhood association groups and many of the special projects going on in the city. I have never seen such hard-working people so dedicated to this town.
If you don’t know this organization or the fine people involved in it, I would suggest you stop and see them at their offices at 170 N. Park in downtown Warren. I think you will come to the same conclusion. So with that said, I would like to pass the Orchid to the people at TNP. They are an indispensable asset to Warren, and we all owe them a great deal of gratitude for all they do.
Paul Clouser
Warren
GM contract slap to Delphi retirees
DEAR EDITOR:
Here we go again, another slap in the face to all Packard Electric employees and retirees. Also a big slap to Delphi employees.
I, like all other retirees, put in a lot of sweat, blood and tears at Packard. I worked for 31 years and lost most of my benefits, and also GM lowered my life insurance. When I signed my retirement papers, I was promised my benefits and my life insurance. That never stood true.
If we were going to vote on a new contract, we were not promised or never received a signing bonus.
GM can give employees $8,000 bonus and give $6,000 to future retirees, but those who built and got GM where it is now cannot get any benefits back that we have lost. There is definitely something wrong with this picture.
We retirees and all of Delphi do not feel that by signing a contract should give employees a bonus. Why not cut the bonus in half and give the retirees some of their benefits that have been taken away?
Let’s go back to the 1950s and 60s. We did not have the privileges they have now. There was no such thing as bonuses; we either would sign the contract or would strike, then we stood on the picket line.
There is no justice here. I speak for everyone, not just myself.
Patty Elser
Warren
Beware of teen use of household products
DEAR EDITOR:
Cough syrup, mouthwash and hand sanitizer. Are these just common household items, or are they much more than that? Hand sanitizer has been known to kill 99.99 percent of bacteria and is owned by the majority of our germ-conscious society. Although that is what most of us use this common household item for, what are our children and teens using it for?
Hand sanitizer seems to be the new household target among teens who want a faster and more intense alcohol kick. This product is inexpensive and easily accessible. These products are not made for ingestion, even when they’re distilled and mixed with other substances. The alcohol content of these products is quite astounding. An article produced by ABC News suggests that “a standard liquid hand sanitizer has an alcohol content of 62 to 65 percent. This means the fluids are 120 proof, where a standard bottle of vodka is 80 proof.” Where are teens getting these ideas? Not only are they swapping ideas among each other, but the Internet has been known for step-by-step procedures for almost anything. With a few clicks, teens are learning more than parents may realize.
Not only are teens at a high concern, but children younger than 12 are also ingesting it as a dare or simply because it looks tasty. Dr. Gaylord Lopez, the Georgia poison center’s director, stated, “A lot of the more attractive (hand sanitizers) are the ones that are scented. There are strawberry, grape, orange-flavored hand sanitizers that are very appealing to kids.” There were 3,266 hand sanitizer cases related to young children that were reported to poison control centers in 2010. In 2014, the number accelerated to 16,117.
Whether children or teens, this is becoming a major concern to parents, health care providers and poison control centers. According to toxicology expert Dr. Cyrus Rangan, “Patients are coming into the emergency department with symptoms like slurred speech, lack of balance and changes in their mental state. These are all common side effects from drinking hand sanitizer.”
Taking precautionary measures is not only essential to parents, but also to teachers in schools. Hand sanitizers should be stored out of reach of children and monitored around teens. Non alcohol-based products or sanitizing wipes may also be recommended. The fact that kids can buy a product that can chemically get them more intoxicated than what parents buy in the liquor store is terrifying. Parents should also explain to their children and teens the dangers of many household items when being used in ways they are not intended to be used. This could save a call to poison control, a trip to the emergency department or it could even save a life.
Brittany Emery
Masury
Body cameras could violate Bill of Rights
DEAR EDITOR:
Last Sunday you advocated making police wear body cameras.
One would wonder if you would advocate that all citizens wear body cameras. Probably not, because that would be a violation of their Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination. Then why do you feel the police are not entitled to this protection? We know you hide behind the First Amendment, but deny others theirs.
Larry Oliver Sr.
Windham
Loose, vicious dogs are growing problem
DEAR EDITOR:
On Oct. 26 I was taking my 10-year-old golden retriever and my 7-year-old black lab for a casual walk. As I crossed the road, an unattended pit bull bit my dog. As she bled profusely, shook her head and got blood on my lab, I was frantic. I asked a guy for help, which he brought out paper towels and a phone to call 911. After an hour later and I’m still there, I called my wife and she came down with the car. At this point the owners and their 2-year-old came. My wife asked him if our dog needed vet assistance if they would pay. He said yes, but don’t go crazy. Really?
I say this, from now I will carry mace or pepper spray and they will get it. After we returned home, my wife called to the dispatcher again and they sent out a young officer. He assured me that John Onatz would get in contact with us. Nothing. Two weeks later it happened again, different dog, in Washington Square Nursing Home parking. This time Mr. Onatz came out. The house that he went to told him, “It’s my daughter’s dog and she’s not home right now.” He said either put the dog in the house or tie it up.
We shouldn’t have to be threatened every time we want to take our pets for a walk. I think this is a serious situation that needs to be addressed, and I will let it be known at our neighborhood meeting.
Frederick Taddei
Warren
Stop-and-frisk policy can save lives
DEAR EDITOR:
I read in a recent Tribune that the city of Baltimore recorded its 300th homicide so far this year. During all of 2014 there were 211 murders in that city. The homicide rate began to skyrocket in May after the death of Freddie Gray, a black man, while in police custody. Protesters burned and looted large portions of the city, as well.
Since May of this year, there have been no homicides at the hands of police.
I find it ironic that this homicide rate has risen sharply since ultra liberal Democrat Mayor Stephanie Rawlings Blake ordered Baltimore police Chief Anthony Batts to stop the department’s stop-and-frisk policy last year. This is a procedure used by the police when a person looks suspicious or reasonably suspects a person has committed, or is about to commit a crime. It was very effective in reducing crime and homicides.
