My town must not fit definition

4/21/2010

I was saddened to read the remark by Huntington Bancshares Inc. regional president Sharon Speyer that buying the naming rights to Lucas County Arena "is an investment in our community. We believe this is a significant commitment on behalf of the company to invest in northwest Ohio" ("Downtown Toledo arena gets a new name; bank agrees to purchase rights for $2.1 million," April 16).

Sky Financial announced a merger with Huntington Bancshares in 2006. Three days before the merger, the bank closed the branch that had servedmy communitysince 1950. There was no investment inthe Westoncommunity by this bank, so I can only infer that by "community," Ms. Speyer means "Toledo" andthat "to invest in northwest Ohio" means "to invest in Toledo."

Huntington has done my community no favor by placing a 10-year deed restriction on the former banking office, preventing another financial institution from investing in Weston. I cannot imagine that possibly spending $11 million over 24 years in this naming rights deal is a better investment than continuing to offer banking services in a community and developing relationships with customers that could span well beyond Huntington Center.

Joseph Schroeder

Weston

Huntington Bank has a lot of nerve, paying millions of dollars for vanity naming rights when it still owes the taxpayers billions.

The Lucas County commissioners should be ashamed for accepting the funds when they know it is Troubled Asset Relief Program money. Are they that desperate?

Aleta Bruggeman

Oregon

Huntington Bancshares has not paid back the$1.4 billion it received in TARP funds. We allwere hurt twoyears ago when the market fell apart because of Wall Street and the banks. They weren'tpunished, but werebailed out by taxpayers. Now, with taxpayer dollars, Huntington gets to namean arena.

I know it isgood for downtown, the county, and the community.However, it is wrong. Here is my compromise: Name the arenatheTarp Center until all funds are paid back.

John L. Streicher

Holland

Your April 17 editorial "Papers, please" chastisedArizonafor taking the initiative to enact the nation's toughest law aimed at illegal immigrants. I'm sure many Americansare saying,way to go, Arizona, who's next?You call this proposed lawun-American.

Either immigrate to this country legally or stay home.Contrary to your statement that many illegal immigrants are law-abiding, a person can't be illegaland law-abiding.

Illegal immigrants should not be afforded any rights or benefits under our laws or Constitution. Your tired argument that illegals take menial jobs that Americans aren't willing to do doesn't fly in this time of record-breaking unemployment and a poor economy. Thousands of legal residents would happily take a menial job for the steady paycheck.

Kimberly Roman

Wright Avenue

With a new administrative czar running Lucas County, why do we need the three county commissioners? Just think of the savings from getting rid of the commissioners. With that extra money the Lucas County Recreation Center wouldn't charge for tennis or handball rental.

Isn't it great to be a Democratic Party crony?

Clyde Appleby

Ottawa Hills

The policy of trap-neuter-release of feral cats is ridiculous and irresponsible. And Humane Ohio should take a minute to review the definition of "humane" ("Spay/neuter activists aim to herd cats," April 19).

An assessment published in 2009 in the journal Conservation Biology refutes most of the statements made by Humane Ohio, including references to the "vacuum effect" that supposedly occurs when feral cats are removed from the environment.There is also growing consensus that trap-neuter-release programs are illegal, as they contribute to the death of migratory birds and other wildlife.

In January, a Los Angeles Court sided with the Audubon Society and American Bird Conservancy, issuing an injunction to stop such a program until environmental studies are complete.

I know of no one who takes pleasure in the euthanasia of unwanted pets. But those who truly care about animals must put their emotions aside, examine the facts, and do what is right. Dumping animals where they do not belong - by negligent owners or Humane Ohio - is wrong.

Gregory Lipps

Delta, Ohio

"Pit bulls" are innocent victims. They are turned into weapons by the criminal element that is active in this area.The dogs are used for intimidation and criminal activity, as well as for fighting.

The "pit bull" policy of the former Lucas County dog warden was surely put into place to help curb the drug trade and gang warfare in Toledo. The dogs get caught in the middle, to be sure.

But I don't want any ofmy neighbors adopting a "pit bull" as a pet. They are too dangerous if they get out accidentally. They are inherently territorial, with powerful, locking jaws designed to kill.

There is probably a middle-road policy. Spare the pups that are not yet trained to be fighters, but keep thelimitations on ownership (no more than one "pit bull") and policies to help law enforcement keep us safe.

Dayle Pugh

Sylvania Township

I am an avid fan of man's best friend, but do not agree with your position on the dog pound in general and "pit bulls" in particular.

You announced on the front page the "saving" of a "pit bull" puppy, while on the inner pages was a horrible story of a schoolgirl attacked and injured by a "pit bull," which but for the heroic actions of a driver passing by might have been much worse.

I hope that hero was not one of the multitude of drivers cited near McKinley School earlier that week by Toledo police for exceeding the speed limit in that school zone, in their efforts to keep schoolchildren safe. Too bad they could not spare one of those ticket writersto patrol for stray dogs. But stray dogs don't generally pay fines, do they?

"Pit bulls" are strong dogs and by their nature are often aggressive. The Blade should not be involving itself in such matters. I hope there are no tragic consequences, but will your paper guarantee that? I think not.

Michael O'Donnell

Perrysburg

Toledo, Ohio, April 16 - Dogs make page 1 headlines for the umpteenth time in The Blade, One of America's Great Newspapers.

Maybe John Denver knew something about Toledo when he wrote his song about our fair city.

Ray Szymanski

Coolidge Parkway

Do you suppose that the mastermind for Goldman Sachs' secret plan of mortgage investment that was intended to fail got his idea from Mel Brooks' "The Producers"?

Florence Fuerst

West Central Avenue