LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Bell fails spinal-cord integrity test
3/4/2013Toledo Mayor Mike Bell claims he has demonstrated more “spinal cord” than mayoral candidate Joe McNamara by taking steps that the former City Council president wouldn’t (“Mayor slams new rival as McNamara enters race; Council chief scoffs at Bell’s economic record,” Feb. 13).
One of those steps was betraying the unions that protect Mr. Bell’s firefighter and state government pensions by backing Senate Bill 5. Mr. McNamara displayed his integrity and vision by voting for the City Council resolution that opposed SB 5.
Another one of Mr. Bell’s steps was raising the salaries of 55 city administrators after he asked the city’s unions to take pay cuts. Mr. McNamara opposed raising the pay ranges until Mr. Bell found a strategy to reopen the Northwest District police station in West Toledo. Mr. Bell since has said he would not reopen the station.
Come primary election time, Toledo voters will be savvy enough to recognize that Mr. McNamara’s integrity, loyalty to the taxpayers he serves, and clear economic vision are worth far more than multiple feet of spinal cord.
SHIRLEY YOUNG
West Alexis Road
Toledo’s woes go unmentioned
Toledo mayoral candidate Joe McNamara offered his solutions to the city’s problems (“Agenda for the city,” editorial, Feb. 15).
The real problems are the thousands of city residents who have fled to the suburbs, taking their tax dollars with them; mismanagement by council members and mayors who put city money into developments that didn’t work out; jobs that left the city because of high taxes, and a city school system in academic ruin.
All the city’s political leaders want are the spotlight and the ability to get their hands on taxpayers’ money.
GARY BUCK
Scottwood Avenue
State budget plan shortchanges TPS
The Toledo Board of Education’s finance committee recently discussed unfunded mandates, budget trends, and Gov. John Kasich’s education budget.
I attended the meeting, which was open to the public. Finance committee members said they are working to find solutions so that our children can receive the best education under tightening budget constraints.
Toledo Public Schools and other urban districts in Ohio were thrown under the school bus, leaving TPS with some difficult decisions to make.
TINA HENOLD
Hagley Road
Drowned infant had no voice
A young mother was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole in 20 years for the slaying of her infant son (“Mother gets life for killing newborn son; ‘Miss Pruitt, how could you do this?’ outraged judge asks,” Feb. 23). This child had no voice.
Thousands of live unborn babies are brutally and systematically aborted in this country every day. They have no voice. Our society accepts this without thought or punishment. How is this humanely possible?
JENI HEPNER
Springfield Township