LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Mayors’ meeting worthless

12/30/2013

Why would mayors meet with President Obama to discuss ways of improving their cities (“Collins among 16 new mayors to meet Obama; Toledo’s next leader describes the President as receptive to ideas,” Dec. 14)? This president has no experience running a city.

The federal government never will fix Toledo’s streets and alleys. Toledo should strive to perform basic services with excellence, privatize more activities, and continue crime-reduction plans.

That meeting was just a photo opportunity that could have been handled by teleconference.

GEORGE SOMMERFIELD
Engel Boulevard

WNWO blackout ruins Christmas
It was not a merry Christmas for me. I could not watch my favorite program, because Buckeye Cablesystem dropped WNWO, Channel 24, over a retransmission fee squabble (“Buckeye forced to drop WNWO, Ch. 24; consent contract expires; negotiations ongoing with station’s new owner,” Dec. 16).

Then Buckeye had the gall to offer me and other subscribers an antenna to watch a channel I am already paying for. I had an antenna years ago, until government and big business decided it was in their best interests to put TV shows on cable and satellite and charge people for the service.

DIANA MONTGOMERY
Maumee

 

It’s important for walks to be clear
When Toledo recently received 7 inches of snow in a day and cold weather persisted, I thought that pedestrians might be stuck all winter with unshoveled sidewalks, or worse, sidewalks blocked by mounds of plowed snow.

Looking at how businesses and agencies along South Detroit Avenue handled their responsibility to keep sidewalks clear, you could see the Toledo Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic set a good example, not followed by all.

Fortunately, rain and warm weather cleared the sidewalks again, so Toledo businesses have time to learn how to make our city a walkable place, even in winter.

SARAH ABTS
Ogden Avenue

 

Christmas symbol inappropriate
The birth of Christ is the true meaning of Christmas, not the Shinto temple you chose to symbolize this central Christian holiday on the front page of The Blade on Christmas Day.

In my 75-plus years of reading The Blade, this is one of the most sarcastic slams that has appeared in your publication.

RALPH MUNGONS
Lambert Drive