Sound off
I have an issue with a fee-based service charge by a third-party payment vendor to pay your real estate tax bill. Following a Vindicator article regarding theft of mail, I wonder what is best? I pay other bills online without service charge. I don’t want to pay in person. I would like to pay online, but will not pay an extra fee. So, I will take my payment to the post office and hope to avoid fraud.
Poland
So, Tim Ryan establishes a “dark money” PAC. From The Vindicator’s reporting, one may surmise that We the People be misconstrued as a “hate” group! Complicity is not integrity. You go, Tim.
Sebring
The courts should make things right. How can they have the knowledge to pass out decisions, but not know whether they have jurisdiction and right to do so? The bike trail land grab because of someone’s vision should end. Luckily the park board has unlimited taxpayer resources to fund their battle against another taxpayer. That alone should be illegal. Can we get a decision on that?
Columbiana
America has had an ugly underbelly against equality. Enslavers became wealthy. Only male landowners could vote. The Civil War opened the door for black men to vote, but by 1890 Jim Crow closed it. Women protesting for voting rights were beaten and imprisoned. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 pushed back Jim Crow. In 1973 women could control their own bodies. Now, that ugly underbelly wants to return to when only they could make decisions. Vote no against Issue 1.
Campbell
Be aware of wrong information. Issue 1 does not remove rights to vote or “majority rule.” It simply raises thresholds for changes to Ohio’s governing document. If a single vote could impose change, then a single vote could remove it. Ohio’s residents will vote on amending the Ohio Constitution to require a minimum percentage of signatures from Ohio’s 88 counties and 60 percent majority to pass. This applies only to constitutional amendments.
Austintown
Sound off!
What’s the greatest danger that Mahoning County deer face? That their home territory will be acquired by the Mill Creek MetroParks board. The board came. They acquired. They named it “the Forest.” They opened it over Memorial Day, and they announced they will pay hunters to kill the deer there. Nearby residents have not had a deer problem, but now we have a park board problem. Replace the park board. Keep the deer!
Springfield Township
While working July 5 at a local hotel, I left personal belongings near my desk. A young man walked in, noticed my key fob, picked it up, flipped it open, placed it in his pocket and walked out. It’s all caught on camera after I spent hours searching for it. My car is still in the parking lot with the battery disconnected so it can’t be identified and stolen while I save up for a tow and replacement key. I forgive you.
Youngstown
Saturday’s Vindicator article about democracy quotes a man that didn’t understand why Republicans were investigating Hunter Biden’s finances. He asks, “What does that have to do with us?” Hunter Biden is said to have received $40 million from foreign sources. Who paid him? Why? Where did the money go? Reports indicate President Joe Biden received some of these funds. Why? What part did he play in Hunter’s business? Was American foreign policy impacted? Americans deserve to know before the 2024 election.
Austintown
I continue to be surprised how many people get wrong college affirmative action. Affirmative action does not choose unqualified minorities over other qualified races. It adds race as one of several other criteria to choose between equally qualified individuals. Just as an athlete, child of a previous graduate or an employee might get a leg up, that’s what affirmative action did to counter previous tendencies of excluding equally qualified minorities because of race or finances, which will begin happening again.
Campbell
Dirty, dishonest public officials are the lowest form of life. Those found guilty of theft in office should be charged with treason and punished accordingly. Larry Householder feels humiliated and broken. How sad. He only felt that way once caught. Do the crime, do the time. Now let’s see if we can find more dishonest politicians and go after them.
Columbiana
Today I was passed by some fool driving a giant SUV with a bumper sticker proclaiming his religion. On the other side of the vehicle was a sticker with a derogative remark about the vice president. What church do you attend?
Austintown
Here we go again. Marijuana pot heads are again attempting to get the weed legalized for recreational use. They say it will generate $400 million in tax revenue. Since when does tax revenue supersede human life and suffering? Vote no in November. Send them a message: Not on my watch!
