×

Sound off!

We have made much progress in the past 50 years (computers, phones, etc.), but certainly not in road resurfacing. Example (and there are many): Recently, a section of Market Street in Youngstown was blacktopped, and every manhole is a bump. Surely, it can’t be rocket science to match the manhole with the street. Where is the accountability? Perhaps, the people in charge need to be held responsible. Or doesn’t anyone care? Shame on them!

• Boardman

Is there no zoning in Canfield? On Neff Drive, an enormous red barn was built behind a house. A two-story garage was erected behind a Montgomery Drive house, lowering the value of the properties in the neighborhood. Also on Montgomery, a person who apparently does lawn maintenance work parks his equipment on his lawn between his house and his neighbor’s. It’s disgusting!

• Canfield

I am so disgusted with government agencies not functioning due to COVID-19. The BMV is not taking phone calls. I went online as recommended, but the chatline was overburdened, and I gave up. The Trumbull County Sheriff’s Sales have been postponed until August. You would think they could use the tax money from buyers of those properties. Why can private companies adapt and function well but not those funded by us, the taxpayers? It is reprehensible.

• Hubbard

For Robert Reich to say in a recent column the “US stands united against President Trump” is absolutely his opinion. And to use the word “united” is just untrue. I feel sorry for anyone with dementia, but for people wanting to vote for Vice President Joe Biden when you can see he is dealing with it, I really feel sorry for them.

• Columbiana

Fool me once, shame on you. Because the president has failed to stop COVID-19, he’s creating a problem to divert attention. In 2016, he said we’re being invaded by rapists at our southern border. He spent three years building 3 miles of wall and caging children. Mexico didn’t pay for it. Now he’s sending uninvited and unidentified Homeland Security officers into American cities to attack protesters, instead of de-escalating as we’re training our police to do. He’s threatening to use this police force in other cities. His only goal is to win voters by scaring them like he did in 2016. Fool me twice, shame on me.

• Campbell

I have not heard a cogent definition of the often-used word “racism.” My sense is that it has different meanings to different people. Most of us rightly see the word like a “disease” that must be cured if we are to be the nation we aspire to be. Excluding themselves, the national media and liberal elites wrongly view racism as infecting only whites. As long as this is seen as a white-only “disease,” it will not be cured.

• Canfield

How sad is it that our society needs government officials to dictate how to take care of ourselves? The coronavirus is real. We all need to social distance and wear masks to prevent the spread. Why can’t we all do our part and be responsible adults, instead of acting like petulant children? Do your part and maybe we will be in a better place sooner rather than later. I’d rather be 6 feet away than six feet under!

• Youngstown

It’s ironic that in a year when racism is the top issue among Democrats, a closet racist is their nominee for president. Joe Biden has stated “poor kids are just as bright and talented as white kids.” Barack Obama “is the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean.” In a presidential debate Joe stated, “I’ll be damned if I feel responsible to pay for what happened 300 years ago.” Biden’s record in the Senate reflects very racist legislation.

• Hubbard

In keeping with his history of interfering with the criminal justice system, Trump publicly sent a message to Jeffrey Epstein’s accomplice in the sex trafficking organization. His message: “I wish her well,” “I’ve got your back.” Regardless of what happens in court, she will either have the charges dropped by Barr or, if convicted, have her sentence commuted or be pardoned by the extortionist in chief. No prominent men will be identified.

• Austintown

Sound off!

Cal Thomas’ recent column, “Will Lightning Strike Twice,” implores the president to rescue his poll numbers by displaying empathy. “If you can fake humility, you can fake anything,” Mr. Thomas says after complaining of NYT and WAPO attacks on Mr. Trump. However, I wonder if the request in his piece is the most vicious attack on the president of all, as it leads to this question: Wouldn’t it be nice to have a president who didn’t need to fake empathy?

• Boardman

We are all familiar with ‘No Shirt, No Shoes, No Service’ posted on most establishments, and we abide by it. There are seat belt, helmet and no smoking regulations. We follow them. We must wear masks to keep us all safer. If you don’t believe they do any good, make sure you tell your doctor and operating room team not to bother wearing them the next time you have surgery. Wear a mask, please. I am wearing mine to keep you safe.

• Austintown

Our country is tearing apart because facts are in dispute. A lot of this is caused by exaggerations, omissions and lies from our leaders and national media. We must see through the lies. Fact check. If you must make excuses or re-interpret someone’s statements, take the meaning at face value. Compare what he / she says over time. If it’s contradictory then there’s deceit. And consider that person’s credibility.

• Campbell

Cal Thomas’ recent column about abortion struck a chord with me. He mentioned a movie about Gosnell, the Philadelphia abortion doctor. In the movie, the testimony of a legal abortion was shocking. It could be performed on a baby up to 23 weeks, 6 days, and this is a big baby, possibly 11 inches. The description of how the baby is killed is heartbreaking. Why does a mother think her life is more important than an innocent baby who never has been given an opportunity to live?