Also, many illegal guns were confiscated as a result of this practice. But the ACLU screamed the procedure was racist as mostly minority neighborhoods where the crime and murder rate is the highest were targeted the most. There is an eight-square-block area of Baltimore that is especially dangerous and crime ridden where stop-and-frisk had become very effective.
Since Barack Obama declared war on the police in this country last year, New York City Mayor Bill DeBlasio also caved and has ordered his police department to cease stop-and-frisk as well. Guess what? An increase in New York City murders also. Former NYC Mayor Bloomberg credited the practice with saving hundreds of lives in his city during his tenure.
But once again, political correctness has gotten in the way of good sense in this country, and the homicide rate in one city has increased 33 percent as a result. I bet the family and friends of those 300 people who were killed wish those attackers had been stopped and frisked.
Rod Zeck
Newton Falls
Better monitoring of educators needed
DEAR EDITOR:
This letter is in response to the Nov. 15 letter from Leif P. Damstoft Sr.
What does he really know about racial behavior? Has he ever seen it firsthand? I don’t think so.
The teenage (female) who was snatched out of her seat after being knocked to the floor in a classroom with other children watching was to make them afraid. This can happen to you. It doesn’t just happen in schools, on streets, at home; it also happens in the work places. Most people won’t say anything because starting trouble on the job can and would get you fired due to your race, and how you associate with your bosses outside the job really counts, too (card buddies, golf buddies, drinking buddies, etc.). Back in your day, I was a white teacher doing it to you; let a black teacher do it you or he would have been hung out to dry. This is the outright truth.
Look at STEAM Academy a week or so ago where a teacher physically man-handled an 11-year-old girl; yes, he was fired, and yes, charges were pressed against him. Good, we don’t need things like this to disrupt educating our children. None of these actions should have happened, but they did. More background checks, better monitoring the people who are educating our children, young adults. Leif Damstoft talks about respect; maybe he needs to look into the real world. Remember one thing: Our government has stripped the rights of parents disciplining their children.
Ronald E. White Sr.
Warren
Why walk on Warren streets?
DEAR EDITOR:
Just asking – I drive through the northwest part of Warren on my way to the Giant Eagle store on Mahoning. I use Beal Avenue and Dunstan Drive, sometimes before sunrise and other times after sunset. Driving on those streets in the daylight, it looks as if the sidewalks are in decent shape. So I ask, why do some residents out for their walking exercise dress in dark clothing and walk in the street instead of on the sidewalk? Are these folks related to the drivers at sunrise or sunset who use their one free hand to shield their eyes from the sun? I am just guessing that their sun visors are defective or the owner’s manual never explained the operation of them to the drivers, assuming they ever looked at it. Just asking why.
Elias Vujovich
Southington
Letters to the editor
Challenges to mayor will continue
DEAR EDITOR:
The population becomes more divisive when our mayor, on the front page of the Tribune, segregates the population by separating those who challenged him from those who supported him. To our mayor, only those who supported him have a right to be called citizens of Warren, while those of us who challenged him through proper discourse and open debate, are relegated to second class citizenship. This is segregation in its most basic form. The mayor has not brought the city together, but by thoughtless comments, has created a deeper rift that leaks beyond party-line dogma into class and separation.
Do understand that this debate will continue until Warren has an open government. We, the underrepresented, will continue to challenge him, his administration and the ever-increasing number of toadies who follow like sheep.
Contrary to his baseless, inflammatory comments, we offered no lies. Our challenges were based on facts. Facts that his administration hid from the population by not offering an open forum, other than the three-minute moments provided in counsel.
What the mayor hasn’t grasped is that 45 percent of Warren’s population came out and voted against him and his administration’s policies. We, the independent thinkers, opened the process to those who felt powerless in the face of 19th century Tammany Hall politico.
So for the next four years be sure that we will still be here, supporting the spirit of Warren by challenging the policies of a reactionary administration, which is grinding our spirit into gravel.
Ronald Book
Warren
Consider pedestrian safety
DEAR EDITOR:
Pedestrian fatalities are increasing across this country. It is unacceptable that a pedestrian is killed every two hours.
With skies getting darker earlier, we are reminded of how important safe and well-designed streets and crosswalks are to our community. Tragically, one-fifth of children under age 14 who were killed in traffic in 2013 were pedestrians. Older adults are extremely vulnerable, too, and make up nearly 20 percent of pedestrian fatalities of all ages.
Nearly half of the individuals ages 50 or older who AARP surveyed said they could not safely cross the main streets in their neighborhoods. While adults 65 or older made up just more than 13 percent of Ohio’s population, they represented 20 percent of the state’s pedestrian fatalities between 2003 and 2010.
Some in Congress are working hard to find solutions. The Senate recently passed legislation that includes bipartisan, pedestrian safety improvements sponsored by Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) and Dean Heller (R-Nevada). The amendment advances us toward ensuring that transportation investments provide safe travel for pedestrians and everyone who uses the road, regardless of their age or ability.
U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown of Lorain and U.S Rep. Bob Gibbs of Wooster are members of the conference committee that will play a vital role as the House and Senate comes to final agreement on a transportation bill. They can help reduce these tragic fatalities by ensuring that strong pedestrian safety measures included in the Senate transportation bill remain in the final conference report with the House.
Let’s encourage Ohio’s congressmen to remember how important safe and well-designed streets and crosswalks are to our community. Crossing the street shouldn’t mean crossing your fingers.
Michael L. Barnhart, Ph.D.
State President
AARP Ohio
Despair for democracy
DEAR EDITOR:
I am not surprised that the so-called ‘Blueprint to Prosperity Water Line Initiative’ is going forward.
The proposed line along U.S. Route 422 was defeated in a vote put to the affected residents. But there is too much money to be made by developers who have long drooled over the farmland of northern Trumbull County. The purported reason is the ‘poor quality’ of our water. I am on a well, and our water is both safe and so much better than city water that I carry it with me rather than drink city water. That this plan is being implemented makes me despair for democracy in our area.
