DEAR EDITOR:

Life in Warren has never been without challenges, but in recent years, the weight feels heavier. Families are struggling, addiction grips our neighborhoods, and mental health crises touch nearly every home. Yet one truth remains: We have a choice in how we respond.

For Warren to grow — especially as major companies like Kimberly-Clark move in — we must embrace a new spirit: one rooted in kindness, compassion, and the courage to break free from “the way we’ve always done it.”

No one knows hardship like those in our justice system. Judges, prosecutors, and defense attorneys see broken homes, shattered trust and acts of violence daily. Over time, such exposure can harden hearts. But here’s the truth: grace and empathy are not weaknesses, they are strengths. Justice must prevail, but compassion must walk alongside it. Without compassion, justice becomes punishment alone, and punishment rarely heals communities.

Clinging to the past is a slow poison, keeping us trapped in cycles of poverty, addiction and despair. If we want Warren to thrive — where families feel safe, opportunity is real, and second chances mean something — we must lead with humanity.

Mental health courts and alternative sentencing prove another path is possible. These programs don’t excuse crime; they address root causes. They connect people with treatment and accountability instead of defaulting to jail. The result? Lower recidivism, restored families and citizens who return as contributors, not repeat offenders. Our motto should be: Treatment before Tragedy.

The same applies to those battling addiction or untreated mental illness. Traditional incarceration often worsens these struggles. Treatment-based programs offer a real chance to break the cycle that brought them to court.

And here’s something everyone needs to understand: Mental illness and addiction are treatable. Recovery IS possible. If we did a better job early — ensuring access to medication, therapy, and supportive housing — we would see homelessness and addiction decline dramatically. These problems aren’t unsolvable; they reflect systems that relied too much on punishment and too little on healing.

Change begins when we choose compassion, courage and solutions that work. Warren deserves nothing less.

JANET DYER

Niles