Return amendment, local rights to HB 6

The Reineke amendment, which the Ohio Senate Energy Committee removed from House Bill 6, allows citizens whose townships are slated for industrial wind turbine facilities to vote whether the facility is compatible with their community.

Critics of the amendment say it isn’t fair to have a wind company invest thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours of work to then have the project denied by a citizen vote.

But businesses take this kind of risk all the time.

They routinely buy real property and then submit detailed plans to the local zoning board with the expectation of obtaining the required zoning. Sometimes the local board gives their approval; sometimes it does not. Businesses that get a feel for local community acceptance and regulations up front are usually successful in their requests. Those that force themselves into an area where there is widespread regulatory or public opposition usually are not.

The zoning board is the typical local control mechanism for businesses wanting to come into an area. Currently, the Reineke amendment is the only local control mechanism for Ohioans when industrial wind facilities want to come into an area.

The Senate Energy and Public Utilities Committee ought to restore the Reineke amendment to House Bill 6. Barbara Behling, Urbana township, Champaign County

WCBE fills musical niche on Columbus airwaves

After reading “Schools weigh WCBE'S options” in Sunday's Dispatch, I have become concerned for the future of radio in Columbus.

I became a loyal WCBE (90.5 FM) listener in 1991, after Jon Peterson took over as program director and changed the station from classical music and educational to eclectic music programming. In those 28 years, WCBE has become a bastion for the high IQ listener who more readily relates to the Beatles, Dave Brubeck or B.B. King than Bach. The station’s music programming provides a viable alternative for those of us who care little for contemporary Top 40 or tired classic rock that seemingly permeates the local airwaves.

If the 90.5 FM frequency is sold, I will miss much valued programming. Every Sunday, I tune in to hear the smooth Jack Marchbanks and witty K.C. Jones give us “Jazz Sunday.” Later in the evening, I enjoy blues and soul on repeats of Dr. Steve’s “Blue Collar.” Weekdays are a bit more bearable with “Ante Meridian” and “Global Village.”

I enjoy the national programs “Fresh Air” with Terri Gross and “World Café.” They provide a much more international perspective than most of the commercial radio in central Ohio.

I might speak only for myself when I express that losing the diverse programming on WCBE will plunge Columbus radio into the mediocrity of a backwards Cowtown. I hope that I speak for others as well.

Jim Hutter, Columbus

Agricultural community protective of fairgrounds

I respond to the Friday Dispatch article “Dewine on Mapfre plan: Whoa." Let it be known that the agricultural community is not about to sit quietly while the history and tradition of Ohio agriculture and the Ohio State Fair are at risk of being ripped out from under our feet.

The current location of the Ohio Expo Center allows youth and adults living in the city of Columbus to experience agriculture first-hand at the Ohio State Fair, Ohio Beef Expo and Quarter Horse Congress, not to mention the opportunity to attend numerous other events held at the fairgrounds. These events not only bring economic development to Columbus and the state of Ohio, but they emphasize the fact that agricultural careers are not out of reach for those who lack an agricultural background.

Without adequate parking or the potential to move these events to another location, these individuals might not attend — therefore missing an opportunity for career exploration.

While we understand that benefits and drawbacks to both sides are being carefully considered, we will continue to fight for the preservation of the history and tradition that the Ohio State Fair holds for Ohio agriculture.

Kevin Wendt, Plain City

Whose interests are 'Squad' concerned about?

The mainstream media have again colluded to attack the leader of the free world — yes, our president. On Monday evening, Nora O'donnell in her debut as the anchor of the CBS Evening News led off with the "racist" attack against President Trump.

The four new congresswomen now known as "The Squad" have shown more concern for illegal aliens than their own citizens. The oath of office that they have taken must be enforced and not disregarded.

Rep. Alexandra OcasioCortez even compared the conditions in the illegal aliens' holding facilities to concentration camps in World War II. My late mother was born in Yugoslavia and held in a concentration camp for a long time before our military freed her. Ocasio-cortez never ever spent time in a concentration camp and she needs a history lesson.

Rep. Ilhan Omar was granted asylum as she left Somalia. Now she just wants to tell us how bad we are after we had saved her. Our nation is not perfect, but show me one nation in the history of mankind that has done more. Calvin Morris, Circleville

Trump's tweets insulting to Columbus community

I urge our community to clearly, concisely and definitively denounce Donald Trump’s tweets against the minority congresswomen as racist and intolerable. We have entered an age where nonwhite people can no longer feel safe or welcome in communities they helped build.

Columbus has a diverse population: 11.8% born outside of the United States and 39.6% nonwhite. The people who Trump told to “go back to where they came from” fuel the Columbus economy. If all nonnative-born residents left Columbus, the economy would collapse with 12% of its workforce gone.

Trump’s tweet was directed at American-born minority citizens: 40% of Columbus’ population can no longer feel comfortable in their own country. I fear for my African American daughter, who is growing up in a country where the president tells people like her to “leave.”

We must denounce the racial remarks of Trump and celebrate contributions that African, Asian, Hispanic,

Middle Eastern and other nonwhite groups have made to our city.

Silence communicates that minorities’ and immigrants’ lives do not matter. Minorities have been personally attacked by the president; anything less than a personal response from each of us is agreement with this racist and hateful thinking.

The diverse people of Columbus need our support. Matthew Weisgarber, Columbus

Presidential election has grown in importance

The Holocaust is happening again. In the 1940s, it was Adolf Hitler against the Jews; in 2019 it is President Trump against immigrants.

We wondered how the German people could permit extermination of a race, and now we in the United States are responsible for mass deportations of people who are seeking asylum.

House Speaker Nancy Polosi advises impeachment is risky, but we can vote in November 2020 for the opponent of Donald J. Trump.

Helen V. Hubbard, Columbus

Ohioan Ryan supports working men, women

In the 2020 election for president, the Democrats have a great opportunity to nominate an Ohioan — Tim Ryan. Ryan has represented the 13th Congressional District for 17 years, fighting for the working men and women day in and day out. I think it’s time we had someone from Ohio in the White House who understands what we’ve been going through here for the past 40 years. I believe that person is Tim Ryan.

Check him out at www. timryanforamerica.com. I think readers will like what they see.

Dennis Stieber, Norwalk