Cynthia Bushnell
Southington
Israeli expansion alarming
DEAR EDITOR:
In a series of recent comments by Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister’s descriptions of current realities in Israel and Palestine provide a stark contrast to what I am seeing and experiencing. I am currently traveling throughout the West Bank as part of a delegation with Interfaith Peace Builders, seeking a fuller understanding of these realities, and in spite of the prime minister’s claims that land is not being gobbled up by the expansion of illegal settlements, we have seen ample evidence to the contrary. Not only do these settlements dot the horizon at nearly every turn, but these settlements are themselves dotted with the presence of cranes and other clear evidence of an abundance of new housing units, spreading these settlements broadly across Palestinian land.
This expansion of Israeli settlement is additionally alarming because of the way they clearly are being used as part of a larger strategy to separate Palestinian farmers from their fields, Palestinian neighbors from one another, and entire Palestinian communities from the basic resources they need to survive. And such a violation of fundamental human rights is a concern to me personally as a U.S. citizen and a taxpayer in light of the fact that, in Netanyahu’s words, the American people are a “strategic asset” in this ongoing project to remove Palestinians from the land Israel so desperately covets and tries to claim.
Netanyahu recently told the American Enterprise Institute that Israel and the U.S. share “the values of freedom, free societies, the idea of individual choice.” He went on to claim that the land of Israel is “a land of freedom.” And yet, it is precisely the freedom of Palestinian people I have been blessed to meet which is being denied by the very real expansion of Israeli settlements and other violations of their human rights, all in the search for a false sort of “security” which denies basic human equality. Such a denial is a real threat to us all.
The Rev. Dr. Nathan Howe
Niles
Social Security Trust raided once again
DEAR EDITOR:
In the new budget deal that passed 64-35, Sen. Sherrod Brown was one of those voting in favor of it. Remember him, it gives President Obama a blank check to spend on whatever he wants till he leaves office. But that is not the worst of it. They did this, once again, in the middle of the night – 3 a.m. to be exact – stole $150 billion from the Social Security Trust Fund to fund the disability fund, just like he stole money from our money to fund Obamacare, which is failing.
See, the young do not want to sign up; they caught on to the Ponzi scheme, hoping the young will pay for the sick.
It’s not happening. They would rather pay the penalty. Make sure you contact Sherrod Brown for doing this. This is money the baby boomers have paid into, and now there is another I.O.U. that never will be paid back to us. We never will get another raise, while Medicare will go up and so will prescription drugs. Seems like the left only wants to steal from us.
Did I make your day?
Ruth Lilley
Niles
Parents must work to combat childhood obesity
DEAR EDITOR:
Who is the most influential person in a young child’s life? The question is almost too easy to answer. It is the child’s parents or caregivers.
When we ask who’s at fault for childhood obesity, we point fingers at fast food restaurants, the schools, the television, etc. Shouldn’t a little blame be placed on the parents?
Today, studies reveal that around 31 percent of parents are unable to identify that their child is overweight or obese. If parents are unable to identify this is an issue, isn’t it possible that the issue never gets addressed, even worse, fed into? This contributing factor is something that needs attention.
Many parents don’t take well to criticism of their parenting style, but when the health of the nation relies on the future of these children, a pained ego is the least of our worries. Children learn by modeling after their parents; this means that parents must address their own bad habits and attempt to correct them.
Much effort is being put into educating children on healthy eating habits and the importance of exercising, but are we educating the parent enough to identify and change behavior that leads to obesity? Are we doing all we can to eliminate this critical risk factor in some of the nation’s deadliest diseases?
Alex Mickler
Youngstown
It’s time for all to give thanks
DEAR EDITOR:
Thanksgiving will be upon us soon. Yet some may gripe and fuss about not having anything to be thankful for. That is so wrong. When we look around at the world today, it can really break your heart.
We are still fighting what seems to be a never-ending war. Countless lives are being diminished. There is hunger, not only in foreign countries but in some places in the U.S. Child abuse and molestation seems as if it is the “norm.” Politicians still are fighting among themselves in order to see who can be at the top of the heap. Drugs, rape, theft seem to be the order of the day. You may ask yourself, “Where is the hope? Where is the love? What do I have to be thankful for?”
In my humble opinion, just merely opening my eyes and rising from my bed is a reason to be thankful. I see some people as I go through my daily routine with frowns on their faces. Putting a smile on someone’s face or giving a kind word to someone makes me happy. I think that more people should try this.
I’ve read where the homeless at times are beaten up and robbed of their meager possessions. This is so cruel. I wonder if people who do this ever stop and think that it could have been them.
In spite of all of the tragedy in this world, you can still find joy. In spite of the ugliness in this world, you can still find beauty. In spite of all the darkness in this world, you can still find light. In spite of all of the sadness, you can still find joy. In spite of all of the devastation in this world, you can still find hope.
Thanksgiving to me is not just about turkey, dressing and all of the trimmings. It is “love.” Not just for my family, but for my fellow man. If you really stop and think – really think. We have more things to be thankful for, more people in our lives to be thankful for than not.
Jennifer Y. Williams
Warren
Share God’s word with the world
DEAR EDITOR:
To you, is Jesus worth sharing with friends or family? If not, is it because you do not know God loves you? Or is it because you state you know God, but you do not really believe in Jesus?
Jesus stated in the Gospel of John, “The world’s sin is that it refuses to believe in me.” John 14:17. But everyone who has a relationship with Jesus and calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
Let me express that sharing my faith is worth it. I am not the least bit embarrassed about the gospel. See Romans 1:16. The gospel is the good news – but only to those who see their need for forgiveness that comes through Jesus Christ.
If someone shared Jesus with you, be thankful that person was not embarrassed or timid about Jesus. What if they had let the moment pass? You could have missed out on this great news. If God’s law is a test, it is a litmus test to show us our need for grace and forgiveness that comes through Christ sacrifice.
If you believe God is in the business of releasing incredible joy into people’s lives, you will take on more risk for the sake of seeing others encounter Jesus. Bold servants are needed in our world – servants who will carry the gospel of Jesus to those who need to hear. As Joshua 24 states, “Serve the Lord alone. But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. If you abandon the Lord and serve other gods, He will turn against you and destroy you.”
