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Letters to the Editor

Framing the ACA debate correctly

DEAR EDITOR: I watched Sen. John Barrasso, on a Sunday news interview, claim ACA premiums for Americans will skyrocket if his party OKs continuing payment of that program. I don’t think he framed his argument correctly, thus creating the false impression that what ACA recipients will pay are unacceptable increases resulting from the program. The premium he’s worrying about is the portion paid by government funding, yes, all of us, that might endanger billionaire tax cuts. The portion paid by individuals using ACA will increase by a much more manageable amount that is the users ...

Why Ohioans need Senate Bill 36 to pass

DEAR EDITOR: Ohio’s health care system is under growing strain as the population ages. Nearly a quarter of Ohioans are baby boomers now entering a stage of life with greater healthcare needs. Eye care is no exception. The demand for medical eye care is projected to rise by 24%, while the supply of ophthalmologists is expected to decline by 12% by 2035. This growing gap makes access increasingly difficult, especially in rural and underserved regions where patients may wait 4–5 months for an ophthalmology appointment, compared to just 5 days with a doctor of optometry. We ...

Sound off!

We know that bone spurs can be caused by stomping your feet to get your way. Lie, deny, whine, appeal, appeal, appeal. The nanny (Supreme Court) gives in every time. As we’ve been told ... he is a “stable genius.” — New Springfield As the Washington Commanders consider a name for their new stadium, why not name it Presidents Stadium to honor ALL U.S. presidents; past current and future! — Poland In her “Washington grieving” column, Froma Harrop incorrectly stated that only one U.S. state, Wisconsin, had senators that represent both parties. You would think that ...

Libraries are all about books and literacy

DEAR EDITOR: After reading the recent news article on the future of the Family Place Library, I was a bit taken back at the quote, “Libraries are not only about books. They are about strengthening families and supporting children from their earliest years.” I assert that the very heart of a library’s premise is all about “THE BOOK”. The library first and foremost should be promoting literacy from infancy to the golden years. Andrew Carnegie, who helped make so many libraries possible, including Mahoning County, donated to libraries because he believed they were essential ...

Why won’t mall owner be held accountable?

DEAR EDITOR: I estimated there are approximately 4,600 properties listed in the 12-page supplement published in The Vindicator this week listing delinquent Mahoning County land taxes for 2024. Of those, only about 30 taxpayers owe between $10,000 to $100,000 in back taxes, with most of these 30 taxpayers closer to the $10,000 side of this bracket. But there is one more which is above $100,000. The Southern Park Mall Reality owes in excess of $1,000,000 and it’s growing monthly. In fact, the owners are causing security payroll problems, rumors abound that they are delinquent on ...

Bring back the great American toothpick

DEAR EDITOR: There are many unjust aspects of our society, and not least of which is the lack of publicly available toothpicks, particularly in restaurants. Patrons are provided all other necessities to enjoy a meal. Therefore, it is baffling to me as to why an essential aspect of any meal, the toothpick, is very rarely provided in restaurants anymore. I would venture to guess that most of us would use a toothpick at a restaurant more regularly than we would a spoon; most situations do not require a spoon, which is generally only utilized during the consumption of soup. ...