Sound off! Readers share their thoughts
So glad Austintown wrote about not getting the newspaper delivered by the post office the day it is supposed to. We are having the same problem. Home delivery stopped in November 2024 and five times the Vindicator came the next day. When I call circulation, I am told it was delivered to the post office. When I call the Boardman post office I am told they did not get it. This is called the “royal runaround.” People don’t want to home deliver newspapers anymore. We are in Catch-22.
• Boardman
A recent, likely well-meaning “Sound Off” regarding Youngstown’s mayoral race, indicated “only two candidates have applied” and that Derrick McDowell “decided not to follow through and place his name as a candidate for mayor.” This isn’t correct. A May 6 primary will host two Democratic Party candidates. A Nov. 4 general election will include independent candidate Derrick McDowell. Let our desire to increase voter engagement lead us to “Sound Off” with proper education about the people running and around the process.
• Youngstown
Our country is being weakened daily because of the antics of a petulant president basically out to get any perceived enemies. How does anyone get to the point where they are so downright mean and set on spite, vengeance and punishment against so many? This flawed personality, very infantile at best, is head of our country, going after everything he wants, whole countries and all. We are losing our best allies, and alienating so many that we used to call “friends”.
• Liberty
I find it amusing and yet sad watching the Kripchak protest about a lack of a town hall meeting by Rulli in 60 days, yet Tim Ryan’s last town hall was in 2018. Go figure.
• Girard
A few aphorisms: 1. The lucid Republicans have the off-base Democrats to thank for Trump’s election. 2. Medicare recipients contributed to the benefits they eventually get (unfair to cut). 3. Medicaid recipients may or may not have paid taxes into the entitlement before receiving it (fair to rollback).
• Hubbard
Open letter to U.S. Rep. Michael Rulli, U.S. Sen. Bernie Moreno and U.S. Sen. Jon Husted: Help!!! Save our Social
Security, Medicare and IRAs from the chaos in Washington.
•Boardman
Once again we see liberals and Democrats using violence to make a statement. First they rioted and burned buildings during BLM. Now they torch Tesla cars and shoot up Tesla dealerships. They are the real domestic terrorists. Not Trump or MAGA supporters. We love America.
• Struthers
I find it curious with all the talk of going after waste, fraud and abuse by the Trump administration that they are firing personnel at the IRS. These are the people that root out unpaid taxes and cheating by some corporations and wealthy individuals. Maybe it’s that they don’t want that fraud and abuse being perpetrated by their friends to be detected.
• Struthers
Sound off! Readers share their thoughts
The big talking point in the Trump campaign was the economy. We are seeing cracks in the economy starting with Trump as the big reason. Layoffs increasing, hiring slow, consumer confidence eroding and inflation picking up. It is Trump’s uncertain economic policy that is leading the way. On again, off again tariffs could lead to slow hiring, and immigration restrictions could limit the supply of labor. Now he declines to rule out a recession which helped lead stocks to react negatively.
• Poland
Unhappy his ring wasn’t kissed, Trump suspended aid to Ukraine. Now he has blinded their hero president by stopping shared intelligence of the Russian despot. Each day, it becomes more apparent Trump is Putin’s useful idiot with a quavering OK from Congress. He uses the “royal we” too frequently for me as he decries the slaughter of war he pretends to care about
by limiting deaths to mostly Ukrainians. Disgusting.
• Canfield
Something is wrong when Canada and Mexico become our enemies and Russia our friend and when we vote in the UN with our enemies and not our friends. Something is wrong when our economy keeps rising and not going way down, when Medicaid will be reduced and when cancer research will no longer be funded. Something is wrong when constant havoc is the norm. And, there are so many more somethings, What is wrong is the common denominator being Trump.
• Poland
I get my mail very early. It is now after 2:30 on a Saturday, and I’m still waiting on my paper. I don’t know whether my mail wasn’t delivered or if I got no mail (which is not unusual), including my Vindicator, since you’ve now switched to delivering the paper by mail. And it’s too late to call since you close early on Saturday. This is not working. Seriously reconsidering my subscription.
• Austintown
Skolnick’s 3/14 column noted two state reps concern that our governor may want tax revenue from weed sales to go to the general fund. Good for them — recognizing that black hole. Remember, the lottery was going to ensure our schools could be funded by general fund monies from the lottery. That hasn’t happened. Are these weed accountants those who watched 47 bankrupt casinos? Do they think tariffs on outlet sales might work?
• Canfield
An answer for Elon – Re: What I did this week: 1) NUNYA, 2) NUNYA, 3)NUNYA, 4) NUNYA, 5) NUNYA & GFY (Go Fire Yourself; yep, that’s what it is).