If we believe God’s words, then we will obey and teach it to others. What does God want from you? Just your heart! What are you saying with your life? Are you slandering and dishonoring God by your eagerness to serve Him without knowing Him?
What better use of time is there than to help someone who doesn’t know God become connected to Him and His love? What better risk is there than one that could have eternal benefits? God cannot place into you the nature that was in Jesus Christ unless you are aware of your need for Him. God placed salvation for the entire human race solely on the basis of redemption through Jesus Christ.
The greatest need we have is not to do things, but to believe things! A life lived for the glory of God will overflow with joy! God loves you, but do you truly love God? There is no judgment against anyone who believes in Him. God is merciful – even His judgment.
God’s not dead!
Mike Jones
Kinsman
Letters to the editor
City budget is slow train wreck
DEAR EDITOR:
In response to John Robertson’s letter which appeared last Sunday, it should be noted that Dr. Robertson made a number of incorrect and misleading statements in his letter. Like so many politicians, he tries to convince us that two plus two doesn’t really equal four, and that those of us outside government aren’t sophisticated enough to understand the complexity of government accounting.
Here is what I actually said during the campaign, which are easily verified facts: When Mayor Hank Angelo left office at the end of 2003 he left the city with a $3.5 million surplus in the General Fund, from which most city services, including police and fire, are paid. The budget doesn’t label this surplus a “rainy day fund” – I called it that during the mayoral debate because it is a term in common use which most people understand for what it is.
During Mayor O’Brien’s eight years in office the surplus was depleted by more than half to $1.6 million. During Mr. Franklin’s first three years in office he spent the remaining surplus down to just $48,000, and he has continued spending. By August of this year the General Fund had a negative operating cash balance, which is still the case.
The mayor kept the city solvent through the election by not paying its bills. This is common knowledge in the Warren business community; a number of local business have stopped extending credit to the city, and one had to appeal to City Council members to get more than $80,000 paid to them, which was six months overdue.
This situation has been a slow motion train wreck; it has been developing for more than a decade and is common knowledge. But inside Warren’s one-party echo chamber they have pretended it isn’t so. And now Dr. Robertson is trying to persuade you to close your eyes and believe along with them.
Unfortunately reality has a way of asserting itself in the end.
Dennis Blank
Warren
Police incident was not racial
DEAR EDITOR:
OK, this idea that every time a police officer does his or her job and it doesn’t look pretty means the officer is wrong has got to stop. I’m talking about the insubordinate teenage black girl who was wrestled out of a classroom by an officer after she was repeatedly told to leave by the teacher, the principal and the officer.
That student is not the victim in this case any more than Zimmerman was the victim in the Trayvon Martin case. It was her behavior that caused the incident, just as it was Zimmerman’s behavior that caused his demonstrous act. Rather, the victims are the other kids in the class who were being denied their education lesson because of that student, the teacher for having to deal with the student, the principal and the officer being forced by the student to do his job. This was no peaceful protest and it was not racial.
How can people defend someone who is clearly in the wrong like this student? Police work can get ugly. Everyone should understand that. To say he used excessive force is ridiculous. The girl had no real injuries and the officer was punched by the girl.
The girl did not act in a Christian manner, so she was not handled in a Christian manner because that is the reality of human existence. Christ said if you are not welcomed to simply leave. The girl was no longer welcomed she should have left. She was handled in the language she understands, provoked and wanted, violence. Just like Zimmerman did. Fortunately it wasn’t a lethal ending.
When I was in 7th grade, I was man handled by a teacher for being late to class. Picked up and thrown into the room crashing into his garbage can and desk. I did nothing wrong but show up late because my bike chain fell off on my way to school and I had to fix it. Yet all we did was have a parent, teacher, principal meeting, and the teacher apologized. No lawsuit or federal investigation. I’ll bet this parent is salivating at a lawsuit right now. If that were my kid, I would have disciplined her again when she got home. That’s how I was raised. Get in trouble at school, get more at home. Respect and listen to your teachers or pay the consequences.
This idea that police must be perfect is ridiculous. Mistakes happen. It is the kind of mistakes that you need to worry about. This was a simple problem of a student being obstructive and refusing to act properly. If you got fired at work and refused to leave, what do you think would happen to you?
Leif P. Damstoft Sr.
Warren
Nuisance to Friday football
DEAR EDITOR:
High school football games used to be the highlight of your week especially in October. In the old days you could watch a game through the clear night air. Nowadays you have to put up with a neighbor’s campfire and smoke which drifts into the air. The local police should not allow this to occur, at least during any sporting event. Such was the case at the Lakeview game against Champion. While it may be legal to have a fire, it can be a nuisance to those watching the game. There should be some common sense in these instances.
James Collins
Warren
Shame on Congress
DEAR EDITOR:
Lately this Speaker of the House nonsense has my blood boiling. The U.S. Congress is pretty much a joke and waste of money in my book, but they are a major part in running our country and play a major impact on the human race as a whole.
It really really burns me as natural-born U.S. citizen and taxpayer how horrible these 435 members of congress and 100 senators do their jobs. They Hide behind closed doors to select the Speaker of the House. They have closed-door party meetings to decide how they plan on running the country. Then every once in a while, you will hear one of them say for the better of the institution of the congress. Now you hit a raw nerve. What ever happened to doing the job for the best of the Country? Or for mankind as a whole?
Obamacare is such a poor example of doing what is right. Only half of the congress even tried to tackle healthcare reform while the other half bad mouthed the idea and didn’t even try to make it better, instead working to stop it. They didn’t offer one idea or solution when given the opportunity. Why weren’t 535 ideas written up to fix the healthcare system and then narrow it down to one that would benefit the USA as a whole?
We don’t have a budget plan – just short-term funding plans, all because some clowns like to power play for the White House.
I want people who are going to serve the national interests of all the people of the U.S.A. and what is right for our country now that is a hard job because everyone was given a unique gift of free will, and each one of us has different ideas of what is good or not for our country.
