Letters to the Editor

Sound off!

I have been trying to reach Gov. Mike DeWine's office to express my opinion on critical issues. No matter the time of day or night, calls are routed to a voicemail system with a full mailbox. Purposely denying a voice to constituents is an outrage. Is it that he doesn't care because he cannot run for governor again, or is it that he lacks the courage to face criticism? He is supposed to work for us. Yeah, right.

-- Austintown

Having given his pal, the murderer Vlad, an official state welcome to a summit that accomplished nothing, 47 took to Fox to tell the world that it's now "up to president Zelenskyy to find a solution to ending the war." Having washed his hands, Pilate turned Jesus over to the Pharisees. Quite the political leader that Trump fella, eh?

-- Canfield

Every country but the U.S. has condemned Israel for its unending violence in the Middle East. It is criminal that we still support the Israelis. Their latest hospital bombing is an atrocity.

-- Canfield

Allegations, without facts, are 47s specialty. He is using them to try to fire a Governor of the Federal Reserve board. His false testament has serious consequences. Allowed to gain majority control of the fed board, 47 can and will lower or raise prime interest rates on a whim to suit his needs. The result will be calamitous inflation for too low rates (more expensive everything) or rapidly increasing unemployment for too high (you have no job)and instability across markets. Does anyone believe a bankrupted, 50+ times charged fraud, convicted felon, who serves only himself, should be in charge?

-- Canfield

I'm in the process of applying for unclaimed funds from another state. At the end of the application, I see that I can donate those funds to a Teachers School Supplies Reimbursement account. Isn't that a great idea? No billionaire stadium money grab!

-- Youngstown

Many Mahoning County government activities are conducted at the Oak Hill Renaissance Center, or former Southside Hospital. Employees and visitors coming and going daily. Unfortunately, Oak Hill Avenue, approaching from each direction and in front of the facility, is a disgrace. The commissioners should be calling the mayor weekly to insist that this road be rehabilitated and paved. Why do we as local and regional taxpayers put up with such mediocrity? What a bad look and reflection on our local governments.

-- Youngstown

Immediate, trolling responses to fascist 47's phony tweets of nonexistent emergencies are criticized for going low. Unfortunately, when your enemy goes low, that is where you must meet him. Opposition must be EXCLAIMED when your enemy is THE ENEMY OF OUR DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC. Go, Gavin Newsom. Crassness is what Trump understands. It pokes his puerile ego and shows his thinking equals his trashy Oval Office decor -- all shine, no quality.

-- Canfield

The other day, ABC's evening news showcased more ground-breading news in women's sports: Tryouts to form a professional women's baseball league next year in the United States. The is the first since the 1940s. Yet did The Vindicator write anything about it in the paper? No. Why not? I am disappointed. I want to read more about this new, exciting adventure in women's sports. I do not want to go online to do so.

-- Boardman

Trump's masked secret police (ICE) had as much skill and success breaking up a Newsom rally against 47's Texas power grab as did their Dear Leader's attempt to betray Ukraine and win a Nobel for doing so. They both looked useless and weak. Both will become memories of an ugly, authoritarian regime properly exhibited in the Smithsonian as felons, liars and enemies of the Constitution. Probably next to the Epstein kiosk.

-- Canfield

47, a bigot, is trying to fire Lisa Cook, the only black female in the history of the Federal Reserve. He is trying to force the National Museum of African American History to sanitize slavery, Jim Crow, red-lining, etc. and is attacking DEI, which is fighting against systemic racism. He's also sending troops to black cities where crime is down while ignoring red states like Tennessee and Mississippi where the crime rate is twice as high. He is pitting minorities and poor whites against each other.

-- Campbell

Between dismissing and admittedly violating rules, laws, and the Constitution of the U.S., how can this president continue to use and abuse our government for all of his personal grievances. Powerful black women have been dismissed as Trump rids departments of their leadership. Anyone from the Obama or Biden years, or anyone else that seems to enter his mind, is gone. This is becoming "normal" governance. Where are the cowardly GOP?

-- Liberty

Another qualified military man has been fired in favor of a sycophant 47 believes agrees with his claim of "obliterating" Iran's nuclear program. It may have been Trump's belief in his own infallibility or his profound ignorance of words other than "me", "mine", and "I" that tripped him up. So, I offer 47 a new word, exclusively for his use, a word never before used by any president, it's "oblatherated" it. He will be able to use oblatherated in all tenses to describe the incredible profundity of his speeches.

