DEAR EDITOR:

Regarding the letter questioning Ohio affordability, I have several comments. After moving to Florida more than 40 years ago, we have returned. Why? The cost of living there was, and is, out of control. My property insurance in Fort Myers was over $ 15K a year. (If you can get it.) Add to that $2K for federal flood, a must.

In Youngstown my insurance is about $1,500. Florida has no income tax and county taxes are low per house value, but provide few services. (Our street, with average house value of over $1 million, had no sidewalks, no fire hydrants, no sewer system. Every home had a septic tank system.)

People came and went with reckless abandon. Tourist season was frustrating and hurricane season worse. It did have jobs.

Ohio, on the other hand, seems to provide quality services. The people are friendly and open. The workers at my bank, grocery store and favorite restaurants know our names and always greet us with a smile. Services such as house painting, landscaping and deliveries are done efficiently and reasonably priced.

True, the traffic flow is primitive and in need of improvement, but you get used to a more “laid back” attitude. Groceries,gas and utilities are the same almost everywhere. Ohio has much hidden value, plus it is the “heart of it all!”

STEVE SOLAK

Youngstown