A black cloud again over Toledo

Shame on you, Toledo nonsmokers, for not getting out in greater numbers to vote down the smoking ban amendment. Now, it's your own fault that there will be a black cloud once again over Toledo.

No excuses. I read here once that a minority of residents are smokers, so where were the rest of you on election night? The entire country sees what you apparently don't see, which is that smoking kills. And, shame on some of you bar owners for still complaining about the amended changes. You should feel lucky you got any change at all. You should probably spend more time on how to market your business better after the "recent significant loss thanks to the smoking ban."

I recently moved out of Toledo right when the smoking ban originally passed (due to job relocation), but sure would have liked to see the ban happen long before that. It was nice for a short amount of time to go to a bar, have a drink, dance the night away, and not fill my body with possible lung cancer. Or, go bowling with my family and not blacken my children's little lungs. Oh well, all good things must come to an end, I guess. For smokers, their lives will just end sooner than the rest of us. When they wake up and realize that, Toledo will again be smoke-free.

AMY FOSTER

Port Clinton, Ohio

The people have spoken! Mr. Mayor, Toledo City Council, health officials, maybe the next time you decide to impose your personal preferences on the citizens of Toledo you will remember that we are voters and most of you are elected officials! No one is forced to patronize any privately owned business.

If smoking offends you, common sense should tell you not to go there. I think that the least all of you should do is publicly apologize to the thousands of people and their families you have hurt financially - the owners, employees, and suppliers - by driving their business to surrounding businesses outside the city of Toledo, not to mention the loss of tax dollars.

Because the American Medical Association and the Centers for Disease Control both say that obesity is the number one health problem in this country, not smoking, why don't these officials take that on as their new crusade?

Sorry, I forgot. Most of them are overweight.

J. WARRINGTON

Bigelow Street

Let's review: Secondhand smoke is just as deadly as lighting your own, therefore, the city took a big leap to ban smoking in public places. Bravo!

Now, the voters have opted to water down the ban that was designed to protect them makes perfect sense. So, now that we understand that the public wants to play Russian roulette with our air, I wonder how many of those bar and business owners will do the right thing and continue to keep their air clean?

The fresh air was nice while it lasted.

J. HEPNER

Holland

To the bars and restaurants which have gone nonsmoking, never mind that the amendment to weaken the smoking ban passed.

Would you please show the residents of this great city that you care equally about your patrons and employees as you do the success of your business?

Two of our nation's most profitable cities, the Big Apple and Los Angeles, both have solid bans on lighting up in bars and restaurants, yet there's always a wait to be seated no matter where you go!

PHILANA MARIE BOLES

Glenridge Drive

I commend the Lucas County commissioners for the public meeting outlining the importance of the Local Government Funds and the devastating impact their elimination would have upon northwest Ohio.

State and local governments have worked together for seven decades in the allocation of funds through the Local Government Fund, the Local Government Revenue Assistance Fund, and the Library and Local Government Support Fund.

These funds directly impact the quality of life for Lucas County residents as these tax dollars return to enhance the community from which they originated. Recently, the state budgetary process has eroded this source of funding, and conversations indicate continued depletion and possible elimination of these critical sources of funding.

I encourage the residents of Lucas County to let their state representatives know that the Local Government Funds are vital to northwest Ohio. We cannot afford to see any further reduction to these funds, nor to this community.

CLYDE SCOLES

Director

Toledo-Lucas County Public Library

In listening to a Perrysburg woman describe her encounter with Oprah's show (she was "not so ignorant to know that they are going to splice that all together for excitement and drama"), I can't understand why people can't use that same wisdom when they listen to Michael Moore spew forth his so called message to you "slackers" (that's his name for you, not mine).

After seeing Bowling For Columbine, I assured myself that I would never watch another Moore film under any circumstance, and I haven't. But that doesn't mean that I've escaped the curiosity of watching people ignorantly buy into his message.

Mr. Moore is superbly gifted at taking an issue, splicing together different sound bites, clips, and quotes, mixing it all up with his camera and personal agenda and giving you an almost totally believable version of the truth according to Michael Moore. Almost believable. Entertaining in its own shallow way.

Remember Bowling for Columbine? Mr. Moore would have you believe that Charlton Heston, the NRA, and Kmart were responsible for that tragedy. If it wasn't for the fact that it was two white kids who lived in half-million-dollar homes in an affluent suburb, we would have never had the movie. (I am white, by the way.)

Mr. Moore would also have you believe that Dick Clark and Michigan's workfare program were responsible for one kindergartner shooting another. OK, sure, Mike. I believe that.

They should have given Mr. Moore the Academy Award for science fiction. I thought that documentaries were supposed to be based on fact?

Oh, that's right, Hollywood gives out the award.

Hollywood is predominantly tree-hugging ACLU lovers, and Michael Moore is their spokesboy.

RON SCHRAMM, JR.

Genesee Street

Although, by his own admission, Ford Weber prefers to fly under the radar, I'm glad he got caught "In the Public Eye."

His dedication to brownfields initiatives is coupled with concern for the return of vibrant neighborhoods in the city of Toledo. Mr. Weber has brought to the brownfields task force table potential competitors who share his sense of community-mindedness, environmental justice, and concern for sustainable growth. This task force may well exemplify that collaboration goes further than competition for the common good.

Among the many ways Mr. Weber shares his knowledge and expertise is a course he developed on Urban Land Management to be offered at Lourdes College next semester. He maintains that familiarity with the principles and processes of urban ecology may provide appropriate solutions to problems caused by human impact.

He and the brownfields task force are addressing those problems very aggressively with the good of the city of Toledo at heart.

MARYA CZECH

Sylvania

Once again, honesty, integrity, and morality have defeated the hypocrisy of those who would impose their useless and worthless values on the majority of people of these great United States. God has truly blessed America.

HELENEGENE WENNINGER

Petersburg, Mich.