LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Falling drones spur wake-up call

7/1/2014

In response to your June 21 article “Hundreds of drones have fallen out of sky; Crashes raise worry as civilian use looms”: These aircraft do not yet have the redundant mechanical and communications equipment necessary to fly in residential space. Drones haven’t reached a level of reliability to be safe.

People who operate drones in residential areas should have insurance, just as I do when I drive my car. Insurance premiums should be high until the safety and reliability of operators and drones are proven.

I hope your article awakens people to the need for lawmakers to take action on drone safety. Lawmakers are influenced by industries that are trying to increase profits.

THOMAS BURNS
Walbridge

Education key to a better world
Congratulations on your June 14 editorial “Educating the world.” As the world reels from the tragic kidnapping of schoolgirls in Nigeria, people wonder what they can do. Education is crucial to defeating terrorism, much of it fed by religious extremism.

Education — not armaments — empowers individuals, contributes to greater economic growth, produces healthier populations, and builds more-stable societies.

JOHN HOSEK
Rocky River, Ohio

 

Have Clarion pay for razing hotel
Why are taxpayers paying for the demolition of the vacant Clarion Hotel (“Council OKs razing of Clarion; Michigan firm makes lowest bid of $434,000,” June 18)?

It was part of a nationwide chain of hotels. The chain should be responsible for the demolition and all cleanup costs.

It doesn’t seem reasonable that a major business can relinquish its responsibility to the city after years of making profits from that business. The owners of the Clarion chain should be handed the bill for this razing.

BRENDA BRIGHT HAGMAN
Rossford

 

Business acumen escapes officials
Toledo officials want to sell the composting machine they bought last year, thinking it would save the city thousands of dollars (“City seeks to leave composting; Collins asks council to settle with old firm, rehire it for job,” June 11). The city will lose about $13,000 by selling the machine.

Has any Toledo mayor or member of City Council ever run a successful business? Next time I vote, I hope there is a person on the ballot who has run a profitable venture.

DALE PERNE
Talmadge Road