I recently met with some members of Toledo City Council and community leaders and was asked how I felt about the city and its future. I can honestly say the city is in a good spot. Millions of dollars were invested into the city’s parks, something that hasn’t been done in decades. There can be criticism in terms of how many parks the city has responsibility for. The current mayor talked about giving the Metroparks some properties to maintain during his first run. That hasn’t happened. But for the most part the city has been able to keep up with maintenance of the parks. The return on investment is that the neighborhoods have something to be proud of, engagement among residents is increasing, and most of all, it gives our youth a place to do positive.
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Crime is down. Statistics don’t lie. The officers that walk the beat will tell you crime is down.
The city tackled blight like never before. I have firsthand experience of that.
The editorial board at The Blade published an editorial a number of years ago that said the city can’t control the low-hanging fruit of blight. When you drive around the city now, it is much cleaner. There are a number of reasons why the city has been effective at combating blight. They increased funding for beautification projects, they were innovative with programs like Block by Block clean up and monthly recycling events. The ability to reach department directly has greatly improved.
Now the negative: taxes are still increasing, the number of police officers continues to go down, the city refused to fund Block Watch and wanted to reinvent the wheel with violence interrupters that haven’t proved effective. Neighborhoods are subject to gentrification. The merry-go-round of city council plagues city politics and doesn’t encourage a fresh perspective or new blood. It’s still the good ol’ boys club.
But the city is probably in its best spot in a decade. That doesn’t mean that we take our feet off the pedal. Residents must be involved to bring change and voice their ideas and opinions. The city has to continue its outreach to neighborhoods.
ALFONSO NARVAEZ
North Toledo
Character matters for president
Tom Daney’s Oct. 12 letter, “Let policy guide your presidential vote,” not only takes liberty with the facts but ignores the qualities that every president should possess, generally referred to as character.
● If you support a person who has been convicted of 34 felonies and has at least three other state and federal felony indictments hanging over his head, vote Trump.
● If you support an adjudicated sexual abuser and slanderer, vote Trump.
● If you support a commander in chief who has been condemned as unfit by more than 200 national security experts, Trump is your man.
● If you support a president who has referred to our deceased military as “suckers and losers,” vote Trump.
● If you support an individual who summoned an armed mob to our Capital, and then waited more than three hours before calling for a halt, support Trump.
● If you support a man who allowed an armed mob to injure and kill Capitol guards, who threatened the V.P. with hanging, and who attempted to negate a lawful election and peaceful transfer of power, Donald is your man.
● If you back a man who has been condemned as unfit by past members of his cabinet and other officers of his presidency, vote Trump.
● If you support a man who bragged about avoiding the military draft during the Vietnam War, who claimed he spent those years avoiding STDs, Trump is your man.
● If you support a man who lies as easily as he breathes and who lied to the American people over 30,000 times during his presidency, Trump is your man.
The exact opposite of Donald Trump is Kamala Harris, an individual who has spent her career honoring the Constitution and the rule of law, a person with a spotless record.
GUY BARONE
Sylvania Township
Presidents should let compassion guide them
I stand dumbfounded; I wonder how, in the name of God, Donald Trump may win the presidential election in 2024. I understand the Republican desire for less government overreach and more personal responsibility. I too am conservative and hold many of the same dreams the Republican Party has for America. That said, simply put, Donald Trump is a liar; his exploits have been vulgar, ugly, embarrassing, and dangerous. So why, in the middle of the madness and hatred Trump unleashes on society worldwide, is it even remotely possible that he may win the presidency again?
America does not need a President driven by hate but someone with wisdom and compassion. Trump’s whole card is fear. When facing a lethal threat, humans have two options: what’s known in psychological terms as the “fight or flight response.” We can fight the risk, or we can flee from it. Since death is certain, it becomes a deep-seated fear within the psyche of man that spirituality can fill or Trump can manipulate; elect me, or you are doomed!
DONALD GOZDOWSKI
Central Toledo
Math doesn’t add up in Electoral College
Jim Malohn ( “Electoral vote vs. popular vote,” Friday ) needs to check his math.
In arguing against the removal of the Electoral College he writes, “California and New York can out-vote all the other states put together.”
California has a population of 39 million. New York’s is 19.6 million. The United States as a whole is 336 million. So those two states combined have just about 17 percent of the population. That’s not enough to decide an election.
The mistake he makes is the same one that the Electoral College makes: looking at how states vote rather than how people vote. In a national popular vote it’s not about the states at all.
A national popular vote is definitively more democratic. The fact that we’ve had presidents win who lost the popular vote proves that.
While it’s true that a popular vote could result in no candidate having a majority, there’s an answer to that, too: ranked-choice voting, sometimes called the “instant runoff.”
I’ll conclude by making a promise: If my choice, Kamala Harris, wins the Electoral College vote but not the popular vote, I’ll still say the Electoral College is wrong.
JERRY PETERSEN
West Toledo
Wood County officials urge vote for Rose
As elected officials representing you in the Wood County Courthouse, we ask that you join us in supporting Connor Rose for County Recorder in the Nov. 5 General Election.
The Recorder Office deals almost exclusively with land records, such as deeds, mortgages, liens, and easements.
As a licensed real estate professional with years in the industry, we believe Connor has the experience necessary to protect and maintain the integrity of Wood County’s real estate records.
Additionally, we have had the opportunity to get to know Connor over the course of the last several months as he works hard campaigning to get to know citizens throughout Wood County. We have seen him at numerous parades, festivals, fundraisers for community fire departments, and find him to have a steadfast dedication to Wood County and his fellow citizens. We are encouraged by Connor’s commitment to serving all the citizens of our county, and respectfully ask you to join us in voting for Connor Rose.
Also signing this letter are Wood County Sheriff Mark Wasylyshyn; Prosecutor Paul Dobson; Commissioners Craig LaHote, Doris Herringshaw, and Dr. Ted Bowlus; Treasurer Jane Spoerl; Clerk of Courts Douglas Cubberley, and Engineer John Musteric.
MATTHEW OESTREICH
Wood County Auditor
Wayne, Ohio
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