-- Canfield

I wonder: If we were at war with Russia on U.S. soil, which states would Mr. Trump give up for a peace agreement?

-- North Jackson

On almost any Google search listing U.S. cities with the most crime you find Cleveland in the Top 10. If the Ohio governor feels compelled to send the Ohio National Guard to help Trump make a point in D.C. maybe he should help fight crime in our own backyard instead.

-- Youngstown

Who was that masked man? The Lone Ranger? Zorro? Nope and nope. It was either an ICE agent or HSI thug-part of Trump's goon squad. (King Trump plans to hire 10,000 more of them.) America , you have a problem. Republicans have turned into NAZIS and are too dumb to KNOW it. The more you embrace this White Trash politics, the faster you destroy the country of your birth!

-- Austintown

I could not believe my eyes today when I saw Trump wearing a "Trump was right about everything" hat. How ironic ... he has NOT been correct on 95% of his campaign promises. I can't believe I voted for and donated to this conman. I should have listened to my Democratic/Independent friends who told me that this guy is the most egotistical and un-American president we ever had. A psychiatrist would lose his / her mind trying to analyze him.

-- Boardman

The Supreme Orange takes umbrage to former loyalist Bolton by raiding his home (without the notice Orange was given) allegedly in search of classified documents. More likely the petty prez is just playing tough guy because Bolton pointed out the punky way he recently bowed to Putin. Were the piles of bathroom reading secrets ever recovered from Mar-a-Lago? Past time to resist the dictator. VOTE!

-- Canfield

I wonder if Mike DeWine has realized he is not tall enough, physically or politically, to reach air to breathe after diving into Trump's Magnificent Meadow Muffin tax bill. That's exactly what he did when he sent Ohio National Guard troops to 47's political theatre of law enforcement in DC. Do you know that many ICE operatives, no experience needed, received bonuses up to $50K (your tax dollars) to kidnap and deport people without due process? Truly Trumpian level SHAME.

-- Canfield

Let's take a break from Trump bashing for a bit and look at the double standards regarding racism in Youngstown. While Barry Finley used racist remarks against the Firefighters Union officials, there was no harm done and Finley has humbly apologized for his words. They are only words. No one can say it out loud, but if Finley and the mayor were white, Finley's resignation would be demanded by the easily outraged. Merely an observation.

-- Columbiana

Letters to the Editor

Sound off!

Trump continues to channel Neville Chamberlain by appeasing Putin. As 47 couldn't meet his "I will end the war in one day" promise, he's moving to a piecemeal giveaway of what is not his to give. Domestically, he must have been distracted as he restarted his anti-voting machine rant. Probably missed his Newsmax friends paying up their $64 million fine for libeling a manufacturer of those machines when he lost in 2020. When you mislead or lie a lot, it's tough keeping track of the fact checks on your deception.

-- Canfield

It is sad that we have a president so shallow that he needs constant flattery. Anyone fawning over Trump exposes our country's weakness to the rest of the world. He lies profusely and is indecisive and wishy-washy in the safety of our country. The EU leaders accompanying Zelenskyy played Trump for all he is worth, bolstering his ego. If Trump waits much longer, Putin will have taken all of Ukraine, planning his next move into another country.

-- Liberty

Last week I saw a small school will offer free student admission to sports. Today I see Austintown doing the same. Good job on the thinking. Kinda makes me wonder why these were ever thought of as money-making events. All student functions SHOULD be free to those in attendance in the school district. The more involved, the better for all! If the kids are not involved, what ARE they doing?

-- Girard

Basketball players sometimes accomplish a triple-double in points / rebounds / assists, but two Cleveland Browns players registered a double-triple in the last few months -- the most recent on Aug. 9, when defensive end Myles Garrett was stopped by Strongsville police on I-71 for going 100 mph. Not to be outdone was rookie QB Shedeur Sanders, who was clocked at 101 mph on the same stretch of road on June 17.

-- Hubbard

Talking with my fellow Republicans today (Monday Aug. 18, 2025), we were very disappointed that Donald Trump's picture was not on the front page. At least there were articles about him inside. Thank you to The Vindicator.