Shame on congress for the horrible job you have done making this country a better place to live!
Matthew Durandetta
Warren
Future of healthcare ambitions
DEAR EDITOR:
At Mercy Health and Summa Health, we have big ambitions for the future of healthcare. We believe we can transform what many see as a bloated, costly and inefficient system, providing better care at lower cost.
In recent days, we have proven we can do just that. The Accountable Care Organizations that we operate, Mercy Health Select and New Health Collaborative, combined to save Medicare nearly $26 million in 2014 while improving the quality of care for nearly 100,000 Medicare beneficiaries.
Yes, that’s right – we returned money to the taxpayers. Not only did we provide quality care, but we kept patients healthier so they avoided costly hospital visits.
We are the only healthcare systems in Ohio to earn rewards through the Medicare Shared Savings Program. Our portions of shared savings will be used to reinvest in our care networks, providing support that helps patients all over the state, from Toledo and Akron to Cincinnati.
This is only one of the dozens of ways that Mercy Health and Summa Health are making healthcare in Ohio more effective for patients and more efficient for the taxpayer. Among the others: We are adding behavioral health experts in primary care offices, and we are hiring care coordinators to work directly with patients, making sure they make appointments and take the proper medications.
The Medicare Shared Savings Program is one example how government and the private sector can lead, finding innovative ways to produce better healthcare value for patients and for taxpayers. Another substantial opportunity is in Ohio Medicaid. We need more accountability from Medicaid, including innovative agreements between providers and managed care plans. This is already occurring in pediatric care, with one example known as Partners for Kids at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus.
Our model of providing better care at lower cost, proven in Medicare, could augment the state policy direction for adults enrolled in Medicaid. With Medicaid accounting for more than one-quarter of the entire Ohio budget, making Medicaid more efficient would be of immense benefit to Ohio taxpayers. At Mercy Health and Summa Health, we are effectively positioned to lead those changes.
Michael Connelly
President and CEO of Mercy Health
Thomas Malone, MD,
President and CEO of Summa Health
Education is first step to freedom
DEAR EDITOR:
I wish to applaud the effort of area businessmen on visiting Cuba to establish a working relationship. After all, it has been 56 years since their economy has stopped in its tracks. This is something we should have done when the Soviet Union collapsed. Education is the first step toward freedom.
As far as the criticism of dealing with a communist nation, we have done business with Red China for years and established relations with Vietnam. And we all know how that turned out.
David F. Brazofsky
Mesopotamia
Homeless are people too
DEAR EDITOR:
Under the bridge, sits a veteran, on a 30-degree night, waiting for the snowfall to subside. A young girl and her parents share Christmas dinner in their car. Then there is the woman with a growling stomach and no money for food. What do all of these people have in common? They are all homeless. There are days when there can be hundreds to thousands of people homeless in Mahoning County and surrounding communities.
You may pose the question, “Why should I worry about the homeless?” Other than their life being just as important as the next life, the homeless are unable to buy health insurance, they are unable to seek preventive health care and they are unable to purchase medications that they may need. When they do seek care, they are incapable of funding this healthcare. In turn, the government and taxpayers are covering these unpaid hospital services. And what are you showing your children? That people can go hungry? Are you showing them generosity and kindness by helping encourage the homeless to seek care? Have you recently helped by donating unused clothing or canned goods?
There are services that the homeless can use like the Rescue Mission of the Mahoning Valley and the local food banks, which have the ability to provide food, clothing and a place to stay. But with the winter months around the corner, some of these people may simply not have a coat to wear and there may be a shortage of accommodations for them. Increasing awareness about the homeless population will help others to encourage the homeless to seek care in facilities that can help keep them warm and keep food in their stomachs.
Their understanding in these services needs to increase because, at the end of the day, they are people. People who want to stay warm in the snowfalls, who want to spend Christmas with family in a home and who want to have food in their stomachs. All of these are everyday things that you may take for granted.
Sara Esmail
Liberty
Letters to the editor
Unsuccessful candidate gives thanks
DEAR?EDITOR:
Thank you to everyone who voted for me for mayor on Tuesday, and to the many others who didn’t, but were willing to listen and ask questions about our plans to create a new Warren, one in which accountability, planning and progress take priority over party.
We had nearly 200 volunteers and more than 45 percent of the vote. We ran a clean, respectful campaign that focused on issues and performance. We attacked policies with which we disagreed, never the people who implemented them.
We put our ideas in writing so that everyone had the opportunity to know our intentions before voting. We campaigned in every neighborhood, and we campaigned on the same ideas everywhere we went. We spoke for ourselves rather than through surrogates.
I’m very proud of the effort we made, and of the people who made it.
We wish Mayor Franklin the best of luck and every success in the next four years. He said in his inaugural address four years ago that, “Warren cannot succeed unless everyone participates.”
We believe that is true, and that together we can do better. My supporters and I will continue to do our part in moving Warren forward.
Dennis Blank
Warren
Why I supported Franklin for mayor
DEAR EDITOR:
This letter was originally submitted last week but missed the deadline. I feel the topic is still important for citizens.
Yes, I am a supporter of Mayor Doug Franklin. My favoring our mayor in the past election is not because of loyalty to party politics nor is it due to any political philosophy. My support for Doug Franklin is based on my belief that he was the better candidate.
Mr. Blank, as the challenger, had the luxury of making unsubstantiated statements from the sidelines. Statements that stem from inexperience that feed to the lack of knowledge of his followers.
We have heard the accusation that the Franklin administration has overspent the city budget, that a so-called “rainy day fund” has been irresponsibly depleted over the last four years. The beauty of this political strategy is that even though it is not true, it is not easy to explain. Governmental budgets are complicated beasts. Anyone having experience with governmental funding understands the difficulty there is in explaining it.
The problem is that governmental budgets are never static – coming from multiple funding sources. Funding sources are not secure and rarely on time. On top of that, debt obligations are often scheduled erratically. Financial statements take snapshots of cash flow which is always misleading. Inexperienced analysis of quarterly statements look at cash accounts and see large amounts and assume that is cash available with accounting for monies already obligated. Budget sheets are often misunderstood by themselves without narrative explanations.
