Letters to the Editor

City's tax renewal criticized

3/3/2012

I have decided to vote against the 0.75 percent income tax renewal for the City of Toledo on the March 6 ballot ("Cautious optimism," editorial, Feb. 3).

Mayor Mike Bell and City Council, without asking Toledo residents, decided to end refuse collection. This resulted in city workers being laid off, the end of unlimited pick-up of refuse, and the sale of a newly purchased fleet of refuse collection trucks.

If the mayor and council propose a .5 percent income tax to support the police and fire departments, replacing the .75 percent one, I would gladly vote for it.

David Neuendorff

Scottwood Avenue

Rossford library levy OK urged

The Rossford Public Library is a fantastic community resource that serves Rossford Exempted Village Schools, the City of Rossford, and Perrysburg Township ("Renewal of taxes sought by libraries; Cuts in jobs, hours predicted if levies fail," Feb. 29).

Officials of the Rossford library are asking for a renewal of a 1-mill, five-year levy passed in 2002 and renewed in 2007. This is not a new tax.

The library receives its funding from three sources: about 53 percent from state taxes, 44 percent from local levies, and 3 percent from miscellaneous revenue.

In response to a 26 percent reduction in state funding, the library has reduced its staff, budget, and hours. The levy money will be used for general operating expenses to continue present service.

Since the levy was last renewed, the Rossford library's circulation has grown by 12 percent and foot traffic has increased by 9 percent. The library continues to provide top-notch materials and services, and is a good steward of money entrusted to it.

I hope those whom the library serves vote for the levy renewal on March 6.

Alice Buehrle

President Friends of the Rossford Public Library Perrysburg Township

Santorum's statements scary

Rick Santorum believes that President Obama is a snob ("Santorum's reverse snobbery on higher education," op-ed column, March 1). He feels the need to throw up over John F. Kennedy's 1960 speech about separation of church and state. He wants to be in your bedroom to make sure you abide by his moral code.

Mr. Santorum said the President wants young people to attend four-year colleges so they can be remade in his liberal image. Mr. Santorum feels others could benefit from community college or vocational/trade school training.

In 1960, presidential candidate Kennedy affirmed his belief in the separation of church and state. He said he would not take instruction from the Pope. Mr. Santorum has said that President Obama and his government are trying to impose their values on people of faith.

Mr. Santorum said that contraception is not OK, and that it is a license to do things in the sexual realm that are counter to how things are supposed to be. Mr. Santorum seemingly wants to impose his values on women who use birth control.

I can't think of a scarier individual who might one day reside in the White House than Mr. Santorum.

Alan Thompson

Heysler Road

Santorum not a doctor, theologian

I had no idea that Mr. Santorum was a doctor who knows so much about women's health problems and why they take contraceptives ("Santorum stumps in Perrysburg," Feb. 29).

I also wasn't aware that Mr. Santorum is a theologian. He says that President Obama has a phony theology. The only phony theologian is Mr. Santorum, who wants to take everything away from the middle class.

Andrew Feyes

Northwood

Santorum way off on 'men, women'

I was taken aback to hear Mr. Santorum, in his peroration after the Michigan primary, refer to the "men and women" who signed the Declaration of Independence.

Not a single woman was given that privilege. There was a person with the gender-neutral name of Button Gwinnett from Georgia, but darn it if he didn't turn out to be a man -- just like the rest of them.

Frank Ward

Goddard Road

Santorum should campaign for pope

Mr. Santorum has so much to say about politics and religion in the public square. He should lay off religion and stick to the issues ("Santorum's religious fanaticism," op-ed column, Feb. 26).

When he loses his bid for president, he could try to be the next pope.

Don Kerstetter

Walbridge

GOP's emptiness gets sympathies

I feel sorry for the GOP. It had no one with any common sense or brains to run for office.

John Welsh

Oregon

Casino’s nicotine-free stipulation wrong

The opening of one of Ohio's first casinos, in Toledo, is a double-edged sword ("Toledo casino OK'd to open after May 28; Cleveland site gets go-ahead from panel to be Ohio's 1st," Feb. 16). It will slice citizens economically and individually.

Many credible people are barred from employment at the casino because they use a legal substance: tobacco. The seemingly prevalent practice of discriminating against tobacco users has become accepted.

The purchase and use of tobacco are legal, promoted, and profitable. Whether you are a tobacco user or not, the public needs to stand up for personal rights.

Government needs to stop speaking out of both sides of its mouth. The message the bureaucrats are sending is: Buy tobacco, but you can't use tobacco and get a job.

It is wrong for corporations to control and manipulate legal activities in our private lives after we are off the clock. A corporate mandate about what we do in our homes is not an element of an equal-opportunity society.

Our country was founded on the principles of freedom and equal rights for all.

Renee' Hahn

Perrysburg Township