DEAR EDITOR:

I have always strongly encouraged my children and others not to live their lives filled with cynicism. I have also advocated for the place of government, specifically as to its constitutional role. Our cynicism usually finds government at its epicenter.

East Palestine, its residents, businesses and communities that surround it have been dramatically impacted by the Norfolk Southern train derailment. Our health, psychological, emotional and economic damages have been immeasurable! Many continue to live with questions, frustrations, concerns and stress pressing into the moments of every day. Others seem to have pressed these into a created box, enabling themselves to move forward toward finding some kind of normalcy.

East Palestine, within its downtown areas of business and its village limits, over the past number of years has experienced and shown its places of increasing decay and regression. From within, its economic infrastructure and character have not fostered growth of enthusiasm and investment, but instead abandonment. Once those realities become fixed, the spiral downward becomes its own driving force.

Compounding these realities is the multitude of promises made but not kept. Politicians, both local and state, which took the opportunity to showcase themselves, have now returned to their places of power. In turn, they demonstrate their real absence of true empathy and commitment to those victimized by the devastating event.

Promises of economic investment, infrastructure development and community enhancement have either been abandoned, reduced to a fraction of what was advanced or turned over to local entities who now find themselves with a white elephant, not knowing really what to do with it.

Compounding even further are the alleged failures in fiduciary integrity and management of those assigned by the courts. We now find ourselves stuck in the slow workings of the systems engaged in an audit. On top of this are the last-minute and even late filings of appeals yet to be dismissed or moved forward by the courts.

In the meantime, the days, months and now years continue to pass without pause. We have no other recourse but to wait and attempt to find hope and resolve.

So, do I express cynicism? Maybe! Yet, I urge you not to allow despair, indifference, anger or rage to overwhelm, only entrapping you in an abandonment of life!

Recovery and renewal demand leadership and vision! Seize your moment! Secure our future! May God grant you tomorrows! May you embrace them in Life!

MARK E. GUY

East Palestine