-- Campbell

While Trump is wrecking our country with authoritarian moves, Rulli, Husted and Moreno are letting him. We need a national law against gerrymandering, we need to take money out of politics and we need one primary for both parties with the top two vote getter's going to the final election. These changes would return power to the moderate voters and make our elected officials answerable to the people, not millionaires, billionaires or the extreme political wing of each party.

-- Campbell

Regarding your Aug. 15 headline of Vladimir Putin's praise for Donald Trump: When one global scalawag praises another, honest people of the world are about to be screwed. Nothing like praise to win a narcissist's support. Heaven help Ukraine.

-- Canfield

Trump's masked secret police (ICE) had as much skill and success breaking up a Newsome rally against 47s Texas power grab as did their Dear Leader's attempt to betray Ukraine and win a Nobel for doing so. They both looked useless and weak. Both will become memories of an ugly, authoritarian regime properly exhibited in the Smithsonian as felons, liars and enemies of the Constitution. Probably next to the Epstein kiosk.

-- Canfield

When a member of the National Guard is deployed it impacts their civilian job and family life. I often wonder how they feel about being used to support lies, contradictions and the abdication of their moral and intellectual autonomy to authority figures who have never dawned a uniform and normalize behaviors once considered unimaginable in democratic governance. When will we begin to understand that when freedom begins to wither it is through incremental concessions that do not address root causes of the issues.

-- Poland

Having given his pal, the murderer Vlad, an official state welcome to a summit that accomplished nothing, 47 took to Fox to tell the world that it's now "up to president Zelensky to find a solution to ending the war". Having washed his hands, Pilate turned Jesus over to the Pharisees. Quite the political leader that Trump fella, eh?

-- Canfield

Trump's "Summit" was TACO-ed by its namesake. On the bright side, he didn't sell off parts of Ukraine while letting Putin off the hook for any ceasefire, and giving the murderous despot a fawning, red-carpet welcome. Also good, he didn't offer pal Vlad the Seward Peninsula to secure any Trump development projects in Moscow. Now he can go back to bullying, cities, schools, and museums which don't have nuclear arms.

-- Canfield

How times have changed! In the latter half of the 20th century, a person like Mr. Trump, afflicted by grandiose delusions, would likely have been institutionalized and treated with antipsychotic medications. But today, he is fortunate to avoid that fate and surprisingly continues to be supported by most of the people who voted him in as president. This confirms what Mark Twain once wrote, "It's easier to fool people than to convince them that they have been fooled".

-- Struthers

There must be a real uneven match planned for 47s big, bloody UFC fight at the Whitehouse. Nothing Trump likes better than a beat down of the defenseless; e.g. grannies on Medicaid. Especially if there's no danger he'll be hurt. Maybe he'll do a clinic on "blading for would-be martyrs". That could be a six figure ticket grift for the Uber wealthy. Nice payback for the big beautiful tax break their favorite president gave them.

-- Canfield

Well Only in Y Town, a 14-year-old sticks up a "lemonade stand" with a gun ! That's what happens when, as my grandmother used to say, " No fetchen up" ! Sadly it's a culture in that community when there is no father figure nor any family structure. I am sure the little misunderstood boy will be back out on our streets soon only to graduate into a full-fledged "thug."

-- Canfield

Why not a lying felon in the Oval Office? Why not a Philistine in charge of art and cultural centers and museums? Why not incompetent, far right, sycophants in charge of every non-partisan bureau, agency and court? If you have no answer, you have missed the opening salvos of the rule of the Orange Menace. Law, our Constitution, your rights to due process, voting, freedom of speech and religion are all under assault. Dump Trump and Team Toady while it's still peacefully possible and your cost of living is manageable.

-- Canfield

Why doesn't the Governor of Texas stop using relief funds for Texas flood victims as a club to beat democrats back to his Trump-induced special session? He could just split those funds from the effort Trump has demanded the governor make to disenfranchise Texas voters through radical gerrymandering. I guess he owes the Don, who doesn't give a hoot about the suffering of others. There's more than mud for Texans to scrape off their boots.