• Canfield
Economists with legitimate chops to have an opinion told 47 that tariffs would increase prices for consumers, ruin trade, and crash markets contrary to his campaign promises. So, as prices on imports rise, jobs are lost, our allies mistrust us and 47 says with a “royal we” shrug that “we may have a little difficulty…” He may be a liar or an idiot, but no president can ignore advice then deny failure. What’s next, an investigation to find a faucet shutting off Niagara Falls?
• Canfield
Democratic cities are being blamed for being sanctuary cities when Republican governors of Texas and Florida sent 100s of busloads of immigrants to these cities knowing exactly what chaos would ensue. Make no mistake, Republicans created this problem. Now we have to round up these immigrants with ICE and put them in OUR jails, costing us more money when Republican governors could of sent them back over the border in those buses at a much cheaper price. Those governors should be on the hotseat too.
• Youngstown
I noticed no one whined about ‘Trump haters’ in the 3/15 Sound off! column. All the space must have been taken by complaints, worries, and fact checks by citizens aghast at the mess 47 has made in less than 100 days of his assault on America. Hmmph! Well, you know, hire a lying felon and you get Trump just being Trump. It’s great that citizens are noticing what an awful choice that was. VOTE!
• Canfield
Previously, as reported in the Vindicator, there were about six people considering to run for mayor of Youngstown.Recently the Vindicator reported that only two candidates have applied. Tito Brown and a lady on City Council. Why did Derrick McDowell, an entrepreneur, decide not to follow through and place his name as a candidate for Mayor? Derrick had a great platform which focused on our major problem in Y-Town; CRIME, especially on the South Side. Mayor Brown is only concerned with Tito and his family. He has made several poor decisions ex. Realty Tower, that have negatively affected Y-Town.
• Canfield
He says he won’t touch Medicare and Medicaid, yet he now says he will. For this James 1:8 says, “A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.” With everything people, everything. It’s not his money, it’s yours. And the 2nd verse is Psalm 12:8 “The wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are exalted.” Think about why he quotes that poem so much, “You knew I was a snake when you let me in,” is not the devil a serpent?”
• Youngstown
It’s reprehensible to divert Medicaid funds from US citizens to a wall. That devil in a diaper doesn’t care about you, me or that wall. We are threatened EVERYDAY by our health not Mexicans. To leave your own weak and sick to become weaker and sicker. What happened to your word not to touch Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security? Thanks for not having our back man.
• Youngstown
Wow, now poor people can’t buy a bag of potato chips or candy bar. Try living by stores where that’s all they sell and try buying perishables that don’t last the month and eat up way more SNAP benefits than chips so now food benefit is gone faster. At least you can ration a Snickers bar. As someone once said, “Of all the preposterous assumptions of humanity, nothing exceeds the criticisms made of the habits of the poor, by the well-housed, well-warmed, and well-fed.”
• Youngstown
A March 15 Sound Off thinks Democrats are so filled with hate that they wouldn’t even cheer about a 13-year-old boy who beat cancer at Trump’s speech. Did the writer notice what Trump signed that same week? Cutting funding for research to get rid of childhood cancers. Yes, nobody wanted to cheer for a man who is hellbent on hurting the sickest and weakest among us, removing Medicaid and now medical research for children. Wake up man, for God’s sake, wake up.
• Youngstown
Thank you, President Trump, for deporting the gangsters, drug runners and rapists! If the judge is really that irresponsible to whine about them then he should maybe be the next to go. I believe in the downsizing and cost savings also! Elon Musk needs to go or start showing some proper respect. Changes are necessary and long overdue, however the citizens of this country are deserving of respect.
• Canfield
Sound off! Readers share their thoughts
All these Trump haters writing in! Give him a chance. Remember what the alternative was.
• Boardman
Whether you voted for Trump and Vance or not, I feel shame. Do you?
• New Springfield
On Biden’s first day in office he signed multiple executive orders. One cost 11,000 jobs and $2 billion in wages by shutting down the Keystone Pipeline. I don’t recall CNN or MSNBC interviewing or sympathizing with those workers. Those jobs were for energy independence. If a Democrat had created DOGE to find out which government job is essential and which are waste and fraud, would you be in support?
• Poland
I want to assure all of the deer-loving activists that the deer population in Mill Creek Park is doing just fine, in spite of the deer management program in place. During my recent daily walks on the paved hike / bike trail on West Golf Drive, I regularly observe 20-30 deer during my 30-minute, 1.5 mile stroll. This usually includes the small herd of deer near the Boardman home where they feed the deer like pets! And keep in mind, these are just the deer I am able to observe from the paved trail while walking at a fairly brisk pace, not the many others which are farther from the trail taking a nap!
