We are all dealt a different deck of cards. Early in life we choose our own path. Some take the high road and take chances at being successful; some succeed and some fail to meet their goals on their chosen path. Sometimes with great disappointment people can become the victims of corporate America. The ups and downs of the economy doing skilled trade jobs at sub-standard wages, or a small company must close or downsize, or working in fast food establishments. One day you’re working and the next day you’re drawing unemployment or sadly removed from the workplace. In time, some individuals become homeless.
Some people who have a home and take care of their property are good citizens. Some people rent and take good care of their space and these are good citizens. But you also have those people who move often and leave all of their unwanted items in the yards and alleys or illegally dump on someone else’s property and they are not good citizens. Then there is the landlord who does not care to provide a safe, healthy place for his tenants… this is not a good citizen.
Being a “not good citizen” causes unnecessary expense on property owners and landlords, and if the items are illegally dumped on the roadside or streets it becomes a hardship on the city, county and township.
Regardless of whether a person is rich, middle class or poor, they need to be responsible. A good citizen takes responsibility, treats people – our neighbors – as we would like to be treated. — ROBERT GOODFELLOW, SPRINGFIELD
Child nutrition programs needed
Re “Still in fight against poverty, hunger, powerlessness,” Feb. 22: Thank you for “taking a closer look” at Tony Hall’s activities to alleviate hunger. This is an issue that impacts 15 percent of our fellow Americans who have some type of food insecurity. Data from a 2012 Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) study ranks Dayton fourth in the nation for food hardship.
I agree with Hall that hunger is a moral issue, but one that, as he says, often gets shoved aside when there are so many competing issues Congress must consider. One of the issues that Congress must consider this year is the reauthorization of child nutrition programs. These programs benefit many of our children, through school breakfast and lunch programs, summer feeding programs, and WIC. I urge Senators Sherrod Brown and Rob Portman, Speaker John Boehner and U.S. Rep. Mike Turner, and all our elected officials in Congress, to work for passage of these programs without cutting funds from other vital safety net programs, such as SNAP (formerly food stamps.) Let's invest in our federal government's feeding and nutrition programs that serve as a lifeline for vulnerable children and families. — MARYELLEN FARGEY, RIVERSIDE
Speak up
"Red-light cameras increase safety" may seem like a logical assumption, but it is just that— an assumption. The research shows that accidents oftentimes actually increase at such intersections and the most effective way to genuinely increase safety has been proven conclusively to simply extend the length of the yellow light between green and red.
If traffic cameras are so effective at controlling crime, why doesn't the city of Dayton put them where real crimes are committed? Oh, that's right. Criminals don't pay fines. "Show me the money."
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