-- Canfield

Happy belated Birthday, U.S. Coast Guard! Sorry we didn't have a parade for you on Aug. 4, for your 235th birthday. And U.S. Air Force, we missed yours on June 20, 84 years young. Coming up, salutations to the U.S. Navy, on Oct. 13 and also the Marines, Nov. 10, 250 years ago. I guess the only date that really mattered was Trump's birthday. To all branches of our military, thank you! You all deserve a parade!

-- Youngstown

Why doesn't the Governor of Texas stop using relief funds for Texas flood victims as a club to beat democrats back to his Trump-induced special session? He could just split those funds from the effort Trump has demanded the governor make to disenfranchise Texas voters through radical gerrymandering. I guess he owes the Don, who doesn't give a hoot about the suffering of others. There's more than mud for Texans to scrape off their boots.

-- Canfield

Letters to the Editor

Sound off!

This past week I made a quarterly order of household staples from Sam's Club. So much for Dear Leader's campaign promise to lower prices, it was the highest bill we ever had. Coffee was up over $3.00 and this was prior to Trump's additional 25% retaliation tariff on Brazil for his perceived poor treatment of his criminal authoritarian buddy Bolsonaro. I can't imagine what our next order will cost after all of his tariffs (Taxes) kick in! As they say, elections have consequences, sometimes bad ones!

-- Struthers

47 sent troops to D.C. for two purposes, 1st to divert attention from his bestie Epstein and 2nd to normalize his sending troops to American cities. He promised MAGA that he would reveal top DEMS who were involved with Epstein. Apparently there's nothing in the records about them or his attorney general would have released the files, or 47 is mentioned too often. As for the troops, once we get used to them, we'll be unable to stop his masked troops from forcing us to be subservient.

-- Campbell

Once, a proud American, I'm now embarrassed to have a leader who tramples on its allies, rips food from hungry children, sends individuals with no criminal history to their death march, and see elected officials turn into cowering children. I can only assume that's because they've seen irrefutable proof of harm done to those who oppose this president. Those who believe this president's promises will soon find out they've been scammed by the greatest con artist in history.

-- Youngstown

Between a monarchy and a democratic republic, there is only one difference: in the former, officialdom oppresses and robs the people for the profit of the privileged, propertied classes and lines its own pockets. In the latter, it oppresses and robs the people the same way, to the same classes and same pockets, but in the name of the people's will. In a republic, a fictitious people, the "legal nation" supposedly representing the real, live people, instead smothers them.

-- Boardman

Why are you punishing the store and employees for some bad actors in the parking lot? Now they have a whole parking lot to hang out in and local people in that area have no milk or bread. Just great that that's all you could come up with, city leaders. The store didn't hurt those who needed that food. You did.

-- Youngstown

If alcohol was being sold to the men in the parking lot, take the alcohol license away. Don't throw the baby out with bath water, people still need to be able to buy a gallon of milk or bread. The news said the neighborhood is poor, which means people may not have cars to get to bigger retail establishments. They need their store. Also, have the store close by 10 or 11 p.m. at the latest.

-- Youngstown

Having cut major funding for PBS, Trump may now hire upgrades to his Cabinet from the Muppets cast of Sesame Street. I like the Count for BLS; Trump loves simple math. Oscar for Health and EPA, he can spread as much garbage and ill health as the current occupants. Cookie Monster, with a change of fur color, could be a fill-in for 47's demand statements. No matter who he chooses, Trump can make them say what he wants with either of his little hands. Plus, they won't speak without him on hand.

-- Canfield

Letters to the Editor

Sound off!

Facts: Every word out of Trump's mouth is a lie. The economy IS worse under Trump. Climate change is real. Departments and bureaus are being led by total incompetents. Tariffs are nothing more than TAXES. We, not them, are paying these taxes. Ghislaine Maxwell IS a very dangerous pedophile who cannot be allowed freedom. Trump's big mouth may end in a war with Russia. Most of what Trump blabs about are deflections from Project 2025's effort to rule our country.

-- Liberty

Mayor Brown is concerned about safety in downtown Youngstown! Back when he divided millions equally to each council member to use as they wanted, I called the mayor's office with my suggestion: "Use the PDF funds to hire more policemen and K-9 patrol cars (one of which would patrol downtown 24 hours a day)." DORA was an accident waiting to happen. Now more young people are drinking and causing problems. No news about a proposed youth center at a vacant McDonald's on Market Street. Vote for Derrick McDowell, who has great ideas for the future.