Let’s put it this way, if I look at my bank account at the end of the year without accounting for outstanding checks, a new roof that I put off getting done and several loans that come due in March, I will show that I have more cash on hand than I really do. It’s not money I can spend nor save, but it shows as excess.
All this is attempting to give an understanding to a complicated process. Local governments have little discretion in their budgets and with the form of local government we have, all budget and spending must be reviewed and approved by city council. In addition, the state reviews spending every year.
The Blank campaign gave simple, incomplete and misleading pictures of the city’s budget. And I’m disturbed because I would rather believe that the Blank campaign’s misleading of Warren voters was the result of inexperience with public funding rather than purposeful attempt to mislead voters.
Dr. John D. Robertson
Warren
Remember homeless as winter approaches
DEAR EDITOR:
This is regarding quite a big issue in Youngstown and its surrounding communities. This issue is about the homeless population. With the weather getting progressively colder, there will be many people who will not have enough clothing, food or a shelter. This is a big issue because it can affect the local area in numerous ways.
Thank you so much for your time and consideration of this issue.
Sara Esmail
Liberty
Robots big part of medical advances
DEAR EDITOR:
Robots are taking over, but that may not be such a bad thing.
In healthcare alone, the use of robots have been seen in many aspects. In the United States, close to the same number of people die from hospital acquired infections (HAI) as from AIDS, breast cancer and auto accidents combined. Center for Disease Control statistics show that one in every 25 hospitalized patients will get an HAI and one in nine will die, costing the healthcare industry more than $30 billion.
Xenex is the robot often used after surgical procedures and at the end of the day to disinfect operating suites and hospital rooms. It is a “germ-zapping” robot used to disinfect and combat HAI, which tends to be one of the leading causes of death in the United States. Hospitals all over the country are seeing significant reduction in HAI’s after using the Xenex.
Along with these surgical services, there are robots for pharmaceutical purposes allowing doctors to give their patients a higher level of care. As well as robots that “run” for nurses and nurse aides allowing them to better utilize their time with the patient themselves. But the first big advance with robotic technology in hospitals was the Da Vinci surgical system. These surgeries are much less invasive than the previous surgeries for certain procedures, allowing for better outcomes and less recovery time needed. Meaning less costs for the patient and the hospital.
So why am I writing you this letter? Well because there are many debates about the use of robots and whether it’s aiding or hurting our society and in the medical industry. These robots are a wonderful advancement and welcomed ally in the hospitals. Our society tends to lose out because face-to-face communication is less as technology is more, but as our technology advances, our health may increase, which is the outcome we as healthcare professionals want for all of our patients.
Stephanie Hawkins
Warren
‘Onion’ to thieves
DEAR EDITOR:
A big “onion” to the low-life thieves that made it their business to sneak into my yard under cover of night, to steal my gazing ball. My next-door neighbors had several yard ornaments stolen as well. We work hard in our yards and take pride in our decorations. We work hard for the money that we pay for these things. Evidently, these thieves have no pride in themselves or know the value of a dollar earned.
If they would have asked for my gazing ball, I would have given it to them.
Being that this was not the first theft we have experienced since we have lived here, I am pretty sure it won’t be the last.
If you suddenly became the owner of a blue-and-orange gazing ball, it is probably mine.
Marilyn Kidwell
Liberty
Stick up for those who can’t
DEAR EDITOR:
Food for thought – we have all felt our hearts ache when tragedies hit home. We have seen terrorism strike poured land and school shootings bring despair to our communities. Who do we blame? We have seen sick people do unimaginable, horrible things and turn around and pass judgment. We wonder why our children bully others and push them past the breaking point. We make them weak and vulnerable. We make them think that they are unworthy of love and compassion. All we want is to be accepted and loved without judgment. We were all children at one point and learn from example. Our parents tell us they love us and we can do anything if we put our mind to it. We work hard enough and try out for whatever excites us and we make it, that means we succeeded, right? Wrong.
We as parents want the best for our children. But are we judging them, predicting where they’ll end up? If you don’t have a long-standing name or become one of the popular kids, you’re not worthy. Just because you’re a cheerleader or football player or become someone famous or have a lot of money doesn’t make you better than anyone else. We are all people, human beings. All we have become is bitter people who can’t move past the hate long enough to teach our children that love and compassion go a long way. Be kind, be loving, be understanding. Stick up for those who can’t. Join a Stop the Bullying campaign. Be human again. #loveourchildren.
Stacia Marie Sebald
Southington
Autism affects 1 in 68 children
DEAR EDITOR:
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about one in 68 children have been identified with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). ASD is five times more likely in boys as girls, and ASD is reported to occur in all racial, ethnic and socioeconomic groups. According to the United States Census Bureau, Trumbull County has a population of 206,442. Approximately 3,035 children in Trumbull County have some form of ASD.
Providing education and services for this protected population is the Hope Academy for Autism in Warren. Hope Academy was opened in 2012 by Kimberly Clinkscale, CEO and executive director of Shepherd of all God’s Children Daycare. Hope Academy for Autism provides a humanistic learning environment for children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders. Any child with Autism, Asperger’s Syndrome, PDD-NOS, Rhett’s Disorder or Childhood Disintegrative Disorder, ages 3 to 17 years and diagnosed by a licensed physician, psychiatrist or psychologist and who is a Trumbull County area resident, is eligible for enrollment. Children who meet the eligibility requirements can enroll at any point in the school year.
The Hope Academy for Autism advances the cause for ASD awareness in Trumbull County. The school offers a safe environment for individualized learning that meets the Ohio Department of Education’s requirements.
To learn more or set up a visit, contact the school at 330-469-9501 or visit the website at www.hopeacademyforautism.com. Steven R. Shook
Intern, Hope Academy for Autism
Young men need role models
DEAR EDITOR:
The feminist and LGBT movements have resulted in removing role models for young heterosexual males. Young males, especially teens, need role models to show them how a man thinks and acts. With the divorce rate at more than 50 percent, male teens lose a father figure who should fill this role, resulting in confused young males.
