Sound off!
Mill Creek MetroParks commissioners want to harvest deer, claiming there are 378 deer per square mile there. If that’s true, then why can you spend hours in the park and never see one? The park is their home. Local construction already has taken much of their natural habitat. What they state as damage being done to the park by the deer is part of the nature of a park. The park will survive. We can coexist.
• Canfield
Donald Trump deregulated the railroad industry in 2018. People of East Palestine voted overwhelmingly for Trump in 2016 and 2020. The only thing I have to offer the people of East Palestine is “thoughts and prayers.”
• McDonald
Environmental disasters require much time to clean up — more than a four-year term required to gut transportation and safety regulations that might have prevented them. Meanwhile, throwing political bomb rhetoric like “betrayal” and “slap in the face” just adds toxicity. East Palestine should demand all funding that the feds, state and railroads owe them for at least the next decade to restore what citizens lost. And keep those who offer no solution from dropping by to throw bombs or paper towels.
• Canfield
Many blame Donald Trump for the East Palestine derailment — something about electric brake rules being delayed. Rail workers recently protested work conditions, overwork, stress and wanted help. Joe Biden said: Too bad, go back to work, and he forced rail workers to go to work. Who truly is closer to fault or blame? Or is it just an accident?
• Girard
Did East Palestine residents need a visit from a former president hoping to boost his slow-moving political campaign? He has no power to do anything to help solve this disaster. A bottle of water with a campaign slogan on it does not help solve the problem. Let’s not forget, this is the same president who removed and weakened safety standards from the Obama administration for trains handling hazardous and flammable cargo. Simply hypocritical.
• Poland
Now that the law has been enforced in Youngstown with the new school zone speed cameras, shouldn’t signs also be updated? Schenley Avenue signs state: 20 mph between 7 a.m. – 9 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. If the camera gets you driving over 20 mph between 6 a.m. – 6 p.m., you are fined. Not everyone keeps up with the news and may be following outdated signs. If you’re going to change the law, do it completely.
• Boardman
Orchids to the two men who removed all the litter from Oakcrest Drive at state Route 11. Onions to all the losers that put it there!
• Austintown
Following 9/11, we went after Saddam Hussein and his weapons of mass destruction, intending to destroy both. We have our own weapons of ‘Mass Destruction’ with 71-plus mass shootings already in 2023. Many more will die as 40 percent of Americans own guns. We are a nation of angry people. Did writers of the Second Amendment really mean for this to happen — Americans killing Americans? What will be done after the next one, and then the next one after that?
• Youngstown
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“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 local election issues. Selected “Sound off!” submissions are published. Names are not included, but residential community is.
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Sound off!
Reducing Midlothian Boulevard to two lanes is ridiculous. For example, how many lights must one sit through while waiting for cars ahead of them to turn left at Southern Boulevard? This is a complete waste of money and inconvenience to everyone. I read where the current four lanes are outdated. How can this be when we have more cars on the road than ever? I’m sure no one would dispute putting more money into pothole repair and paving.
• Boardman
Regarding East Palestine, we have specialists in the haz-mat field at power plants and all major facilities. Let’s use them. We need impartial answers and a plan with solutions with action and movement of a positive nature. Will the area ever be neutralized for these citizens? Remember those huge clouds above the “controlled burn”? They settled somewhere with all the contaminants.
• Canfield
I ask MetroParks to reconsider and drop the case trying to take private property and maintain property they are responsible for first. You will decide what property to sell to maintain the rest of it when your next property tax levy fails. MetroParks had my vote automatically for 40 years and now has lost it. We have one of the largest metro parks in the nation for the population it serves. Act responsibly.
•Youngstown
Jamie Stiehm’s syndicated column described President Biden as steady and seasoned. I would replace those adjectives with lethargic and incompetent. She tried to draw comparisons between Biden and Abraham Lincoln. I don’t think Honest Abe would be flattered. He truly tried to unite the country with words meant to heal. President Biden spews division with every public appearance. Ms. Stiehm gave the president A’s and B’s. I think D’s and F’s would be more accurate.
• Poland
I would like to know when restaurants started charging a fee to use a debit or credit card. If they want cash, customers should be able to write a personal check, too!
• Poland
Speeding, texting, tailgating, crossing double yellow lines — all major causes of accidents. Yesterday a car passed me and the car in front of me, crossing the yellow lines well over the speed limit. It was caught at the same red light as me. Not long after, I was behind a car tailgating a pickup and another car in front of it, with nowhere possible to go, checking and edging over the double yellow lines to possibly pass.
• Youngstown
Since inception of this country, powerful groups benefited by dehumanizing blacks. Black History Month exists as a counterweight to showcase accomplishments. Dehumanizing includes lies, distortions and creating laws to erase history. People with no history appear “of little value.” Too many “good” people allowed dehumanizing to occur. Today, we have governors of Florida and Arkansas using the same tactics to prevent teaching black history while allowing history of foreign countries to be taught. What will today’s “good” people do?