-- Boardman

The Youngstown Connection in its final performance was a disappointment. First, it was scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. and did not get underway until 6:30. Also, it was less of a performance for the public and more of a reunion for past and present cast members. And there were too many sentimental reflections and not enough performances. It did not live up to the advertisements. Sorry I attended.

-- Austintown

Boardman trustee candidate Cody McCormick demeans the currency of the word "antiquated" when he says Boardman Township's zoning code is antiquated. He should review a copy of Poland Township's if he wants to see "antiquated."

-- Poland

Masked ICE cops with no regard for due process. Tariff-induced price and tax rises. Foreign policy based on who 47 "likes." "Gift" planes you will pay millions for a convicted felon to use. Burning food rather than feeding the starving. So on ad nauseum. MAGA America is disgraced by incompetence, ignorance and lawlessness.

-- Canfield

Lifetime judgeships awarded to friends of 47. Private interviews of convicted sex traffickers by a Trump lawyer hinting 47 could pardon the convict. Nursing mothers arrested and detained for months without cause. Pardons for J6 insurrectionists, tear gas for peaceful protests. Pretense of infallibility by a phony "tough guy." This is justice under Trump's boot as enabled by you who "like his policies" and a spineless Congress.

-- Canfield

Perhaps if the Great Serpent Mound was spray painted gold, that would make the Trump administration consider it and other worldwide heritage sites worthy of saving.

-- Youngstown

I just saw the little green spaces that were added to the center of Mahoning Avenue. Right now it is just tall grass and weeds and heaven knows how often it will get cut. The least the city could have done was plant some perennial flowers or plants. It does not look nice at all.

-- Youngstown

For months the "experts" say the jobs market is higher than expected. The economy and job market is STRONG they say for months. On Thursday the Federal Reserve meets and HOLD interest rates high. WHY? Because the economy and jobs are booming say the experts! On FRIDAY the experts "FIX" the numbers for the last many months and announce jobs are NOT booming as the EXPERTS have been saying. Nothing to see here! Yea right!

-- Girard

As much as we'd like to deny it, America is still the 'Wild West'. Guns are prolific still and also is lawlessness--from top to bottom--in society and the government. As I have said in this forum previously, crime really pays in America! And especially in Washington, DC, Ohio and Youngstown--a rich history of criminality. Just look around and try to realize how nicely dishonesty has gotten us to this point. Don't have to name names. It's obvious.

-- Boardman

Trump's multi-million$ White House ballroom addition will give GOP toadies a place to party if their lack of spines and governing ability prevent them returning to their districts during multiple vacations. DC district government will need additional garbage trucks to pick up all the waste, fraud and abuse the elephants leave behind. Likely design is a low-rent Versailles, and may outdo the Oval Office for tastelessness.

-- Canfield

If Trump becomes seriously ill, I hope RFK Jr. will marshal all the remaining resources of the CDC, Medicare and Medicaid to save him. NOAA could help him find a healing climate, maybe under the Northern Lights of Iceland, to accompany his Potomac mud poultice and Açaí berry infusion treatments. Good thing RFK is not an MD and won't do any stupid stuff.

-- Canfield

Thank goodness Trump has greater moral fiber than his pal and fellow felon Epstein. Trump waits for Fox to fire / retire their alleged journalists before "stealing" them into the incompetent and criminal ranks of his administration. With the number of folks losing jobs to 47's tariffs and philistine tastes, he should be able find help. How about Loomer?

-- Canfield

For Teachers, wouldn't it be nice if school systems would provide these supplies? No other profession I can think of requires employees to provide their own supplies. With all the government outbacks locals will be expected to pick up the tab more and more. Remember this when the kids come home with a supply list or you see a school Levy on the ballot.

-- Youngstown

Trump is building an Orwellian "memory hole" down which he disposes of truths inconvenient for him. He is firing, without proven cause, the labor statistics chief for accurately reporting a slowing in hiring activity. He demands the Smithsonian Institutions remove an "impeach Trump" campaign button from exhibits of America's impeachments, proving as petty as dangerous. The Smithsonian deserves praise for removing said button while expanding the exhibit to include more information on Trumps two impeachments making it equal to facts exhibited about other impeached presidents.

