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Letters to the Editor

Has peace through strength really worked?

DEAR EDITOR: The popular political slogan of Peace Through Strength has been overused and underrealized for decades, yet the strongest country in the known world has still not realized the absence of war for decades. Gaza and Ukraine stand as recent witnesses. What is to be done? Peace through weakness? Never happen. Readers of The Vindicator might find some solace in the alternative words of “Peace through Understanding,” as revealed in the Jan./Feb. (2026) issue of Foreign Affairs. Eleven trenchant essays tackle the future of America in the world under the beacon of Donald ...

Look at the pattern that Trump is following

DEAR EDITOR: In September 1939, Adolf Hitler invaded Poland under the pretense of national interest and historical claim. It was framed as a defensive act, a necessary move to protect Germany’s future. The world soon recognized it for what it was: a blatant act of aggression that triggered the deadliest war in human history. That same playbook didn’t end with World War II. In 2014, Vladimir Putin annexed Crimea using similar justifications; protecting Russian-speaking citizens, securing national interests, asserting historical ties. The world objected, but the move stood. Then in ...

Heat up the future of downtown Youngstown

DEAR EDITOR: Youngstown’s recurring struggles with downtown district steam heating point to a deeper reality: the existing system is in need of major investment. With SOBE Thermal operating under emergency conditions and relying on temporary fixes, the real question is not whether we must spend significant money — but whether we spend it just to survive the next winter or to build something that works for the next century. One promising option deserves serious consideration: pairing a modernized district heating system with waste heat from data centers. Servers generate enormous ...

Youngstown residents: Be patient, but vocal

DEAR EDITOR: As we start 2026 with a new mayor for the city of Youngstown, congratulations, Mayor Derrick McDowell, and congratulations to the new administration. Let’s remember that patience will be the real key to the city. The voters have spoken, and it is up to the residents to help the new mayor understand their neighborhoods’ concerns. The mayor has already implemented the 5-minutes with the Mayor. I encourage those able to take advantage of that one-on-one opportunity. I would also encourage those who are able to attend the council meetings. The dates and times are listed ...

A fitting home for America250 in the Valley

DEAR EDITOR: As we prepare to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary, the Reuben McMillan Library in Poland should be considered as the headquarters for the Mahoning Valley’s America250 activities. The library is the perfect place to explore the history of Town One, Range One, the Connecticut Western Reserve, and the townships and villages that shaped our region. It offers insight into the early settlers of the Mahoning Valley and the homes and structures that have stood for more than 200 years. Nearby, the grist mill on Water Street once stood along Yellow Creek, part of a ...

Stop the ongoing atrocity at Mill Creek Park

DEAR EDITOR: Having been born and raised on the city’s West Side, I read the Youngstown news daily. I recently read an article on the WFMJ app about the grants to several Mahoning Valley community parks. I found the quotes within the news article to be hypocritical given what Aaron Young hasn’t done to keep up with the maintenance and safety of Mill Creek Park! Worse yet, allowing the park to become a killing field, eliminating the deer population along with other wildlife! For decades, there never seemed to be the need for slaughter and the removal of animals from Mill Creek Park ...