In the past, young males could rely on prominent men such as Ronald Reagan and Frank Sinatra to show them the way. Sadly, they have been gone for many years. Prominent male role models today consist of liberal wimps such as George Clooney, late night male talk show hosts and rappers.
Thomas R. Watts
Girard
God loves you, do you love Him?
DEAR EDITOR:
To you, is Jesus worth sharing with friends or family? If not, is it a result that you do not know that God loves you? Or is it a result that you state you know God, but you do not really believe in Jesus? Jesus stated in the Gospel of John, “The world’s sin is that it refuses to believe in me.” John 14:17. But everyone who has a relationship with Jesus and calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
Let me express that sharing my faith is worth it. I am not the least bit embarrassed about the gospel. See Romans 1:16. The gospel is the good news – but only to those who see their need for forgiveness that comes through Jesus Christ.
If someone shared Jesus with you, be thankful that person was not embarrassed or timid about Jesus. What if they had let the moment pass? You could have missed out on this great news. If God’s law is a test, it is a litmus test to show us our need for grace and forgiveness that comes through Christ’s sacrifice.
If you believe God is in the business of releasing incredible joy into people’s lives, you will take on more risk for the sake of seeing others encounter Jesus. Bold servants are needed in our world – servants who will carry the gospel of Jesus to those who need to hear. As Joshua 24 states, “Serve the Lord alone. But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. If you abandon the Lord and serve other gods, He will turn against you and destroy you.”
If we believe God’s words, then we will obey and teach it to others. What does God want from you? Just your heart! What are you saying with your life? Are you slandering and dishonoring God by your eagerness to serve Him without knowing Him?
What better use of time is there than to help someone who doesn’t know God become connected to Him and His love? What better risk is there than one that could have eternal benefits? God cannot place into you the nature that was in Jesus Christ unless you are aware of your need for Him. God placed salvation for the entire human race solely on the basis of redemption through Jesus Christ.
The greatest need we have is not to do things, but to believe things! A life lived for the glory of God will overflow with joy! God loves you, but do you truly love God? There is no judgment against anyone who believes in Him. God is merciful – even His judgment.
Mike Jones
Kinsman
America’s future depends on Bible
DEAR EDITOR:
America was good when America’s preachers believed God / Jesus Christ.
America was great when her pastors loved the Bible and knew that it was found in the Authorized King James family of Bibles.
America started going bad when the pastors started turning from the simple faith that God really did preserve His Word and that it was in the Antioch / Masoretic stream of manuscripts.
Satan’s first attack was on the Word of God and the effects are apparent. Pastors who use these Alexandrian manuscripts are calling God a liar. So why should the people believe them and God.
Bad Bibles make bad pastors which make bad laymen which make bad families which make bad government, bad education and business leaders which foster bad workers and bad customers. Prove that wrong as you look at our criminals running D.C. and a lot of our governments.
When Satan gets people into sin because of bad Bibles, he can then use tyrants to bring them into dependency and slavery. Does Obamacare ring a bell? Does liberal theology and politics come to mind?
We know when America is turning when we see the bars shut down from lack of customers. Nudity is gone because of a fear of God. Education becomes real education not like current day Marxist brain programming. Pro sports are mostly gone because people are serving God. All the new versions of the Bible are gathering dust and the King James Family of Bibles proclaimed as the Word of God and obeyed.
Amusement parks close for lack of customers. Rock music and jazz go out of business for lack of listeners. Pagan holidays are ignored. No one would get divorced and much less marry any divorced spouse. Abortions (cold-blooded murder) would end for the fear of God and lack of customers. Drug dealers and pharmaceutical companies would go out of business for lack on customers. Playboy and Hustler would go broke. The criminals in D.C. and high offices would be jailed and punished.
The IRS would have to close because it is a criminal organization. Courts would have much less business; there would be need for fewer police. It goes on and on.
No one can prove these wrong.
Ross Whetson
Cortland
Letters to the editor
Mathews Schools should improve relations
Dear Editor:
The Mathews School District is in dire need of a better relationship with the community which it serves.
There should be more involvement and interaction between the school and it’s surrounding community. When parents, families and members of the community are involved with schools, all children benefit. Mathews School District needs to reach out and create avenues for parents, community members, local businesses and others to provide support.
Parents need to be involved with their children’s progress, PTO, tutoring or after-school programs. They also should be given information and support they need. Communities need to know that good schools increase property values and improve quality of life within the area. The community is also filled with volunteer organizations that can provide an array of services that may benefit the school.
Through programs such as internships, mentoring and shadowing, businesses help students discover their talents. Businesses also can help create a well-prepared workforce for the future.
Michele Garman
Vienna
Save our Social Security
DEAR EDITOR:
My opinion to the readers of the Tribune Chronicle is we, the people, should be the ones to vote yay or nay on saving our Social Security and Medicare, not the president or rich politicians. Whoever permitted the politicians to dip their hands in our money had no right doing so, and then to replace the money with fake IOUs and no intentions of repaying this ill-gotten money.
Our president is in favor of drastic changes in Social Security, and even is thinking of ending Social Security. If he is stupid enough ever to do this, there will not be a police force big enough to handle the crimes that could and would happen by seniors who are living day to day. Like myself, thousands upon thousands of seniors rely on Social Security to pay rent, buy food and medical supplies, all while prices keep going up.
Many Republicans in office now are testing the waters for their change of becoming our next president. There will be a lot of fake promises made by all those running.
Our president is ready to sign official papers allowing thousands of illegal residents to become U.S. citizens so they can collect Social Security. When, in fact, 90 percent of these illegals have lived in the U.S. but refuse to become citizens of our great country.
This is the lame brain idea of our leader and is not our democratic way. We, the people, need to voice our discontent to this idea before our president puts more ink into his pen.