-- Canfield

I wish the far left writers to Sound Off would tell all of us what their policies are instead of just saying how much they hate President Trump. A recent writer from Hubbard condemned others from Hubbard for supporting Trump. All they stated were the things you hear on CNN or MSNBC. It's amazing how some people just can't accept that their side lost. I disagreed with just about everything Biden did, but I didn't call his supporters names. Some people just need to grow up.

-- Hubbard

Front page "Trump-Russia..." Vindy of 8/5 buried the lead as "...likely to heighten concerns that the Justice Department is being used to achieve political ends, given longstanding grievances over Russia investigations voiced by President Donald Trump, who has called for the jailing of political adversaries." shows up in the 4th paragraph. Could be shortened to "Trump lies about..." today's distraction "to ..."

-- Canfield

47 is tanking the economy. Only 36,000 jobs per month were created during the last quarter. It is the worst quarter we've had in 10 years. It's because of illegal taxes (tariffs) that he's imposed. They make it impossible for small businesses to plan. Now he's firing the BLS commissioner because he doesn't like the numbers. Inflation is increasing and now Trump plans to screw with prescription costs. As the year progresses, you'll see and feel his ignorance. Who is to blame? Rulli, Husted and Moreno for supporting this madness.

-- Campbell

Letters to the Editor

Sound off!

In the July 21 paper, there was a "protest" decrying that President Trump is taking away our Constitutional rights one by one. It appears the people in the photo forgot the imperial and tyrannical presidency of Joe Biden. What rights has Trump tried to take away? What started under Trump with the closing of the economy was taken far further under Biden. They don't remember the draconian measures forced on us by this tyrant. The economy, churches and schools were closed. People were separated from family members. Riots were permitted by Democrats. These "well meaning" citizens were nowhere to be found then.

-- Canfield

I have a solution for the controversy surrounding the renaming of the Washington Commanders. They should be named the "Washington Spineless Congressmen" or the "Washington Spinelessmen" for short. This best reflects the ethos of that city.

-- Girard

After seeing where the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives decided to end their "work" early and send all members home, I would like any one of them to justify to the working class just what have they done to deserve this? Wouldn't we all like to have a job like that? And yet these clowns get reelected? Oh, did we all say "thanks" for all the cuts to programs so many Americans depend on? Travesty.

-- Austintown

Why show a new golf course opening when we have so many more serious issues to work on? We were angry during Trump's first reign, and we seem even more angry now given the seriously declining mental health of the people of this nation. Shootings, stabbings and riots seem to be an everyday happening. Maybe Vance, Moreno and Rulli, who are doing nothing for Ohioans, could spend more time on help for mental illness than lying for and sucking up to Trump.

-- Liberty

TV 21 had a headline "Local leaders want details in Lake to River CEO search." They profess surprise and a need for transparency. May I suggest they read local newspapers and journals? In 2024, the CEO was introduced as the INTERIM CEO and was offering time and effort for free. So the current CEO is an unpaid volunteer and it was known from the beginning she was temporary and was to be replaced. How is that for up front and TRANSPARENT.

-- Girard

47 and the Republicans have cut support for PBS and NPR, two of the most neutral news outlets in the country. Why? Because unlike Faux News they report facts. Cuts to the Education Department, attacks against Harvard, Columbia, CBS, "The Late Show," The Guardians, Commanders and DEI have nothing to do with government efficiency and everything to do with controlling the narrative by force since they can't win the arguments.

-- Campbell

In a July 26 Vindicator survey on whether the deer hunt should be canceled this year, the voters spoke out. A vote of 58% of readers feel that the hunt should be canceled vs 44% who were in favor. These numbers speak for themselves.Taxpayers do not want hunting in their park. Mill Creek MetroParks chooses to ignore public opinion or numbers from a USDA-conducted survey. Speak up for your park and its wildlife.

-- Poland

Every week I see two Sound Off writers from Hubbard. Maybe they need to change the Republican "Kool-Aid" flavors of propaganda, conspiracy, cabal, deep state, weaponization, woke etc. Some of us from this town have no desire to ride "the chaotic retribution" Trump train!!

-- Hubbard

I don't want to hear anyone complain about land taxes when Trump said he would raise your real estate value and make your home worth more. He has, and now you are complaining about being taxed out of your house. You voted for him!! Now your house is worth a mint and even you can't afford it. He gave you wealth that has to be taxed. Can't you see the cycle here? The more he's helping you, he's hurting you.