Beaver Township
U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan’s bogus “weaponization” claims against the current administration are attempting a death by a thousand cuts. Problem is he’s using a silver baby spoon, fallen from his out-of-office leader during a tantrum, and wielded by an unregistered agent of China. Like the GOP, it’s totally ineffective and just can’t cut truth.
Canfield
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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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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!
I just saw news about the party pool house in Boardman. It is a prime example of problems today. The pool owners want to be respected as owners and allowed to do as they please. Yet, they totally disrespect everyone around the area and don’t get why there is a hassle. Duh! Respect is a two-way street!
Girard
Canfield Township should explore another solution to speeding on Tyler Drive and elsewhere: Enforcement. Rather than spend money on their crafty ideas, collect money by writing tickets. Enforcement would work everywhere if only applied.
Columbiana
Youngstown’s West Side is like living in the Wild West. Traffic lights and stop signs mean nothing to some drivers. Turning left on red is the new norm. Pass and cruise down the middle of Mahoning Avenue if you don’t want to follow cars. If you have expired tags on your car, don’t worry because no one cares. Park your car on front lawns. It’s OK. Officials in the city only care about the downtown. What about the rest of the city?
Youngstown
Frequently we hear bad news: prices too high, climate too hot, another mass shooting. Sometimes, we should smell the roses. Mill Creek Park is beautiful. Visit the Lily Pond. We survived the pandemic and supply chain problems. Inflation is falling, unemployment is below 4 percent; 401(k)s are growing again. Infrastructure projects are happening in the Mahoning Valley. Putin was stopped in his tracks. EVs, windmills and solar are reducing money to the Middle East. Life isn’t perfect, but it’s good.
Campbell
The Ohio General Assembly voted to ban August special elections, with one exception — if a political subdivision or a school district is in a fiscal emergency. Then the high court found that the Legislature’s constitutional right to determine dates of elections trumps any laws they might pass to limit them. That decision in itself is reason enough to vote NO on Issue 1, as it insults our intelligence as recklessly as professional wrestling.
Poland
Donald Trump expects that running for office makes him immune from prosecution. Can I rob a charity, dodge my taxes, defraud investors, extort elected officials, kowtow to despots, help my buddies grift tax money for a worthless wall, support an armed insurrection and escape prosecution because it’s inconvenient? Nope. So why should there be a ridiculous exception for the loser of 2020?
Canfield
It continues to amaze me that Donald Trump can call people names, attack their reputation and even their family members, and then whine and cry when anyone disparages him in any way. With his lying, bullying tactics, he attacks the truth, expects adoration and complete loyalty from so-called friends he will throw away in a heartbeat if they disagree with him. He lacks any sort of loyalty to anything or anybody unless it benefits him.
Youngstown
I believe most Americans, including logical-thinking black Americans, are tired of hearing illogical-thinking black Americans demand reparations. When was the last time you heard from Native Americans, whose entire tribes were wiped out in the 1800s, cry out for reparations? And they are a people with a much greater need for reparations. We live in a country of overwhelming opportunities. Instead of crying for reparations, go out and get a job. Give me a break.
Poland
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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 local 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.”
soundoff@tribtoday.com
Sound off!
Kudos to Sparkle Markets and Marc’s for using cashiers instead of self-service checkouts. These northeast Ohio companies deserve our support for keeping jobs in our area. I always go out of my way to shop at these stores.
Canfield
A news story Monday was about people not paying student loans. It’s funny how people claim they can’t pay their bills. The next news story was from a local fireworks store where the average sale was between $1,000 and $2,000. Where do people get money for things they want but don’t have money to pay the bills they made? It just shows how some people think they should get whatever they want and others should pay for it.
Hubbard
I wish Youngstown officials were as serious about quality of life issues as those in Boardman. The Glenwood Corridor is now a NASCAR track. Speeding, driving left of center, running stop signs and traffic signals are the norm. Let’s not forget unkempt yards, running dogs, loud music and gunfire. I guess parking on the sidewalk is legal in Youngstown. Step Up Youngstown! Some who live here still care.
