DEAR EDITOR:

The recent events in East Palestine due to the Norfolk Southern train derailment should make us question what toxins come through our neighborhoods and what toxin plants are getting built in our communities. Each person should have the right to clean air and clean water. It should not be determined by the ZIP code where one lives.

As Youngstown Sustainability fights to keep SOBE (Youngstown Thermal) from burning tires and plastics in downtown Youngstown and Lowellville, remember the toxins that went into the air, water and ground in East Palestine can happen here in downtown Youngstown and Lowellville. I encourage you to say no to SOBE.

And, for those who want to see health disparities in the Youngstown area, go to the EPA website and type in your ZIP code at: https://ejscreen.epa.gov/mapper.

CHRISTINE SILVESTRI

Youngstown