Letters to the Editor

Sound off!

I was again pleased to see our Mahoning County Prosecutor Gina DeGenova conducted a workshop at the Davis YMCA especially geared to older folks about recognizing and staying away from online scammers. Her help is geared to help everyone, not just older people. Thank you Prosecutor DeGenova.

-- Austintown

The OHSAA must be stopped. It continues to make changes that only benefit the big schools in the Cincinnati, Columbus and Cleveland areas. It ruined the football playoffs and now the basketball playoffs with more to come. An area athletic director told me it is out of control. When are school administrators and school boards going to say enough is enough? This money-gouging organization needs stopped. I hear it from many.

-- Niles

I commend Bruce Zoldan for taking his money back. As an alum of YSU, I'd never want anything to be done under a shroud of secrecy as was done to pick this president. Youngstown has seen what happens. We get corruption and corrupt people. You have to ask yourself, what are trustees going to do with Zoldan's money under the shroud of secrecy?? Shame on trustees for making donors have to think twice about donating.

-- Youngstown

Funding through HB2 makes some degree of sense when communities of Cortland and Bloomfield are benefited, along with Mosquito Lake and the Trumbull County Fair Grounds. However, funding a privately owned ballpark is absurd!

-- Cortland

The commissioners are entertaining the thought of using taxpayer dollars to fund a study for Coalburg Lake, a private lake. If the lake is that important to the residents and trustees, let them put a levy on to pay for the study. Giving it to Metroparks is also ridiculous. They cannot maintain what they have now. If the commissioners go through with this, I hope every person with a lake or pond remembers this when they need work done.

-- Newton Falls

Voting-age high school and college students would welcome getting paid to work election polls in addition to earning credits toward graduation. Raising civic awareness in our youth is our future.

-- Warren

An ex-president hocking sports shoes! Does the man have no shame? Most ex-presidents establish libraries or create programs that benefit the nation. But once again with Donald Trump it's all about him and making a buck. We need someone as president who puts our country before their own personal gain.

-- Canfield

So, the former president has been instructed to pay millions of dollars in court-ordered fines. The billionaire isn't going to spend his money so he's hawking gold sneakers to pay his bills. The former president claims all these proven charges are a hoax. Sadly, the real hoax is convincing people, especially those who barely have $399 for necessities let alone shoes, to buy something to support a "wrongly accused" man. Snake oil salesmen are still among us.

-- Youngstown

Anyone willing to pay $350 for phony gold sneakers is a useful idiot for the most useful idiot of Vladimir Putin. Styled for pimps, the shoes insult the stars and stripes of our flag. I hope they are programmed to kick wallets from the hip pockets of owners to remind them that giving money to a fraudulent liar and abuser of women deserves a kick in the pants.

-- Canfield

Letters to the Editor

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As my wife and I drove down Route 224 in Boardman today, I noticed how almost every parking lot was packed. The same with most restaurants and every drive-thru. I am very pleased with the job this administration is doing. Job growth is climbing. They are investing millions in our country's infrastructure while the previous administration ignored the U.S. While COVID-19 is still out there, our government works hard to protect us, believers and deniers. Support democracy and President Biden.

-- Austintown

I wonder if Bruce Zoldan will exercise due diligence by researching the hiring process and political stance of the presidents of the schools he will be donating money to.

-- Cortland

We could learn from the NFL's response to streakers. Stop showing the release of mylar balloons. They are litter. These land and then degrade our wild places, harm wildlife and routinely cause power outages in the electrical grid. They're costly and endanger the lives of people. Think oxygen machines, traffic lights, etc. I doubt we can ever stop every occurrence of a balloon release, but for heaven's sake, don't encourage the practice and reward bad behavior by televising it.

-- Austintown

The Feb. 8 article about an Ohio House Bill targeting $9.7 million for YSU is rather amusing. Al Cutrona stated that he was proud to sponsor a bill to bring back state dollars to communities. One major problem is that these state dollars were once federal dollars that Republican State Rep. Bill Johnson voted against, but is now the beneficiary of, along with state-level Republicans Loychik, and Cutrona who are now trying to take credit for.

-- Austintown

You too can win a political office. Simply hire a high-priced political strategist to give you a recipe on what to say and what not to say. You'll win guaranteed. To what extent someone without integrity will go, including ripping apart an opponent is deflection because they have no record of merit. Don't be misled. Make an informed decision before giving taxpayer paychecks to the undeserving and self-seeking.

-- Cortland

The Kansas City Chiefs celebration parade security personnel numbered at least 800. Only in America would a minor celebration require that much protection and still result in death and injury to so many. But, as the governor, who was in attendance and lauded the safety forces, he, his wife, as well as the Kansas City Chiefs players were unharmed. Thank the good Lord that our esteemed stars walked away. Only in America are they the people worth saving.

-- Vienna

I am appalled that Trump would threaten to withdraw our country from the NATO alliance. Make no mistake, in my opinion, what he says, he does. Not only did he show his disdain for America's allies, he also opened the door for Putin to take Ukraine and Poland would be next. Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, our NATO Allies are stepping up to meet their financial obligations, some contributing more than required.

-- Girard

Bernie Moreno is endorsed by a former game-show host who claims Vladimir Putin is his friend. The game-show host has said he wants to be a dictator, continues to lie about losing public office, moved his daughter-in-law into position to skim all GOP funds for defense against his multiple criminal indictments, and demands we withhold funds from the Ukraine resistance against Russia. Please, Republicans, wake up! These people are destroying your party and our nation.

