There is currently legislation in the works in the Stow City Council to bar the use of ATVs and off-road motorcycles on private property within 100 feet of a structure, road or property line and to restrict use to lots of four acres or more.
After attending a recent City Council meeting, I have learned that the legislation is basically because of one specific complaint.
I learned that there is a rental residence off Progress Park Drive where someone is recklessly riding ATVs, and it is directly affecting several homes. (Only one homeowner who was affected was in attendance at the meeting, but there was a 9-to-1 ratio of residents against new ATV laws).
The City Council is proposing new, restrictive laws because of this issue. I do not understand why concern has risen this high. It seems as if we need to address this problem in a neighborly fashion, directly with the offending parties.
Now that it is at the city level, can we not find out who the property owners are and bring them in on this?
They may not be aware of how much this issue has been elevated. We could probably volunteer to build a privacy fence in the affected party’s backyard, so he or she can avoid the situation altogether.
If the City Council passes a restrictive law and these renters move out, the situation will be a nonissue, but ATV users will be affected.
From the turnout at the meeting I atteded, it seems that ATV users seem to care far more about this issue than those who want more restrictive laws. There has to be another way to mediate this situation besides placing more restrictions on what people can and cannot do on their own property.
Another question I have pertains to the affected resident’s claim that six neighbors are directly affected. If that is the case, then where were they to speak their case?
I have a feeling that this is being made into a much bigger issue than it probably really is, all because of a lack of communication and common decency. I think we need to stop this proposed law altogether and get back to being a society where people solve neighborhood problems by having a conversation, not by legislation or litigation.
Dan Leipold
Stow
Stamp out postal debts
Maybe the U.S. Postal Service should junk its idea of eliminating Saturday deliveries and look at increasing its charges for junk mail. Increasing the junk mail cost, now 14.5 cents per piece, by 5 cents would wipe out the Postal Service’s $5.1 billion annual loss, according to government figures.
Junk mail provides 52 percent of the volume and $17.3 billion of the revenue. First-class mail provides less volume but $34 billion of the revenue. One reason is because first-class mail costs 46 cents and junk mail costs 14.5 cents.
Increasing the junk mail rate by 1 cent would bring in $1.2 billion more a year, and it would all be extra profit because the handling costs are the same. Increasing first-class mail by 1 cent would bring in $74 million more a year, again, all in profit.
You have to deduct the lost business caused by the price increases.
The junk mail charge of 14.5 cents per piece is what it cost to mail a first-class letter in 1978. First-class mail is the Postal Service’s most profitable area, but it is dwindling every year because email has no cost beyond a monthly fee to the Internet carrier.
John Olesky Jr.
Tallmadge
Fear factor spurs gun buys
There are many legitimate reasons to protest and distrust any government and its leaders, including our current one.
Our founders had the wisdom to form a constitutional republic, not a banana republic where whoever has the most deadly weapons and warriors becomes a dictator.
It’s that Constitution, with checks and balances between the three branches of government, that allows government to be of, by and for the people.
Today’s conservative protesters have a lot in common with the liberal ones of the late 1960s and early 1970s, for even the best government has its flaws. The biggest difference, however, is fear.
Liberals weren’t afraid of high taxes, Social Security reform or a government agent knocking of their door to take away their guns. They were afraid of government wiretapping and the possibility of being given a gun to shoot someone you never met simply because he lived in Vietnam.
Liberals have often protested and distrusted our government, but never really feared it because the Constitution provides peaceful ways, such as impeachment, to remove leaders.
That explains why there were no large spikes in gun sales when Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan and George H.W. and George W. Bush were elected.
Yet gun sales increased when Bill Clinton was elected and re-elcted, and practically went off the charts in 2008 and 2012 when Barack Obama was elected and re-elected.
The immature slogan “Don’t trust anyone over 30” has been replaced with “You’ll have to pry this gun from my cold, dead hands.”
As a naive 19-year-old, I was just as shocked by Nixon’s victory over McGovern in 1972 as conservatives were by the last election, but never thought to buy a gun.
There are three questions I would like to ask those who have purchased guns due to the recent election:
Are you preparing for a second Civil War or World War III?
How will you be able to tell friend from foe?
Assuming you eventually claim victory, what will you have won?
Protest all you want, but keep your guns for hunting, sport or self-defense, please.
Michael J. Walzer
Akron
Where’s balance in spend now, pay later?
Will someone please explain to me where this “balanced approach was when President Obama and his friends were setting new spending records?
It is lots easier wasting money than it is repaying it after it has been spent, huh, guys?
Chris Deetz
North Canton
Support for Black River schools
The community should vote for the Black River school levy to ensure students a better education, extracurricular opportunities and a strong preparation for a successful future.
To ensure success, students need the drive that will always push them to their limits.
When students come to school every day knowing that no one cares if they succeed or fail, how can they possibly have that drive?
If you vote against the levy, you are sending a message to every child in the district that you do not care.
For students like me to succeed in school, they need good teachers. Over the last few years, I have witnessed some amazing teachers being let go because of funding.
When you are trying to cram 35 to 40 students into one class it’s not only hard for the student to learn but also for the teacher to be able to answer all of the questions and get all of the teaching done.
Finally, without funds, the district would have to cut health, physical education, music and art.
If the levy doesn’tpass, Black River may not be able to keep teachers who teach classes that don’t apply to the state-minimum curriculum.
Sports and other extracurricular activities could also be cut. Students live for their extracurricular activities, and if the schools do not have them, a substantial number of grades would likely drop.
Every home football game, there are people who come together to enjoy the game and stand up for the disrict as a whole. Making sports pay-to-play won’t help.
If the district loses its post-secondary program, students would lose the ability to get college credits for free.
The levy cannot pass without the support of the community. The Black River schools needs your vote.
Vernon Beard
Homerville
Singing praises of Akron community
I want to thank everyone who attended the wonderful tribute held to honor my group, Ruby and the Romantics, on Feb. 7.
I can’t express how much this honor meant to me, and I appreciate that so many people came to share the occasion with me, my family and the families of Ronald Mosley, Leroy Fann, George Lee and Edward Roberts. They’d be happy to know our hometown remembered the 50th anniversary of “Our Day Will Come” becoming #1 hit, in 1963.
Having the city of Akron, the Akron City Council, NAACP, Akron Urban League, Summit County Historical Society, Summit County Library and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame recognize our accomplishments would have made them very proud.
I’d especially like to recognize, Linda Fetchu Slider, the person who put the event together. She should be proud of all she accomplished. It was Linda who put it all together.
She, too, deserves credit for writing an accurate history of our group that interested everyone who attended. Again, thank you all.
Ruby Nash Garnett
Akron
