Perrysburg is not ‘missing the bus’

The facts contradict your one-sided, misleading rhetoric in your Aug. 19 editorial "Missing the bus" about Perrysburg's transportation efforts.

Perrysburg has a transportation plan. Transportation services, fares, hours of service, and the like are clearly defined. The schedule will be reviewed before it is final.

After thorough analysis, City Council last week agreed to begin negotiations with a Missouri transit company. The cost will be less than half of TARTA's cost. Ride Right will set up shop in Perrysburg, hire local people, and use a local company to service vehicles.

The legal counsel for the Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority has determined that there is no legal barrier to TARTA providing services beyond September. TARTA collected taxes covering services through December.

Money from our municipal fund could be used to pay for services during the gap. They could be provided by TARTA or a private contractor. Ride Right and Black and White could be operational with one week's notice.

Perrysburg supports regionalism. Our transportation plan has included connecting to other communities' transportation systems.

For the first time in TARTA's history, it will face competition. This is good for our region, because competition breeds better products and services.

Perrysburg residents and business owners have formed a nonpartisan committee to inform voters about Perrysburg's transportation plan. Some members of this committee voted to opt out of TARTA, while others voted to remain in the authority.

They are bound by one common denominator: the belief that providing high-quality, cost-effective services for those who need them will benefit our entire community.

Maria Ermie

Perrysburg City Council

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Sylvania Twp. needs transit service

I hope that Sylvania Township voters read your editorial and your Aug. 11 article "Sylvania to research its public transit use" before they vote in November on ending TARTA service.

Township trustees admit that the municipality cannot run its own transit system, so the choice is between TARTA and no public transportation. The opt-out would cut off all TARTA riders from Sylvania Township businesses and agencies.

Despite my autism diagnosis. I work for law firms, support nonprofit events, and campaign for the Green Party. But some autism traits prevent me from driving.

Without a bus system, people like me will spend more public money to pay for more expensive private providers, or to pay for our food and housing if we can't get to jobs.

Discontinuing the pact with TARTA or making no change are not our only options. TARTA executives attend disability organizations' meetings and offer opportunities for dialogue.

Member municipalities can influence how the system is run by choosing people as TARTA board members who are also riders. If all member municipalities agreed, TARTA could be funded by a sales tax.

Jessica Weinberg

Sylvania Township

Nation should let 'honeymoon' linger

In response to Blade Editor David Kushma's Aug. 19 op-ed column, "How long will Ryan's Ohio honeymoon last?": Won't Republican vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan's "honeymoon" last through the election, if the media don't immediately find nothing right and everything wrong with his plan to reduce the staggering debt our nation is facing?

Mr. Kushma is quick to point out the federal money Ohio will lose in 2014 under Mr. Ryan's plan. However, all 49 other states will find themselves with the same problem. If our nation's debt is going to be reduced in a reasonable period of time, everyone is going to have to do his part.

Unfortunately, the incumbent has done nothing in his four years in office to bring the nation's debt under control. In fact, he has increased our debt with his and his party's policies. He has ignored his own National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform's recommendations to get started on this critical job.

Is President Obama afraid to take the bold steps that are necessary, for fear his re-election chances would be hurt?

Greg Aubell

Waterville

Marriage proposal better left alone

I find it hard to believe that most Ohioans will want to marry Paul Ryan and his budget. Once anyone takes a hard look at his plans, the only conclusion that can be drawn is that Mr. Ryan is a financial bigamist.

While promising to love, honor, and promote Ohio's financial welfare, he proposes to privatize the Medicare system so that giant insurance companies -- Mr. Ryan's real marriage partner -- can reap more profits at the expense of Ohio citizens who can least afford it.

Ohio won't have to file for annulment from Mr. Ryan later if we don't accept his marriage proposal now.

Mel Pommeranz

Lakeside, Ohio

Feds should stay away from money

The federal money that Ohio would not receive under the Ryan budget plan comes from the people.

Let states or cities tax and spend, not the federal government.

Donald Michel

Monclova Township

Convention storm God's handiwork?

It seems that a hurricane may meet Republicans at their national convention in Tampa this week ("GOP braces for threat of hurricane," Aug. 24). I might have to rethink this atheist thing.

John Wast

River Road

Museum receives society's welcome

As a member and past president of the Oregon-Jerusalem Historical Society, I welcome the Harbor View Historical Museum to Oregon ("Historical museum takes shape; Oregon area to get home for its past," Aug. 7).

However, this organization is presenting itself as the first and only historical venue in Oregon. The historical society has existed since 1963, with Brandville School as the anchor of the museum complex on Grasser Street.

The society has an extensive collection of items from Jerusalem and Oregon townships, the latter the forerunner to the city. The society also has several community outreach programs.

Our museum complex consists of three buildings, as well as an extensive library with area genealogy files. The military room includes artifacts from the War of 1812 through the Afghanistan conflict.

Connie Isbell

Oregon