Crime is not just in Old West End

7/9/2009

As an expatriate of Toledo, I often check The Blade for all things home. I was sorry to see the needed focus on my beloved Old West End. Bob Brundage was our neighbor across the street when we left Toledo near 30 years ago.

When we lived there, people spoke against the Old West End. When I started discussing returning after nearly three decades in Las Vegas, all I heard was, "You don't want to go back there; it's rampant with crime."

However, when I'm in town it is the one place I want to go and the place that I'd like to live in. Always have, always will.

Crime is a sad reality of the world we've created, and there are probably no areas of Toledo (or most other cities) not affected. The town I currently live in certainly is no exception, and here it's real serious. The beauty of the Old West End is that like-minded people maintain the groundwork and the strength to rise above it.

Scott Nellis

Las Vegas

Proudly, Toledo is Ohio's solar capital, and a new nuclear plant in southern Ohio means fewer manufacturing and research jobs for Toledo folks. When Duke Energy, the federal government, and Governor Strickland support that plant, they effectively divert investments away from solar research, manufacturing, and infrastructure projects.

Solar generation is a much more viable solution than nuclear power. Germany, the world's largest solar market, has less sun resource than our great state, and most of their panels come from companies in our area. Solar power costs less, takes less time to build, puts more people to work in the long-term, and doesn't produce radioactive waste.

Meanwhile, nuclear power is expensive. We customers in the FirstEnergy territory have been witnessing that first hand, because our rates have been the highest in the state and used to be some of the highest in the nation. It also shouldn't surprise anyone that solar jobs pay well and are a lot safer than those that the nuclear industry creates.

This plant affects the entire state, not just those in Duke's service territory. It is time to let Governor Strickland know that we want sustainable energy solutions, and that nuclear power does not qualify.

Bill Katakis

Northwood

I thank Rep. Marcy Kaptur for voting for the America's Clean Energy Security Act. Supported by a broad coalition of union members, businesses, sportsmen, environmentalists, and people of faith, this historic legislation will put America on the path to a clean-energy revolution and create thousands of good "green collar" jobs right here in Ohio.

The bill's most important provision calls for a reduction of 80 percent in carbon emissions by 2050, emissions known to be causing climate disruption. A recent report from the U.S. Global Change Research Program shows that these emissions will cause adverse impacts on Ohioans, including negative impacts on agriculture, precipitation patterns, and human health.

Other strengths of the bill include a major program to halt international deforestation, tough new standards to prevent energy waste from buildings, a boost for development of made-in-America electric vehicles, and protections for workers, consumers, and others who may be affected by our transition to a clean-energy economy. A Congressional Budget Office analysis of the bill shows a positive impact on the deficit and a net gain for low-income citizens struggling with energy costs.

The legislation has major shortcomings that must be addressed. It strips the Environmental Protection Agency of regulatory authority over America's dirtiest coal-burning power plants. The Senate must restore that authority so that EPA can assure that crucial emissions cuts happen. Targets for renewable energy and efficiency improvements are set far too low, and more of the bill's investments must go to public purposes - not to polluters.

Flaws notwithstanding, passage of the bill by the House of Representatives was an historic act. Sens. Sherrod Brown and George Voinovich should now help to strengthen this legislation and send it to the President for his signature.

David A. Scott

Sierra Club

Columbus

Hey, all you scofflaws out there: See, Carty is with you. Reduce the number police and citations take a nosedive and investigations drop. Now all you have to do is stop running red lights at intersections with cameras and you won't get your pictures taken either.

Jim Richard

Sylvania

Please understand that I am not without a heart, although I have been told it can be very small. I also understand the repercussions for democracy around the world that the current events in Iran hold.

There is just one image that won't let me feel much compassion for the Iranians, the people who are now asking the world to help them. This is the first time I have seen so many of them in the streets when they weren't burning our flag and shouting "death to America."

Without a doubt, America has made some mistakes. But must we keep turning the other cheek only to get hit again? Let them solve their own problems. I know they would not help us.

Denny Daly

Heatherbank Road

Rep. Bob Latta recently e-mailed constituents about his vote against the climate change bill, saying he "stands with 5th District families."

That's bogus. He consistently stands with his failing party, not with us. He stands with old ideas that are not solutions. He prefers old partisan rhetoric over needed new bipartisan service. He expects us to be excited about drilling in the Arctic, which will bring no oil products to us for another decade yet will impact that habitat for many years.

Mr. Latta stands mainly for his political survival and counts on us not remembering or thinking. This nation voted for change last November. He seems to ignore that.

Mark English

Perrysburg

I find the new digital display billboards distracting while driving day or night. In addition to the distraction, the glare at night is so intense that it may cause problems with seeing while driving, especially if the electric billboard is in a direct view of a freeway turnoff or entrance ramp.

I think that it is very possible that the glare may contribute to an accident. If it does, it shouldn't be too hard to prove in a court of law, and the Outdoor Advertising Association of America, the owners of the billboards, the owners of the leased land, and the individual advertisers should be held accountable.

I personally will boycott every product and place of business that uses this abominable, light-polluting, in-your-face method of advertising.

James J. Siska

Ottawa Hills

I wonder why it is that celebrities never seem to use trusts as the final vehicle instead of wills. When a celebrity passes, the muckraking media is all over a will like bees to a flower. With a trust, nothing is made public, and the media don t have a chance at speculation. Just take a look at the furor over Michael Jackson.

Rollin MacDonald

Lakeside, Ohio