Sure, Bill Clinton had his flaws, but ...
2/22/2002Billy Clinton did this, Billy did that. Well, perhaps Billy did. Nevertheless, it seems ironic that an article appears more than one year after Mr. Clinton's departure from office that dredges up the improprieties of leaving office with gifts totaling some $400,000. Mention was made of something that smelled bad and I could not agree more. Something does.
Does anyone remember the $1 million gift to a departing Ronald Reagan? For those who may be less than gifted at math, this “token,” from Japanese interests, was 21/2 times the Clinton take. What the heck, I guess I'd prefer cash myself! Not to mention that we were all spared any political gibberish about appraised values.
For the sake of those who love to rehash dirt, let's go to the ultimate fun question: In retrospect, was Billy guilty of committing an impeachable crime? My answer is an unequivocal yes. He affixed his signature to the 1998 law by which Washington National became Reagan National Airport. To me, this does approach the unpardonable.
Despite Bill Clinton's arguable flaws, it should be noted that even he has his better points. The fact that he signed the above legislation says that he is not vindictive - unlike his many detractors.
KARL WALTERS
Fostoria
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A recent Blade article cited Lucas County's outstanding efforts to recruit and encourage minority and female-owned business enterprises to participate in the bidding process for the construction of Fifth Third Field. Unfortunately, the headline seemed to imply that Lucas County, by not keeping specific, albeit not legally required statistical data, was in some manner being unfair to minority contractors.
The fact is that purchases exceeding $15,000 by Lucas County are routinely advertised publicly in a variety of publications, including those focused on the minority communities. Fairness in the bidding process, keeping the field level for all participants, must be achieved in order to maintain confidence in the requisition process. I believe we do just that.
Tracking minority and female-owned businesses participating in our bidding process can be measured, and I will encourage the effort to do so. In addition, I have asked our administration to establish a program wherein all interested persons and businesses can gain an understanding of how to do business with Lucas County.
Also, we have made our purchasing staff available to organizations such as the Northwest Ohio Black Chamber of Commerce and the Toledo Area Chamber of Commerce in order to provide information about our procurement process. Those efforts ensure that all who wish to participate may, that all qualified bids are considered, and that required paper work is properly filled out.
The goal of government purchasing is to instill fairness and to purchase quality goods and services at the best price possible on behalf of the taxpayer. Lucas County is attentive to that goal and we have a record of encouraging minority participation in that process. With our continuing efforts to encourage participation, more bids will result and our tax dollars will go further.
SANDY ISENBERG
President
Board of County Commissioners
Lucas County
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Roberta de Boer, always the champion of the unfortunate, shows no compassion for the employees of Jacobson's who will no longer be working. The anecdote about her friend who was so grievously insulted in Jake's is used as though to justify the closing of the store.
All of us have had unpleasant experiences shopping, but, happily, I have never felt compelled to reveal these incidents to an uncaring public.
Jacobson's has been my store of choice for many years. The high quality of merchandise and the helpful, polite, and properly dressed salespeople have always made the experiences pleasant and successful.
Since Ms. de Boer stated she is only happy with the “30 percent off” bargains, I recommend to the management of The Blade that her salary be reduced by that percentage. Then the adage “you get what you pay for” would once again be true.
JOANNE WENNER SIGLER
Tiffin
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Kudos (I think) to The Blade for taking a principled stand in its recent editorial against Harvard Industries. Harvard is the parent company of Toledo's former Doehler-Jarvis factory, who The Blade alleges “is using federal bankruptcy law to weasel out of its insurance obligation to the retirees under an old contract with the United Autoworkers Union.”
If the bankrupt has sufficient assets to fund the plan after meeting obligations to primary creditors, such as the IRS, banks, and so forth, they should not be allowed to “weasel out.” Or perhaps the UAW should somehow have secured Doehler-Jarvis' contributions to the plan as part of the contract negotiating process, in order to have improved its position as a creditor.
However, I am bewildered by The Blade's statement suggesting that Washington politicians, specifically the Bush administration, are somehow responsible for this dilemma. It proclaimed “that people's lives must not be sacrificed for more tax cuts and other giveaways to businesses like Harvard Industries.”
With all due respect, what the heck do tax cuts, designed to stimulate the economy for wealthy and poor alike, have to do with an individual company defaulting on its contractual obligations?
Doubtless The Blade is truly concerned about the plight of these poor people. However, it also appears that it saw this situation as an opportunity to take a shot at Washington officials with whom it disagrees, on a totally separate issue.
JACK KOESTER
Mount Dora, Fla.
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In response to a reader who criticized the Victory Center for holding a benefit where smoking prevailed, the Victory Center is funded by grants and donations, and if this is one of the ways that this wonderful place survives, so be it.
The benefits that are derived from the Victory Center for cancer patients and their families is a miracle.
I know because I am a cancer patient who attends the Victory Center. I go there for support, massages, reflexology, and healing touch, and it's all free.
So to the reader who nit-picks, I hope that you never have to walk in my shoes.
NOLA WALTERS
Cresthaven Lane
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If memory serves, at least a decade ago, Monroe County became part of Detroit's economic development region, and no longer was part of the Toledo area.
I am not a “big business” supporter. I have been pro-union all my life. But many in southern Monroe County, not all, drive home with their paychecks from Toledo-area employers, and make their sunset drive to their homogenous, subdivided bedroom communities for soccer momism and steak on the barbie.
Yet they vehemently oppose “big” entrepreneurship sullying the surroundings. Fifty-five miles north, not two or three miles south, is where the center of their chosen “economic cooperation” can be found.
Perhaps they should do their shopping in Downriver Detroit. They should make doubly sure, however, not to leave the key in the ignition.
STEVEN G. SIROTNYAK
Sylvania
Take my mop ... please
So the city of Toledo wants to bill FirstEnergy for its costs associated with the ice storm?
How about the citizens charging the city of Toledo's Department of Public Utilities for the cost of cleanup and mopping up of basement water because of inadequate sewers causing backups during heavy rains?
Talk about setting precedent.
JON D. THOMAS
305th Street