-- Youngstown

Those whining about the demise of the First Amendment due to Congress removing funding for PBS and NPR show a complete lack of understanding. The federal government isn't stopping either entity from broadcasting any viewpoint they wish. We don't subsidize any other broadcast or cable networks. Why should PBS and NPR be any different? If there's a demand for their content, advertisers will be willing to pay to air commercials.

-- Austintown

Why is it that school zone speeding cameras are operated by outside companies? We don't have that level of technology here? I say send the tickets, make them pay them and give them points. Getting a ticket is totally voluntary. Let's put cameras at all red lights. Every time it cycles, someone goes through because there is no enforcement. We all witness the stupid acts of drivers every time we go out. Originally, all the traffic laws were about safety. Has that changed?

-- Columbiana

The library director comes across like a pompous you-know-what. Totally dismissing those who disagree as "outdated" etc. She is PROOF that the property tax needs removed. Wow, just wow! What an unjustified attitude of superiority.

-- Girard

Contrary to information given by Aaron Young about deer hunting in Millcreek Park, the USDA conducted a helicopter aerial survey . The survey showed 14.9 deer per square mile in our 5 mile park. Millcreek Park doesn't accept this number. This number won't support a hunt of 200 plus deer being killed, as Mr. Young proposes. He said that this will continue until they reach a number they are satisfied with, which most likely means indefinitely. No proof has been presented proving vegetation damage.

-- Poland

Local trustees, board members, etc., are all concerned about the no-property tax proposal. They should be: They caused this issue over the years and forced this tipping point. Endless levies vs. actual efficiency and proper sizing of government entities. Consolidations, mergers and sharing need to be started NOW. This tax revolt is not going away. Even this past year, many NEW public admin hires have been CREATED. WHY?

-- Girard

If Stephen Colbert were singing the praises of our president, would his show have been canceled? If PBS and NPR were all MAGA, all the time and thought fact-checking was unnecessary, would $9 billion that was already allocated be taken away? This president wants to be adored by every person every hour of every day. Since our lawmakers and judges are too terrified to speak up, we have to act before all freedoms are gone.

-- Youngstown

The Rulli bill to prove his loyalty to Trump for his "courage " misses the fact that he had no concern for the people around him dead or dying, but rather took his best "Fight, Fight, Fight" photo opp for his campaign. Both are disgraceful.

-- Canfield

I think I see the problem with gun laws. We see people arrested for buying a gun illegally, then giving it to a known felon, who then commits yet another crime with it. Our county prosecutors should be called county plea bargainers. They drop a handful of serious charges to get a guilty plea to one charge. We're done here! Now what have these criminals learned from all this? Do whatever you like, there are no serious consequences.

-- Columbiana

More Soundoffs, C6

Secrets casually released; slow or no response to disasters; healthcare denied to favor wealthcare; education by banning books; deportation without evidence; diplomacy by a single, unqualified opinion; justice by asking the boss not by reading the Constitution; outrageous allegations without facts. Welcome to the "unitary executive" theory of the would-be dictator beloved by the toady GOP pretenders.

-- Canfield

Every government employee nationwide, especially the entire Trump administration, should be held on criminal charges for their treatment of immigrants and "others" in these prisons, where many remain shackled while even in cells. Everyone condoning or aware of these practices who are not speaking up deserve the same treatment! absolutely inhumane.

-- Liberty

Santucci has once again proven he does not represent us, just Trump. His Wednesday editorial only served to spread the Trump fear-mongering about immigrants. I have lived in NE Ohio all my life and I know of no one in my family or even acquaintances who have ever been attacked, robbed or molested by an immigrant. I've never seen groups of homeless immigrants anywhere and the local news I've watched has never reported an immigrant crime that I have seen. Sadly, another sycophant.

-- Canfield

That parking deck is pivotal to people on the east end of downtown Youngstown. The removal of it would be the death knell for that side of downtown. There are not enough lots and street parking is very limited in amounts needed for big shows at Covelli Centre and the apartments that are coming in Huntington, First National, and Strouss buildings, along with current residents of International Towers. Where shall their company park? That will kill the east end of downtown, possibly permanently.

-- Youngstown