-- 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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Letters to the Editor

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Bruce Zoldan's response to the selection of Bill Johnson as YSU's new president reminds me of the spoiled little rich kid at the playground who gets mad, takes his ball and goes home when he doesn't like the rules of the game or how the teams are selected.

-- Boardman

Did I miss something? Doesn't the new YSU president get housing ON CAMPUS to be among the STUDENTS that he so cares about? Why did he purchase a $582,000 home in Canfield seemingly even before he was appointed as the new president?

Clue me in??????

-- Youngstown

Ohio Surplus Money going to Animal Charity of Ohio is the best award I have seen in a long while. These folks do so much more than we see and work in terrible conditions compared to other places. They get dirty and save animals from abuse and death. Great news and well deserved.

-- Girard

President Biden is so obvious in his political ploys. He must be desperate! First, he seeks Taylor Swift's endorsement so that he can obtain the younger vote. I hope they are savvy enough to see they are being used. Then he plans to visit East Palestine a year after the disaster took place. Former President Trump was there two days after to offer help and support. Biden will probably entice them with all kinds of government aid. What a joke!

-- Austintown

From 1999 to 2006, the West Wing was hugely popular among all demographics. The TV show followed a fictional president and his staffers through legislative and political issues. It offered a positive view of public service which respected the Constitution and the voters. Would such a program be welcome viewing in many homes today? Given the current climate in which we accept that one person can derail a bipartisan bill to reform immigration and provide foreign aid, it's not likely.

-- Youngstown

The voting rights group sparring with AG Dave Yost over the title of a proposed constitutional amendment need not worry. Yost's rejection of their title choice, "Ohio Voters Bill of Rights," will adversely affect the outcome they're seeking. Why not allow automatic registration and sidestep more rigorous requirements; why not allow same-day registration and expanded early voting options and locations? Because big-money liberal sympathizers will flood TV with messages to favor its passage. It works every time for the indifferent and less-informed voter.

-- Hubbard

Too bad Tucker Carlson was quickly disqualified from "Dancing With The Stars" as his dancing was far superior to his "journalism." When he struggled to find relevance in the comments of dictator Putin during a two-hour interview, he should have been examining his own relevancy as a source of disinformation. On "Dancing," he at least moved about on his feet instead of his knees.

-- Canfield

The failed vote by the Republicans on the bipartisan Border Security and Foreign Aid bill is another example of "all talk, no action" by the Republicans. They rejected a bill they have been talking about forever to appease their potential presidential candidate. How patriotic is that? They are willing to sacrifice a long-awaited bill just to satisfy a desire for a potential campaign strategy. We must vote these representatives out of office. The time is NOW.

-- Poland

Letters to the Editor

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Bruce Zoldan, CEO of Phantom Fireworks, has announced that he will withdraw his $5 million donation to YSU as long as Bill Johnson remains president. That is his choice but who is he really hurting? The YSU students and the community. Well, I have a choice of how to spend my money also. Remember Bud Light? Consumers have a choice.

-- Poland

The main issue I have with the hiring of the new YSU president is the paycheck he is getting. He is no Jim Tressel. To pay him that much money with no education to back that up is unsound. With a college whose enrollment is dropping drastically, that paycheck should have been reconfigured. He is unproven in this job and the trustees, save one, should be ashamed. He should give half that paycheck back.

-- Youngstown

It's such a shame that I-680 is just polluted with potholes and patched over in deplorable sections. Once the cash cow was gone with speed cameras, the interstate has turned into Daytona Speedway, with little radar taking place by OSP. Oh by the way, this is also marked as a safety corridor according to many signs that have been posted. Hey, come visit our city!

-- New Middletown

To everyone who writes to Soundoff using phrases such as MAGA sheep followers, brainwashed, Fox propaganda believers, I wish to ask you two things. 1) what do you gain by insulting me and 2) why is it not OK to "Agree to Disagree?" There are two major political parties in this country, not one. Accept that each side feels it is right and stop the insults. I am kind, I don't need a "Be kind" slogan to remind me.

-- Poland

I'm tired of dribble like Rich Lowry's opinion column who says Trump did nothing criminal and Jack Smith is interfering in the presidential election. We already had an election, remember? Trump lost by seven million votes, then vigorously and inexplicably tried to overturn it in multiple, unbelievable ways. That's not criminal or election interference? Let him do it again! No one with all their marbles believes this trash.

-- Boardman

The only reason Biden decided to rerun for the presidency is because we have a very scary Trump saying he wanted to be president again, and the lasting damage that could or would happen to our democracy. What we really NEED is two younger candidates from each party. We need to hear from "new blood" who are competent, knowledgeable, and ready and willing to guide our country. What is critically important is competent leadership.

-- Youngstown

Bill Johnson recently said he has a responsibility to run YSU like a business. The trustees used the "business model" trope to justify the secretive process they used to hire him. Ironically, they hired a CEO with limited management experience and no experience in YSU's core product. They also paid him 2.5 times more than he had been making. Not very business-like. Universities are vital institutions that are NOT businesses. They should be recognized and respected as such.

-- Warren

Does it make sense to impede our natural resources; oil, gas, and coal and inflate the cost of everything? Does it make sense to let millions of unvetted immigrants enter our country illegally and give them free housing, healthcare, education, cash and phones while we don't take care of our citizens; veterans, the homeless, and the hungry? Does it make sense to allow biological boys, who call themselves girls, to use girls' bathrooms and play in girls sports?

-- Poland