Earl S. Casterline
Warren
Retire-rehire needs to end
DEAR EDITOR:
As someone who has worked their whole life, I always thought a pension was something that you and your employer contributed into to make sure you were able to remain solvent and comfortable once you were too old to work.
That seemed to be the agreed-upon reason why the pension system exists for workers.
If that’s the case, why is Warren plagued with elected officials who are “double dippers?” Outgoing Warren city Auditor David Griffing has been retired and working for years. The same goes for Warren Municipal Judge Thomas Gysegem. Also on this list of public officials finding loopholes in the law to line their own pockets is Warren City Law Director Greg Hicks.
Hicks is retired, collecting his pension and still working. In fact, he’s even running for another term this November!
When will the state house and the voters put an end to these greedy “public servants?” The abuse of the public employee pension system needs to end!
Janice Cranes
Niles
Protect our children
DEAR EDITOR:
I would like to commend the Joseph Badger Local School District, the Superintendent of schools, Superintendent Dr. David Bair and the Board of Education on a recent decision to disallow students from training and running on state Routes 7, 5 and 87.
They have decided there are other alternatives for this practice and what they have done is divert a disaster of monstrous proportions from happening to our students and their community.
I hope and pray that other schools follow the lead of the Joseph Badger Local School District and other superintendents follow the lead of Superintendent Dr. David Bair.
In my opinion this is not only a problem for our area schools but this is a practice that happens all across our nation, and I hope someone in each of these communities stands up and says, “Stop putting our children in harm’s way.”
There are alternatives.
Larry Bradley
Kinsman
Overweight trucks pose problem
DEAR?EDITOR:
I would like to commend the Trumbull County Sheriff’s Office for the excellent job they have been doing in our township stopping and ticketing trucks that are overloaded and overweight. Our township roads and state highways are designed for limited weight.
I was disturbed to find out that we will not be having enforcement of this because it seems that a mixer truck was ticketed for being overweight, then mysteriously, our enforcement officer was re-assigned and there is no one who knows how to operate the portable scales. I hope the lack of enforcement does not contribute to a repeat of the overweight truck problem.
David F. Brazofsky
Mesopotamia
Maintain right to carry guns
DEAR EDITOR:
Years ago I saw a bumper sticker which read, “When guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns.”
If we are foolish enough to let Obama rob us of our right to bear arms, we deserve what we will get.
As Obama arrived in Roseburg, Ore., where the massive shootings recently took place, some of the 22,000 residents demonstrated against his visit, saying, “He’s here simply to push his garbage, and we don’t want it,” according to the Oct. 9 Tribune Chronicle.
The attitude of many is that the solution to mass killings is to have more people carrying guns, not fewer.
Would that fateful day in Oregon have had a different ending if all the security officers had been permitted to carry guns?
Catherine O. Swan
Warren
Judge not, lest ye be judged
DEAR EDITOR:
When I read about the 19-year-old young man Lucas Leonard who was whipped to death during an all-night “spiritual” counseling session in New Hartford, N.Y., just because he had the desire to leave the Word of Life Christian Church, I was shocked and appalled. I was further shocked to know that the young man was beaten not only by the church members but by his sister and parents. Beaten until he died. His 17-year-old brother was also beaten and left in critical condition. How can anyone who professes to be a Christian do such an abominable thing? How can a true Christian carry out such a “sinful” act? How can parents misuse their children, a gift that was given to them by God?
The article went on to say that one of the Deacons, Daniel Irvin, peered through a doorway window in the sanctuary during the 13-hour ordeal and saw Lucas Leonard bleeding and in apparent agony. Yet he did nothing to stop it.
I get so frustrated to see some who professes to be Christians doing contrary to the fact. Doing things in the name of the Lord when all they are doing is being hypocrites. You cannot beat “sin” out of anybody nor stand in judgment of their decisions. That is God’s job, not ours.
I am a mother of four daughters. I did not condone all of my children’s choices, but it was their choices. Lucas Leonard did not have the opportunity to venture out in the world and to make choices of his own. Maybe he saw something and some people in the church who were not right. Maybe he wanted to find another safe sanctuary. We will never know because his life was snuffed out by these church members.
I read in the article that while Lucas’ parents were in court, they sat silently with their heads bowed. In my opinion they could not bow their heads low enough in shame. They helped in killing their child and put the other one in critical condition. How dare they?!
Judge not, lest ye be judged!
Jennifer Y. Williams
Warren
Is Socialism the country’s answer?
DEAR EDITOR:
Watching the Democratic debate it is clear that people love to hear the word free.
Free health care and free college at the cost of Wall Street. Just how is that going to work if many of the middle class workers are invested in 401K retirement accounts? Do you really think that they are going to take money from Wall Street and hand it over to your children? Do you believe that the presidential candidates are just middle class citizens themselves? Would you believe that they are not beholding to any big money organizations that will put them in office? Maybe you believe the 2012 Benghazi attack was over a poorly made video, or that the reset button that Russia pushed really worked or that the private email server doesn’t matter. In the words of Hillary Clinton “what difference does it make?”
We have had seven years of Democratic progressive policies, and yet these candidates still need to fix everything including healthcare. What happened to the Affordable Care Act where everyone was going to have health insurance, and you could keep your plan, keep your doctor and save $2,500 a year to boot? This entire debate was a rerun from 2008 starting with wage increases for everyone, helping the middle class, taxing the rich and gun control.
Regarding gun control, the simple fact is you can’t fix crazy or stupid, so no matter how many laws you create, if you want to live in a free society, there is always the risk of someone, somewhere that wants everyone else to feel their pain by taking innocent lives. Why was there no mention of improving our mental healthcare services?
People that pride themselves as being politically correct, wanting free college, demanding one standard wage for all, gun control and believe that a carbon tax is needed, shouldn’t be struggling to change the U.S.A. They should think about moving to a country that has achieved all of this. Take North Korea, for example. It has gun control, tight controls on speech. They conserve energy, making them eco-friendly. They have free college, free healthcare and standard wages for everyone.
Now step back and think for a moment; would socialism really benefit our society?
Tim Santell
Kinsman