• Campbell
China, a belligerent, Godless country, plans planet domination; 1.3 billion people ascending economically and militarily; 2.3-million-member armed forces and 1.1 million in reserve compared to our 1.4 million active military. They excel in cyber espionage and space technology. Shop Walmart or Amazon to see that Biden’s retaliatory threat to stop Chinese imports is hollow. NBA, big tech, global enterprises and Hollywood ignore China’s human atrocities and see China as a “gold mine.” China — not our climate– is our existential threat.
•Canfield
Sound off!
Cars pulling left into the center turning lane from side streets and parking lots along Route 224 and Market Street, among others, are a traffic hazard. The majority expect oncoming cars to allow them to merge into traffic. The ones that slow down and let them in makes it worse! Quit pulling out as if you have the right of way. And to the ones who think they’re being polite: stop, before you cause a terrible accident!
Youngstown
The entire Youngstown-Warren community lost a man of impeccable integrity and genuine caring with the passing of Dr. Gage. As one once said, it was “the day the music died.” He and his music will live on in all the music-related people he touched.
Hubbard
What are the steps to remove Mill Creek MetroParks board? These incompetent people wasted thousands in legal fees taking property for a needless bike trail, failed to uphold promises to maintain property given to them and now closed roads to taxpayers that would allow them to travel 627 feet on West Newport Drive to bypass construction on Canfield Road. What’s the board’s justification for these road closures? The actions are reprehensible. It’s time to remove them. Or the park system needs defunded.
Youngstown
On Wick Avenue, driving past the former Commercial Intertech is a sad sight for not only the city of Youngstown, but for the surrounding streets. The fencing, much of which is now broken, curbs and sidewalks along the building site are full of weeds and trash. Anyone traveling from Youngstown north sees this blight and must wonder if whatever company currently or formerly owns the property is being called to task or even cares.
Youngstown
In 1807 the United States Congress made the slave trade illegal, and in 1820 the death penalty was added. The law was enforced by the American Navy. As with drugs, this didn’t end the illegal trade. Smugglers have always found ways to ship their illegal cargo. Just a fact that should be brought to the public’s attention.
Boardman
What is wrong with you people? Have some backbone! Over 2.5 million unvetted illegal immigrants carrying disease and terrorism, and you wonder why there are mass shootings by demented idiots. Our ancestors fought many wars, and now you want to hand all over to India, Africa and the South American countries? You want everything to start all over. Let these people fight for their own country. Ukrainians certainly are willing. Illegal is illegal!
Canfield
Did we hear our President take credit and gush over the great unemployment rate and job creation numbers since he took office, before bashing the tax breaks given those big business barons who actually provide those jobs? That’s hypocrisy.
Hubbard
Sound off!
A recent columnist claimed making school vouchers universal would harm Ohio’s schools and rob them of funding, that taxpayers should not be subsidizing parents’ choice of private schools over public schools. If public schools were providing a superior education, parents would choose them.
• Youngstown
They keep seeking more taxes for roads. If Mahoning County and Boardman Township leaders had them paved properly, roads would last longer. Roads aren’t sealed properly at seams on Route 224 and Glenwood / Mill Creek. Ice enters causing cracking. Is mixture of asphalt correct? Why do many Boardman side streets spider crack? Don’t keep asking for money if they aren’t paved properly. And don’t say they are when they aren’t.
• Boardman
Justifiably, Hunter Biden is vilified by many for his actions. In spite of ample evidence to the contrary, Joe Biden insists he is unaware of his son’s business dealings. Joe Biden used an emotionally unstable child to amass a fortune for the Biden family. And then he stands by as his son takes all the blame for the marketing of access to father Joe’s powerful VP office? Joe Biden is a weak man, a feckless president and a horrible father.
• Canfield
Have you ever wondered why D.C. Republicans voted to increase the debt ceiling under George Bush and Donald Trump, but not under Barack Obama, despite roughly $7 billion each president increased the debt? It’s because they want to cut Social Security and Medicare and blame Democrats. Tax cuts for billionaires they like but investments in people, health care and infrastructure they don’t like. Watch what they do, not what they say.
• Campbell
Ron DeSantis, Florida governor, is ultimate ruler and dictator of all he surveys, with interference in every walk of life of Floridians. From hindering the ACA for multitudes of older Floridians, to schools and what they are allowed to teach from kindergarten through college, from banning needed knowledge on black history, he is controlling almost every phase of their lives. Make no mistake, he will run for the presidency of our country, and then watch out.
• Youngstown
Socialism breeds hate and discontent because of the have and have-not culture with ruling proletarian attitude! This country was founded for freedom with hard work, paying your bills, working pride, respect from top down. Let us get our own values in line before accepting more terrorists, drug runners, diseases and challenges. It may take some time, but let us foster freedom, pride and respect. You want something? Go to work and earn it. These things mean working upwards and sacrificing.
• Canfield
Why do we have food banks? Our government wastes billions of dollars each year with no idea of return. They recently built a $25 million heated sidewalk. There should not be one hungry person in this country. What ever happened to America first? Can any politician give a good answer?
• Boardman
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