In the wave of gun violence that permeates our city, many people of goodwill and kind character feel as though they have the answer, and the most disappointing answers are the simplest ones.
This is because, in our hearts, we know there is no simple answer and that the problem is complex and systemic. If we could address this simply, like rental assistance or a food pantry or some sort of club, many of us would just jump up and do so — and do so and gladly.
One answer that keeps being chanted to us as a solution is Block Watch. While a wholesome and valuable thing when it is done correctly, this is not the answer in total or majority.
For years, I watched a block watch spin its wheels. Problems were never addressed in a final way. It got to the point where the self-appointed czar of that group was more concerned about when in the day we were going to put our trash cans out than with solving any problem of crime. It became a tacky version of an home owners association.
A block watch will only be as good as its people and local officer liaison. So while some might be excellent, what of those areas that don’t have people who feel called to that sort of work? How do you quality-control volunteers for that sort of thing?
With all due respect, Block Watch is not an answer, and to repeatedly chant it is a form of grandstanding. We need to address real brokenness in our society, a disconnect that touches on all the big, known issues: violence, housing, food-access, education, inequality, $2-a-day living, culture, and values. Propping up a club that fell of its own volition will not be the answer, I am sorry to say.
Let’s start listening to real comprehensive answers and attempts at a solution. Let the city explore real options and support them as they try their best, and if they fail, let’s put new people in office, people who actually respond. But let us not fool ourselves with simplistic answers.
The Rev. MIKE HANCK
North Toledo
Thanks, TARTA Flex
Congrats to all who voted for the new TARTA Transit Flex Bus Service, which replaces the “Call-a-Ride” services.
TARTA Flex, starting on Jan. 23, provides a micro-transit service that will reach most of Lucas County, including to Eugene F. Kranz Toledo Express Airport. One can use the TARTA Flex app or call 419-382-9901.
I am a former New York City teacher, who now lives in a senior center in Toledo, and I am without the use of a car.
I highly recommend this new service. It is so hard for handicapped or “walkie talkies” like me to get around easily. Better than a New York subway — no crowds, door to door service, and the price — $3 one way, $6 round trip — is right too. Drivers are prompt and experienced, and staff is helpful.
Call 419-382-9901 just 30 minutes in advance, or a day prior to plan pickup and return times that suit your needs.
Visit tarta.com/flex for more information.
MARY SAWERS
Sylvania Township
Alaska warming?
I’m a little confused by a comment in The Blade on March 12 (“Biden expected to OK $8B Alaska oil project”) regarding the North Slope drilling proposal.
Most of the blame was placed on vehicle exhaust diminishing the ozone layer.
The article mentions that “over the last 60 years, Alaska has warmed more than twice as fast as the rest of the United States.”
I’m wondering how that can be when Alaska has far fewer industries, roads, cars, and fewer people than places like Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York City, let alone the rest of the United States combined.
I also find it hard to believe that “an increase of 4 degrees over a period of 30 years” has much effect.
JEFF GRAMZA
South Toledo
Stop dairy expansions
Every summer, newspaper headlines and news reports warn about the toxic algal blooms in Lake Erie.
Another recent news article asked, “who pays for up to $10 million in damages to Wood County roads” caused by heavy factory farm manure and silage haulers?
Every commenter at a recent Ohio EPA meeting asked what they would do about the Maumee River pollution caused by manure runoff from millions of animals confined in factory farms in the western basin.
Before this meeting, someone asked me what I thought the real problem is — he wondered if there are just a few bad factory farm actors responsible for the nutrient pollution discharging into the Maumee River. After 19 years of studying this issue, I told him the real problem is the Ohio Department of Agriculture: their deceptive permits and their lax oversight.
For example, the dairy factory farm east of Portage just got a permit to expand to 5,000 cows. The ODA approved this permit even though dairies have dumped millions of gallons of milk during the past seven years because of a huge decline in demand. The ODA claims it has to approve more permits if they comply with ODA’s program, but the problem is, the ODA writes its own rules.
Numerous expansion permits for this dairy over the past 19 years show the phosphorus estimated for 5,000 cows is actually less than the phosphorus in the original permit for 2,200 cows.
Even worse, the appendix in the ODA’s program shows the actual amount of phosphorus is much higher and would result in over 3 million pounds of phosphorus going unreported and unregulated during the five-year duration of this new permit. Ohio’s response to reduce nutrients in Lake Erie is the highly touted H2Ohio plan which, in part, pays $60 — taxpayer money — per acre to landowners who allow manure from privately owned factory farms to be spread on their fields. Dr. Jeff Reutter, the pre-eminent expert on Lake Erie, has stated that this is just “waste disposal.”
What could be more life sustaining than water? Our water is in jeopardy. We don’t need milk to live but, when you jeopardize our water, you jeopardize our lives.
Please contact your legislators and demand they institute a moratorium on more new and expanded factory-farm permits.
VICKIE ASKINS
Cygnet, Ohio
First Published March 23, 2023, 4:00 a.m.
