Letters to the Editor
Marina land not issue in campaign
10/5/2013I find it hard to believe that The Blade thinks a 67-acre parcel of land should be a valid campaign issue in the Toledo mayoral race (“Marina myths, realities,” editorial, Sept. 26).
If the Marina District property was so desirable, a developer would have purchased it long ago. The property will be developed when there is a solid market for a building on this site and it can produce a fair financial return.
It is impossible to determine when that would be. Mayor Mike Bell has done his job by getting the land into private ownership.
Meanwhile, let’s encourage Mr. Bell and challenger D. Michael Collins to debate real issues that need to be dealt with today to make Toledo a better city.
DUANE ANKNEY
Kelker Street
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Bell serves city, not Dems, unions
Toledoans have two honest, hard-working, and intelligent mayoral candidates to choose from. But only one of them is truly qualified: Mike Bell.
Mr. Collins is a candidate largely because the two leading Democrat contenders ended up splitting their core vote and canceled each other out.
Mr. Collins, who ran as an independent, now has to court labor unions and the local Democratic Party for manpower and cash. Accepting their support means he will find himself beholden to them for every decision he makes as mayor.
Mayor Bell has proven himself as a true independent who is beholden to the best interest of the people of Toledo. Mr. Bell has laid the groundwork for the long-term recovery of our city.
Mr. Collins is a great person to have on City Council, but he is not the right man to lead Toledo.
MIKE McMAHON
Robinwood Avenue
Collins is a true independent
Blade columnist Keith Burris did a nice job of commenting on Mr. Collins’ success in the primary (“How Collins pulled it off,” commentary, Sept. 15).
Mr. Collins is a true independent candidate and person. As long as he continues to be truly independent — at times perceived as stubborn — he should be successful in the general election.
GEORGE WEIDNER
Barrows Street
How can Bell say crime is down?
In a mayoral debate, Mayor Bell stated that crime was down 24 percent in Toledo (“Televised Toledo mayoral debate took occasional heated turns,” Sept. 4).
How can he attest to that statement when so many people are shot or killed in our city?
ARMAND SMITH
Stickney Avenue
Coverage great; turnout poor
Kudos to The Blade for great coverage of the Toledo mayoral campaign. As for the poor voter turnout in the primary, the juvenile behavior of local political leaders is to blame.
MARY JANE KELLY
Erie, Mich.