Editor’s note: These letters to the editor were published online only. To send a letter to the editor, visit toledoblade.com/letterstoeditor.
Waniewski is no Collins
The May 12 editorial “Waniewski’s retail values” compared Tom Waniewski to late-Mayor D. Michael Collins. I take serious issue with The Blade comparing Mr. Waniewski to Mr. Collins, political or otherwise.
To paraphrase Sen. Lloyd Bentsen, I knew Mike Collins. Mike Collins was a friend of mine. Tom Waniewski is no Mike Collins.
You cannot compare someone to Mike’s lifelong commitment to public service. There was a reason voters liked Mike, and it wasn’t because he had “the instincts of a good ward politician.”
People liked Mike because he served as a U.S. Marine. He was 27 years as a Toledo police officer. He represented and cared deeply about the working men and women of the force. Mike and his wife, Sandy, supported taking care of the homeless in Toledo. Mr. Waniewski has done none of this. Mike even taught on the high school and college level.
In my opinion, having worked with both men, political or otherwise, The Blade is in error by comparing Mr. Waniewski to Mr. Collins.
MATT ZALESKI
Summerdale Avenue
Editor’s note: Mr. Zaleski handled marketing and media relations for D. Michael Collins during his mayoral campaign.
Don’t criticize Obama’s work ethic
In a May 8 letter, a writer praised President Trump and all he has accomplished since taking office (‘‘Trump has U.S. on right path”).
The writer sharply criticized President Barack Obama. The letter stated, in part, “Unlike his predecessor, who filled his time in office with vacations, Wednesday night gala parties in the White House, and golf, Mr Trump has no time for this.”
While I firmly believe the writer is entitled to his political beliefs, and have no wish to dispute them, I must take exception to his “facts” concerning President Obama vs. President Trump when it comes to how hard each man has worked.
During his first year in office, President Obama took 26 vacation days and played golf 29 times. Since taking office (just over 100 days), President Trump has played golf 20 times, and he has spent 25 of his first 100 days as President at Mar-a-Lago.
Granted, he hasn’t thrown many White House galas, since he isn’t often there, but he has done plenty of entertaining at his resort in Florida.
Furthermore, over the eight years of his presidency, Mr Obama’s vacations cost taxpayers close to $90 million, or just over $11 million a year, according to Judicial Watch.
So far, Mr. Trump and his family’s trips have cost taxpayers $30 million dollars. If this rate of spending continues, the Trump family will cost taxpayers more for vacations in one year than the Obama family cost in eight years.
History will be the judge of who was a better President, but no one can say our “Tweeter in Chief” is working harder than President Obama did.
JUDI MALHOTRA
St. Thomas Court
First Published May 15, 2017, 7:48 p.m.