• Hubbard

It’s been inferred that Joe Biden has the beginnings of dementia. Biden with dementia would be better than what we have. Biden has the intelligence and common sense to not be a know-it-all leader. He will pay attention to his daily briefings, appoint the most qualified to his Cabinet and actually consult with them and value their opinions. Right now, Biden is our only hope. He will work to pick up the pieces and put our country back together.

• Struthers

Those who criticize football players as unpatriotic for kneeling during the national anthem, such as the Navy veteran who recently took out a “Defund the NFL” ad, are missing the point. This is not about the flag! It never was. The players are demonstrating against police violence and racial injustice. Finally, the rest of the country is starting to support the just cause.

• Boardman

Just when we thought Donald Trump could sink no lower, now credible reports state Russia paid the Taliban, who Trump wanted to invite to Camp David, to kill American troops in Afghanistan. Trump calls it a hoax, and so did Putin. The GOP has signed off on everything Trump’s done to send our country back 100 years. The GOP has become a fringe party, and should be banished from Washington until it learns what America is all about.

• Girard

Have something to say?

Have something you want to get off your chest? Share it here with other readers.

“Sound off!” publishes Saturdays to provide readers with a forum to applaud successes, discuss issues, point out local problems or review events of the day — all in a constructive manner. Preference is given to local issues, but will not include election issues. Selected “Sound off!” submissions are published. Names are not included, but residential community is.

Limit “Sound off!” comments to 80 words. Submit longer comments as “Letters to the Editor,” a separate forum that publishes Sundays.

Submit via email to soundoff@tribtoday.com; or via the Virtual Newsroom by going to www.vindy.com and clicking “Submit News” and then “Sound off.”

Sound off!

Can we get past HB 70 conversations? Real concerns are helping families with school and getting ready for fall. Some are apprehensive about the pandemic. It’s true there is no accountability to tax-payers, but where is a plan to help students and hold parents accountable? Can the in-fighting stop? Come up with programs to improve students. Thank you Chaney coach Chris Amill for “Build the Bridge.” Children are suffering while HB 70 conversations keep going. How can we assist Justin Jennings?

• Youngstown

Kudos to Boardman Community Baseball for giving area youth the opportunity to play summer baseball and accepting players from other areas. Also for mapping out social-distance markers for us to follow.

• Youngstown

We are told if you are exposed to COVID-19, get tested and self quarantine for 14 days. I guess if you are Youngstown mayor, you get tested and quarantine for seven days. You can’t miss the photo op with the vice president. I am hoping that between the seventh and 14th day, when he could have tested positive, he didn’t spread it to anyone.

• Youngstown

If this ABC Water District were on the ballot, it would not pass. It’s bad enough that individual homeowners are taxed, but going after Canfield Fair and Boardman Park is ridiculous. It’s taxation without representation. Austintown is not even participating because they know it is unfair, and their community would not put up with it. Yet, Austintown gets reimbursed for projects.

• Boardman

An issue getting national news attention is fireworks — shooting off of enjoyable, money burners into the sky. Noise is a real problem to pets and elderly. The Fourth of July is great, but every day leading up to it? I have taken this issue to trustees. Now that township meetings are virtual, plus they postponed fireworks, the issue is not mentioned in their meetings. Trustees should understand it’s a problem.

• Austintown

I have written several e-mails to Gov. Mike DeWine asking him to require face masks when out in public. I was in the grocery store recently, and I observed a customer without a mask sneezing on the vegetables. DeWine replied that all employees are required to wear masks. I say it is not the employees we must worry about. If we are going to decrease the number of COVID-19 cases in Ohio, we must require masks for everyone.

• Hubbard

Why doesn’t Joe Biden stand up to the radical liberal Democrats who want to destroy property, deface George Washington statues, attack police officers, break into gated communities, occupy Seattle neighborhoods, vandalize buildings and destroy the American economy. If you remain silent, you endorse these criminal acts.

• Hubbard

North Korea and South Korea are clashing. Russia placed a bounty on our soldiers in Afghanistan. COVID-19 is surging. The economy is crashing. Protesters are demanding an end to systemic racism and police reform. And what was our president doing last Sunday? Playing golf and driving a wedge between the races on Twitter. As he tries to preserve statues of traitors who caused the death of almost 1 million Americans, we can now see the time period that he wants to take us back to with his Make America Great Again.

• Campbell

Have something to say?

Have something you want to get off your chest? Share it here with other readers.

“Sound off!” publishes Saturdays to provide readers with a forum to applaud successes, discuss issues, point out local problems or review events of the day — all in a constructive manner. Preference is given to local issues, but will not include election issues. Selected “Sound off!” submissions are published. Names are not included, but residential community is.

Limit “Sound off!” comments to 80 words. Submit longer comments as “Letters to the Editor,” a separate forum that publishes Sundays.

Submit via email to soundoff@tribtoday.com; or via the Virtual Newsroom by going to www.vindy.com and clicking “Submit News” and then “Sound off.”

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.85/week.

Subscribe Today