Youngstown
We do not have to normalize things that are not normal. We do not have to accept that which is unacceptable. 2 Corinthians 3:12 tells us, “Therefore, since we have such hope, we use great boldness of speech.” There is always hope, but will anyone use great boldness of speech?
Poland
My memory may be wrong, but it seems nearly every major construction project in Youngstown starts with advice from MS Consultants and ends with major cost overruns, underperformance, disruption of public spaces and massive tax abatements. How long must an interim public official and less than impressive consulting advice drain public coffers before changes are made?
Canfield
I read in The Vindicator that double the amount of necessary signatures were obtained to put “Reproductive Rights” on the ballot. Why not call it what it really is? The article states the signatures must be verified. They absolutely should be. I did not appreciate being stopped by a woman asking for my signature at a family-friendly downtown festival in June! Too bad these unborn babies can’t share their opinion.
Boardman
In 2013 U.S. Supreme Court gutted the Voting Rights Act. Justices argued the country was beyond imposing discriminatory voting laws. Many states immediately imposed gerrymandering and discriminatory laws. Right Ohio? Recently the court decided college admissions no longer need affirmative action because we’ve arrived as a nation free of bias. Have they ever visited an inner city high school and compared it with suburban schools? Where do their kids or yours go to school? These justices are either blind or biased.
Campbell
So FirstEnergy was to double everyone’s electric bill starting last month. What happened to the $60 million that they bribed Larry Householder with? Give me a break. They need to get out of the business if they can’t generate their own electricity.
Salem
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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 local 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.”
soundoff@tribtoday.com
Sound off!
Ongoing renovations in downtown are beautiful! Please be patient as the “new look” is much more welcoming with a clean, modernized look. These updates are overdue! Now, though, my concern is the drive from I-680 into downtown via South Avenue. Please do something about businesses and landscaping. What must someone think upon entering the city from out of town toward Covelli, festivals, YSU, Doubletree Hotel or a night out for dinner? It would not take much to enhance this drive.
Poland
The other day I read again about the vote coming up Aug. 8. I am a seasoned reader but it took me a while to track down the information. Do not be fooled. This is what a particular party wants to do in Ohio. Pay attention and do not allow them to further water down your vote. Vote no, and go vote in August!
Austintown
The sustained Red Cross meme is desperate need for blood. Yet, show up to donate at donor collection campaigns, and you’re informed you must have an appointment. But you hadn’t been flagged beforehand about appointment requirements. Essentially, you’re told if you wait an hour, you might be able to donate, but don’t count on that. And it’s not easy to get in touch with headquarters digitally. Such rigidity and lack of transparency seem quite peculiar, given urgent need for blood.
Youngstown
Now that Trump’s justices (a scary thought, alone) have declared affirmative action to be discriminatory and bought the argument that “all discrimination must end,” will the GOP be denied opportunities to gerrymander? Will the billionaire daddies of disruptive, delinquent oafs still use buying a building as the standard to get junior into the Ivy League?
Canfield
There are no truer words: “Your lifetime is the audition God gave you in how you want to spend eternity.” How can the lies and injustice continue? Why isn’t there at least a semblance of honesty in our political system today? How far will it go and how many people will be devastated? How can our so-called Religious Right continue to actually call themselves Christians and yet still support the wrong being perpetuated by a lot of today’s politicians?
Youngstown
MAGA, Make America great again. What a terrible, racist, misogynistic thing to say. Who in their right mind would want that? Let’s continue our decline at accelerating speed and put senseless notions such as greatness behind us. Greatness cannot be given to anyone.
Columbiana
Donald Trump’s strategy could be summed up in just four words; lie, deny, appeal, repeat.
Canfield
Poor Republicans, crying that there is a two-tiered justice system in the U.S. This is the reality that minorities or anyone who can’t afford a high-priced lawyer have faced for decades. Apparently, they are moaning because one of their own is being held accountable for their illegal actions. I say it’s about time.
Hubbard
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 local 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.”