LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Red Cross article needs more details
5/11/2012Your May 2 article "Red Cross strikers hold rally downtown; Busloads from Cleveland, Lansing join in" made clear that the strikers want less-expensive health insurance and longer breaks. But your reporting doesn't tell us what they pay now for health insurance or describe the Red Cross policy on breaks.
Without that information, we can't compare their benefits with those of other nonprofits, and it's not possible to know whether it is the strikers or management who is unreasonable.
Robert Kelso
Sylvania Township
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Toledo council undermines Bell
Just as Toledo Mayor Mike Bell was expressing his view of the city's future, with new business opportunities and increased cooperation among neighboring political entities, the union-dominated members of city council passed a resolution supporting striking workers ("Resolution supports Red Cross workers," April 26).
This council stance will adversely affect the mayor's attempt to grow the city.
John Chezek
Springfield Township
Nurses Week ends, but care goes on
Saturday ends National Nurses Week, which celebrates the birthday of Florence Nightingale. Called the mother of the modern nursing profession, she was known for her strong advocacy for the well-being of her patients and their communities.
The tradition of advocacy continues among the current practitioners of the profession. Nurses were involved early and continuously in the development of the health-care reform legislation that became the Affordable Care Act.
Nurses have advocated equitable access to high-quality care, increased emphasis on primary care and prevention services, and consumer choice. The public benefits from these provisions.
I am proud to uphold the tradition of advocacy started by Florence Nightingale and strongly support the Affordable Care Act.
Karen Krause
Yermo Drive
Editor's note: The writer is a retired director of nursing for the Lucas County Health Department.
High schoolers need remedial crossing
Your May 6 article "Deadly Distractions: Walkers, drivers need to pay attention to each other" said: "In [Toledo's] Saf-T-City program, children entering kindergarten visit the miniature layout of a city with replicas of buildings and traffic lights and signs … and learn to negotiate streets and sidewalks."
Maybe all high school students should be required to repeat this program and attain a passing grade prior to graduation. It seems that most have forgotten the common-sense concept of crossing a street.
Joe Romp
Bishopsgate Drive
Will, Walton works lauded
The heartwarming column by George F. Will about his son brought tears to my eyes ("Jon Will at 40: Down, not out," op-ed, May 7). I prayed that God would continue to bless Jon and keep him safe and loving.
On the next page that day was retired Blade editor Thomas Walton's column, "Sharing the stage with the Toledo Symphony Orchestra," about his performance with his harmonica and the symphony. I laughed so hard I had to read it again, with more laughter.
I love the diversity of The Blade's articles and columns. Your investigative reports are excellent. Your writers should have been detectives. If so, maybe more crimes could be solved.
Reading those articles created mixed emotions of tears and laughter and gave me lots to think about. I knew I was going to have a wonderful day, and I did.
Rose Kolanko
Rossford
Acme plant photo sparks memories
Your photo of the Toledo Edison transmission system map board in the Acme power plant brought back good memories of the load dispatchers who spent many shifts in that office providing reliable service to customers across 2,500 square miles ("City to demolish 2 buildings; Razing of east side plant, north end mall to start in May," April 19).
For 26 years, I was fortunate to have the best job in the company, supervising these folks. I retired in 1985.
It's a shame that the turbine room at the plant can't be saved. It would make a great indoor golf driving range and would hold numerous basketball courts.
Arthur Sussman
West Bancroft Street
Utility on board with pipeline editorial
On the occasion of Toledo's first natural-gas pipeline in 1887, President Rutherford B. Hayes remarked: "The people of Toledo celebrate today the most important step which has ever been taken in the material progress of their city."
The Blade's May 5 editorial "Improve pipeline safety" correctly states that "pipelines must be maintained, repaired, and replaced as they age." Columbia Gas of Ohio is doing just that.
In 2012, Columbia Gas is investing $20 million in Toledo, upgrading nearly 50 miles of natural-gas infrastructure. This comes on the heels of our 2011 investment of $18 million and is just the tip of our 20-year, $200 million projected expenditure across this community. This investment will create and maintain a state-of-the-art natural-gas delivery system.
This system provides a safe, reliable way to deliver cheap natural gas from Ohio shale formations to homes and businesses across our community. Our aggressive plan has been nationally recognized as an impressive, proactive step in pipeline safety.
Just as the natural-gas pipes President Hayes lauded have long since been replaced and upgraded, Columbia Gas will continue to invest in our infrastructure — and invest in Toledo — to provide a modern, reliable natural-gas delivery system.
Chris Kozak
Manager Communications and Community Relations Columbia Gas of Ohio West Central Avenue