DEAR EDITOR:

Akil Drake died in a horrible explosion. Who’s at fault remains to be seen. I heard he was sitting eating lunch when the floor gave way and he was crushed to death. Where is your compassion for many of the Chase employees who were injured and their lives forever altered because of this? Shame on you for that letter in the Oct. 26 Vindicator.

The residents of International Towers did not need to be relocated forever, as they are first, in an all-electric building and second, a disability building with a one-floor plan, for wheelchairs, walkers, scooters, rollators. Their apartments were created for those severely disabled, whether old or young, or veterans. People will continue to be disabled and need these type of apartments.

Bob Hannon did not misuse charity funds and I thank him for all he did. When crane operators opened Realty Towers up top and saw the meat of the building, they knew what type of crane was needed and didn’t get that crane immediately, THEY cost many Mahoning County agencies money. When they finally got a big crane, they had the building down to its fourth story in two to three weeks while tenants of International Towers were displaced for over two-and-a-half months, many in places not equipped for disabled people. They struggled.

Mahoning County does not have 173 housing units that can take in a wheelchair or scooter, or have hospital-size doorways. Many neighborhoods are not safe for a disabled person to live, or even have decent sidewalks if any at all to ambulate disabled people of this measure. These units represent a measure of normalcy for many suffering.

If you were to relocate 173 tenants, how would you come up with money to replace all their disability things that were left behind from bed and rails, to shower chairs, walkers, canes, crutches and many pieces of furniture designed for their disability and needed? How much would that still be costing agencies?

As for downtown, it will not die because we love our downtown. We will heal and be better because of all we’ve been through. From a resident of International Towers who is not suing anyone and very grateful to be alive.

LISA BETH MOORE

Youngstown