• Boardman
We have many thrift stores in the Mahoning Valley where you can go to purchase a variety of mostly donated useful and needed items at a good price to save money. Each “store” has its own set-up, prices, core values — nonprofit to assist the community. I am satisfied with the newly renovated more open concept Boardman Goodwill store. It was appalling to hear the negative comments about the store from other patrons. (Some who are just re-sellers). If you don’t like it, then go shop somewhere else!
• Boardman
As I read Sound Off last week, again The Vindicator ran mostly anti-Trump letters, I couldn’t help to notice how hateful the anti Trump people were. I have never seen how one man could occupy a person’s whole life. These writers sound so unhappy. I didn’t agree with anything Biden did but it didn’t affect my whole being. I can’t imagine how bad my life would be acting like these people. It would be laughable if it wasn’t so sad. The other sad thing is most of what they say is just radical left talking points that are proven to be untrue. Just live your life and try to be happy.
• Hubbard
Froma Harrop wrote this weekend that Russell Vought, mastermind of Project 2025 and now budget director, has it in for veterans benefits. What happened to this country helping veterans and respecting their patriotism? I am a veteran who relies on the VA for my medical coverage and am very scared of what may come now. There will be claims backlogs. Many federal workers losing their jobs are veterans. Where is the humanity in all this? This is not what veterans who voted for No. 47 envisioned. I was not among them.
• Boardman
Musk was not born in America. For all of us older Americans, we grew up with Russia as a very scary entity, he didn’t. We knew what other countries went through with bombings and deaths and destruction when Russia ruled. History is rife with horrendous instances. Putin, Musk and Trump want an alliance, leaving decades-long allies adrift. No NATO, no help for Ukraine or Palestinians, just alienating almost every country. Trump and Musk are weakening our country daily.
• Liberty
Wow. The state Senate just gave Ohio voters the middle finger. They had decades to write a law but dallied and did NOT! Currently things seem to be working fine. Haven’t heard any issues in the news, so the kids and family thing is moot. They are asking for a citizen-based constitutional amendment by doing this, unintended consequences are real. Signed, a senior Republican voter!
• Girard
Bravo Zelenskyy, bravo, bravo! America, dump the liar Trump before he can sell you! Dump Trump!
• Canfield
Who are the “we” 47 speaks of as being fine and strong as he dictated terms to the brave President of Ukraine? Is that the 3% of Americans who agree with him that the murderous thug Putin can be trusted? That is a step up from the mysterious “they” who used to be, without evidence, the source of 45’s problems.
• Canfield
Bullies believe that strength is shown when you hurt someone smaller. The other kids become afraid of the bully. That’s what 47 and Musk are doing. They successfully attack minorities, disabled, smaller countries like Mexico, Canada and weak Republicans. Now the GOP who know better are afraid of being primaried or being threatened by J6 convicts. 47 has harsh words for Zelenskyy, but not Putin. We need to stand together against the bully before we become Russia and North Korea.
• Campbell
I hope MAGA voters are happy. Trump is world king with no one to stop him. Just like that. Americans slept 40 years while the criminal, thieving Republicans stole it all. Nixon was an amateur crook compared to Trump, the master con. I hope you can learn Russian, your new language. The enemy from within is the Russian asset, traitor Donald Trump — the treasonous tool of billionaires, “Justice” Roberts’ crooked court and the sickening Republican Congress. Crime pays big in America.
• Boardman
For six decades, a portion of my taxes paid for a modest Social Security benefit. Those benefits are now taxed as l receive them, effectively taxing the tax I paid. Politicians sneer at this as an entitlement. It is a trickle compared to their six-figure salaries (the value of paid appearances, speaking fees, ghost written books, mega donor campaign “donations,” and inside info stock deals excepted). Vote ’em out.
• Canfield
Did anyone check that the “journalist” asking why Zelenskyy wasn’t wearing a suit was, himself, wearing shoes?
• Canfield
Adviser to 47, Tulsi Gabbard, kissed up to her boss by stating that President Zelenskyy is potentially risking “World War III or even a nuclear war.” Tulsi, WW3 will be nuclear, thereafter it’s sticks and rocks. When the TRUMP brand turns up on a rock near you, you’ll know who instigated WW3.
• Canfield
Lech Walesa, national hero of Poland, has written 47 to let him know just how offensive were comments he and J.D. made in their scripted ambush of Zelenskyy. Does anyone doubt Walesa knows where the next anti thug front will be thanks to 47’s bungling?
• Canfield
We can vent and cry about Trump’s antics, but they aren’t going to change because everyone is afraid of both going against Trump or losing their positions. Yes, these wonderful politicians who are supposed to be there for US. Add Musk and the loss of hundreds of thousands of jobs to this. While it is difficult to stay positive, it must be dealt with at the voting booth. All of Trump’s cowardly toadies must not be reelected.
• Liberty